This story puts a human face on the battle against swine flu in Tayside (Scotland) which has so far had remarkably no deaths recorded as yet despite consistently relatively high ILI rates.
http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2009/12/23/story14304590t0.shtm
Smiling again - Kennedy Quinn
A Dundee youngster who almost died of swine flu is hoping to put a ?horrible? year behind her by opening her Christmas presents at home (writes Graeme Ogston).
Five-year-old Kennedy Quinn, who received a life-saving liver and bowel transplant when she was only 11 months old, was given hours to live when she contracted the disease earlier this year.
Although she has since recovered, Kennedy is receiving treatment at Ninewells after a recurrence of septicaemia (blood poisoning).
Kennedy?s mum Shelly Hughes said she hoped her daughter would be allowed home on Christmas Day for at least a couple of hours.
She said, ?They gave her hours to live when she had swine flu and they told us to say our goodbyes. She was really, really poorly.
?But yet again, she bounced back. We are even hoping she might get home on Christmas Eve. Her temperature could go up tomorrow so we need to wait and see.
?We don?t plan, but if she does get home we will all have Christmas dinner with Kennedy?s gran.?
Shelly said she and Kennedy?s dad Kevin had expected their daughter to be fine this Christmas.
She said, ?Usually what happens is that if she?s out of hospital on Halloween, she ends up there on Christmas Day.
?We were in on Halloween this year so we thought it would work the way it usually works, and we?d be alright for Christmas.
?Then she got septicaemia again, so she is on antibiotics right up to Christmas. If we get her home, we?ll have to bring her back in at night.?
Shelly said she was keen for her daughter to spend some time at home over the festive season after what had been a ?rubbish? twelve months for her and her family.
She said, ?It started off last Christmas Day when we had to bring her to Ninewells. Then we ended up in Birmingham Children?s Hospital where she had her transplant a few years back and we were there for five months.
?When we got back she was starting to get a bit better, but then she got swine flu. She was in Ninewells, Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital, Yorkhill and then back here. It?s just been a horrible, horrible year.?
Although Kennedy started at Rowantree Primary in August, she has only managed to attend three half-days since then.
Shelly said, ?She is getting home schooling for an hour three times a week. It was the only thing to do to stop her from falling behind.?
Despite her setbacks, Kennedy sits happily playing on her hospital bed as her mum and dad proudly fuss over her.
?Nothing gets her down,? said Shelly. ?She?s just amazing.?
As for Kennedy, her Christmas highlight will be a visit from Santa, who she hopes will drop off a card-making set.
Shelly said, ?She was a bit worried about having to stay in hospital on Christmas Eve, but we have told her Santa will know where she is.
?I have a feeling that Santa is going to bring her a good few things she can sit and play with.?
http://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/output/2009/12/23/story14304590t0.shtm
Smiling again - Kennedy Quinn
A Dundee youngster who almost died of swine flu is hoping to put a ?horrible? year behind her by opening her Christmas presents at home (writes Graeme Ogston).
Five-year-old Kennedy Quinn, who received a life-saving liver and bowel transplant when she was only 11 months old, was given hours to live when she contracted the disease earlier this year.
Although she has since recovered, Kennedy is receiving treatment at Ninewells after a recurrence of septicaemia (blood poisoning).
Kennedy?s mum Shelly Hughes said she hoped her daughter would be allowed home on Christmas Day for at least a couple of hours.
She said, ?They gave her hours to live when she had swine flu and they told us to say our goodbyes. She was really, really poorly.
?But yet again, she bounced back. We are even hoping she might get home on Christmas Eve. Her temperature could go up tomorrow so we need to wait and see.
?We don?t plan, but if she does get home we will all have Christmas dinner with Kennedy?s gran.?
Shelly said she and Kennedy?s dad Kevin had expected their daughter to be fine this Christmas.
She said, ?Usually what happens is that if she?s out of hospital on Halloween, she ends up there on Christmas Day.
?We were in on Halloween this year so we thought it would work the way it usually works, and we?d be alright for Christmas.
?Then she got septicaemia again, so she is on antibiotics right up to Christmas. If we get her home, we?ll have to bring her back in at night.?
Shelly said she was keen for her daughter to spend some time at home over the festive season after what had been a ?rubbish? twelve months for her and her family.
She said, ?It started off last Christmas Day when we had to bring her to Ninewells. Then we ended up in Birmingham Children?s Hospital where she had her transplant a few years back and we were there for five months.
?When we got back she was starting to get a bit better, but then she got swine flu. She was in Ninewells, Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital, Yorkhill and then back here. It?s just been a horrible, horrible year.?
Although Kennedy started at Rowantree Primary in August, she has only managed to attend three half-days since then.
Shelly said, ?She is getting home schooling for an hour three times a week. It was the only thing to do to stop her from falling behind.?
Despite her setbacks, Kennedy sits happily playing on her hospital bed as her mum and dad proudly fuss over her.
?Nothing gets her down,? said Shelly. ?She?s just amazing.?
As for Kennedy, her Christmas highlight will be a visit from Santa, who she hopes will drop off a card-making set.
Shelly said, ?She was a bit worried about having to stay in hospital on Christmas Eve, but we have told her Santa will know where she is.
?I have a feeling that Santa is going to bring her a good few things she can sit and play with.?