Ay, Matie Where Ye Treasure Be?

March 2020, lockdowns in the United States due to Covid-19 outbreak, turned pandemic. I had plans that year of traveling. Every year, at the end of May when school lets out for the summer, I travel from Texas to Colorado to pick up my grandson, Mr. J, for our summer visit. This year was even more special, Mr. J’s father and his wife were expecting identical twins. The first multiple birth in our family. The plans were for me to have my visit with Mr. J for our regular three weeks. Return to Colorado with him in June, and stay to help out before and when the twins arrive at the end of July.

LOCKDOWN: NO ONE LEAVE THEIR STATE, NO GATHERINGS, NO TRAVEL

All my travel plans are cancelled. No one can enter the state of Colorado, especially if they are from Texas. A travel ban put in place by the state of Colorado. I would not see my grandson in 2020. I would not be there to help my son, his wife with their three children while she was on bed rest due her pregnancy of identical twins.

Health visits were restricted to what was absolutely necessary. Medical procedures were only done for life threatening conditions. A pregnancy of twins is not considered life threatening. The bare minimum of ultrasounds and doctor visits were allowed for my daughter-in-law and her identical twin boys.

In June what would have become a weekly visit to see the doctor and be examined, were instead telephone visits with a once a month physical exam. The middle of July, my daughter-in-law felt things were not right, but there were no physical symptoms of things being wrong.

The end of July, she went to the hospital, said she felt something wrong as the babies had not moved for a few days. They performed an ultrasound, her last one was performed three months prior. They were looking to see if the babies were practicing breathing, and lung development for a possible delivery. During the ultrasound one of the twins started to crash, heart beat dove downward – an emergency delivery was performed.

For three and half hours they worked on Eugene, trying to get oxygen in his system and his vitals stable. There was no more they could do. Our little Eugene died. The cause, Twin to Twin Transfusion that could have been detected by ultrasound if one had been performed.

Was it the fault of her regular doctor? Who is to blame for not identifying the condition and her receiving treatment for this condition?

Upon medical review by the state of Colorado and an outside source, as there was a lawsuit brought forth, the attending physician did all they were allowed to do at the time for the care of a pregnant woman carrying twins. The restriction of medical procedures in hospitals, because the ultrasound to look for twin to twin transfusion is only able to be done with equipment located in a hospital where my son and his family are located, is the cause of the death. Twin to Twin Transfusion is not life-threatening unless it is identified. To identify Twin to Twin Transfusion requires regular ultrasounds to monitor the development of the babies and placenta during the pregnancy.

Those restrictions put into place to prevent and control the spread of Covid-19, would not allow my daughter-in-law to have an ultrasound just to monitor the babies, something had to be wrong first. When they knew something was wrong, it was too late.

To lose a child is no greater pain. I was unable to be with my son, my daughter-in-law and grandchildren during this time of lose. Our family suffered the loss of a child, a nephew, a cousin, a grandchild separated by regulations and restrictions. There was no memorial, as most of us could not even enter the state of Colorado due to the state regulations on travel.

The greatest treasure is family. The time spent with family to make memories, to help and assist when needed are joys we all share. Yet, this treasure was taken from us in order for a virus to be controlled and treated.

Did those restrictions help? I doubt it, as the virus is still here, the vaccines do not work as those vaccinated still get Covid-19. Now we live without all the restrictions and the number of cases are the same, although the deaths have dropped because now they know what treatments work.

Treasure lost – a child, a future, a joy.

amtolle