Revision

Okay, I sort of take that last post back...

Yesterday a little 5 year old Amish boy came into clinic with a bean in his ear.... a navy bean. I am sure he was just doing what all kids do- exploring their bodies holes... belly buttons, ears, mouths.... you name it. It made me laugh to think of him and his little sister trying to see who could fit the most beans in their ears.

Doc tried to get his long sharp tool behind the bean and the little guy screamed and wailed and thrashed around like any normal kid would. In fact his dad was okay with it too- this little guy had been through a lot with the medical community at a very early ago after he sat in a tub of steaming water and had to have skin grafting done. He was afraid of us, rightfully so. Plus- those ear canals are innervated with 3 different nerves and man, they hurt like hell to poke around in, especially if you are touching the tympanic membrane.

It broke my heart to hear him cry and have to hold his little body still on that table. In the end only half the bean was recovered and he will have to go to a ENT specialist for the other half.

No matter what environment children are raised in, or what culture they come from; Amish, American, Guatemalan...kids are still kids.