Aviva is the slowest person I know. Pregnancy has of course, made this a lot worse. But pre-belly, Aviva was chronically late. I shouldn’t point fingers since I am just as bad, but I believe I could move quickly if I wanted to. I just don’t bother. But my wife is a procrastinator to the max, late for work, appointments, and parties. Dubbed “S.P.A.” (“slowest person alive”) by her sister, Aviva knows no time restraints.
Ironically, it is the S.P.A. that has started to test my lateness. Not at being on time to appointments or making it to synagogue early but in taking my medicine on time. We all know that I am not the best at taking my pills and that now, due to fear of rejection, I have no choice but to take everything. But what you might not realize is that taking the meds isn’t enough. I have to take them on time! My pills now run my day. They are the first thing I do in the morning and the last thing I take at night. Light no longer divides day and night for me but my Prograf and Myfortic do. Constant tardiness in this area of my life can be the difference between a perfect liver and rejection. And so, to combat my laziness and lateness Aviva invented Plasma Points.
Plasma Points work much the same way as X-box Bucks, the more meds you take the more money you can earn. But in this version taking my pills on time is as important as taking them in the first place. Fifteen minutes late can be the difference between a perfect week and negative points. The chart above details the point system. Every week Aviva makes me sign the top of the sheet and I begin the process. At the end of the week she grades the paper to see how I’ve done.
You might wonder why we’ve decided to make a game out of my health. Am I that immature that the only way I will take my meds is if I’m busy earning a plasma TV? In actuality, this game is as difficult as it can get. Remembering to take 4 pills now, 3 pills then, 1 pill at noon is not easy. It’s easy to lose track of time when you’re busy with work or out having fun (especially if you don’t wear a watch or remember to set alarms). Since this game has started, I’ve yet to have a perfect week. And so, I’ll take any incentive to stay healthy and on time, even one from the slowest person I know.
2 comments:
FYI, it is a blast playing games with Aviva, she makes them so much fun. Two weeks ago, Aviva was working at Columbia and got a craving for a slurpee. I was in NJ at the time and picked one up for her and brought it to the hospital. The next morning I went to my chart to fill in the time I took my meds and I found a post-it note attached. "Congratulations! You've earned 5 extra Plasma Points for getting me a slurpee." Does it get better than that?
you guys are the cutest ever. i still have your candies -- and your blog is awesome.
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