You know how kids will associate a Band-Aid with pain relief? I mean, really, by the time you get to the Band-Aid portion of the healing process the pain has already begun to subside, right?
Well, our first visit to the pediatrician there in Jenks, OK was quite an adventure. During the course of the visit we knew we’d have to get a shot for her and we knew she was extra sensitive to pain. Now, this extra sensitivity wasn’t just a “head” thing. It was real, as we learned over the years.
Anyway, when it became time to give her the shot it took three adults to hold down this 5 year old girl who was nothing but pure muscle. I mean, she didn’t have an ounce of body fat on her. As soon as the shot went in she let out a shout “I NEED A BAND-AID!!” And repeated that about four times.
It was funny…and heartbreaking all at the same time. She really did feel things differently. It is one of the reasons she was so very fond of anything tactile to comfort her; Beasley, her stuffed dog or a koosh ball or a simple piece of velvet.
Emma’s body tormented her and played tricks on her during the entire span of her life. We find smiles in some of the memories. I’m sorry, yelling “I need a Band-Aid!” loud enough for the entire building was so funny. And, as it was with so many other things with Emma, it carried a bit of a darker connotation with it.
