"Have you ever seen an orange EpiPen?" he asks me.
"I haven't," I reply.
His irregular toothy grin widens with his superior knowledge. But his is a smile of joy: The joy of teaching. He pulls out a long, slender black case and unzips it just enough to show me the colored plastic inside. "See? My mom's had to use one on me before. Have you had to use one?"
"Thankfully, no."
We're at church for the Christmas play rehearsal, and so our conversation is cut short. The little guy packs up his life-saving adrenaline tube and scurries off to recite his lines. And I sit back in my chair and realize I have no idea how to use an EpiPen.
I am now a little more educated. I am now a little more prepared. I learned something today which may save a life at some point. Life-long learning isn't just about gaining more knowledge, but learning that learning is a joy and a boon to you and those around you.
As a homeschooler I call learning about epinephrine autoinjectors part of my education. My education happens all around me, whether in a class, at home or chatting with nine-year-old at church. It's part of my educational philosophy. It's part of what defines us homeschoolers: Learning is a lifestyle.
And learning may save a life.
What have you learned about recently?
~Luke Holzmann
Filmmaker, Writer, Empty Nester
<smile> Thanks, Jana. I didn't know they made trainers. Interesting.
~Luke
I would have thought that was cool, as I have never seen an orange Epipen. Emma has yellow, and I have a green one !
Thank you !!! I wish everyone would take a few minutes and learn how to use one.
I keep the Epipen trainer and very simple instructions of when to use it with Emma's Epipen. Just in case I am not there in an emergency.
Thanks, Teresa <smile>.
~Luke
Even though I do not have a child with an epipen I am a nurse. so I know that the Parents of this child and anyother child you guide help to guide through life will Love the fact you are willing to do whatever it takes to help them.
It is a privilege, Susan. But you are welcome <smile>.
My wife has had similar experiences with crochet. And I can relate to the hours, mistakes, starting over and redoing in several things I'm tackling right now myself. Congratulations on finishing your first project!
~Luke
I have been learning lately how to quilt, by hand. Today I will finish my first project - 4 small coasters. Hours and hours of time, many mistakes, starting over, redoing, etc. has gone into them. But now they are done, and I've learned so much about how to do this. It's been fun and challenging!
THANK YOU! As a mother of a little girl with an epi pen, I thank you for going out of your way to learn how to do this! :D