Bronchiolitis

Cedric started coughing on Lunar New Year Eve ... That morning I felt his body a bit warmer than usual although the thermometer shows no signs of fever ... He must be teething again, I assumed. So I fed him the fever solution & the temperature soon subsided within an hour ... Not wanting to disappoint the Chng family, we went ahead with the Bintan trip ... However, I still packed the fever cold pad and medication for emergency. Cedric loves playing in the pool ! Seeing him enjoying all the loves & concerns showered by everyone, I felt I ve made the right decision in bringing him along.

When we returned to Singapore on monday evening, we were not anxious to bring baby to see doctor as we thought it was jus a minor cough. Furthermore, all clinics were closed during the festive period.

On Wednesday, our schedules clashed. We were tasked to fetch the bride at 10Am whereas Dr Low's clinic only opens half day. As I insisted to seek consultation from paediatrician, I procrastinated Cedric's treatment. Thinking a day's delay won't caused any harm. And COMPLACENCY proved to be deadly!

By evening, I too, was down ... Must be worn out, so was my immune system ... The night was disastrous, Cedric & I were "competing" ... Coughing non-stop, running nose and wheezing too ... Yet that wasn't the end of our sufferings ... Cedric vomited the whole bottle of milk which he jus finished. It "flooded" his entire little face & nostrils and nearly choked him! It really scared the wits out of me.

The moment the clock strucked 9Am, I quickly rang up the clinic & dashed to the paediatrician who diagnosed Cedric's condition as Bronchiolitis (say: "bronk-ee-oh-lie-tus"). I know Asthma, heard of Bronchitis but not this ... It sounded so alien and severe. After much "interrogations", I roughly grasped the illness as a virus infection to the lungs' airways. The symptoms are exactly the same as asthma. Cause?! Its either due to the delayed treatment or maybe hereditary, referring to me, the mother who has asthma history. Meaning my son would be prone to respiratory infection. I was extremely upset. I thought I ve tried my very best to breastfeed so as to strengthen his anti-bodies. Didn't I ?!! Seems that I failed ... But my hubby was supportive and thought otherwise. He deemed it was my efforts that Cedric didn't ve asthma attack. *Touch & teary*

When the nurse gave Cedric the treatment - Nebulizer, he began to yell for help ... I felt as though a knife was stabbing my heart ... My tears burst out uncontrollably as I grabbed him tightly ... To think I ve to do this to him at home every 4 hourly for consecutive 4 days ... I don't even dare to tell mom about Cedric's condition ... She would be so mad at us cos she was never fond of the idea that we brought baby to Bintan ...

Nevertheless, all I wish now is my little Precious would recover soon ... My heart aches ....