The gnomes were sitting and lying about on the soft rabbit fur and poofs in their West Oak Root lounge. Suddenly they noticed LongBeard touching his nose with his left index finger. They immediately quietened down and listen attentively, as they knew this was the cue that he was about to start telling a story. LongBeard cleared his throat and held his harmless herbacco pipe in his right hand, while gently gazing at his fellow gnomes.
“Tonight I would like to tell you about a disease that used to bring about much despair to the human world:
The little boy was playing quietly on the carpet with his toy cars.It was a school day, but he had German Measles and had been told by the doctor to stay at home. The doctor had said that the illness was caused by a virus and that he could go back to school within three days. He did not feel very sick, but his parents had explained to him that this virus can spread from infected to healthy people, causing them to also “catch the virus”. They told him that it was particularly dangerous for pregnant women to get German Measles, as it could cause their babies to be born blind, or have other serious problems.
Tommy was an inquisitive little boy and wanted to know mor
e about this contagious illness. He parents patiently explained that the infectious illness called German Measles is caused by the rubella virus. In Tommy’s case, he had started with a mild fever, and then some pink and light red spots appeared, first on his face, and then on his arms and the rest of his body.Little Tommy did not want anyone to get the illness from him and he certainly did not want any babies to be born blind! He was a considerate child and understood that even though he was longing to have friends visiting him, his best friend Luke would not be able to be with him while his state was contagious.
Luke’s mother was pregnant and they were worried that if Luke caught this highly infectious virus from Tommy, he might in turn pass it on to his mother!
Luke’s parents were very rich, but they had learnt over the years that wealth cannot buy good health. They were well known in the community for their intelligence and common sense approach to life. Luke’s father was a doctor and part of a special team of people who were busy developing a vaccine against German Measles. They knew that if they could vaccinate babies against this disease, they could stop the development and spreading of this illness in people, thus minimising the risk to unborn babies.
Luke’s parents were very rich, but they had learnt over the years that wealth cannot buy good health. They were well known in the community for their intelligence and common sense approach to life. Luke’s father was a doctor and part of a special team of people who were busy developing a vaccine against German Measles. They knew that if they could vaccinate babies against this disease, they could stop the development and spreading of this illness in people, thus minimising the risk to unborn babies.
As Tommy was playing with his police car, he started dreaming about the day he would be grown up and could become a policeman, a protector of people. He was quite a serious little boy, and although he was only 6 years old, he had a well developed sense of right and wrong.
He felt that he was doing the right thing by staying at home now, in stead of spreading an illness. He knew that if each person in the community behaved responsibly towards their health, all members of society would benefit.”
He felt that he was doing the right thing by staying at home now, in stead of spreading an illness. He knew that if each person in the community behaved responsibly towards their health, all members of society would benefit.”
Acknowledgement: www.turnunitingchurch.org.au, skinsight.com, http://www.blazelightaround.co.uk/pages/dreamblazer.php, livelink.saintlukeshealthsystem.org
LongBeard story Copyright © Susan Bellingan Fourie
No comments:
Post a Comment