Blue is a damn fine color. Red is too. But they shouldn’t mix, and it’s a problem when they do.
As reported last year, when Didi was born, the routine newborn check turned up a heart murmur, which ultrasound confirmed that he had a heart defect, and there where holes between his ventricles. Which isn’t good. But the holes were small, and we were told they would likely close within a year or so.
So, every three months, we would go in for another ultrasound. And the inner geek in me noticed that the reds and blues had a meaning, showing the velocity of the blood flow. For the non-geeks, velocity not only shows speed, but direction, and blues should keep themselves confined to one ventricle and reds should be busy in the other. But they weren’t staying away from each other. Which means that there was a hole large enough for them to mix.
Fluid dynamics is fascinating to watch, unless it’s your sleeping flesh and blood whose tiny heart is the subject and there’s that quiet discussion between those who know. When yet other unnamed experts in white uniforms are called into the room to peer once again at the eddy currents, you know that it’s not just a teaching moment.
But each time less blue went into the red. Fewer eyes stared at the screen and the flow was different, evident even to this amateur. A centimeter became millimeters and then today. The flashes of reds and blues were there, but centered around valves. Odd artifacts examined, and discarded. Only one white coat called in to proclaim what this father had guessed. Didi is fine. The only holes in his heart are the ones which are supposed to be there. The blues stay blue and the reds are red. Once closed, the defects never come back, they said. He’s cured.
“Thank you very much” and a nod of the head. The nameless white coats left out one door and the father gathered up his still sleeping son, bundled him into a coat before heading out into the rain.
Not until nine hours later, long after dinner was cooked, everyone fed, dishes washed, children bathed, read to, and put to bed, did that tiny tear escape the eyes.
Maybe I’ll go give him another hug. But a gentle one 'cuz I sure as hell hate having to get that little creature back to sleep.
and whaddya got against purple?
