What are proton pump inhibitors, anyway?
Chances are, your child is has been on one or is on one now, since PPI’s are a primary weapon in the arsenal against reflux and esophagitis. Here’s how they work: Your stomach produces acid to help break down food so it is easier to digest. In certain circumstances, this acid can irritate the lining of your stomach, esophagus and duodenum (the top end of your small intestine), causing indigestion and even ulceration and bleeding. The proton pump inhibitors work by blocking the production of stomach acid. They do this by inhibiting (shutting down) a system in the stomach known as the proton pump.

The revelation came over dinner at the hospital cafeteria. Our son James, the youngest, was in the hospital again (pneumonia that time, I think) and I’d taken our two older children to get something to eat. During the meal, I played the role of journalist, asking both Catherine and Aidan what it was like to have a brother in the hospital.