I'm glad to hear your son's condition is improving!
It really difficult to pitch Steemit to someone who doesn't have any background knowledge in cryptocurrency. I've tried and failed on countless occasions. What I've had the best luck with is to explain Steemit (the platform) only. My basic pitch has evolved to this...
"Steemit is a social media platform that allows you to do almost everything you do on Facebook only they don't sell your private information and you get paid when someone "likes" your post."
The first question is usually, "How do you get paid?"
Then I say, "You get paid in cryptocurrency, like Bitcoin."
That usually hooks them.
Our thoughts are with you guys!