Mom on the Run
I straighten up and shut the drawer, lavender booklet in my hand. I am so relieved. I mean, I knew I still had it, this medical records book has been closely guarded since the pediatrician gave it to me at my son’s four-day-old check-up in May of 1995. It’s got his height and weight and blood pressure for every check-up through to when he turned 16, plus, most importantly, I flip through, looking – aha, there it is! – his vaccination record.
The vaccination record is printed on the inside back cover. The name of the vaccine runs down the left-hand column, and to the right, in different inks and handwritings as they were filled in over the years, the dates of the shots.
I run my finger down the column … DTP 1, DTP 2, DTP 3 … series of four Hib … a bunch of OPV IVs, is that polio? … and aha! MMR or, as I clearly remember, Measles, Mumps, Rubella. Immediately below the MMR section, the other currently important immunization: Hepatitis B.
I look closely at the MMR listings. My son had two vaccinations, in July of 1996 and in April of 2000. And that’s it, just the two, but there are only two slots, too. The pediatrician’s office never expected us to get more than two, and he did. Humph. See? All slots are filled in. I knew I did what I was told!
OK, next, Hepatitis B. My son got three doses of that, in May 1995, in July 1995, and in January 1996. It’s there, very clearly, all of those in my own handwriting. What was the question again? Booklet in hand, I go downstairs and find my son. Yesterday we received a message on our answering machine from the nurse at the college he plans to attend in the fall. I decided to let my 18-year-old handle it himself, and he called earlier today – he took this issue very seriously, he doesn’t want anything to stop him from going away to school! – and discovered a problem with his vaccinations.
“OK,” I tell him. “I have our records. What did the nurse say? MMR and Hepatitis B, right?”
“Yes,” he says, straightening up, paying full attention. “She said I need another MMR and that there was a problem with my Hepatitis B. Something about me getting it before I was born.”
I cross to the kitchen table where, lying on top, is the photocopy of the Patient Chart Report Patient Immunization Record that our pediatrician faxed to me last week. I sent it on down to the college health office as instructed, but because I’m used to complications and questions I kept a copy for myself. Ha! Good thinking, Lianne.
Sure enough, right there, top line, the pediatrician record shows that one of my son’s doses of Hepatitis B was given to him … on January 29, 1995. He wasn’t born until that April. I flip open the back page of the lavender booklet, where … January 29, 1996. Oh, OK, that one’s easily answered. It’s a typo.
And as for the MMR: “So they said you need another MMR immunization?”
“Yeah. She said I need three to go to college. And I only have two.”
“Sure enough. You’ve only had two. Well, OK, then, we’ll get you in for that. And I can photocopy this page” – I wave the lavender booklet – “so they can see the handwritten version of the Hepatitis B shot. Then you’ll be all set.”
I tuck the Patient Immunization sheet into the lavender booklet and lay them both on the kitchen table to deal with tomorrow, when both the doctor’s office and the college health office are open again. Done, for now. OK. Then I glance up and notice my son, who is leaning towards me and watching me steadily.
“Don’t worry,” I tell him. “We’ll get this fixed. No big deal. You’ll be able to go to college.”
“OK,” he says. “I’ll remind you.” And he leans back, happy for the first time in his life to have to go to the doctor and get a shot.
