HealthLinksSC.com | 87 It’s common for young children in day care to get sick often as their immune systems begin to develop. Cory said members of his family had been sick several times throughout the year by the time Liam contracted RSV, despite all of their efforts to stay healthy. The RSV didn’t seem any different from a cold at first, and they never anticipated it getting any worse. Once their kids started showing symptoms, they took both of them to their pediatrician; Liam had already been to the doctor’s office once or twice the week he got so sick. At that point, his symptoms were no worse than those of a common cold, and it was only when he started struggling to breathe that his parents knew they needed more urgent help. Their quick action helped Liam recover as well as he did. “After learning from this experience, I would advise parents to be more vigilant,” said Cory. “Little children are obviously more fragile than adults. We feel like we can handle anything sometimes, but they can turn really quick.” “I think about what would've happened had we not brought him in as quickly as we did. Could it have been a different outcome? It's hard for me to even think about that, but I would never wish that experience upon anybody,” he added. “I think it's better to err on the side of caution. You can't be a hermit in life, but, if you can make decisions to benefit your health, then do it.” Over the past year, the Robertsons have had to make a few sacrifices to keep their family safe because it’s possible for either of their children to contract RSV again. But they haven’t completely withdrawn, instead finding a balance between being able to live their lives and keeping a close eye on their children’s health. They’ve consulted their pediatricians about the steps they can take to avoid serious illness. And, over the past year, they’ve seen their son grow into a much healthier kid. “He's walking around everywhere now,” said Cory. “His personality's really coming out. He has got such a smile and such a curiosity for life. He’s definitely stronger and healthier, so he’s doing really good.”
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