Comments on: US State Dept Travel Alert

By: htownjenny

htownjenny — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 22:18:11 +0000

We are still planning to take our 2 boys, ages 6 and almost 8, because we think the chance of them getting infected and quarantined is just so small. We are supposed to leave a week from tomorrow, and have been very excited as we have waited so long. But now I am just heartbroken. After all this waiting, delays, one flight last month cancelled to swine flu, Hague stuff, I feel like I can hardly stand anymore. But of course you do what you have to. At this point I can hardly imagine either taking them with us, or leaving them behind. Both seem like terrible options….

By: hopingfor08

hopingfor08 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:49:30 +0000

I spent a week with our DD in a Ch*nese hospital, reported to be the “best in province and region.” No way, no how would I take my children with me right now. We are not set to travel for at least 6 months as we are hoping to be DTC within 6 weeks. However, medical care there (from our experience, no flames please) is VERY DIFFERENT from western standards. The cleanliness factor alone (or lack of it, shared needles, no hand washing, shared rooms w/ communicable germs, list could go on and on) is enough to make me say no. Like I said, no flames please but we experienced medical care firsthand last fall and it is not what I would want for my children. We had planned to take our two boys, 10 and 6, and decided last-minute to leave them w/ grandparents when we got word our daughter was sick. It was the right decision for us and we still had a nice hotel to go *home* to at the end of the day. They would not allow us to stay at the hospital btw. We had to go when the orphanage director allowed it. Another story but anyway, this is just our experience. I am sorry for you all facing this decision. I truly am.

By: At Last

At Last — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 16:38:49 +0000

Needless to say – this is a huge hiccup in a process already riddled with challenges and delays.

We just received our referral and will be taking our 6 year old as we absolutely have no other choice. However, if one of us tested postive – can we not all go into quarantine? (In truth – they would have to kill me first before they would take my daughter from me.) Surely they would not separate a 6 year old from her parents?

Anyone have more details?

By: adamanderin

adamanderin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:30:51 +0000

Just realized my last post had an uncomfortable “famous last words” ring about it…

By: adamanderin

adamanderin — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:21:56 +0000

I have to say, I can’t really imagine leaving my 14-year-old son here. I almost think leaving him behind would be more traumatic than any quarantine-related “adventures” in China. And, after all, three days in a foreign hotel by himself it would be one heck of a coming-of-age trial ;-)

Of course, I say that now, while it’s still just an unlikely hypothetical.

As we don’t expect to travel until September, however, we’ll just take a wait-and-see approach for now. If there’s one thing that remains constant, it’s change. I mean, three months, come on, something’s bound to shake up by then.

By: pjdonald

pjdonald — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:09:47 +0000

Is the State Dept alert causing us to re-think taking our daughter? Absolutely. Is it the slam-dunk “no” for us that it apparently is for many others? Absolutely not. I’m not questioning the anguish of csb and others, but I also appreciate the sentiments of fromSpain and adamanderin.

By: fromSpain

fromSpain — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 07:19:28 +0000

It is sound as if I was crazy, but we are going to travel next week with our two sons. I can imagine let them here. It is a very remote possibility to tested positive for swine flu. And if it happened to one of my sons, I hope that my husband or me get infected too. We travel with my parents to help us in case something occur.

By: chinasouthernbelle

chinasouthernbelle — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:34:24 +0000

We leave in a little more than 24 hrs. We have been struggling that we are taking our 9 yo daughter with us in light of the swine flu issues. The younger brothers are staying at home. Everything is ready…she has been waiting and planning on this for months.

We have tamiflu in our suitcase.

Tonight we registered with the State Dept and read this latest advisory.

Tears, prayers, and decision made. Her flights are cancelled and we are repacking bags. She is not going. Its just too much to risk. We love her too much and she has the rest of her life to spend with her sister.

We are heartbroken and she is too. But we are grateful to be able to make this decision before leaving.

By: catherinethegreat

catherinethegreat — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 04:15:04 +0000

I agree with sewhopefull22..please read the blog of the family now in quarantine with her children. I took both of my two elder daughters to China with me in 2003 (post SARS) and in 2007. Based on this family’s experience, I would be choosing NOT be taking my children right now if I was going to China within the next few months..

By: sewhopeful22

sewhopeful22 — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 02:53:46 +0000

adamanderin – we are 3/22 and our son will be 14 in December… I am for the first time questioning whether he will now go with us…

Search for “Welcome to Quarantine” in the forum to find the thread. This family is in China right now with their 3 kids and someone on their plane contracted the virus, their whole family was quarantined and subjected to throat cultures, her husband came up positive, he is in the hospital and she and her kids were moved to a ‘quarantine’ hotel near the hospital…

Her experience is really making me question whether or not to bring our son…