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The Costs of Waiting: Vaccine Choices and Consequences

Family silhouette in summer
Family silhouette in summer

Many years ago, I cared for a family- the patient, a little girl 2 years old. She had been admitted to our pediatric unit with varicella, or as many know it, Chicken Pox. She had not been vaccinated, “No big deal… it’s just chicken pox.”

She had a developed a terrible infection of the vesicles on her arm, an aggressive bacterial superinfection of those “pox.”

A few day went by, the intravenous antivirals and antibiotics were not working as quickly as the medical team would have liked to see. She had progressed to develop a varicella pneumonia and required critical care.

Now in the PICU, she was placed on a ventilator, to help her little lungs rest and heal. That arm was becoming worse, not better, and needed amputation. For a few days after her surgery, things were looking up- the bacterial infection seemed to be at bay- but she was still struggling to breathe.

Eventually, it all became too much for her tired, sick little body and a cascade of multisystem organ failure began. It was clear, the chance of a meaningful recovery was none. The dreaded but necessary conversation about how to proceed was approached with the parents. Ultimately it was decided to provide this sweet baby as much comfort as possible as she succumbed to her chicken pox.

This case was one of those that I will never forget. The virus “won.” Yet we had the tools to beat it. It could have been prevented with a readily available vaccine. I have thought about this family quite a bit in recent weeks. Those parents were devastated. They never, ever thought their baby would die from “just chicken pox.” They truly did not know- until they were living that nightmare.

I came across this initiative today, “The Cost of Waiting,” https://www.thecostsofwaiting.com/public-service-announcement

If you or someone you know has waited or refused to be vaccinated for COVID- often out of lack of knowledge, fear or misinformation, maybe some of the resources provided within the site will be helpful. No one should have to die from a vaccine preventable disease, and the more of us vaccinated, the more we can protect those who medically cannot be vaccinated.

By Laurie Trezza

A Registered Nurse, turned Personal Trainer, with a specialization in corrective exercise, I bring a unique perspective to the world of fitness. I have journeyed through joint replacement, weight loss and other obstacles, all of these experiences shape the trainer I am today.

This concept was created out of a love and appreciation for movement. I'm sure you have heard the cliché, "You don't know what you've got 'till it's gone!" I kind of experienced that in reverse.... Let me explain...

As a little girl I truly despised running and moving quickly- any game that required speed and agility was just not for me. I gravitated to slower, low impact activities- movement was really just the worst. Why? My knees hurt after a short time of running or jumping. No one really knew what to tell me, they'd shrug it off and run away. I was just "no good" at sports. Despite my lack of fast motion, I did remain pretty active.... but those knees!

As I got into my college years, I finally went to a specialist. He refused to even image my knees. I was "too young" for any type of issue he said. "Take an anti-inflammatory, get some more exercise and ice afterwards. You'll be fine." he continued. That was not what I had been hoping to hear. Maybe I was oversensitive. Oh well.

I graduated from college, got my first job as a Registered Nurse on a busy telemetry unit in a large teaching hospital in the NYC metro area. I got married, a few years later had my first baby, then my second.... then number three (oh, and bonus! it was twins!!!!) Still... those knees.... worse, worse, and worse....

The final straw- at a party, I met another mom, also carrying twins, as we chatted about all things twin pregnancy related, she squatted down to the coffee table below us to retrieve a snack.... Whoa!!!! Her baby-filled belly was even larger than mine (she was further along than I was) and she got up and down like she was an American Ninja Warrior! There was no WAY I could do that with my knees!

Once the babies were born, and life was humming along at a relatively normal-insane pace, I found another orthopedist. He listened, imaged, and found that indeed, my knees were a disaster. For a number of years we played with all types of treatments to prolong the inevitable... total knee replacements.

The year I turned 40, I was given one of the best gifts ever... a pair of titanium and polyethylene prosthetic knees! The surgery was difficult and painful to recover from, but the results were truly life altering.

Since recovering from my total knee replacements (TKR's), I have re-discovered exercise and movement again. It does NOT have to hurt. Exercise and movement does not need to be high impact and harmful to your joints to be effective in changing your body composition and changing how you feel. Exercise and movement absolutely must be, a part of your life to keep you fit both physically and mentally.

Newton's law of physics... "A body in motion STAYS in motion."

I had no idea how impactful motion would be on my life, until I could move without pain. It has made such an incredible change for me, I decide to make it my livelihood.

I've tied my nursing background in with my life experience with joint replacement, and looped that with a certification in personal training and specialization in corrective exercise. I am focusing this work to help others like me- who may be struggling to regain motion and emotional control after a difficult surgery or other life-altering situation.

Physical activity is the most under-utilized antidepressant out there, and in my observations, it seems we have a society that is more depressed than ever. Focusing on movement to better the body, mind, and spirit, that's what my work is about.

Grab YOUR OpportuKNEEty and SHINE!