Umbilical Hernia

This past spring we learned that our one-year old had an umbilical hernia. Which was a relief. We were worried she swallowed a marble. An umbilical hernia is a tiny hole in the abdominal muscles that never closed after the umbilical cord opening healed. As a child becomes active the hole gets larger. Resulting in intestines bulging through. It sounds worse than it really is. Using medical terms overcomplicates everything. It’s like a doctor diagnosing you with a contusion on your coccyx. You’re immediately concerned because you have no idea what they’re talking about. You: Can this be treated? Dr. Yes. You: Is it contagious? Dr. No. You: How long do I have to live? Dr. I don’t know. But the bruise on your behind should be gone in a week. It was like a weird version of Pinocchio. Except ins...