Blog | frasergo.orghttps://www.frasergo.org/blog/2008-11-22T14:54:34+00:00BlogMacrophage dreams and spleens2008-11-22T14:54:34+00:00david/blog/author/david/https://www.frasergo.org/blog/2008/11/macrophage-dreams-and-spleens/<p>With all his treatment, James has gotten interested in the different blood cells and how they work. His favourites are the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macrophage">macrophages</a> which are white blood cells that do a cunning trick of growing arms to swallow bacteria etc (see <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KiLJl3NwmpU">an amazing animation</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MdR9ctxzab4">a time-lapse video</a>).</p>
<p>The other week, he was sleep-talking and was obviously dreaming - he said <i>"My brain can control the macrophage"</i> - and went straight back to sleep</p>
<p>Then on Monday I was reading a book from the library about the Body (again fascinating to him) and there was a section explaining how in the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spleen">Spleen</a>, macrophages take apart old red blood cells so there parts can be recycled.</p>
<p>We finished reading and he said to me, <i>"Daddy, I'm a macrophage and you're a red blood cell. When you're old and can't work any more, <b>I'm going to tear you to pieces in the spleen</b>"</i></p>
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