DELUSIONS OF PARASITOSIS

DELUSIONS OF PARASITOSIS

Think of your worst nightmare.   Now multiply that nightmare hundred times over.   Now, imagine that nightmare becoming reality.   Mine did!  
Before giving birth to my first and only son, Bowen, my husband and I spent many months, working long hours, perfecting everything in our home as we anxiously awaited our new arrival.   We carpeted and painted bedrooms, retiled the kitchen floor and built a picture perfect nursery.   Everything was on schedule, including my due date.   On September 13, 2003, I gave birth to a ten pound twelve ounce baby boy.   However, due to complications during the course of my labor, Bowen was immediately placed in the Infant Intensive Care Unit where he remained under observation for twelve long days.   Although he never said so, I believe my husband somehow blamed me.   Over these twelve days we were like strangers; we never visiting our son together.   The first day the three of us spent any time together was the day we brought Bowen home from the hospital.   This should have been one of the happiest days of our lives, but instead it was the beginning of a never ending nightmare.  
I will never forget the shrieking cry coming from Bowen’s lungs as I laid him on his changing table preparing to tackle his dirty dipper.   Apparently Bill, my husband, could hear the terrifying sound of his son’s cry all the way down at our barn.   He came barreling into the house wondering what in the world I was doing to our son.   As I struggled to get a clean dipper on him, Bill pointed out what appeared to be tiny black specks covering Bowen.   Of course, I did what any new first time mother would have done.   I panicked!
On the other hand, Bill quickly picked up Bowen and rushed off to his mother’s house.   Only moments after they left, I understood why Bowen was so upset.   My skin felt like it was crawling with insects, but I could not see anything except a few tiny black specks.   The crawling sensation shortly became accompanied by an occasional sharp...