When I hear about parents taking their babies to dentists before they have teeth and to chiropractors and doctors regularly, I’m often times, completely amazed. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with that, it’s just so different than when I was a kid. I remember seeing a doctor once as a child but I’m told there was one visit to the ER before I was old enough to talk. That particular visit happened when I decided the sweet orangie taste of baby aspirins was better than the most recent selection of baby foods that had passed over my palette. The “child proof” cap caved under the pressure of my rather determined baby incisors and I went to town crunch, crunch, crunching down one sweet little orange treat after another. The party came to a rather abrupt halt once my mother realized the little fart sitting on her lap had actually figured out how to remove the lid from the baby aspirins!
I’m quite happy I have no recollection of what happened next as I’ve never actually heard anyone say they thoroughly enjoyed that time they had their stomach pumped. Unfortunately my mother remembers it quite well 78 1/2 years later! When she tells the story it’s quite obvious the doctor on duty that night wasn’t the type to carry any “sugar coating” supplies in his bag as his official prognosis for me was, “If she makes it through the night, she’ll live.” Those aren’t words anyone wants to hear when the whole night is ahead and they’re fearing for their baby’s life but I did my part and lived and the affects of those baby aspirins kept me out of doctor’s offices for years.
It wasn’t until I was around 8 years old that I actually required a prescription for a rather nasty ear infection. I’m not sure why, but I remember the doctor’s office and I even remember what I was wearing. It was a bright yellow short sleeved sweater. I know, that’s weird. I also remember the pink medicine I got to take and also, what a dirty trick it was to tell a kid it was going to taste like bubblegum! T-a-s-t-e, not be the color of. Maybe it tasted like bubblegum if you prefer your bubblegum with a side of strained peas.! Yuck! After that first dose you knew you weren’t in for any big treat when it was time to take your medicine. I think I may have even faked feeling better so I didn’t have to continue taking it.
About a week ago I found myself sitting in a room waiting for a cardiologist to arrive. It felt like an eternity but things took a rather upbeat turn when he walked into the room as the first thing he did was hand me a business card. Have you ever had that happen? It struck me so funny. Apparently business has been a little slow or perhaps I looked like the type that may have friends with heart issues. I’m not really sure but it definitely put me at ease and took my mind off the ridiculous ill fitting gown I had to put on and prepared me for the good news he was about to share after taking a look at the results of my ultrasound.
Doctor’s offices have never been nor will they ever be a place I want to frequent. My memories of visiting them are sort of like the classrooms I had as a child. The older I got, the less colorful and pleasant they became. My health afflictions went from a harmless ear infection that was cured with bubblegum-strained pea flavored medicine to struggles with infertility and now some rather taxing blood pressure issues. In all reality I know I’ve been one very lucky girl. There have always been “fixes” to my “brokens” even if they tasted terrible. There are too many babies and children that aren’t nearly as fortunate as I have been. Their little lives are invaded with serious issues and life threatening diseases they’re forced to fight each and every day of their precious childhood years. There are teens and young adults that struggle with their health as well as many others and I’m reminded more often than not to be incredibly thankful for each day of my life when I haven’t had to endure any number of heart wrenching moments so many others face when there is no “fix” to their “brokens.”