First the back story: my husband John, my son Zane and I spent the day in the hospital yesterday. Zane went under anesthesia for the 7th time. If you have ever been there, you know: no food, no water since the night before. That is hard on a 7-year-old kid. Add in the fact that Zane has had lots of medical trauma (and so have we, via HIM), and you end up with a surreal day that is full of fear, stress and tears. On top of that, the procedure ran two hours late, so we waited a long time, Zane hungry, thirsty and very scared.



When it came time for Zane to take the medicine to make him sleepy, he didn't want to do it. He didn't want to fall asleep at the hospital. What if he needed me and couldn't tell them? What would happen to him when he was asleep? Would he be OK? Everyone, the doctor, the anesthesiologist, the surgical staff and nurses were waiting for him to take that medicine.

The thing about western medicine is that no matter how kind the nurses and doctors are, no matter how cute the hospital room is or what other distractions are available, lots of what happens is inherently traumatic. People do things TO you, you can't say no, they often hurt, and if you are a kid you rarely understand WHY it is all happening. 



This is where my husband John comes in. He is there all day at the hospital with us. He is already tired and stressed. Later that night he will go to work and teach a very labor intensive herb class. We are at the point where everyone is waiting and Zane is terrified to take his medicine. Zane and I have been to the bathroom at his request to try to take his medicine in privacy-no luck. Zane has closed the curtain to our cubicle and we are trying everything to expedite him drinking his medicine without being invasive or traumatizing him even more. I am starting to panic. John pulls out his tea mug and says, “Cheers!” Zane drinks to that, little sips over and over again until it is gone.



After everything is over, we are back in the small cubicle where we began this day. It is 4pm and Zane is finally getting to eat and drink. John takes the wrapper from Zane's special treat, some gluten free muffins he picked out earlier that day, and becomes…Super Muffin Man!! Can't you feel it, that love and appreciation for a man who has been through hell, over and over with his precious child, and can still become a silly super hero right when we need him to save the day the most?

About the Author

Elaine Sheff

The author of five books on herbal medicine and healing, clinical herbalist Elaine Sheff has been passionate about sharing herbal knowledge for over 25 years. She is the Co-Director of , where she strives to inspire and empower students and clients to remember their connection to the earth, the plants and their own healing process. As a certified Instructor of the Natural Family Planning and Fertility Awareness Methods, Elaine has helped many couples to avoid or achieve pregnancy naturally. An artist and writer, Elaine has written numerous articles about her family’s journey with epilepsy and a special needs child. You can often find her bent over an herb in her garden or marveling at small flowers in mountain meadows with her husband and sons.