When I was just turning three, I had spinal meningitis. My very first memory is of being restrained and having an extremely painful spinal tap.
My parents were told to prepare for my death, as my condition was hopeless. To the best of my recollection I did not die, but my condition has always remained hopeless.
Spinal Tap II is coming! For me, it’ll be III.
I recall Dad saying they never got a true diagnosis. False memory! Was it viral or bacterial? And how did I not get it, too? I remember you said you watched Mom as she left, standing at the hospital door. She was frozen with fear but trying to be brave.
In May, I, too, was hospitalized for what they thought was meningitis! but the spinal tap was inconclusive because all the samples were blood-red. Full of protein, too. The doctor knicked a blood vessel and the blood thinner did the rest. They finally decided I had trigeminal neuralgia and an INTERNAL dose of herpes.
Obviously, we’re both still here to listen to Spinal Tap … and turn 70! I remember that being your first memory but I’ve never thought of it in terms of you almost dying. Mom never talked about it and Dad downplayed it or I repressed it.