When The Drugs Given To Help Your Child Can Kill

The terrifying reality of prescription overdoses

Photo by Road Ahead on Unsplash

When my son was a toddler, he was sick all the time.

From the time he entered daycare, it was a whirlwind of sleepless nights, snotty noses, fevers, vomit, diarrhea, laundry, and exhaustion. I lost track of how many times we went to the doctor, how many medicines he was prescribed, or how many times I didn’t sleep at all.

Most of the time, I was sick along with him.

I struggled just to get through each day. Even the most understanding of workplaces don’t allow you to take entire months off when you and your child are constantly sick.

So for those months, I operated in a state of semi-fog. Doing the motions — going to work, taking care of my son, and trying to function as an adult.

I worried constantly. Worried if my son would be sick forever. If this was “normal.” If there would ever be a reprieve.

But one thing I didn’t worry about was the care he received from his doctor. I never once questioned the medicine he was prescribed or the dosage. I trusted that when I took my very ill child to the doctor, he would get the care that he needed.

And he always did.