Opinion: Children’s medicine shelves are empty and I’m worried

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There is a unique terror in not being able to find children’s medicine.

I went to 10 different grocery stores and pharmacies on Sunday looking for children’s Tylenol and/or ibuprofen. I found none at three Smith’s, one Walmart, two Walgreens, a CVS, a Target, and the Jolley’s and hospital pharmacies were closed. Where was I living — a third-world country?

It’s part of a larger trend, where there are reports of children’s medication shortages across the nation.

As the drive got longer, I felt more desperate. I had to get his fever down or we were going to the hospital.

Finding children’s medicine and the flu sucks

Both of my sons have the flu — the honest-to-goodness need-Tamiflu flu. I got the Tamiflu, just not the other medicine the doctor said would bring their fevers down. (My older son can take adult Tylenol, but not my younger son.)

When I arrived home in defeat, I found one seller on Amazon who could overnight me the Tylenol. I ordered it. Now — how would we make it until morning? My little one just coughed and coughed, threw up, and moaned in semi-sleep for hours.

Then I felt my mother’s presence.

“Mom,” I thought while silent tears filled my eyes. “What do I do?”

“You do what I did for you when you were little,” I felt her say.

I went and got a washcloth and wet it with cold water. Then I brought it to Aiden and wiped it all over his face and chest. I kept doing this until he fell asleep.

He slept for four hours. I have never been so grateful.

My prayer for parents everywhere

I can’t stop thinking about the millions of parents around the world who feel or have felt like I did last night. They would do anything to ease their children’s suffering, but cannot. They can’t afford or don’t have access to the medicine they need, or maybe there is no medicine that will ease their suffering.

In these cases, there is only love and prayer. I cannot thank my friends enough for praying for my Aiden today. I have felt the power of those prayers. My prayer is for all of our children, that they may sleep through the night and keep their food down, and that I remember to cherish them every day they are alive.

Amanda Dickson is the co-host of Utah’s Morning News and A Woman’s View.

Follow @amandadickson