Ukraine Adoption

Brave

We walked into the exam room yesterday, it was finally our turn. The three of us filed in silently like we were going for treatment of small pox or something. We were at the doctor's office for flu shots.

Well, Tara was there for a flu shot. Austin and I were getting the pain-free alternative: FluMist. It's a little squirt up the nose, you're done. But Tara is too young for the mist. "Who should go first?" the doctor said in a hushed voice. I nodded toward Tara, whose eyes were about as wide as she could make them.

He folded down her shirt to expose her little shoulder and pinched her skin to prepare for the needle. She held my hand and stared straight into my eyes. She didn't say a word. I saw the needle go in and quickly darted my eyes back to hers. She didn't even flinch. When the doctor was done, I said, "See, you're all done!"

She looked at her arm, and then back at me, and finally she spoke. "I'm brave."

Yes, dear, you certainly are, I told her.