Mom Says Son's Life Was Saved Because of Facebook

""I said, I'm very concerned, you know, my kid looks very sick," she tells the news show." So you take a picture and upload it to facebook instead of going to the ER???? "

I don't know about you Sara but if your doctor says strep and the test hasn't come back negative yet as it hadn't for her you wait and fret, you figure the doctor knows best yes sometimes others telling you your gut is right is the only way your going to go back and stand up and say the doctor is wrong.

The doctors in the ER, most likely, would simply try another antibiotic. Sometimes they don't know best.

I completely agree! That was my first reaction when I read this, too!! My children get strep all the time during the season and it sounded like her son has had it before, too. If it isn't better by day two after taking the antibiotic then you need to go the the ER. Wow! I'm amazed at people like this who have children! They'd much rather be discussing their sick child on the social network than to actually pick your child up and go to the hospital. As you said, Sara, I'm just glad someone who had common sense told her to go tot he hospital!! I would have taken mine even if I didn't get word that it was the Kawasaki disease!! I hadn't heard of it either, but I bet I would have found out at the ER!!!!

Thank you Sarah for chastising a mother for networking when the DOCTOR failed to properly diagnose and treat her child! It's a new day and age when our social networks are no longer sewing circles and afternoon teas to ask close friends about our children, families and illnesses. I guess you didn't read the article because she took the child to the doctor and he got it wrong, yes the infallible knowitalls got it WRONG, so she turned to mother's and "friends" who may have had experience. After all, maybe the "friends" she had were doctors or nurses or teachers who see children all the time or maybe even parents of a child who had Kawasaki disease. According to you she should have just gone back to the very doctor who misdiagnosed him for a second round of antibiotics and months of testing before stumbling upon the answer! I am glad this mom used the tools she could to find help for her son before it was too late. Facebook or a knitting circle-doesn't make a world of difference as long as the boy is healthy!

My daughter had Kowasaki's Disease when she was two. The doctors all thought it was measles because the symptoms were identical until the time the measles rash should disappear. It took 12 days for her diagnosis, then a 3 day stay in isolation in the hospital, and a year of drug therapy and monitoring to make sure there was no permanent damage. At least someone had another idea about what this child's illness was sooner than later.

When it comes to diseases and such that are uncomon most doctors will not correctly diagnose the illness. My youngest daughter was diagnosed with pneumonia years ago in the ER. We ended up bringing her into a childrens hospital to get checked by a different doctor when things got worse instead of better. Luckily for us when she stopped breathing we were already in the childrens hospital waiting room waiting to be seen. Her disease was rare and thankfully the better hosptial caught it and she is now fine 19 years later. Those posts do help. It was a babysitter (older woman) that told me that she thought the diagnosis was wrong and to take my daughter in to a childrens hospital.

Sara ..Perhaps you should read the article more closely. This is a concerned mother who had already been to the doc ... had a throat swab done ... child was on antibiotics for probable strep throat. The swab came back negative, ... which usually takes 48 hrs. for results .... another contact with her doc. as the child was still sick. By this time a lot of time had passed. This wise Mom did what mothers have done since the dawn of time & conversation .... she expressed her concern to her friends ... other Moms & they gave support & advice. In our modern times a circle of friends can encompass many people, both geographically & numerically via the internet. She tapped into large collective body of knowledge & got suggestions which she then asked the Doc to check out.
This Mom deserves a commendation for epitomizing good , sensible & protective parenting! .... not derision!!

I have four grown kids. Going to the ER (trust me!) isn't one stop shopping! They do misdiagnose, so smart parents are Googling symptoms and talking to other parents. All four of my kids have been misdiagnosed at some point. Insurance companies pressure docs not to get labs unless really important. Mothers must advocate for their kids so that they get the lab work needed.
Be especially careful about ongoing drugs, especially antidepressants. Make sure your kids have excellent diets and exercise before going to ongoing meds. I'm not talking antibiotics, but antide

my grandson was in the hospital for 3 weeks before they decided he had kawasaki. before that he was going to the er and dr for 3-4 days.

If you've never heard of Kawasaki Disease (or any possible rare illness) you wouldn't know to ask the ER to check for it. ER doctors are generally really busy and so don't think about a RARE ILLNESS as a possible cause of illness, especially when the symptoms look like so many more common illnesses, most of which seem to always be "going around".

She did not NOT SEEK medical attention at all, she just thought she had a new fangled way to get some additional input. Experience is the best teacher and not every doctor has experience with every rare illness.

thank you

Sara She said she had already taken her son to the Dr. and he told her is was strep. People rely on doctors for help! any Er Dr.would have most likely said the same. When you feel helpless that you cannot help your son reaching out is sometimes what people do. Don't be so critical of others.

So would you object to her talking to her neighbor? Or is your problem her form of communication?

Did we read the same article? It says she uploaded the picture of her son while bored in her doctor's waiting room already.

Did you NOT read the entire article? She was IN the waiting room of her pediatrician's office when she snapped the picture. Geez. READ THE ARTICLE~ It was in the same paragraph.

She took the picture while she was at the pediatrician. People read every word and not just what you want to.

Sara..Gee she went to the Doctor first.. Read it First...

Now we all know Sarah is a MORON that can't read.......

OH NO LOOK EVERYONE A CHILD IS SICK I MUST IMMEDIATELY FIND A WAY TO BLAME THE MOTHER! OH HERE IT IS! SHE USES THE INTERNET!

Nevermind that her actions saved her son's life. NOOOOoooo. It's HER fault anyway.