Life with HAE often necessitates a last-minute change of plans
Like quarterbacks, caregivers may have to make a call at the line of scrimmage
Peyton Manning: Whether football fans like his teams or not, most of them will acknowledge he’s one of the greatest quarterbacks to ever play in the NFL.
I am one of those fans, but I never had a favorite team as much as I had a favorite quarterback. While I was aware of other teams’ statistics and Super Bowl wins, I became an Indianapolis Colts or Denver Broncos fan when Manning was playing in those cities. He executed his role in the game brilliantly, and that isn’t just my opinion; many sports experts, former teammates, and rivals say that he changed how the game was played.
It wasn’t just his incredible leadership or athletic ability; Manning rose to fame for the way he’d change a planned play, known as calling an audible, at the line of scrimmage based on the defense’s formation.
Manning didn’t create changing the play on the field, of course; quarterbacks do it all the time. But his superpower was his ability to look across the line and, in a split second before the snap, yell seemingly random words (the audibles) like “Ice cream!” “Balboa!,” or his most famous, “Omaha!” Such words signaled to his team that the original plans were off and new ones were necessary.
To the opposing team, Manning’s words, accompanied by the quick position changes, could sound and look like nonsense. But the two-time Super Bowl champion proved that, sometimes, a change at the last minute can be a game-winning decision.
Making last-minute calls as a caregiver
When our oldest daughter, whom we lovingly refer to as Ladybug, was officially diagnosed with hereditary angioedema (HAE) in 2021, it didn’t take long for us to realize how quickly the best-laid plans can change.
A dentist appointment may have to get canceled on its scheduled day because Ladybug has a prodrome, or early sense of a flare. A date night may have to be rescheduled because of an unexpected flare. Schoolwork may have to pause because of a sudden hospital stay. None of these moments is something we can anticipate. Sure, we know they can happen, but there are also months when none of that ever occurs. Sometimes the most predictable thing about HAE is its unpredictability.
As a caregiver, I’ve embraced not just my “quarterback” position but my “Peyton Manning” strategies. I’ve developed a keen sense of when the play we’ve planned is not the one we’ll be able to run. And while I don’t have catchy, three-syllable words to alert those around me, a quick text to my husband, Paul; a call to a receptionist (after we’ve already had the conversation months before); or a quick email to the school counselor allows me to change the plan at the last minute and lead us to a solution that will enable Ladybug to succeed.
Caregivers are often the quarterbacks when it comes to managing a chronic illness. And with the right plans and sometimes last-minute decisions, we can help lead our loved ones to some game-winning strategies.
Note: Angioedema News is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The opinions expressed in this column are not those of Angioedema News or its parent company, Bionews, and are intended to spark discussion about issues pertaining to angioedema.
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