Errol Milner Clifford 2006-2009

Errol Milner Clifford was born with a significant heart defect and a cognitive disability that prevented him from walking or talking. As we grieved the child we had anticipated, Errol’s full-bodied smile and irrepressible laugh turned our sorrow into joy, and taught us that many of the best things in life are unexpected. Inspired by Errol’s delightful spirit, friends, family, and neighbors rallied to support our family’s significant emotional, physical, and financial needs, through countless acts of selfless generosity. When Errol’s courageous heart finally failed him on December 23, 2009 we were left numb with grief. In these dark hours we listen hopefully for the echoes of Errol’s brilliant laugh. This blog is the story (starting from present and working back to Errol's birth) of the life and times of the amazing Errol Clifford.

Wednesday, May 06, 2009

Smokin' Penguins Part II

Since yesterday, I’ve learned a little more than I want to know about how nebulizers work. I’ve also realized that the tube that carries the steam from the penguin doesn’t attach to the penguin’s belly button (as I had naively been led to believe) it actually attaches more to the penguin groin area (do penguins have groins?) Although a steaming penguin groin is a little easier to believe than a steaming penguin belly button, it’s a lot less appetizing. Steaming penguins (great band name, by the way) are supposed to distract a kid from the fact that there is an Old-Faithful sized gusher of steam heading his way. Good luck with that. Errol isn’t the smartest kid in the world, but the penguin nebulizer didn’t fool him for a second.

I’ve also learned that what the nebulizer shoots into my son is not pure love (as I had naively been led to believe) but actually steroids. The steroids are steamed and then inhaled into his lungs. I won’t tell you what it looks like (because you shouldn’t know) but suffice to say, I hope the cops don’t come to the door as we are “hitting the penguin!” I’m not sure if the steroids are working, but Errol’s cough is better, he’s hitting .327 with 32 home runs,
and he’s suddenly grown a full beard, 

which helps to explain why both the Boston Red Sox and the Taliban called yesterday.

The bottom line is that the medicines are working, Errol is improving, and he should return to his normal school and baseball routine soon. We’re thrilled with Errol’s recovery, but the feelings that Errol’s sickness have excavated have been bad ones, and the thoughts of this summer’s surgery have been scary ones.

Here is a little Nebulizer questionnaire. If you scroll down you’ll see the interactive version of this poll to your right.

What would be the best nebulizer camouflage?

  • You mean it’s not a penguin?
  • Nuclear reactor cooling towers have smoke coming out of them so if you shaped the nebulizer like a cooling tower, a child wouldn’t know it was really a nebulizer
  • Condoleezza Rice 

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