Wednesday, February 26, 2014

Korean Spas, Catholics, Epilepsy, Stigma, Seattle and Other Astonishing Things



So, I did a little work today for the non-profit that helps kids in foster care. I commented on a friend's article on a Catholic mother website and veered off topic and then regretted it. I think it was the Catholic part that set me off. I also went to the Korean spa for a scrub, and when I was finished I told a friend to remind me to do it more often. Honestly, it's like being reborn. Speaking of Korea, I just read an article about South Korea changing the name of epilepsy to cerebral electric disorder. "They" are doing this because of the stigma surrounding the word -- and the condition. In Korea, epilepsy has been considered the result of "evanescent spiritual forces and even demonic possession." I'm not sure what I think about changing the actual word and how much it might remove the stigma. I do remember, though, back in the day, when people would ask me what was wrong with Sophie, and I'd tell them she had a seizure disorder. It's not EPILEPSY, is it? they'd inevitably answer, and then I'd sigh and tell them yes. Back in the day, I'd also tell them the statistics and how epilepsy is the most common neurological disorder in the world, that anyone can have a seizure at any time in the life-span. Blah, blah, blah. If the person asking me was utterly clueless, they might add, But can't they give her something for that? or the even more clueless She'll probably grow out of it, right? I'd politely answer the questions, make them feel better and then scream in my mind.  As for the demonic possession part -- well -- there are certain types of seizures that perhaps warrant that description, especially if we didn't know any better. When Sophie had atonic drops, she could be standing up or even sitting on the edge of her bed, and in the blink of an eye -- or even half-blink -- her face would be planted on the floor. I don't think I could have pushed her any harder or quicker if I'd put my hand on the back of her head and slammed it there myself. The fact that it happened, sometimes, upwards of a hundred times a day warranted demonic as a descriptor.

Speaking of Catholics, there's the medieval case of Christina the Astonishing, a woman who lived from 1150 to 1224 and whose seizures were understood to be her willing submission to demonic torments to provide much needed respite for those in purgatory. The medical abstract I read about Christina stated that her case was unique in that she provides an ingenious link between the demonic and divine explanations of the disorder. Oy. Catholics! Neurology! (You can watch Nick Cave sing her life here)


Anyhoo.

Well, that was certainly an irritable rebirth, wasn't it?

Sorry.

I'm a bit wired up having been in terrible traffic all day. The dang Academy Awards are on Sunday, right up the street from where I live, so streets are closed and helicopters are circling and it's hard to not be a hater and feel it's all bullshit. On the plus side, I'm getting ready to fly to Seattle tomorrow to attend the Caregifted benefit. I'm excited because I've never been to the rainy city, and I think Heather McHugh's foundation is one of the most outstanding in the country and certainly deserving of donation. You can visit the site here. Heather told me that she'll be showing the Extreme Parenting Video Project at the benefit, so many of you will make the party virtually! If you haven't seen the video and would like to do so, go over to my right sidebar and click on my picture holding up that sign. I'll be leaving Los Angeles just as some rainstorm of the century hits it, and word is that Seattle will be sunny. What are the chances of that?

I might not be posting very much over the next few days, but I promise to get out of this irritable mood and rebirth myself.






19 comments:

  1. It sunny and 56 degrees here today but there's not telling what it's going to be like tomorrow. Or in ten minutes. Love that you will be so close.
    Rebecca

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  2. You know how I feel about The Church.
    But I think that rebirth can be pretty darn swell.
    May you have the very best, most interesting, soul-stirring time ever.

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  3. I kind of like the idea of calling diagnosis what they are. Like...."vaccine induced encephalitis" rather than "autism" in cases where it actually is vaccine induced encephalitis, etc.

    Have a wonderful trip. Enjoy that Seattle sunshine.

    P.S. I haven't been scrubbed by anyone since I was a child in a bathtub.

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    1. And that's exactly what it's like, fullsoulahead! It's like being a baby or a small child -- and the feeling of hands on you is divine -- not sexual at all but caring and deeply soothing. The Koreans know something we don't --

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  4. Just last night my husband got me started on the topic of Catholicism. He does this because he thinks it is funny. We were both raised Catholic and now we are not but he still has some sort of connection to it. I do not. That is all I have to say about that. (OK, I *could* say a lot more but I won't.)

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  5. It has been lovely the past two days in Seattle, though it is supposed to start raining tomorrow, Thursday. And since there will be 15,000 people descending on my fair city, I am glad they won't get the "paradise revisited" version. Take care, perhaps we'll get to meet up. As for demons and divines, I think most people are just afraid and have no clue how to think or feel about it except to react to their fear. But I'm sure you know that. It is just tiresome. We got the "they'll grow out of it, won't they" stuff too. Sigh. If only.

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    1. I'm glad that you figured out Blogger or it figured out you! Thank you for visiting and for leaving a comment.

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  6. It is so striking to me to read of Sophie's seizures in the past tense. This is divine.

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    1. Angella, the seizures I was describing were particular to Sophie when she was a little girl -- truly vicious ones! I look forward to one day referring to all the types of seizures she's had and has in past tense, so I thank you for being hopeful!

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  7. A lot going on over there, my friend! I would gladly take rain over this snow we've been having non-stop any day! Im so over it. Makes me want to MOVE!!!

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    1. If you have any extra snow to spare, just send it over to Finland. We are having one of the lousiest winter of my lifetime.

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  8. You'll be most welcome in the NW, dear Elizabeth. May the rain clouds part for you.

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  9. Confession: I might be afraid of Korean spas. It might be better if I were scrubbed by a Catholic. It would probably be done with clothes on, right? Better for my hyper-sensitive skin.

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  10. The world must have been such a strange place for people back before there was any science or understanding to speak of. No wonder we believed in demons and whatnot.

    Have a great trip to Seattle! I hope you get to do some fun things while you're there.

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  11. Will you be in Seattle long enough/have time to go to the AWP book fair on Saturday? It sounds like it will be a good this year. One way or t'other, have fun on your trip, Dear Elizabeth. x0 N2

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  12. Have a good trip to Seattle. Whatever the weather is there, I can assure you it's better than what we have today in my part of Canada. -22 Celsius and no hope of warming up for the next few days…..ugh! Your irritable mood strikes a chord with me for sure!

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  13. I have read scripture that says the individual had a demon and epilepsy, the word-and-relieves me somewhat. I would like it better, sometimes, if a different disorder was used in that piece of scripture to have another ailment other than seizures and a demon. I have heard many people describe their pain and suffering and perhaps the story could have described their medical complication along with a demon.

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  14. Have a lovely time in my dear city! If you need suggestions of things to do or places to eat, I'm sure your readership would be happy to provide ideas.

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  15. WOW - please share about the response to the Extreme Parenting Video - and everything else, for that matter.

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