Footnotes Roberts, Alison, The Sacramento Bee “Breathing Lessons,” March 14, 1997 Boller, Paul F., Jr. Presidential Anecdotes, (Penguin Books: Kingsport, Tennessee, 1981), p. 266 “Thomas Edison,” Concise Columbia Electronic Encyclopedia on America Online (Columbia University Press, 1994), 4-16-97 “Disabled Persons,” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia on America Online, /post-query/Grolier/Grolier/Meta0086295-0, 4-16-97 “Helen Keller,” Grolier Multimedia Encyclopedia on America…
Read moreTag: Physical Health
Perspectives on Pain
by Margaret Saylar Mark O’Brien depends on an iron lung for breathing, which he has done for 42 years. Yet while restricted to his apartment most of the time, he writes poetry and books. In 1997 the film Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O’Brien won an Oscar. Before he became ill…
Read moreThe Bottom Line
by Name Withheld Two years ago, I wouldn’t have thought I could learn anything significant about prayer. I had been a Christian for many years. What more could I learn? You ask God for things, you thank God for things. Amen. Then you fall asleep. But last April, I got an education about real…
Read moreTen Minutes with God
A little time with the Father reaps greatthings for His kingdom. by Mikki Loomis as told to Barbara J. Guardino I awoke from a deep coma to the gray, filtered light of a strange room. Tubes and machines surrounded my body. I was semi-paralyzed on the left side. Half of my face was numb,…
Read moreThe Almighty Cure
by Vickie Baker “What do I think about a cure?” I repeated into the receiver. I powered my wheelchair closer. “Cure of what?” My speaker phone rattled a reply. “Spinal cord injury?” I responded. “Well, to be honest, it doesn’t rate very high on my priority list.” After I hung up, the question transported…
Read moreZone of Silence
When it seems God has turned a deaf ear to us. by Katherine Yurchak Early one February morning I awoke with a slight dizzy spell. In the pre-dawn darkness, I steadied myself against the wall and made my way downstairs to my favorite chair in the living room. It’s my daily practice to write…
Read moreWhy Now?
Learning to trust God’s timing. by Kathryn Heckenbach What threw me most about my cancer diagnosis was the timing. I know — there are many reasons to go into a tailspin when you’re faced with a life-threatening illness, and timing is not usually one of them. There’s never a good time or bad time…
Read moreWhen There is No Cure
One woman’s journey through chronic illness. by Mary J. Yerkes “I’m afraid there is no cure. We can only treat the symptoms,” Dr. Price explained, almost apologetically. Speechless, I lingered over her words, struggling to grasp the implications of the diagnosis: rheumatoid arthritis. It’s a systemic disease causing inflammation in the joints. The inflammatory…
Read moreThe Road to Peace
A positive end to a pity party. by Mary Cox-Bilz Born with a severe disability called Arthrogryposis, Multiplex Congenita, I have less than 3 percent use of my left arm and less than 7 percent use of my right arm. I have never walked. I type with a mouth stick held between my teeth…
Read moreThe Fear Fight
Overcoming takes time — and faith. by Janice Hughes Biopsy? No, I could not have heard that word. Surely I had misunderstood. The doctor directed my attention to the screen before me and traced the outline of a small lump. There was no mistake. Bold black letters at the top of the screen announced…
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