Photo: Courtesy of the Allen family
One year after Jimmie Allen experienced “my worst nightmare” as a parent, he and his wife are sharing their story in hopes of spreading awareness and helping others understand what to do for their children.
Jimmie and Alexis Allen rushed their infant daughter to the hospital when they noticed her struggling with her breathing patterns and a coughing spell, Alexis recalled recently when speaking with iHeartRadio. The couple’s young daughter, Zara, who was 6 weeks old at the time, was hospitalized with RSV.
RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) is defined as a highly-contagious virus that can lead to respiratory illness in babies — including bronchiolitis, pneumonia and other lung infections — and spreads when droplets from coughing or sneezing, or an infected surface, reach the eyes, nose and mouth. It’s the leading cause of hospitalization in babies under the age of 1, though many parents are unfamiliar with it. Mild, cold-like symptoms can lead to hospitalization in less than one week. Though only 1-2% of RSV cases result in hospitalization, it’s not predictable which babies will need that level of care, and two out of three babies are expected to get RSV by age 1, according to KnowingRSV.com. Symptoms of RSV can include runny nose, sneezing, congestion, coughing, fever, decreased appetite and wheezing. However, when a baby is younger than 6 months, they may show irritability, decreased activity, decreased appetite and difficulty breathing. There is currently no RSV vaccine or immunization approved for all babies, and parents are encouraged to ask their doctors for recommendations to manage symptoms.
Jimmie told iHeartRadio that Zara’s medical professionals were able to help “put our mind at ease, and she was able to pull through.” He added that there’s “so much information” for other parents of babies under the age of 1 to learn about RSV. “Information’s important, information's key. …Because, you know, at six weeks, any child on the age of 1, they're so vulnerable. They're building their immune system, so you definitely want to equip yourself with as much knowledge as possible.”
“She was there for about six days,” Alexis, who echoed that KnowingRSV.com was a “very helpful” resource for her, said of Zara’s hospital stay. “But luckily with all the medical (care) …we were able to get her out safely and, she's thriving now a year later.
“I definitely would think about just going with your gut, and those first instincts that you have,” Alexis added. “I kind of delayed treatment just because I thought it would do its own recovery on its own time. So, definitely knowing your instincts and going forward with that, with your healthcare professionals. Partially why we partnered with Sanofi to, you know, spread our awareness and help other people in their journey of RSV and understanding what to do in those hard times.”
Jimmie and Alexis recently reflected on Zara’s experience with RSV in a video shared on Instagram, in partnership with pharmaceutical company Sanofi.
“When Lexi called me last year to tell me that Zara had been rushed to the hospital with severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) – I felt helpless. I had never heard of RSV. All I knew was that as a parent, this was my worst nightmare,” Jimmie’s caption reads. “I’ve since learned that many parents are not aware of RSV and how serious it can be for babies. I’ve also learned that it’s the leading cause of hospitalization for babies under 1. …Through sharing our experience, we also hope to help parents feel less alone.”
Now, Zara is “thriving” and the family has been able to settle back into routines, and Jimmie has had time to focus on his music. The “Down Home” superstar joined award-winning singer-songwriter Carrie Underwood on the high-energy “Denim & Rhinestones Tour,” which concluded its 2022 run last month and will pick up in February with additional dates in 2023. Jimmie said the tour “has been awesome,” including getting to sing with Underwood and perform his own songs, many of which were inspired by his family and friends (plus, a visit or two to a bowling alley or a casino in each tour stop). “Any time I get chance to put real life with my family into music, it's great. …There's a lot of similarities between families and experiences. So, you know, hopefully my experience with my family will bring up good memories for other people [listeners] with theirs.”
For now, Jimmie and Alexis are spending time with each other and their kids during the holiday season. They encourage parents to be mindful of prevention measures in a season of holiday gatherings, and taking steps to avoid RSV. RSV is most common during the winter virus season, beginning in November and lasting until March, according to KnowingRSV.com. Some prevention measures include washing hands often, disinfecting surfaces, avoiding close contact with anyone experiencing cold- or flu-like symptoms, and more. Parents are encouraged to contact a doctor if their baby’s breathing is abnormal (short, shallow or fast), if their baby has nasal flaring, if their baby has a wheezing cough, if their baby is unusually tired or has a blue tint to their lips or fingernails, if their baby has poor feeding or if their baby’s temperature exceeds 100.4° F (younger than 3 months) or exceeds 102.2°F (older than 3 months).
“You know your child,” Jimmie added, speaking with iHeartRadio. “Trust your gut. Talk to your doctors. Even if you do come across a doctor that gives you an answer that you don't feel settled about, talk to another doctor. Chase down every avenue you can until you find what you need to make your child better.”