A mother has shared a stark warning after her two-year-old daughter ended up in the ICU fighting for her life due to a viral infection contracted from a ‘Thanksgiving kiss’.
With Thanksgiving approaching, 30-year-old Destiny Smith is urging people to reconsider kissing other people’s children during the holiday season.
Destiny initially observed what seemed to be a cold in her daughter during last year’s Thanksgiving, but became alarmed when she noticed her daughter’s breathing was abnormal.
Upon reaching the hospital, doctors informed her that her daughter, now three, had contracted respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), a prevalent respiratory virus. As her condition deteriorated, she was airlifted to the ICU.
Destiny, from Lake County, Florida, explained: “She was displaying symptoms of a cold, but there was something different about this one.
“Her breathing was strange, prompting us to take her to the hospital. Overnight, her condition severely worsened.
“After two days, she was airlifted to the PICU. They administered breathing treatments every two hours, but her oxygen levels continued to drop.”
The little girl battled for her life for eight days but fortunately made a full recovery.
Destiny’s daughter’s condition worsened during her first night in the hospital. Destiny and her partner stayed with her, observing her health deteriorate over two days.
After those two days, she was transferred to the pediatric ICU, where she spent five days.
“One moment she appeared fine, the next she wasn’t. It was terrifying,” Destiny reflected.
“The doctors were uncertain about whether her condition would worsen or improve. It was a dreadful ordeal.”
At one point, Destiny feared the worst and began planning her daughter’s funeral. Fortunately, her health improved, leading to her recovery.
The mother of four noted that friends and family were hugging and kissing her daughter before she got RSV. Although she isn’t certain if this caused the illness, Destiny’s perspective on allowing others to touch her child has shifted.
“I always advise caution about letting non-immediate family members hug and kiss their children, as they could be at risk too,” she mentioned.
“Raising awareness about this issue is crucial to me.
“I want other parents to realize how quickly things can escalate. Trust your instincts and seek medical attention if anything seems amiss.”