ChiKat

We are thinking of going to South America to visit my brother. If we do, we will need to get a Yellow Fever vaccine. Children under six months aren't allowed to get the vaccine. It's not recommended for children under nine months. After that, apparently it becomes safe. My son would be getting the vaccine at twelve months.

It's very hard to be responsible for someone you love so much. I don't want to turn into a hermit, but my natural instinct is to say, "if it's not safe at nine months, how much safer is it three months later?"

It would be horrible if something bad happened to my son through some random act. If something bad happened based on my decision, I think I would blow my brains out.

In addition to the questions about the vaccine, there is the general safety issue. The area we would be visiting is considered by the State Department to be a "medium to high crime threat" country. We would need to avoid public buses and shared taxis because tourists are kidnapping targets. My brother tells me that when someone is kidnapped, they are taken somewhere and must hand over their ATM card and their pin. Then they are released. He assures me that the kidnappings are rare to begin with, and are even more-rarely life-threatening. But…still. Kidnapping.

My brother has lived in this country for several months. He loves it. He loves the people. He travels all over the place. He is so happy, and wants to share this amazing place with us. It would be an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience. To make it even more amazing, we would also go see Manchu Picchu. How fabulous would that be?!

I am so excited about the idea of seeing South America and the incredible Manchu Picchu. But not at the expense of my son's health or safety. I am trying to weigh the risks.

It is such a new experience to be this responsible for one tiny creature.