Hernia Humor

Last night I was talking on the phone with my sister in Texas, while keeping an eye on Joel in the tub.

Rachel told me her 8 year old son, Teddy, just had hernia surgery and recovered very well. My Joel has had two inguinal hernias in three years. The first one, repaired at age 12 weeks, he will never remember. But the second one appeared in late April last year, and he had long enough to befriend it, sticking it back in when out and sleeping with hand "down there" at night as a matter of comfort and habit. He was even glad to know he could take it to Disney World on vacation. We talked about his hernia for several weeks before surgery,matter-of-factly, and when the operation was over, he cried that he wanted his "hernie" back.

When I hung up the phone last night, I knelt down by the tub and told Joel, "Hey, ya know what? Teddy just had hernia surgery like you. Do you remember your hernia?"

He sighed and nodded, then said, "Chronicles of Hernia."