It’s true. I’m a Germ-A-Phobe.

Post date: Dec 13, 2011 3:58:47 PM

Natalie called me a “clean freak” Saturday. “Mom, why do you enjoy cleaning so much?”

Oh, kid, you’re going to regret asking this question.

I turned off the vacuum – I was really taking joy out of getting the cob-webs off the ceiling – and sat down on the couch and looked her square in the eye.

“Because of you.” And I smiled.

“Huh,” said she.

“Because, oh daughter of mine, it was the one thing I could control. At a time in your life, your transplant doctors instructed your daddy and me to keep things clean. We needed to make sure that there were no germs around. You were very sick and we need to make sure that you didn’t get any sicker. It was one of the few things that we could control.”

“Because of my meds?” she asked.

“That’s part of it, yes. You are immune suppressed. That means medication keeps your body from attacking the liver. But that same medication sometimes keeps your body from attacking bugs, germys, viruses, icky stuff, that get in there. And it’s my job to make sure that none of those things are here at home. This is your safe place. I’d never let you leave, if it was up to me. I’d keep you safe here all the time, if I could.”

“Oh, mom.” She says, and goes back to her cartoons.

“Mom, can I drink the wine at my First Communion?”

That’s another post.