African Spell

Natacha was with Valeria, playing at the Brooklyn Public Library's babies’ area; it was in plain winter before Valeria had feet surgery. Inside the building, which has an extremely tall entrance, inspired by ancient Egyptian architecture, a nanny approached her with strong interest; she was an older lady from Africa, who noticed Valeria's hands.

"Her feet, are they also like that?" asked the lady to Natacha enthusiastically.

"Yes, and she's having surgery very soon", responded Natacha.

"She doesn't need surgery; she's having surgery because you want to," said the lady in a firm tonality, turning upset.

"She's a blessed baby," added the lady. "In Africa, babies who are born with extra fingers are admired; they become great strong persons, destined to control their own future".

I found it extremely peculiar that somebody questioned whether Valeria really needed the surgeries. The lady’s beliefs went against the general common sense. It was a possibility that had never been brought up to the table.

Still, one has to be pragmatic, and ponder what’s best in the long run. In term of her feet; although Valeria was able to stand up with easiness; they were different from each other, and were going to cause her to walk unevenly, affecting her hip; one leg was going to put more pressure than the other. That might be fine for a short period of time, but after thirty years it'd definitely would have taken a toll on her.

In term of the hands, although she’s able to hold things without difficulty, she's going to have a wider range to grasp objects.

The conversation with that lady should have passed as unnoticed if it wasn't because Valeria had never gotten sick before the surgery. She was nine months old when she went into the operating room, and by then I had never seen her falling ill. I felt fortunate, especially because my first son, Gianluca, now fourteen years old, had fallen ill a few times by then, which was normal.

Two months after the surgery, Valeria has gotten the cold twice, and an ear infection once; in a way. I know she needs to get sick in order to get her immune system up to date to defend herself from the germs of the world, but I'm still somewhat amazed that she previously had never gotten sick. I hope that by removing what made her special I didn't remove any spell that gave any magical protection.