You have to explain the phrase "putting the cart in front of the horse".

by Clyde C. Scalf
(Deer Park, WA, USA)

Chronic pain it's self is a disease. It comes with it's own little bag of horrors that 30 million faceless souls will have to open or not be treated. Chronic pain causes loneliness and isolation and it invades your entire being and those who love you. Pain doesn't discriminate. The young and old have the most to loose and if left untreated, pain becomes the source of mental anguish and fear such that even a benevolent god knows not.

I was compelled 25 years ago to donate my company's time and resources to help the Shriners Hospital design and draft documents of orthopedic devices for children. I remember one, four year old little girl who had no legs and only a stub of one arm. Confined to a wheelchair for the rest of her life she had only one desire. She wanted to be able to turn around in her wheelchair because she could only go back and forth. An engineer for the Shriners designed a device that would allow her to turn her bucket into a swivel with a joy stick. I compiled the drawings and they were presented to a distinguished body of orthopedic professionals who declared this invention, a great accomplishment and was of great review. The engineer invited me to meet the little girl and her new found "bucket friend". When i met her she wanted to hug me and thank me for drawing the pictures that would help other children "just like me". She shrieked with glee as she guided her chair as fast as it would go down the hospital ward spinning around and around. I waved good bye to her, never to see her again.

I felt different about my own disability. I had arms and legs. I just didn't have the hope she did. I thought the world was unfair and uncaring to those who couldn't help themselves.

In the autumn of my life I came to understand that it wasn't the device or drawings I gave her. I gave her the greatest thing imaginable, I gave her hope.

So when the chips are down and your poker hand has aces and eights seek out to those who cannot help themselves and give them hope. One act of kindness will help put hope back in your pocket. Besides you'll get some fresh air.

Remember! Never take a drug that lists a side effect of "leakage". You can deal with suicidal thoughts, increased pain, loss of vision, renal failure, liver failure, clotting, blotting and in general, mental health issues. It is a patients right to refuse ANY drug.