What would you do? Would you cancel if son is sick?

[Tiger926]

Do you realize how many germs there are at Disney World? It is not like my daughter was running around licking people. She wasn't puking, having diarrhea, coughing & sneezing and spreading germs... she had NO other symptoms other than fever. If she had felt badly, of COURSE I would have not taken her around to all of the parks. But when I gave her Motrin, she felt completely fine. We went home early the first day so that she could rest and did the same the second day. By day 3, the fever was gone and she was fine the rest of our trip. I'd do it again!

Well, by "...dosing her up on Motrin", you just hid the fever, so that she would feel well enough to go out. The virus or whatever may have been in her, would still be there. Fever is just one of many symptoms...

Honestly, until you are holding your baby in your arms in emergency while at WDW and being told that she is gravely ill, thanks to sick kids running around the parks, you may feel otherwise about doing this again. Been there, done that, and it is a very scary experience...

It is highly selfish and irresponsible, to drug your child up, and expose her germs to other people, especially to those children who have compromised immune systems, like The Make a Wish children who are very frequently in the parks.

I hope the OP's son is doing better. We have had to cancel a cruise, as well as other events due to illness, so I know how hard that decision is. You do what you have to do for the health of your child, and the safety of others, regardless of whether it is an incovenience.

Tiger

 

[ccgirl]

Well, by "...dosing her up on Motrin", you just hid the fever, so that she would feel well enough to go out. The virus or whatever may have been in her, would still be there. Fever is just one of many symptoms...

Honestly, until you are holding your baby in your arms in emergency while at WDW and being told that she is gravely ill, thanks to sick kids running around the parks, you may feel otherwise about doing this again. Been there, done that, and it is a very scary experience...

It is highly selfish and irresponsible, to drug your child up, and expose her germs to other people, especially to those children who have compromised immune systems, like The Make a Wish children who are very frequently in the parks.

I hope the OP's son is doing better. We have had to cancel a cruise, as well as other events due to illness, so I know how hard that decision is. You do what you have to do for the health of your child, and the safety of others, regardless of whether it is an incovenience.

Tiger

Tiger. This is my point exactly. I have seen the Make a Wish children around the park. I have also held my DS in my arms in the ER not sure what the outcome was going to be. Perhaps that is why I am so sensitive to others. I'm just sayin...

 

[Tiger926]

Tiger. This is my point exactly. I have seen the Make a Wish children around the park. I have also held my DS in my arms in the ER not sure what the outcome was going to be. Perhaps that is why I am so sensitive to others. I'm just sayin...

You and I both...

Tiger

 

[katla33]

Well, I guess that I am a highly irresponsible and selfish person. I'll own it. I admit that, at the time, I was really only concerned about my DD. I certainly hope that I did not make anybody else gravely ill. I just did what I thought was best in a bad situation.

 

[ccgirl]

Well, I guess that I am a highly irresponsible and selfish person. I'll own it. I admit that, at the time, I was really only concerned about my DD. I certainly hope that I did not make anybody else gravely ill. I just did what I thought was best in a bad situation.

Just wanted to thank you. That is very big of you to admit that. And, I am not being sarcastic either. I now have to travel with a nebulizer with my son at all times and hope that parents would have rescheduled their trips if their children were sick - or they were sick themselves. I know how much it sucks to have to reschedule the trip - been there, done that. Again, what seems minor to one child could have very different outcomes in another.

The OP admitted that her DH had been very sick and she, herself, just got over pnemonia. Doesn't sound like a 24 hour thing to me. Although, I hope for the OP's case it was so they can enjoy their vacation. Most schools have a 24 hr fever free policy (without medicinal intervention) so others in the school don't get sick. I think we should follow that when vacationing too.

 

[katla33]

I think I might have reacted differently if this had all happened BEFORE we left. But none of this went down until after we had already arrived and had driven 14 hours. Kind of clouded my judgment, KWIM?
Anyway, I am sorry that your DS is so sickly. That stinks.

 

[Betty Rohrer]

have had friends who were refused plane boarding because child had gotten sick while at Disney. might be able to cover childs illness on way down but not another on way home. you can be refused on your flight.

 

[brymolmom]

Tiger. This is my point exactly. I have seen the Make a Wish children around the park. I have also held my DS in my arms in the ER not sure what the outcome was going to be. Perhaps that is why I am so sensitive to others. I'm just sayin...

