Stories From The Chronic Life

My list of medical woes is forever growing. My fingers are swollen. Two of them haven't bent in a week. My feet are perptually sore. I got kinks in places I didn't know I had. I can fall asleep at the drop of a hat. I could go on, but I won't.

I think that my situation is bad. Then I read about some of the people coming back from Iraq. I did not know this but there have been many, many, many more amputees than any other war. The reason is we've made major medical advances. We can save a person with surgery and medical devices. We have electronic prosthesis that emulate actual walking. We have drugs that ease the pain. A person who might have died of their wounds in World War II can be saved by new medical technology. Among these are people who are multiple amputees and burn victims. Once they are "saved" they then are subjected to a pain, adjusting to new limbs, physical therapy, and a completely different life. Some may never recover mentally.

When I think about the pain I endure or the difficulties I have holding onto object I can be thankful. At least I have all my limbs. They may not work all that great but they are all still attached to my body. That is something to be greatful for.