Narrative Medicine Monday: To Seize, To Grasp

Writer Heather Kirn Lanier describes her daughter’s seizures in “To Seize, To Grasp.” Lanier begins the flash essay outlining her infant daughter’s first seizure: “not the worst one, although it brought the biggest shock.” Lanier relays what it’s like to be thrust into the medical world and terminology of a new diagnosis: “New traumas gift new glossaries. Words become boxes into which you can pack the pain.” She achingly describes the pain of watching her child seize, unable to do anything but wait: “But of course he could only do what I could do, which was inject medicine and wait.” Lanier closes the piece with her daughter’s worst seizure, which was not the longest. What was it that made this last one so frightening for Lanier? Can you relate to grasping onto that which can be lost at any second?

Writing Prompt: Have you been suddenly thrust into the medical world because of your own illness or a loved one’s diagnosis? What was it like to learn a new vocabulary and way of interacting with the medical system? What did you find most challenging or surprising? Write for 10 minutes.

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