While I think it is wonderful of you to be sensitive to others...I'm afraid it might be in vain. Even if every single person in the park stayed home if they even had a sniffle (which, we can agree, is not the case by far, but let's for a moment assume it would be) - there are still HUGE amounts of germs in WDW as many of them exist before symptoms even appear. The germ factor, even in this most perfect setting, would still be off the charts. There is no one place that has tens of thousands of people in it can have any lower than a huge germ amount in it. So, unfortunately, keeping a child in that is mildly ill likely does not even help those Make a Wish kids as the germ level is off the charts with or without that ill child there. It doesn't even make a dent in it, I am confident.

It's like my one friend who doesn't want to come over if my child has a cold. But then if she does she always blames any illness her child might get over the next month on 'getting my ds's cold'. It is way more likely that her child got the germ at school, or at the grocery store, etc.

I am sure the Make a Wish people and anyone especially with a compromised immune system is very aware of this fact and takes all necessary precautions. Obviously there is no avoiding germs in this situation.

Likely a more effective way for us all to be sensitive to those in the parks who might be at risk would be to start washing our hands after every ride or every other ride while there...to cut down on spreading of the germs that are there.

But I have no problem if a parent chooses to keep their mildly ill child at home...I just don't have a problem if they choose to bring them either.

 

[disneyandme]

This is the reason schools have sickness policies. Most have a 24 hour fever free-- without medicines-- before a child can return to school. Yes, people transmit illnesses before they show symptoms, but the majority pass it on after they already know they are sick. Knowingly exposing people to an illness is not the same as unknowingly exposing someone. Do you send your child to school with a fever? If not, why would you take them into the parks with a fever?

OP-- I hope your child is better today and you didn't have to make the tough choice.

 

[Leajess99]

If my child was running a fever for more than 24 hours I would reschedule. You said your DH was very sick and you, yourself, had pneumonia. I get how badly you want to go on vacation. Just think how you would feel if you went on vacation and caught the virus from the child sitting behind you. Then, you had to spend a few days out of commission at the hotel. I just don't get how selfish some people can be (not saying you, OP). People talking about how they would go as long as their child was not feeling bad. A fever is a sign of your body trying to fight something off. Some people don't have great immunity and that fever in your child could lead to something very bad in another. Personally, I could never do that.

Hope your child is feeling better!

I so agree with this. With the amount of Wish kids there and kids with immune deficiency, I honestly could not willingly put them at risk. I would also cancel and reschedule.

 

[Leajess99]

We drove but..... if someone's immune system is that delicate then Disney World might not be the best place for them to visit. I'm just saying....

Whether it may be the right place for them or not, how many kids are there on wish trips?? You know that fever in your child could turn into sepsis for a child with a compromised immune system?? All that child's parent can do is pray.

I don't know if your child is school aged or not but do you send her to school with a fever?? If not than why should WDW be any different?? I just don't understand this.

 

[Leajess99]

Tiger. This is my point exactly. I have seen the Make a Wish children around the park. I have also held my DS in my arms in the ER not sure what the outcome was going to be. Perhaps that is why I am so sensitive to others. I'm just sayin...

I have been in the same situation with my DS. He ended up in the Hospital on oxygen. He was not at WDW but was exposed because someone gave their child motrin to cover the fever and sent them off to daycare. My son was not even a year old and also ended up with long term effects from the illness.

 

[Colleen27]

For me it is a case-by-case thing. A low-grade fever that seems attributable to a short-lived bug or a case of the sniffles that was going but not fully gone, I'd probably stuck to the plans and just take it a little easier.

But a child with a fever on the heels of both parents being ill with something potentially serious (pneumonia)? I'd reschedule without hesitation, both because I wouldn't want to spread it and because I would rather postpone a trip than spend it in the room or in a FL ER with a seriously ill child. Pneumonia is not something I'd want to mess around with; in fact I don't think I'd want to go even from your position, just getting over it and still coughing. I've never had it myself but my brother did when we were kids and it took two rounds of thinking he was getting better only to have it come back on him before he actually did shake it for good.

 

[MistressMerryweather]

I have been in the same situation with my DS. He ended up in the Hospital on oxygen. He was not at WDW but was exposed because someone gave their child motrin to cover the fever and sent them off to daycare. My son was not even a year old and also ended up with long term effects from the illness.

I agree with your point, but how can you know for certain this was true? Even if he was exposed to that particular child, he could have picked it up anywhere you were previously...the grocery store, etc. He could have even picked it up from another daycare child that was not showing symptoms or being medicated for them.

