Hello, my little potato,
(yes I know, I’m revealing your nickname to the general public, you’re going to hate me hahaha)
It’s Sunday.
Yesterday, I was wondering when I was going to give you everything I write.
Maybe when you’re 18? You’ll be mature enough.
And if I’m no longer around (which I obviously don’t want to be), this will be a way for me to pass on my ideas. Because in 18 years I’ll be 57 and you never know how life will go.
Also, I’m not sure yet what form I’ll use to pass this information on to you: a book, a website, an IA Papa GPT data model I’ve put together just for you? or something else?
By then, maybe we’ll have chips in our brains and be able to communicate directly by thought (that’s the plan of the tech giants anyway).
Today, I’d like to talk to you about a subject close to my heart: information and communication.
Yesterday was a fairly quiet day for you. No exams, not too much going on. And sometimes that’s good.
On the other hand, your respiratory physiotherapist for the afternoon (the official’s replacement) didn’t turn up, without warning, which is always annoying…
Your two other physiotherapists are in training. They are learning a new method, developed here in Brazil, called TR3 (Terapia de Readaptação e Reorganização Respiratória, a technique by Alessandra Dorça). Apparently, this technique could be of great help to you in the months and years to come.
Apart from that, yesterday was a bit more difficult for your mom and for me. You’ve been coughing more than before, especially when you eat. At first, we thought it was due to the absence of the automatic milk dispenser, that you were swallowing too quickly, and that you were throwing up because of it. Today, thanks to the machine, you’re no longer vomiting, but you’re still coughing and irritating yourself. We don’t know if it’s the tube, a food allergy, your pathology, your stomach or esophagus, the fact that you’re doing more NIV, something else?
The problem is that you start screaming and then run out of oxygen. Which makes us very anxious…
Yesterday, while trying to find solutions, your mom spent a lot of time looking for information on the internet, probably too much…
She used ChatGPT, you know, that artificial intelligence that’s coming out in 2022.
It’s practical, it’s new, and it’s changing the world.
(Dad can’t live without it either)
This brings me to what I wanted to say to you today: watch your information consumption.
When Dad was born in 1986 (yes, I know, you’re going to think I was born in the 1900s, that’s a long time ago), information wasn’t as accessible. To learn, you had to go to the library, borrow a book, or find someone knowledgeable. No Internet, no instant messaging.
Then came the Internet: you could search for information. Dad loved it and made it his job.
For the past 2 years, all you have to do is write a question to an artificial intelligence and it will respond instantly. It’s going to change the world (and it’s already started).
The problem is that information is everywhere in unlimited quantities.
And when too much is consumed, it makes you sick.
A bit like eating too much food.
(I’m not even talking about social networks, which give you information without you even asking for it…)
Yesterday, I think your mom had what I’d call a“mental shit“.
(kisses to my friend Egon, to whom we owe the concept ;))
She’s read too much, researched too much, and ended up imagining scenarios worse than they are. And I understand her.
It’s as if she’d eaten too much harmful food and her body had reacted badly.
The problem is that, in the past, we’ve discussed certain things with specialists who dismissed them, and then turned out to be true.
So today, we’re in doubt. We’re afraid of talking too much, afraid of looking like anxious parents, afraid of not being believed. And that exhausts us.
Your mom often thinks that “I invalidate what she thinks”.
I’m not, I’m just trying to calm him down until I see a specialist.
But the question is: are all specialists to be believed? In the past, some have been wrong… and I told him to wait for the specialist…
How do you manage all this information and make yourself understood and heard?
Unfortunately, I don’t have the ultimate solution.
You’ll probably have to juggle this kind of problem with too much information.
But remember: even if you have access to all the information in the world, you still have to keep your free will.
Always think for yourself.
Observe, experiment and form your own opinion. Because that’s what sets you free.
I give you my lessons, but you know I’m far from perfect too.
After everything we’ve been through, I’ve changed.
Before you were hospitalized, I was patient, calm and understanding.
Nowadays, when someone doesn’t do what they say they’re going to do, especially in the medical field, I get irritable. I’ve lost my patience. I’ve lost my confidence.
Just yesterday one of your specialists took a bit of a verbal beating.
I’m going to meditate more and try to get back into sport to control this nervousness.
To get back to what’s going on. I’m just as worried as your mom. I still think you have a stomach or esophageal problem. Maybe it’s irritation from the tube, or from your old milk formula, because we suspect you’re allergic to cow protein? Or maybe it’s linked to the NIV, the ventilation system that sends you air under pressure, which can irritate your digestive system?
There’s no way of knowing, so we’re calling in a reputable gastroenterologist who’s coming next week. I hope she’ll be able to find out what’s going on and help you get better. And above all, I hope she’ll listen to us.
We don’t want to see you suffer any more, the wheel has to turn.
I’ve just been to see you. You’ve woken up, and as always, you’re holding out your hand to be taken and smiling. Moments like that are the best part of my day.
I love you so much, son.
I didn’t know this feeling/emotion could exist.
You made me discover it.
Thank you
Your doido dad
