Friday is Henry’s Special Day

By Troy Foster

TGIF is universally welcomed with open arms.  It marks the end of the work week, the start of the weekend, and a welcome break.  For Henry (and me), it has an extra special meaning.  We call it Friday “Try Day.”

As most of you know, Henry can eat very few foods.  Black beans, bananas, and grapes.  Not a lot of variety.  Only is the last couple of months has Henry minded this significant limitation. He sees his brothers and sister, classmates, and everyone else eating.  And he just wants to be a kid.

So though he is allergic to the rest of it, on Fridays we let Henry try whatever he wants.  Don’t worry.  His allergies don’t cause immediate and severe reactions.  It wears his gastrointestinal organs out in the long run.  But that’s not our concern.  We wish we had it.

He just wants to be a kid.  Today, we went to Chuck E. Cheese.  Funny enough, their motto is “where kids can just be kids.”  And we had a blast.  Most of it – most all of it – didn’t involve food.  You see, Henry says that he wants to eat.  But truth be told, he just wants to be in the thick of it.  He wants a seat at the table.  He wants to dance with fun characters like Chuck E. Cheese.

In a world about food, it’s not all about food to Henry.  He danced with the giant stuffed animal (creepy).  He played a bunch of games.  He got his picture taken and got to drive a racecar.  He got a bunch of tickets from the games (you know the ones that really require you to spend money for the “prizes”).

There was food there – don’t get me wrong.  Henry had me order a large pepperoni pizza because he was hungry, and he figured his 2-year old brother, Eli, was too.  I got him a Sprite too.  When we got to the table, Henry passed out the paper plates and napkins.  He grabbed the parmesan in anticipation for the big event.  When the pizza came, he picked out his piece and blew on it with great excitement.  He served both of us too. 

And, he took exactly two bites of pizza.  He didn’t touch his soda.  “I love it, Daddy.  But, I’m full.”  It’s not about the food.  It’s about being a kid.  By the smile on his face, I knew this adventure day was a success.  Perfect Friday Try Day.  Henry made it very clear to me as he grabbed my face, looked me in the eyes, and told me “This is the very best Try Day ever.  I love you so much.”

Well worth it.  For both of us!

For more great and inspirational stories about Henry, check out the book inspired by and about him.  Three Candles is on sale now.  www.threecandlesbook.com.  Part of the proceeds benefit Henry's Hope www.henryshope.org.