When You Hear Galloping....
...first assume horses, not zebras. This is an old medical school adage that I first heard when I was pregnant with my first daughter 20 years ago. I would get anxious reading pregnancy books about how much could go terribly wrong. All tied up in knots with sweaty palms, I would go to my appointment certain that something would be wrong. "If something is wrong, my dear" said Dr Fujimoto while patting my hand, "we first assume horses, not zebras." He was right, of course. Anna, Emily and Grace were born to be, dare-I-say, the most perfect, beautiful little baby girls the world has ever seen.
Their mother, on the other hand, as it turns out - is a zebra. This long-forgotten saying reared it's old head again when my husband, Orthopedic Oncologist (his many residents), and I were discussing my condition and how I got here. The nine month journey from a little pain in my knee, to diagnosis of a rare pediatric cancer in a 43 year old woman, was because all involved were looking for horses.
I am trying to embrace the zebra thing. I'm on crutches a lot now. They are not built for:
a) speed
b) beauty
c) comfort
In an effort, however feeble, to aid in b and c, I went online looking for crutch covers (for the under-your-arm part and the handle part). They were all looking very ho-hum institutional; hospital blue, dental bib mauve, battleship grey, etc, then I saw them, zebra printed ones! I have never been an animal-print person. I don't own a cheetah print this or a leopard print that in anything -until now! I have zebra-printed crutch covers, in honor of my undeniable current status as a zebra. I don't mind telling you that my crutches are all the rage of the pediatric hospital set now. It's just how it is.
Yesterday, my spectacularly pregnant and part-to-full-time-caretaker sister brought me a package from one of my dearest and coolest friends. It was too big to be the required/expected chocolate that a package from her would normally contain. I opened a big, beautiful, monogrammed zebra blanket (bar of chocolate included as well) How crazy is that? Thank you Jennifer!
John and I are still in NYC at MSK awaiting blood test results that will hopefully be good enough to release me to go home. We have been here since 10/20, not all in the hospital, but away from our aforementioned beautiful daughters. When they hear galloping (hopefully tonight) they will know it's a horse and a zebra :).
Their mother, on the other hand, as it turns out - is a zebra. This long-forgotten saying reared it's old head again when my husband, Orthopedic Oncologist (his many residents), and I were discussing my condition and how I got here. The nine month journey from a little pain in my knee, to diagnosis of a rare pediatric cancer in a 43 year old woman, was because all involved were looking for horses.
I am trying to embrace the zebra thing. I'm on crutches a lot now. They are not built for:
a) speed
b) beauty
c) comfort
In an effort, however feeble, to aid in b and c, I went online looking for crutch covers (for the under-your-arm part and the handle part). They were all looking very ho-hum institutional; hospital blue, dental bib mauve, battleship grey, etc, then I saw them, zebra printed ones! I have never been an animal-print person. I don't own a cheetah print this or a leopard print that in anything -until now! I have zebra-printed crutch covers, in honor of my undeniable current status as a zebra. I don't mind telling you that my crutches are all the rage of the pediatric hospital set now. It's just how it is.
Yesterday, my spectacularly pregnant and part-to-full-time-caretaker sister brought me a package from one of my dearest and coolest friends. It was too big to be the required/expected chocolate that a package from her would normally contain. I opened a big, beautiful, monogrammed zebra blanket (bar of chocolate included as well) How crazy is that? Thank you Jennifer!
John and I are still in NYC at MSK awaiting blood test results that will hopefully be good enough to release me to go home. We have been here since 10/20, not all in the hospital, but away from our aforementioned beautiful daughters. When they hear galloping (hopefully tonight) they will know it's a horse and a zebra :).
Too sweet Ann and simply amazing! Hoping that you will gallop home tonight to be with your very special girls. I know you are the bomb.com with your zebra crutches....way to make a statement!!!! Love you and praying for you everyday!
ReplyDeletedittos to Caren!! God Bless and praying for great results!!
ReplyDelete;) zebra-black & wt rock girl, and so do you!!
ReplyDeleteFor the few out there, like myself, that do not understand the medical term for "zebra" here it is: "Zebra: The term "zebra" in medicine does not refer to the striped African animal but to an unlikely diagnostic possibility. It comes from an old saying in teaching medical students about how to think logically in regard to the differential diagnosis:"
ReplyDeleteAnn, your condition is a zebra, but you my friend are a stallion. You will make it through this. I love your positive attitude AND your blanket.
Get well soon!
Joan