So they figured, even if the worst came to the worst...
But then poor Jake went and picked the disease up only a few months later anyway, while they were still hand-wringing over the whole thing.
Admittedly, it was at first terrifying to discover that their helpless little one-year-old had contracted something serious, but she and Tom had managed it and, thank goodness, all had been OK.
So when the time came to vaccinate Clara, they truly didn’t even think twice. What were the chances of her contracting measles, too? And, if she did, wouldn’t they just deal with it again?
Despite repeated protests from their GP, urging them to reconsider, Madeleine and Tom eventually concluded—based on both their research and experience—that avoiding the vaccine was the lesser of two evils. It was a risk, but a calculated one.
Or so they’d thought.
Rosie isn’t vaccinated, either...
But now, like a blow to the solar plexus, the big difference in this situation hit Madeleine full force. Jake had been young enough to contain and to prevent infecting others, but Clara was in school. With lots of other children. And, given that their daughter had contracted the disease by nature of the fact that she was unvaccinated, it was obvious she’d now passed it on, and even worse, to someone who, according to Lucy, didn’t have the vaccination option.
This was a scenario that Madeleine and Tom hadn’t run the odds on.
Realizing that she had left Lucy in silence on the line, she whispered, “And Ellie Madden, too?” Christ, had she passed it on to the entire Junior Infants class, the whole school even? Oh, God...
“No, apparently Ellie actually does have chicken pox—that’s already confirmed. But, Maddie, get Clara to a doctor straightaway. And you have to get Jake out of school, too. Once it’s in your house, he’s likely still infectious, even though...” To her credit, Madeleine was grateful to Lucy for not making a big deal of their refusal to vaccinate. Goodness knew she and Tom had faced considerable ire from various quarters before about it.
“I talked to the principal at Applewood,” her friend went on. “Kate made them aware right away, and they’re hoping to keep this quiet for the moment. It’s a good thing it’s nearly the weekend as they don’t want a full-blown panic, but they need to identify who is the highest risk—anyone with autoimmune issues or anything like that. There are very few others there who aren’t already immunized, thank goodness, but...”
Lucy’s voice trailed off and right then Madeleine felt deeply ashamed that her family—her choice—had visited this on the school.
“You know, kids that aren’t protected can still be helped, Madeleine. I looked it up and if you do vaccinate within seventy-two hours of a suspected outbreak, infection can still be prevented. So I just thought that maybe it’s not too late for Clara...”
Despite herself, she felt defensive. “Lucy, I’m sorry but I can’t talk about it now,” she said wearily. “That’s between me and Tom. It’s a family decision.”
And she knew exactly what her husband would have to say on the matter.No way.
“Sorry, Maddie,” Lucy replied quietly. “I just thought... Sorry.”
Madeleine took a deep breath. She knew her friend was only trying to help. “No need to apologize. It’s just a shock...and I’m trying to get a grip on what I should do.” In truth, she was still a bit floored that this had happened, but at the same time she needed to get her ass in gear... She’d have to call Tom at work and the GP, of course, as well as haul Jake out of school and a million other things...
A cold shiver ran its way up Madeleine’s spine as she looked back at her feverish daughter and suddenly a new realization set in—one that carried with it a whole new level of worry. Measles... Clara really was ill, too—a lot more feverish and uncomfortable than Jake had been.
Maybe it will be more serious this time.
The odds were small, but they were still odds: measles could be fatal.
For all these years, she and Tom had played them, and now that horrible realization, albeit distant and buried, rose once again to the fore.
Oh, God...what have we done...
Madeleine swallowed hard, and her thoughts instantly turned to Kate O’Hara, who was in the same situation as her at that moment. Well, almost the same. After all, she had Tom to share the burden, whereas poor Kate was on her own.
“Is Rosie OK?” she asked, trembling. “Should I call her mother?”
Lucy was circumspect. “I’m not sure that’s the best idea just at the minute. Like you, she has a lot on her plate now. Maybe you should just focus on Clara for the moment,” her friend advised.
Madeleine nodded. In truth, the idea of talking to Kate just then was horrifying, especially if she, too, suspected Clara was the carrier.
Lucy was probably right and she knew Kate much better than Madeleine did. In fairness, she hardly knew Rosie’s mum at all, having only minimal contact with her at the school or related activities, and of course that time when the poor thing lost her husband.
But, more to the point, what could Madeleine possibly do for Kate’s daughter now other than apologize?
Deciding she’d spent more than enough time wallowing, she said goodbye to Lucy before springing into action and trying to get a handle on this thing.
