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So yesterday I took Samuel for his one-year check-up.  I had both the big boys in tow…one with his Heely’s on, which is always a little interesting. 

I knew Samuel would be getting the dreaded MMR shot.  Everytime I’m out with girlfriends lately the conversation seems to always turn to the MMR somehow.  Thanks to Oprah.  And Jenny McCarthy.  Who went on Oprah and told the world that immunizations (specifically the MMR shot) had caused her baby’s autism.  It wasn’t the first time that concern has been raised, but it brought it once again to the forefront of people’s minds.  The link between immunizations and autism is a touchy subject.  And one that leaves even me (who usually shrugs those kinds of things off) a little hesitant.  No one likes to think that something they are choosing for their baby’s health could be harming them.  Period.

I raised the concern with my doctor yesterday and she put my mind at ease with several studies and points of discussion that I won’t get in to at the moment.

She left the room and we waited for the nurse to come back in to administer the shots.

Then the doctor came back in…and explained…that they had just discovered that a nurse had mistakenly administered Samuel the MMR vaccine at his 4-month check-up.  It is not usually given until they are 12 months.  This is the very shot that I had asked about just minutes before.  WHAT?!? 

She was very apologetic.  And I was understanding (what else can you do?). 

But then I got home.  And made a shocking realization based on my records.  10 days after that shot was given to him at 4 months, he broke out with a rash.  Remember this? 

And then 10 days after THAT, we were admitting him to the emergency room with high fever and a high White Blood Cell count.  He/we endured a spinal tap, failed attempts at IVs, and a CT Scan.

Needless to say, we are NOT very happy.  And very alarmed. 

There is no way to say if the circumstances are linked.  There are no known studies linking high fever, WBC with the MMR vaccine.  But there are studies that link a rash in the first 10 days after administration of the vaccine. 
I have to wonder if his little body was working overtime to fight off the vaccine and it left his immune system weak and overrun.

I have had another discussion with the doctor, who I happen to admire and trust.  And thankfully I have worked with her enough to know that she is trustworthy.  Gratefully that nurse is no longer with her. 

Now we just hope and pray that there are no long term effects from that mistake.  I can’t imagine that there will be…at least I hope.

Wow – life can sure be interesting.