A few weeks ago, Louise became infected with the corona virus. Although the 11-year-old girl from Quévy initially showed no symptoms, a few days ago she had to be admitted to a hospital in La Louvière. “Louise is a perfectly healthy girl, full of energy and always in a good mood,” says her mother Alexandra. “Normally anyway.”
Just like the young Kaïs, the four-year-old boy from Vilvoorde who was kept in an artificial coma for a while after a corona infection, Louise now suffers from the inflammatory disease PIMS (pediatric inflammatory multisystem syndrome) or MIS-C.
“Until last week there were no indications that Louise had become infected,” said her mother. “But then the headache started that didn’t seem to go away. After a few days we went to the emergency ward in Bergen and later we were referred to the children’s ward in Jolimont. There the infection was diagnosed and more symptoms appeared: upset stomach, water in her lungs and an infection in her heart. Fortunately, she should not be put into a coma, but as a mother this is very hard to see. You are completely helpless. ”
Alexandra is not only scared, but also angry. “Neither my husband nor I contracted the virus. We have always been very careful, both at work and in private. We respect all hygiene measures, but clearly not everyone is as meticulous as we are. The only place she could have caught it is at school. I don’t blame the board because I know they respect the rules, but I’m sure several kids were sent to school after one of their parents or grandparents tested positive. After the autumn break, I hesitated to take her back to school. I did it anyway and now I regret it. ”
Alexandra posted a photo of Louise in her hospital bed on social media. The image has now been shared more than 10,000 times. “The ordeal my daughter is going through now is proof that we should not take this virus lightly and that anyone can be affected. I have the impression that some think they are untouchable, but they are not. Louise proves the opposite. ”
Also a five-year-old boy in hospital
Céline Moine, a single mother from Châtelet, also posted a similar message on Facebook. With a photo of her five-year-old son. “My name is Eden”, the mother wrote on behalf of her son in the Facebook post. “I am five years old and I am a victim of Covid-19.”
Like Louise, Eden is badly affected by the virus. “At the beginning of November it seemed like he was a bit more flu-like. Then he developed more stomach pains and vomited often. The doctor first thought of stomach flu and prescribed some medication, but nothing seemed to help. On the contrary, as the days went on, Eden also had difficulty urinating and his fever kept rising and rising day after day. ”
Mother Céline decided to go to the doctor again, who referred her to the hospital. “That was on Friday the thirteenth, I will never forget. Although we did not believe in Covid at the time, a test was still carried out. While waiting for the results, he was allowed to return home and we were given medication to treat his urinary tract infection. A day later we got the phone call: the test was positive and we all had to be quarantined at home. The doctors told me that the illness would go away after a few days, like the flu. ”
A few nights later, however, Céline was awakened by her son. “He screamed that his legs hurt, so much so that he couldn’t walk anymore. I still hear those screams now. ”
It went straight to the emergency room and Eden had to spend a few days in the children’s ward of the local hospital, but can go home today. “Although he still has to take antibiotics for his infections and his right leg is still hurting. On Friday a doctor will come to observe him again. He cannot walk alone yet and certain days he really suffers. Terrible, ”said his mother.
“The coronavirus is not a conspiracy, not a joke,” she concludes. “My son is barely five and it bothered him so much. Please follow all measures to prevent new infections. ” (mtm)
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