Jun. 06, 2007 - 21:39 MDT

MAKES THE DIFFERENCE

The girl who was our youngest daughter and later became our middle daughter was just a tyke when she began to complain of pain in her upper leg, mostly the hip area it seemed. Heather took her to the doctors and was handed off to other doctors, and in the end the last doctor told Heather that the Shriners would be in town and that it would be a good idea to get her looked at by their doctors.

Heather did the appropriate things to get her to be seen while they were in town. After X-Rays and examinations it was diagnosed as Perthe�s disease on one hip. Perthe�s attacks the white covering of the ball of the hip joint. That�s all from what I heard, once the covering is gone the disease has run its course. But of course, that is not the end result for the victim, bone to bone contact is bad for the knees and worse for the hip as many people know.

So the Shriners gave Susan crutches and a sling to put the affected side out of contact with the ground.

She began to go to Bayside School (which I think was under the Shriner�s wing) where all matter of children with various disabilities attended. She was in kindergarten and would be periodically seen by the Shriners. When they told Heather that the white covering of the ball joint of her hip had regrown almost perfectly and she could give up the crutches and sling, there was much joy in our family.

Next school term Susan began regualr school with her neighborhood friends.

During the time she spent at Bayside she was in class with people with all kinds of disabilities including some with cerebral palsy and things like that. The philosophy at that school is that everyone helped whoever needed the help and the helper had the ability to help. Susan fit well, was cheerful all the time and very upbeat. She followed the regimen of crutches and sling without rebelling.

She put her own personal twist on things though. On crutches and wearing that sling she could outrun the other kids, I once saw her jump from a porch to the ground, light running and never missing a step. She was as active or more so than other kids her age, in fact.

I think Susan had a good heart at birth, was kind and thoughtful, more so than most kids. But, as well, I think her time at Bayside where everyone helped those who needed help and learned to accept help graciously had a great deal to do with who she became as an adult. She seems to have a way of helping anyone out with out needing to be complimented or praised, gives her help freely from her heart.

She grew up to Mother three children, who grew to adulthood as fine people. The oldest, a son, is physically hampered because of a botched tumor removal in his brain. He has the use of one arm and can walk though hampered there. He has learned to adapt himself to most situations and can do better than most folk and things requiring manual dexterity. He still lives with his Mom and her husband, does what he can to help her.

What was taught her in Bayside was of great value, and she ? Being a natural compassionate person with a giving nature was taken to heart by her and seems to have become a second nature.

She keeps close tabs on Heather and I and comes by often. Mother and daughter talking on the phone every morning is a way of life.

Kudos to our daughter. I guess what you naturally are plus what you learn and truly take to heart MAKES THE DIFFERENCE . . . . . . . .

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