I had no idea what RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) was. I am not a medical professional. I am an average mom with three kids.

Like most kids, mine get the sniffles and sneezes during cold and flu season. They are up to date on their vaccinations, and interact with other children on a regular basis. Play dates, playgrounds, the grocery store. I’ve never kept my children in a bubble.

We had our third child in November. Adam was healthy and weighed a whopping 9 lbs. 8 oz. Right before Thanksgiving, our older son started to show signs of a nasty cough. He never ran a fever, and after about a week the virus had run its course. Like most families with multiple children, the virus was passed down to my 2 year old daughter.

A few days later Adam started showing signs of a cold, and then he took a turn for the worse. He started coughing a phlegmy cough. Adam was taken back to the pediatrician twice, the second time his nose was swabbed and he tested positive for RSV and bronchiolitis.

Adam started running a low grade fever. What I DIDN’T know was even a low grade fever is dangerous for a newborn. Completely naive. He was vomiting after every feed. The next morning he had gone a full 12 hours without a wet diaper. I called back to the doctor’s office. Instead of setting up my 10th appointment, they told me to take him to Nationwide Children’s Hospital immediately.

Adam spent 4 days and 3 nights hooked up to oxygen, IVs, fluids, antibiotics. He had multiple tests, chest X-rays, breathing treatments, nose aspirations. His care and treatment at Nationwide Children’s was FIRST CLASS! I can’t rave enough about the hospital and staff. While I loved the hospital, I never want to have to go back again with a sick child.

Since our run with RSV, Adam was enrolled in the case study at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Medical researchers are working on a vaccine for RSV. There currently is one for preemies, but this vaccine would be readily available to all newborns. I am hoping Adam is able to help save future babies from contracting this horrible virus. And I’m hoping our story sheds some light on a virus I previously knew nothing about.

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• Name: Adam I.Adam Ireland
• Condition(s): Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV)
• Age at Treatment: 6 weeks
• Age Today: 11/04/20176 Years

I had no idea what RSV (Respiratory Syncytial Virus) was. I am not a medical professional. I am an average mom with three kids.

Like most kids, mine get the sniffles and sneezes during cold and flu season. They are up to date on their vaccinations, and interact with other children on a regular basis. Play dates, playgrounds, the grocery store. I’ve never kept my children in a bubble.

We had our third child in November. Adam was healthy and weighed a whopping 9 lbs. 8 oz. Right before Thanksgiving, our older son started to show signs of a nasty cough. He never ran a fever, and after about a week the virus had run its course. Like most families with multiple children, the virus was passed down to my 2 year old daughter.

A few days later Adam started showing signs of a cold, and then he took a turn for the worse. He started coughing a phlegmy cough. Adam was taken back to the pediatrician twice, the second time his nose was swabbed and he tested positive for RSV and bronchiolitis.

Adam started running a low grade fever. What I DIDN’T know was even a low grade fever is dangerous for a newborn. Completely naive. He was vomiting after every feed. The next morning he had gone a full 12 hours without a wet diaper. I called back to the doctor’s office. Instead of setting up my 10th appointment, they told me to take him to Nationwide Children’s Hospital immediately.

Adam spent 4 days and 3 nights hooked up to oxygen, IVs, fluids, antibiotics. He had multiple tests, chest X-rays, breathing treatments, nose aspirations. His care and treatment at Nationwide Children’s was FIRST CLASS! I can’t rave enough about the hospital and staff. While I loved the hospital, I never want to have to go back again with a sick child.

Since our run with RSV, Adam was enrolled in the case study at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Medical researchers are working on a vaccine for RSV. There currently is one for preemies, but this vaccine would be readily available to all newborns. I am hoping Adam is able to help save future babies from contracting this horrible virus. And I’m hoping our story sheds some light on a virus I previously knew nothing about.