FARMINGTON HILLS, MI - Luke Schreiber’s parents didn’t think their thermometer could possibly be right. There was no way their toddler could be registering a 107.1 temperature. And he couldn’t possibly have COVID-19 at his age, could he?

The Farmington Hills couple is sharing their emotional story with MLive readers, saying they want other people to understand that if coronavirus can unexpectedly impact the smallest members of their family, it can happen to anyone.

What began as a normal day on March 31 turned into a medical nightmare that the family is still living through. Amanda May and Ryan Schreiber say they had been checking the temperatures of their kids, 4-month-old Alistair and 22-month-old Luke, everyday since the family began staying home after Gov. Gretchen Whitmer issued her order restricting non-essential travel.

“They were around 98 degrees. I wasn’t concerned until Luke woke up crying that Tuesday morning. He never wakes up crying,” Amanda May Schreiber told MLive.

She said her son’s temperature was at 103 degrees that morning. She gave him something for the fever, which brought it down a couple degrees. But a few hours later after his nap, she couldn’t believe what his temperature read.

“He got up and he looked flush. My husband sat down with him and I took Luke’s temperature and he was 107.1," she said. "I took the blankets off and waited a couple minutes and he registered 106.5. I took it about 10 more times to make sure it was registering correctly. I also checked my temperature and my husband’s and we were normal. I even got another thermometer out and he was at 106.4.”

Rushed to the hospital

Amanda May Schreiber said she took Luke to Beaumont Hospital, where his fever registered 105.1. The toddler was admitted to the hospital. Schreiber says they first tested him for everything else before finally testing him for COVID-19. The results came back positive.

“Six hours after we got to the hospital, his fever was still at 104.5. He stayed the night. It took just 12 hours to get the results back that he was positive for COVID-19 because they do in-house testing.”

22-month old Luke Schreiber of Farmington Hills, MI laying in a hospital bed two weeks ago. He's been battling COVID-19 ever since. (Photo by Amanda May Schreiber)

Never-ending fever

After his fever became manageable, Schreiber took Luke home where she says he’s been dealing with an on-and-off fever ever since. While we were talking to her this week, she said Luke’s fever was at 101 degrees, a full two weeks after returning home from the hospital.

"It’s just the lingering fever. It’s unbelievable. It goes away and comes right back. We have yet to see a day without a fever at some point. He gets exhausted way faster and just needs to sleep more.”

Mom’s symptoms

Not only is Schreiber trying to take care of Luke, but she says she’s been sick for 10 days. She describes having breathing issues and just feeling exhausted.

“I am a triathlete and I just ran a half-Ironman last August while 6 months pregnant after being medically cleared for it. I was running before this. I was running two miles, four to five times a week while wearing a mask and staying away from everyone. Now, just sitting and laying around, I feel like I’m huffing and puffing like I’m going up and down the stairs, but I’m not. The fact that my lungs feel like this to me is just crazy.”

She says her doctor told her there’s no point getting tested because she’s told it’s almost certain she and the rest of her family has COVID-19 because they were all exposed to it.

“My pulse oximetry has been as low as 82. It’s terrifying. The only thing that has helped me are breathing exercises my physical therapist gave me to do over a virtual appointment. I was also given an Qvar inhaler and Zithromax. But I’ve seen little to no difference with those. This virus is horrible and lasts for what seems like forever.”

Schreiber says she’s also frustrated at the response she’s received from some people who still don’t believe young kids can get the virus. She says no, Luke does not have a compromised immune system.

“Luke has had colds and viruses regularly like any kid. It usually takes him a few days to get over things. He’s never had any issues. And he’s never had a temperature like that. He is a healthy boy full of energy. This virus has knocked him on his butt."

Advice for others

Schreiber says her husband, Ryan, has felt OK so far. He had chest tightness for a few days, but that’s it. She say her 4-month old has had fevers for about a week of around 100.5 to 101.5, but overall has been doing well. She hopes her family’s story will convince everyone to stay home and stay away from people.

“Healthy kids and healthy young adults can get this and be very sick from it. I am baffled why people still refuse to stay home and are going out for non-essentials. I would encourage parents to just keep their kids home.”

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