Overnight Action

D- was away last night. His newly formed confirmation class had a retreat. They get to know one another, establish community, sleep in tents, and eat mass quantities of junk food. I've no doubt the boys had a lengthy round of farting noises before going to sleep. (I've no idea what girls do on a camping trip while falling asleep; probably something utterly civilized like a pajama fashion show.)

Sleeping out overnight is no big deal for D-. He's done so probably more than 100 times in all kinds of weather. And for nearly every one of them, I've been there to make sure he takes his AED.

The AED is what makes his nights away from us a bigger deal for both him and us. D- would never tell anyone why he takes medicine. And only two or three times have I had to say to someone "Please take care of my son while you're away. Oh, and by the way, could you please make sure he takes his meds so he doesn't have a seizure?" Most people are cool but at the initial revelation I've got to spend time reassuring ("Last one more than 3 years ago! Only 1 in the last six years!"), explaining what to do if by some remote chance he has one ("Make him comfortable and call us."), and then making goddamn sure they treat him like the perfectly normal kid he is.
K-