A MK's look at being sick

So Joe's been down with a flu-like sickness this week. Evidently it is flying around the middle school and on Friday he was in bed with fever, cough and sore throat. He's been miserable for the last few days. He wants to eat then gets full after a few bites... then throws up. His head hurts and he alternates chills with fever. Not fun. In response we have been pushing fluids, popsicles, ibuprofen and encouraging tons of time on the sofa watching Netflix instant play movies or TV shows. It is evidently a virus of some sort. And of course, being in America right now, the ever present question... is this swine flu? Hmph. Not sure, he's recovering today so my guess is no. But in the midst of fever, achy body, and known cases both in the community and the academy, who can say for sure. When Joe moaningly questions from the sofa, I answer with a vague "Maybe, it is tricky to know." Louisa, listening from the other room FREAKS OUT. She is positive her brother will die. I calm her down with lot's of reassurance and she seems fine.

This morning on our way to violin lesson, it comes back up.

"Mom, I thought swine flu was deadly?"
"It can be. But there are lot's of things that are deadly. Even normal flu can be deadly."
Lot's of silence.......
"Hmmm, well is it like Malaria then?"
"A bit. You can die from malaria and lot's of people do, but also you can recover from malaria."
"I almost died from malaria."
"Yes. "
"I turned blue."
"Yes."
"But then I got better and everybody who gets malaria doesn't die."
"Right."
Lot's of silence....
"Oh. So swine flu is a little bit like malaria, right? WHEW! I thought it was like Ebola."