Chapter 6 - LINDA’S REASONLinda’s attorney eventually gave investigators her explanation.
Daniel had suffered a severe allergic reaction to an antibiotic as a toddler.
Different antibiotic class.
Different drug.
But the event shaped her.
Hives.
Hospital.
Epinephrine.
According to Linda, she became distrustful of antibiotics afterward.
Decades later, Owen developed a rash after his second cefdinir dose.
I remembered the rash.
Small red patches on his chest.
I photographed them.
Sent them through the pediatric portal.
A nurse replied:
Could be viral or medication-related. No breathing difficulty, swelling, or widespread hives? Continue monitoring and call immediately if symptoms worsen. Do not stop prescribed antibiotic unless clinician advises.
Daniel saw that message.
Linda did too.
She believed we should stop anyway.
She told Daniel:
“I’m not giving that poison to my grandson.”
Daniel did not tell me.
Instead they improvised.
That was the first major betrayal.
The rash resolved.
They took that as proof Linda had been right.
But Owen’s fever remained.
Instead of reconsidering, they called the fever:
viral.
teething.
May you like
mild.
anything except evidence the bacterial infection was untreated.
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