Feeling the Fear (and trying not to do it anyway)
Feeling the Fear Flames against a black background I know no one has to justify themselves or a fear but I feel I have to. I have a fear of pain - (needles, injections, surgery...). For the latter, you may say, 'get knocked out!' but anaesthetic also fills me with dread. Here’s why: When I was little, I had four teeth out, by the dentist, under anaesthetic. My mum held my hand, watching as people went in and came out. I lay sleeping still. She stroked my hand, willing me to wake up. When I finally did, a bit of my brain had been lost, and my balance occasionally went and I’d fall. A few years later we couldn’t find out why I tired easily and was so wobbly, the GP sent me to the local Children's Hospital for tests. I had many tests, including a muscle biopsy. For this, I had to be knocked out with anaesthetic. The test results showed I have Leigh Syndrome, a mitochondrial disease that my little brother died to aged 19 months. It’s progressive, as the mitochondria that fuel...