Chapter 9: They Have a Lovely Disposition

Last week, Cathal and I popped down to our local GP clinic to get his first round of vaccines at the vaccine clinic. Our family GP doesn't do the vaccines, so that's why we had to go elsewhere. We got to the clinic not too late in the day, only two babies ahead of us. Apparently, only babies and oldies need to see the doctor, no in between people there at all in the waiting room. Then we had a lady sit beside us who just kept giving out about having to wait to see the doctor, first to herself, then to us, then to a man she knew on the other side of the room (sigh!).

One baby down, two babies down, OUR TURN.

The nurse took our details, looked Cathal over and then asked if he had any heart conditions. Oh dear, is it that obvious, can you see his heart through his chest? Oh, she saw he has downs, I get it now. She also asked the big one, did you know before he was born? Nope, but do see the previous post.
"Grand so, because he is a new patient here, I'll just get the doctor to give him a quick check."

The doctor came in, she listened to his chest to make sure his lungs were clear for the needles. He was kicking like mad, he spotted a lamp and was totally fixated and excited about it. But the shock of the cold stethoscope and a strange person touching him did not go down too well, and he started crying. We hadn't even started the injections yet.

As he was crying, the doctor turned to me and said, "Ahh, but they have lovely dispositions".
What's that now, babies? Well yes, they can be pleasant.
I replied with "I don't know about that, he can be a real terror".
To which she said "Ahh no, but really, they do".

Now, I only have experience with one little baby who happens to have downs, but he is a messer and can be the most frustratingly stubborn four month old in the entire world. He has days where he cries at everything, if he is on his matt, if you move him to the sofa, if you carry him around, if you look at him, god forbid if you try to kiss him when he is in a mood, anything will set him off. Then the next day he is sweetness and light and full of cheer. My head is wrecked. If there is a lovely disposition in there, it must be hibernating.

The nurse gave him the first needle in his right thigh. His answer to that was "That really, really hurts"
Then the second needle went into the left thigh....."JESUS CHRIST THAT F*CKING HURT LIKE HELL WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING MAMMY HOW COULD YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU I HATE YOU"

Remember dear, you have a lovely disposition. I finally got him calmed down by bouncing him up and down while he rested his chin on my shoulder and screamed in my ear. But I made a fatal mistake, when he stopped crying; I did the mammy thing, and kissed the back of his head....
"WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE DOING YOU COW, I DIDN'T TELL YOU YOU COULD TOUCH ME EVER AGAIN, I HATE YOOOOUUUUUUUU"

disposition....lovely?!? Where's that doctor again, maybe she could prescribe one?


Funny the attitudes and preconceptions out there to disability or special needs. I often get comments in the local supermarket from the oldies "God Bless him". God bless you too, in the name of the father etc amen. No blessing required thank you, he’s just fine the way he is. No divine intervention necessary. If he gets another blessing like that, he is likely to spin his head around 360 degrees, not baptized yet!!!

I don't claim not have some of those preconceptions too, but I am learning, there is no norm, every one has their own character and way about them, and Cathal is no different.