My four-year-old daughter warned me in sign language not to drink—then a terrified woman rushed from the kitchen
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Chapter 25 / 27
Chapter 25 - “Poison” becomes medicine again
For almost a year Lily called all pills poison.
Children create categories from fear.
Tylenol?
Poison.
Vitamin?
Poison.
Antibiotic?
Poison.
We corrected gently.
Medicine can help when used correctly.
Medicine can hurt when misused.
The problem was not that medicine existed.
The problem was secretly giving it to someone.
At five, Lily had an ear infection.
The pediatrician prescribed medication.
She refused.
“Poison.”
The doctor knew the history.
She sat down.
Used an interpreter even though I was present.
Excellent.
She explained directly to Lily.
Lily finally took it.
Then signed:
“Not Vanessa medicine.”
“No.”
May you like
Different.
Healing often depends on restoring distinctions trauma erased.
