Never again grape jelly

Do you remember the first time you had to take enzymes? I was diagnosed with CF when I was at the ripe old age of three. Old enough to remember my sweat test and have lasting memories of a sterile hospital. But what I really remember was the first time I had enzymes.

The enzyme of choice in those days (1970-71) was Viokase. A pork-based enzyme with, not surprisingly, a pork-like odor. Well, I guess I really don't know what a pork-like odor is - but I do remember the smell. And more than the smell, the god-awful taste. Viokase was meant to be swallowed, a trick I quickly mastered (and to this day, I can swallow a handful of pills without water!). But for a three year old, swallowing pills is not exactly an inherent ability. So the prevailing practice was to put to the pills in a spoonful of honey or jelly or whatever else might be easy to swallow (brings to mind the song "a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, the medicine go down . . .!).

So my mom and dad put the pills in a spoonful of grape jelly. I can picture them standing across the kitchen, while I hold the spoonful of jelly meds and they encourage me to swallow them. And I can remember my hesitation. I had no idea why I was taking the stinky jelly meds. All I knew is that the eyes of the parental units were on me, and I was supposed to go "bottoms up" with the spoon.

Eventually, I took the plunge . . . and promptly chewed the spoonful of jelly and Viokase. I will never, never, never forget the nasty, disgusting taste of Viokase and grape jelly.

And I can honestly tell you, I have never eaten grape jelly again. Probably never will.