 

[honugirl]

Just want to chime in and remind everyone that it's not just Wish Kids that go to WDW with compromised immune systems. I'm an adult who just got back from WDW and I have a compromised immune system. I absolutely abhor it when parents dose up their kid and take them out anyway (and yes, I hate it when adults do the same thing). I'm sorry someone got sick on vacation, but while it might mean a day or 2 in the hotel room for you, it could mean a hospitalization for me. I take as many precautions as I can, but I still depend on the people around me to make smart, reasonable decisions to keep me safe. Thanks.

 

[Tiger926]

Again, it's not the same thing to get sick from one of the many people at Disney, who didn't know they were sick (some people do not present any symptoms until after they are contagious), and connect that to taking a knowingly ill child into the parks because you don't want to be inconvenienced or lose money.

Ethics and morals come into play when the intent of a person is in question. When you knowingly are aware that your child has a fever, and then medicate them to mask that fever, for both the child and others, it's a problem for many of us. Knowingly masking the fever so that the child won't complain and you can go about your day, so as not to inconvenience you or lose your money, is different in terms of the intent. Sure, the end result may be the same, but the other cases do not have the same intent.

The OP actually came here to say that she would probably cancel her trip. She mentioned her entire household has been ill, which means, they are already not well, and more than likely contagious, or at best, really run down. As I said, I've been there, done that, and it's a hard decision, but for the good of the ill person and the thousands he/she may come into contact with, it's necessary to make the cancellation decision in some cases.

Of course, many people's mileages vary, and that is why knowlingly forcing ill people into the parks is a really senstive area for me. Obviously, it's not so sensitive for others, as their intent is different than mine.

I hope the OP's child is well, and if she did have to reschedule her trip, I hope she is able to go on a rescheduled trip when her family is well.

Happy health to all, Tiger

 

[brymolmom]

I agree with your point, but how can you know for certain this was true? Even if he was exposed to that particular child, he could have picked it up anywhere you were previously...the grocery store, etc. He could have even picked it up from another daycare child that was not showing symptoms or being medicated for them.

Yes, your child is just as likely to have picked it up from a door handle or the pew at church or the grocery store....And actually IMO MORE likely to have picked it up from that same child at school a few days before the fever actually appeared.

Let me ask those who think we are making a morally wrong decision here....Do you truly think the germ level at WDW comes down a significant level if every person who has a fever stayed out? I guess that's what you guys think. I don't - IMO the germ level is not impacted at all (it still stays sky high) by having these people stay out of the park. So truly it is not a morally difficult decision for me as I don't believe my child is impacting any other children or people. The germ level is so high anyway that their risk remains the same whether the mildly ill kids are there or not. I guess if I truly thought otherwise I would think about it more.

 

[disneyandme]

Parents medicate their children all the time in order to send themto daycare or school. I use to teach and the kids would tell me that Mom gave them Tylenol that morning for their fever and hoped they wouldn't have to be called back to pick them up. If I noticed a child seemed out of sorts or had been out and just came back, often the first question I asked was whether or not Mom gave them meds that morning so I could get them sent home right away.
I understand for some it is a hardship to miss work for a sick child, but missing a vacation is not the same.

 

[Tiger926]

Yes, your child is just as likely to have picked it up from a door handle or the pew at church or the grocery store....And actually IMO MORE likely to have picked it up from that same child at school a few days before the fever actually appeared.

Let me ask those who think we are making a morally wrong decision here....Do you truly think the germ level at WDW comes down a significant level if every person who has a fever stayed out? I guess that's what you guys think. I don't - IMO the germ level is not impacted at all (it still stays sky high) by having these people stay out of the park. So truly it is not a morally difficult decision for me as I don't believe my child is impacting any other children or people. The germ level is so high anyway that their risk remains the same whether the mildly ill kids are there or not. I guess if I truly thought otherwise I would think about it more.

This is just justification for your actions. Your intent is different when you manipulate a situation, or knowingly adjust a situation in order to suit your needs.

Why do you think the germ level is so high at a place like WDW? Because many ill people go to the parks. As I stated, my child was in hospital while on vacation at WDW. We had the Chief of Pediatriacs and 2 other Pediatricians take care of her from Dr. Phillips hospital, and they told us horrible stories of ill children. And, because they do scientific research over there, they have found bacteria and such that even they were surprised at. They basically told us that they wish more parents were like us, and not gone to the parks, and instead stayed at their resort, cancelled their trip altogether, or brought to the hospital.

Like I said, there is nothing neither I, nor anyone else can say, as you have already determined that your decision is the best one, based on the fact that since WDW is a germy place, what's one more germ!

No reason to debate it anymore, as we all know where these threads lead...

I hope the OP and her family are ok, Tiger

 

[okeydokey]

OP, how is your son doing? I hope he made a full recovery and you were able to do your trip as planned.