trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
Our local newspaper (in NM) carried this story and my first thought was ....LYME????? The boy being from an endemic area and all. Truly sad, have been sending many thoughts to his surviving family.
Anyone with a neurological infection/disorder, hypoperfusion and the like should NOT go on amusement park rides.
Doctor Jones warned us of that for my son.
I also imagine many other disorders due to Lyme would also contradict these rides (ie; heart, circulatory, adrenal health, ect.)
This is a sad story.
I actually can't see how many of the new rides are good for anybody.
Four years old sounds way too young for a very high stimulus ride where everyone is equipped with vomit bags!
Mo
[This message has been edited by Mo (edited 15 June 2005).]
Posts: 8337 | From the other shore | Registered: Jul 2002
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cootiegirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3216
posted
My first reaction was what dumb parent would take a four year old on such a ride? I don't care what kind of height requirement they meet, some of these rides are just too crazy for such small people - big people have a heck of a time tolerating them. It was poor judgement on the parent's part to allow one so young to be on that ride. Unfortunately I'm sure there will be lawsuits.....I don't see this as Disney's fault at all......
Disney has this great program where families can split up to do the rides. For example, if the parents or older kids want to ride Space Mountain, you can send Dad on with the kids, leave Mom with the little ones. Then when Dad is done, Mom can 'budge' the line and go.
One can't assume the child had lyme - that's getting a bit paranoid, but certainly if one knows a child has lyme, you do have to be careful of some of those crazy rides because they can be more dangerous for compromised bodies.
Fortunately for our family, we are ride wimps and are more of the "It's a Small World" boatride type when we go to Disney! cootiegirl
Posts: 1728 | From New York State | Registered: Oct 2002
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trails
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 1620
posted
I will openly admit I am paranoid.
No doubt. How can you NOT be paranoid when such an AWFUL disease is OUT there and could reinfect you without you even KNOWING it????
Is that paranoia or just being educated?
But this kid lived in an endemic area where Lyme and Co's are just everywhere!
Sure, I dont know if he had lyme, and as I said, I am paranoid, but I know that lyme can cause incredible heart problems and BP problems and then combined with such a ride....bingo.
It is just that this kid was described as being healthy and "fine" right before the ride. To me it screamed--Well, HE LOOKED GOOD. ya know?
Mike- I suspect lyme b/c of his place of residence, the fact that he had no "known" conditions, and the fact that lyme can cause sudden heart and bp changes as well as neuro stuff. As MO said, you shouldnt be doing those rides especially if you have lyme and are a kid.
I doubt we will ever know if it was Lyme. Probably wont test for it and we all know what the test results will be anyway!
cootiegirl
Frequent Contributor (1K+ posts)
Member # 3216
posted
I guess my biggest concern for any board that deals with chronic health issues is that the board members believe that a potential health problem a person might have is the chronic health issue of that board. If a person is sick, the CFSers say it's CFS, the FMers say FM and the Lymies say Lyme.
I realize our lives create this knee jerk sort of reaction. Yes, there is a time to be paranoid - when you have Lyme and are out in the woods unprotected would be a good time! If you are pregnant and have lyme - another paranoia moment. But to make an assumption that all things point to Lyme could present the wrong message, and make us look like fanatics.
I think the loss of a child on vacation is a terrible tragedy and my heart goes out to this family. I don't mean to sound harsh, but it is just so irresponsible to put such a young child on such a crazy ride. cootiegirl
Posts: 1728 | From New York State | Registered: Oct 2002
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posted
Cottiegirl, I understand your point of view because you said your family is ridewimps. My family isn't though and my son was begging me at 4 to go on those rides. Of course he didn't meet the height requirement to go on the really "exciting" roller coasters etc.
Too be honest with you I was really glad two years ago when my now 9 year old was still too short to get on some of the bigger rides. He would have ridden them with glee if he could have. I've noticed that as I get older I too am turning into a ride wimp. I watched him walk up to the measuring stick and prayed he was too short. Of course I moaned with him when he couldn't ride. I never thought it would happen but it has.
I should also confess that I worry when we are on the ride about the what ifs. What if this very one time it goes off the track? What if.......
I spoke to my neighbor who took her children on this same ride last year. My neighbor is very very responsible and very very protective. She also told me that there were all kinds of signs posted just about everywhere that you should not get on the ride if you have any kind of health problems etc. You've seen those kind of signs I'm sure. Especially on the rides with pulsing lights.
How horrible for the mother who was on the ride with her child? I don't even like to think about it.
I'm not sure it was irresponsible to let the child on the ride though. When is it okay? Hopefully we will learn all the facts through the news. Now if the child had known medical issues well I might have to agree with you.
Posts: 547 | From Maryland | Registered: Mar 2005
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I was at Disney World 11 days ago. A four year old should not have been on that ride. I asked questions of the flight crew out front. NO WAY JOSE. If you move your head while in the centrifuge you will barf....guaranteed.
Myself and my son have lyme, and he is eight. I could not go on Aerosmith, and neither did he. I'm lucky my little guy believes me when I tell him things. He did go on Space Mountain although I didn't. About 10 years ago I went on Space Mountain and loved it. He came out and said he loved it. I went on the Tower of Terror twice though. These are normal rides whereas Mission to Mars is one of the new extreme rides which are ruining amusement parks as far as I'm concerned.
The ride is extremely terrifying for adults. Did you catch the boys name. It sounded Egyptian, and I wonder if the mother couldn't read English. Very sad indeed.
Maybe Goofy and Mickey in space suits out front isn't the best idea, it kind of lures folks in that maybe shouldn't be.
Rides are getting too crazy, you need medical clearance nowadays. How much fun is that?
treepatrol
Honored Contributor (10K+ posts)
Member # 4117
posted
quote:Originally posted by Hikin Mike: Forgive my ignorance, but why do you suspect Lyme?
I read the artical and noone understands why he died and I figured from a epidemic area if he had it the adrenaline rush lyme use to give me for no reason accompanied by a second shot of adrenaline from the ride may have done him in (all speculation).
Posts: 10564 | From PA Where the Creeks are Red | Registered: Jun 2003
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lymiecanuck
Unregistered
posted
Thanks for the heads up guys. My son has just reached the height requirements for kiddie rides and went to the carnival a few weeks ago.
I was worried the whole time, but they are mild rides, but still I was worried cause I went on THE DROP ZONE, years ago when i was much healthier and didn't know I had lyme and thought for sure I was gonna pass out or have a heart attack when I got off.
I wouldn't dare go on a ride now, not even kids rides cause of the spinning.
Really sad news about this child, maybe this will make Disney and other places like it review their requirements for kids and rides.
Lymiecanuck
[This message has been edited by lymiecanuck (edited 16 June 2005).]
posted
Thanks for clarifying. My Lyme symptoms are not Nuerologic. I only suffer from joint (knee) pain, so I'm not familiar with all the other symptoms.
------------------ -Mike
Posts: 96 | From Atwater, Ca | Registered: Nov 2004
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