Some talk like underlying conditions make human life expendable.

78 confirmed case deaths under the age of 10 in Peru. 36 were under 3-years-old and 11 were babies (under 1-year-old).

A thread I'd like you to read on the exact underlying conditions involved in these deaths:

Curiosity was an underlying condition.

Mixing red and yellow paint on a stick and being amazed when it produces orange.

"I wonder what other new colours can I make if I try red and blue? Worth a try!"

Empathy was a common underlying condition in the 2-year-olds.

"My mam or dad just hurt their toe and I understand this because I hurt my toe yesterday and it was bad. But it's ok I'll make it all better for them with a hug and a kiss."

Short sightedness was an underlying condition in the baby who died aged 8 weeks.

"I can't see you very well yet mam but at least I know the shape of your face and that's ok, it's all I need for now."

A sense of object permanence was underlying in the 6-12 month olds.

"I know when you are here things are better for me. I've figured out if I can't see you it means you're not here, so I will cry to let you know I need you here beside me."

Fierce resilience was a present underlying condition in 100% of cases, who all battled for their life.

"I really don't know what is happening to me right now but I am going to fight this as best as I can, for as long as I can. I won't give up."

-Baby girl born December 28th, 2019 died on August 29th, 2020 in Manantay, Peru aged 8 months.

-Baby girl born October 30th, 2019 died on July 27th in Lima, Peru aged 8 months.

-Baby boy born May 31st, 2020 died on September 4th, 2020 in Ate, Lima province aged 3 months.

-Baby girl born February 25th, 2020 died August 10th, 2020 in San Juan de Lurigancho, aged 5 months.

-Baby girl born February 12th, 2020 died July 2nd in Juliaca, aged 4 months.

-Baby boy born October 7th, 2019 died September 5th, 2020 in Chimbote, aged 10 months.

The underlying condition I left until last is love.

It was present in every single case.

Not one child under the age of 17 has died in Ireland.

Peru has 139 confirmed case dead under 14-years-old.

The difference between the 2 situations is a mixture of privilege and luck.

Often, that is the same thing.

Privilege to be born to a country that maintained hospital and ICU capacity throughout, unlike Peru.

Luck to have amazing doctors and nurses - Peru has them too - except ours actually had oxygen and ventilators and medication throughout to help our people.

Underlying conditions are not a death sentence.

An 80-year-old with hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes can live for 10 years more with the right treatment and a little luck.

A 4-month-old baby can live for 100 years with the right treatment and a little luck...

...or they can die in an overwhelmed Lima hospital and be forever aged 4 months old - only leaving behind memories of their tiny imprint on this world.

The size of that imprint will never be felt by us.

To their parents, that imprint was big enough to move mountains.

What happened in Peru wasn't just hospitals and ICU's overwhelmed due to incoming Covid patients.

It was their hospitals and ICU overwhelmed because their nurses and doctors became patients.

Entire hospitals temporarily closed as staff were sick or dying themselves.

I'm acutely aware of the scale of heartbreak around the world.

I know what this virus can do to advanced and less-advanced healthcare systems.

I know what soul-destroying loss it can inflict.

I know just how lucky I am to live in Ireland.

If we lose sight of what this virus can do, we can lose so much of ourselves.

It isn't the flu, though Influenza B also kills children, so please vaccinate them.

It is a serious illness, that can deprive us of a lot if we allow it to.

Like all the love that 4-month-old baby girl in Juliaca had to offer this world.

Like all the stories, wisdom and love an 80-year-old in Kerry has to offer.

Their underlying human conditions are the only ones that matter.