Arlington parents deal with the effects of 2 of their children testing positive for COVID-19
They chose to share their story to link real faces to the chaos that COVID-19 can cause with families like yours, especially those with children who have special needs.
ARLINGTON, Texas – Scotty Carlton was born with a profound cognitive disability. Doctors said he would only survive two years.
Now, against all odds, the 11-year-old boy is fighting COVID-19.
“We are used to some of his conditions and we think, ‘OK, that’s just the reflux or maybe he just has a cold.’ So it was still overwhelming when it came to that phone call,” said Scotty’s mother, Catherine Carlton, upon learning that she had tested positive for the virus.
The family of five prepared then. Further tests revealed that her 9-year-old son, Jeffrey, was also positive.
“Jeffrey had some symptoms, so once we found out that Scotty had it, if anyone was going to have it, it’s still incredulous that it’s both of them and not all of it.”
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Scotty’s parents said their primary caregiver also tested positive and is now recovering.
Scotty and Jeffrey spent several days at Cook Children’s Hospital. Fortunately, their conditions allowed them to return home, where there is now another challenge, a double quarantine.
“We have designated areas. The 9-year-old has his own chair, his own kitchen table set to eat. It has a designated bathroom, so we are doing the best we can, “Catherin explained. “Don’t touch the refrigerator, but really the challenging part for him is that he wears a mask around the house and we haven’t had contact with him. That is hard for him and also for us. “
“Every time someone in this house coughs or tickles their throats or just doesn’t feel well, you’re on high alert. It’s like living with a low level of fear, “added her father, Jeff.
Catherine and Jeff decided to share their story to link real faces to the chaos that COVID-19 can cause with families like yours, especially those with children who have special needs.
“There are several hundred thousand medically fragile children in Texas alone. They all have siblings, parents, and grandparents. These children are much more susceptible to this thing. When they end up sick with COVID-19, there is a ripple effect on all caregivers, younger brothers, older sisters and grandparents, “said Jeff.
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