Thursday, February 7, 2008

Some things are hard to explain

It was interesting trying to Explain Allison's ailment to Emily, who is 5 and doesn't spend too much time reading anatomy textbooks. She asked me what was wrong with her mommy Wednesday morning when I woke her up for school and told her that Allison was not here but in the hospital instead. So I tried to explain as best as I could...
"Well", I began, "Mommy has a bit of a problem with her insides. Do you know what's inside you here in your upper body?" Emily suggested that there are probably some bones in there somewhere. I said, "Yes, but there are lots of other organs in there also."
"Like my keyboard?"
"No, there are parts that are called organs that all do different things in the body and they are all connected by pipes. Mommy has a problem with a part called the gall bladder."
"What's wrong with it?", Emily asked.
"It's got a bunch of stones in it."
"Stones!?"
"Yes. Did you ever notice that sometimes when we're outside mommy will bend over, pick up a pebble, and eat it?"
"Whatever, Daddy."
"I'm just kidding, they're not actually rocks."
"Then how do they get there, Daddy?"
"Well sometimes your body makes them. They just look like rocks but they are made out of stuff that is like hard cheese."
"Hard cheese?"
"Yes, like Parmigiano Reggiano."
"Oh."

3 comments:

EatCrowe said...

Glad you can find some humor in the crisis. Get well soon, Allison. Check on the life insurance policy, Eric (so kidding!)

Anonymous said...

Glad you're not in pain anymore. Sorry you have to go through all this. Let me know what's going on after the surgery. Yes Eric, that means call or e-mail your sister with an update!

Anonymous said...

Eric- you are hysterical!!
If you had only taperecorded that conversation!!!

Allison we will be thinking about you!!