That Thursday morning, I woke up my son at six o'clock in the morning as usual.
Even in the dark of the room, with only the little light from the night light in the hall I noticed right away how pale he was.
In the next moment he clutched his throat and could barely whisper: "Mom, I've never had a sore throat like this before!" My reaction to his words was an instant surge of energy and determination.
After all, I am studying Herbology (not to mention - using and growing them!) and know that herbs are the best solution for "feeling rotten" moments.
His idea was to take a shower first, before participating in any of my treatment procedures.
While he was in the bathroom, I rushed into the kitchen to make a cup of strong chamomile tea, to squeeze one half of lemon and to boil some more water to make a salted water wrap.
Showered and dressed in clean clothes my son first drank chamomile tea and took a combination of herbs capsules, traditionally used for sore throat.
After that he was gargling some lemon juice and since he is "cool" with lemon (sometimes he eats a piece of lemon like a piece of orange), he afterwards simply swallowed it.
I sent him straight to bed and he had no objections.
The water I boiled for wrap was cool enough that I was able to keep my hands in - and pure sea salt added.
I soaked the towel and wringed it out and wrapped it around my son's neck.
He touched it first, though, to make sure it wasn't too hot.
I took a bigger, dry towel and wrapped it on top of the first one and said: "The best thing to do now is to go to sleep.
" The weak reply was: "I would never be able to go to sleep like that...
" I left his room and checked back five minutes later.
He was sound asleep and slept for more than three hours.
At eleven o'clock that morning I caught him sitting at his desk, his fingers frantically moving across the keys of his laptop.
He looked at me and explained - his voice almost normal again: "I had that idea for the story for a long time and I had to write it down.
"