Coronavirus quarantine déjà vu for South Carolina family isolated for 726 days

COLUMBIA, S.C. (WACH) -- If you started isolating on March 15 when Governor Henry McMaster ordered the closing of all South Carolina schools, you’ve been quarantined for about 25 days.

The O’Neill family isolated themselves for 726 days to give their daughter a fighting chance at life.

In 2014, Glenn and Cara O’Neill put their family of four in isolation for almost two years so their daughter Eliza, who has Sanfllipo Syndrome, can qualify for a clinical trial for the disease.

It’s a childhood disease that stops development.

“We knew if she was exposed to a particular virus AAV9, it's Just like coronavirus. It’s invisible, could live on things for days. It was transferred by people. We had to be very cautious," Cara said.

Eliza did get the Gene Therapy trial, but the O’Neill’s say the degenerative disease is relentless.

“She no longer speaks but she’s able to do some things at age 10 that makes us happy,”said Glenn. “She’s still able to walk. She’s able to swallow. She’s able to put a fork into food and feed it herself.”

If you’re struggling isolating with your family right now, the O’Neill’s offered a few tips. They said you should make a plan each day and get outside as much as possible. The most important thing is patience.

“Not just being patient, with your spouse and children. But being easy on yourself,” said Glenn. “We’re all being asked to wear many hats, teacher hat, keep the house going, and pay the mortgage.”

“The kids are really going through a lot too because they’ve been removed from their structure, and their teacher, and their friends,” said Cara.

During their nearly two-year isolation, the O’Neill family says they got creative. They had dance parties, and recreated special moments, like a father daughter dance.

“We cut each other’s hair. I let my son buzz my hair. We did locks of love,” said Glenn. “So I think seeing it as best as you can as a positive and a chance that you’ ll never get with your children like this is very special.”

The O’Neill’s say the hardest part the first time was the first two weeks, and it’s the same way now.

“We’re all going to persevere and come out of this,”said Glenn. “If we could do it for 2 years and we’re no special people at all. We’re just like anyone else and we made it.”

The O’Neill’s have helped raise almost $9-million forCure Sanfillipo Foundation. The couple started the foundation with hopes of finding a cure for all children battling Sanfillippo Sydrome. The money goes to the mission and research for children battling the disease.