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Sabrina Bostain knew something was wrong with her 6-year-old son when he reached a fever of 101 degrees last week.

She took her son, Joseph — who was born with cystic fibrosis — to Vanderbilt University Medical Center on Monday and got some dreaded news: He tested positive for COVID-19, the coronavirus.

"We took him in on Monday, and we thought it was just a flare-up of his cystic fibrosis." Bostain said her son was more congested than usual and was having a hard time breathing.

Joseph's case was reported at Vanderbilt, so his was not the one recorded as Montgomery County's first case, which was tested at Tennova Healthcare-Clarksville.

Cystic fibrosis is an inherited disease of the body’s mucus glands that primarily affects the respiratory and digestive systems.

Newsletter: Stay safe and informed with updates on the spread of the coronavirus.

Joseph attends East Montgomery Elementary School, where he wears a face mask every day to prevent illnesses. On March 12, he was taken out of school because he had developed a cough that was worse than usual.

The next day is when Joseph got a fever.

When he was tested for COVID-19, he received a nasal canal swab and was released the same day. Four days later, he got his results back and was told to quarantine for 14 days.

Confirmation and notification by state, local or school agencies has not yet been provided because the case hasn't yet been fully investigated, according to Clarksville-Montgomery County School System spokesman Elise Shelton.

Bostain said she's unsure how Joseph got the virus.

"It's very rare that we go out and do a bunch of stuff because I know not everyone is going to be as careful as I am, because I know he is sick."

Joseph doesn't go outside often. An everyday routine starts with an hourlong treatment on a machine to breathe in medicines that loosen his congested lungs. He also takes medicine before meals to help him digest his food.

He goes to the doctor if needed, to school and then back to their Sango home.

When Joseph has flare-ups, he spends four hours a day on a machine. During quarantine, Joseph will be spending extra time on his machine.

"We're hoping we can get through this," Bostain said.

Bostain herself has an autoimmune disease and was told to stay out of contact with her son for the time being. They live in the same home, but Bostain was told not touch Joseph.

"It's hard because you would want to hug and kiss them and do the normal things you do," she said.

Joseph's dad and four sisters will be stepping in to help take care of him.

Currently, Joseph's energy is lower than usual, but he's in good spirits, according to Bostain. He has a bad cough, but if his symptoms get worse, he will be taken back to Vanderbilt.

"I believe in a bigger power," Bostain said, "and I believe God will take care of everything."

Alexis Clark can be reached at aclark@gannett.com.

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