Saving Lives…Everywhere You Look

Once upon a time, there was an episode of Full House in which Uncle Jesse had an appendicitis. It was the same episode that his wife, Becky, went into labor with twins. It was ALSO the same episode in which Michelle had a Flintstones-themed birthday party.

When the Tanners went from a full house to a full hospital, Jesse was dressed as Fred Flintstone, and showed a doctor that he was having pain in the same place on his right side where he had a big black spot. The doctor was able to immediately diagnose it as an appendicitis, and Jesse had his appendix removed as Becky had the twins removed.

Fast forward to May 4, 1993.

I woke up that morning feeling SO uncomfortable. It was the last month of my sixth grade year, and I told my mom that I couldn’t make it to school. I camped out in front of the TV, and over the course of the day, my side started to hurt more and more – in the exact same place where Jesse’s spot had been.

I tried to convince my mom (a registered nurse) that I had an appendicitis, but she did a few of the simple tests they do in her ER to check for an appendicitis, and they turned out negative.

All day, I worked to convince my mom that I HAD to get to the ER. Finally, that evening, in the middle of my dad’s birthday party, I convinced her to take me to the ER.

When we got there, they did more tests and found out that I did, indeed, have an appendicitis.

The doctor wanted to get me into surgery, but I said I wanted a Priesthood blessing first. So, my brother and brother-in-law came over and gave me one.

I was taken into surgery, and shortly after they got my appendix out, it burst. I was given a stuffed cow, and I slept through most of the next day. I was home within 24 hours and back at school in a matter of days. I did get to read a lot of Christopher Pike books and watch lots of movies, though. It was worth it. Then I got back to school, and because I couldn’t run, I was pulled from gym class and I got a study hall to do whatever I wanted for a period.

Tomorrow is the anniversary of my appendectomy.

You can say what you want about Full House. It got REALLY stupid as Michelle became the focus, and it went from being a fairly realistic portrayal of a family coping with the loss of their mother to a poorly acted, melodramatic mess of a sitcom. However, it will always hold a special place in my heart. Not because I identified with Stephanie as a middle child. Not because I loved Elvis music like Jesse. Not because I thought Joey was a great impressionist. But because Full House saved my life.

Thank you, Tanners.

Ah, the memories.