You might have recently come across the news of the 18-year-old dies of Covid. There is news about a 13 years old & a 16 year old teen as well. It is a piece of tragic news and a hurtful story of the 12-day journey after which the boy died suddenly. The family said to the local news that we are unable to see the boy suffering. From making his tea and eating his sandwich at night to the next day fighting for life. We saw the most tragic and big change. He was a healthy teenager who took precautions after the rise of this global pandemic. Like everyone else, he wanted this nightmare to end. Followed the SOP’s and ensured keeping a distance from people.
Andre was a student at Lawrence North High school who was quite fond of YouTube and video games. Even he asked his parents to get the game which was coming in December for his birthday. But fate was not with him while he was anxiously waiting for that day to come. Moreover, he loved photography, bowling, and basketball.
Andre came into the world prematurely at 25 weeks with his twin sister Abby. Andre was however facing slight autism. But his parents were always there with him. That’s why he had such a positive attitude and smile on his face. Pictures of teenager are also available on Healthyell.
Healthy teenager who took precautions – How the family faced Covid 19:
The mother Dawn is a nurse and she was creating a healthy environment for everyone in the family. She wanted to be sure that her family is safe from the infection that is spreading around the world. After her shift, she used to take her shoes off at the door and her husband used to disinfect them. She will immediately take a shower before greeting her family.
The shocking part of the teenager kid’s death was that he did not leave the house at all. Like his family, The healthy teenager who took precaution was also quite consistent in following all the necessary precautions by staying at home. The doctors think that the virus was already there before we came to know about it. In some communities, it was already spread before it came to the surface and attention of everyone.
Healthy teenager who took precautions – What happened?
After Dawn left for her shift in the morning, Andre asked his father for help to get a drink. At noon, his father checked on him but he wasn’t sure. He thought that he could be tired or something. But a short time later, Andre fell in the bathroom. His father immediately called her mother to check his temperature.
When Dawn came home, she saw Andre weak with the ability to hold objects. He wasn’t able to stand on his own and had a high fever. She took her to an emergency room but they transferred him to the Riley Hospital for Children. That’s when Dawn got scared of what’s happening to her son.
Andre had no serious medical condition so the only thing the doctor was able to discover was Type 1 diabetes. His blood sugar was 10 times more than normal which is a dangerous situation. Such a thing starts to appear in the starting stage of the infection. In the start, he was tested negative for Covid 19. But the doctors were unable to handle the blood sugar.
The treatment began with an insulin infusion but it was unable to handle his breathing and temperature. After a 2nd test, the reports came to be positive of Covid-19.
Healthy teenager who took precautions – What happened after him testing positive for infection:
He was immediately taken to a Covid unit. His father and two sisters were also positive with mild symptoms and fever. Dawn was at the hospital with Andre and she was unable to get her tested. Because the Riley hospital had this policy if she is tested positive she cannot go back unless she tests negative twice.
Within a few days, Andre was on the ventilator and doctors were unable to understand his situation. They were trying to improve lung capacity but everything they did was hopeless. In these 12 days at the hospital, Andre faced issues with the heart, lungs, kidneys, and even his brain. The infection was spreading in his body and there was nothing to stop it.
Everything they did for one issue, Covid attacked with another. Some medicines could have given enough time for Andre to get better. But his liver and kidney were not functioning properly.
But her mother still thought that everything will be okay. His blood sugar level was getting back to normal and this was a positive sign for her. Moreover, he had the best care available.
On 27 April, all hope was lost. Andre’s blood sugar level rose and his arteries began to clot. He had trouble breathing as he went into cardiac arrest despite the doctors did everything to save him.
He is among the small number of children who died of Covid 19. Andre was Indiana’s first teenager who died under the age of 18 through the deadly virus.
The parents however told the media that the hospital did an amazing job. They took after him and did everything they could but fate was not with them. But it really hurts when a young person dies suddenly!
How is COVID-19 affecting teens’ mental health?
The overwhelming majority of teens will meet the criteria for an anxiety disorder, depression, or other mental health condition, and this is regardless of a pandemic. The depression can also lead to the death of a teenager.
Three out of every five adolescents under age 18 will suffer from some form of anxiety disorder. Children and teens are affected by depression and bipolar disorder at a rate of 14.3 percent, states the Child Mind Institute.
Teen boy health has been severely affected by the global pandemic since the added trauma of the disease. According to Dr. Jess Shatkin, director of educational programs for Hassenfeld Children’s Hospital at NYU Langone Health, “What we see in this pool is not surprising.”
Approximately 20 percent of kids that are 19 year old and 16 year old suffer from major psychiatric disorders, Shatkin said, according to the surgeon general’s 1999 report on mental health in families and children. The symptoms can vary from mild to severe, from divorce to anxiety disorder to schizophrenia. These symptoms all get worse when stressed.” Teenagers have been deprived of normal social, physical, and educational interactions due to the pandemic.
According to the survey, kids have been hardest hit by changes in social interactions; 30% of parents report that changes have negatively affected their teens’ relationships with friends.
According to their parents, 64 percent of their teens text, 56 percent use social media, 43 percent play online games, and 35 percent talk to their parents almost every day. Among parents, only a minority reported that their teens were meeting with friends on a regular basis, whether indoors (9 percent) or outdoors (6 percent).
“When children become depressed, we engage with them so that they do not isolate themselves. That’s what we call behavioral activation,” Shatkin said. When COVID-19 restrictions put an end to out-of-doors activities, staying indoors and isolating become the only way to stay physically safe and contain the virus.
What are the best ways to help teens who are suffering from anxiety and depression during the pandemic?
Researchers also surveyed parents about how they improve their teens’ mental health. Here are some suggestions:
Relax the family rules
In the survey, 52 percent of parents said they had changed their family’s COVID-19 rules so that friends could contact them, and 47 percent loosened social media restrictions. Both of these were considered helpful by 81 percent and 70 percent, respectively.
Consulting an expert
Whether you are suffering from depression or anxiety, seeing a mental health professional is always a good idea. In a survey of more than 1,000 parents, one in four said their teen sought help, and 74 percent said the help had a positive effect.
Checking out web-based programs
In this survey, 25 percent of parents encouraged their teenagers to use web applications or Web sites to improve mental health. Because apps are portable and easy to use, they tend to be less intimidating.
Being open to communication while still respecting space
Parents report that one in seven teens have withdrawn from their family. Parents may overcompensate if they are concerned about this.
Teens can be shown they are not alone by sharing their own insecurities and fears about the changes in our world, and by sharing coping strategies and asking questions about making the world a safer place.
