Last week, one of my prior students fell into a coma. Mendel has Glycogen Storage Disease. A person with a Glycogen Storage Disease (GSD) has an absence or deficiency of one of the enzymes responsible for making or breaking down glycogen in the body. This is called an enzyme deficiency. He does not eat anything with sugar. To counter balance all of this, every 4 hours Mendel drinks cornstarch mixed with water or food. Last weekend, he missed his 4am dose and after having seizures, Mendel went into a coma. It was a long, scarry week for his family, friends and their community. Prayers were said around the world for him, and within a few days, Mendel was able to make a 100% recovery. On Friday, Juggles and I went up to the hospital to entertain him. I'm not sure who was happier...Mendel or his mother. Clowning is exactly about that: putting a smile on the faces of the patients and their families. It is a brief distraction from the sadness they are facing. I am so glad that I can help, not only with prayers, but with smiles.
