Louisiana writes to her Ohio friend after Bart has written to her via computer.
Tuesday, Feb. 7, 2006, 7:57 p.m., C.S.T.~
Dear Bart~
Thank you for your letter; your letter made me cry. I am sorry you are having such a hard time accepting Annie's passing! I wish I knew what to say or how to offer comfort in your time of need! I will be praying extra hard for you this week!
I am sorry to tell you that my son, Arjun Ravi, is in the hospital. He has respiratory syncytial virus disease. Basically, in layman's terms, this occurs when the virus that cause this contagious illness attacks the respiratory system of small infants. Those babies who were born premature, or babies with heart or lung disease, has school-age siblings at home, goes to daycare where he is exposed to other children, or babies who are exposed to tobacco smoke are especially vulnerable in developing this illness. Severe cases of RSV can result in hospitalization, or worse, death. This is why quick action after symptoms first develop is of the utmost importance because it just may save the child's life. I am sure you are familiar with RSV, seeing you have small children at home yourself. He is resting comfortably in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and oxygen and antibiotics are helping him. He will be in for at least a week, and I am hoping that he does well. I saw him today, and he is still on the ventilator, but his oxygen levels have improved; they may take him off the respirator by tomorrow afternoon if he contiues to do as well as he is doing. So God is indeed good! :)
Thank you for the prayers for Arjun; I really appreciate your concern in OUR time of need! I will certainly continue to pray for you, Bart!
I am glad that you had snow. According to the Weather Channel, your area of the country has had a lot of snow, and it has been colder than usual there. I suppose cold weather and abundant snowfall is normal in your part of the world, but when WE in the South get snow, they shut the whole city down, even if it is only an inch or two! We Southerners just aren't equipped to handle wintery precipitaion, and when it strikes, it usually catches us off guard. I know it does me: when it snwos I am ever the cautious driver, and it is all I can do to keep from falling and busting my butt (or something else! LOL) or avoid getting into an accident with my van. Those icy roads absolutely terrify me. The kids sure do love the snow; it gives them an excuse to go outside and get some needed fresh air/exercise!
Bart, your working like this concerns me. You are only endangering the health of yourself, and what would happen to the boys should something happen to you? That would not be good! Maybe you feel it is necessary to provide for your sons, but if you get sick, it is only going to make things worse. Maybe you ought to cut back on the hours of at least one of the jobs or just quit the second job altogether and just concentrate on the one. You would have more time to spend with your sons, and you would have time to do more things! I don't mean to pry in your world, but have seen the effects of exhaustion or overworking on a human body, and it is NOT a pretty picture! Please think about what I am telling you, and please try to take care of yourself. Kenny, Jack, and Jeremiah need you, and if you are sick or tired, it would NOT do them ONE bit of good!
Well, dear friend, I will go now. Have to make sure that the kids get ready for bed; it won't be long before they hit the sack for the night. I will be in bed by ten myself; I have to work in the morning. I work tomorrow from 6 a.m. until 2 p.m., and I want to make sure that I get enough rest to face the day tomorrow! God bless you always, and write me whenever you feel the need to. I am your friend, and when my friends are hurting, I hurt, too!
(((HUGS))) and much love, your friend in Tennessee, Louie May. :(
