When Smoke Wreaks Havoc

When we started Margo’s last week of kindergarten, I didn’t expect anything out of the ordinary to happen. I certainly didn’t expect to wake up on a hazy Wednesday and have to dig out our N-95 masks. But alas, that’s what happened.

The smoke from wildfires in Canada reached the northeast and created extremely unsafe air quality for everyone – particularly those in sensitive populations like Margo. It was 2 1/2 days of waiting inside and hoping it would all blow over (no pun intended).

Having cystic fibrosis

It also created an interesting dynamic that we haven’t experienced in a long time, but one that I think will continue. It’s the dynamic that separates Margo from her friends and family – she is in a group of people with sensitive medical conditions and as such, must take additional precautions to stay safe and protect herself. What this means to a 6-year-old is “I’m different.”

She quickly realized that while her school and after-care program were keeping the kids inside, many of her friends were still playing outside after school. I drove her up the street to the bus stop to wait but her friends stood outside. She wore her mask and most of her friends didn’t. It used to be that she was content with me and my husband taking these precautions with her. I wore my mask and I stayed inside until it was deemed safe enough for her to go outside again. But that’s not enough anymore. She’s growing older and therefore more aware of situations where she believes she is missing out. And I really don’t know how to make it easier for her.

The pre-COVID days

This situation happened pre-COVID. We would find out someone had a cold and would have to cancel plans to meet. We wouldn’t play in the sandbox because it just rained and there was a risk of bacteria. We accidentally left her pills at home so she couldn’t eat a treat like her friends. But that was years ago when she was 2 1/2. She doesn’t put everything in her mouth now and we can set clear boundaries to help her understand why she can or can’t do something.

We’ve learned the lesson of having multiple Creon containers in various spots so we don’t forget pills. And to a large degree, COVID helped with the personal health accountability. People are much more open to staying home if they are feeling under the weather, so it’s not just us bearing the weight of having to back out for Margo’s safety.

Preparing for tricky conversations

I’m grateful for these lessons we learned over the years, but it’s left me out of practice. I don’t know how to explain in a way she will understand and accept. She is different and has needs that her friends don’t have.

We try our best to prevent these feelings by letting her play as long as she wants outside with her friends and not making her come in to do her vest, but instead a “normal” reason like coming in and eating dinner and doing her treatment afterward. Just like with the other ones, I know that time will help but I’m preparing myself for tricky conversations in the years to come.