CATHEDRAL CITY, Calif. – A Southern California mother who lost her infant son to RSV is sharing her tragic story to warn other parents as a wave of the dangerous virus is rapidly spreading across the country.
“He was truly the best baby and the sweetest little soul. We loved him. We love him so much,” Jessica Myers said through tears.
Myers lost his son William on November 15. He was only 6 weeks old.
“The RSV treatments for him ended up being just too much. His little heart stopped and it took them a long time to get him back. When they did, my son was brain dead. , and so we had a few days to say goodbye,” Myers says.
William Myers was only a few weeks old when he fell ill with the virus. First it was a congestion, then a cough. The couple then took their baby to the crowded local hospital and said they had to wait six hours before William was tested for RSV.
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“When you get to the ER, ask for the RSV test right away. It’s a two-minute nasal swab and a five-minute test. I mean, they came back and by the time they knew that William had RSV, we saw a doctor within five minutes because they knew how bad it was at the time,” says Myers.
Once he tested positive for RSV, William was airlifted to another hospital and intubated. He died three days later.
“And that’s how seriously people have to take this is when we finally got to the ER and they called hospitals in Southern California to find room for my son, he there were so many hospitals they called that just didn’t have a room,” Myers says.
“My son was born on October 3, a bit earlier. Then, my son officially passed on November 15, which was his due date. So my son left the world the day he was supposed to enter it. It really, really hurts,” Myers says.
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Now, Myers is warning other parents that this disease is very serious and encouraging families to take extra precautions this holiday season.
“I know it’s hard to say no to your family, especially during the holidays. But, for my family, there will never be Christmas. So, for other families, I really want them to have d “Other Christmases. There will be other Christmases. Just protect your children,” says Myers.
In the past month alone, RSV cases have skyrocketed across the country. In good news, data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) shows that cases are declining nationwide, but remain at concerning levels.
Surging cases of RSV, influenza and COVID are fueling a shortage of pediatric beds.
Many hospitals say they don’t have enough resources to handle the influx. Just over the past month, healthcare facilities in California, Oregon and Massachusetts have added overflow facilities, even building tents outside emergency rooms. Some have had to delay elective surgeries due to the large increase.
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Doctors say a runny nose, coughing, sneezing and fever are the main warning signs. But, little William didn’t have a fever, so it varies.
As we enter winter, doctors say they are preparing for a tripledemic, with cases of RSV, influenza and COVID peaking in January.
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