When Arthritis Strikes the Young

Today is going to be a relatively short post - at least that is what I am aiming for. I am a published writer and I am going to attempt at least a short post each day. I may not always be able to do this because of time constraints and such but I am going to try.

As I mentioned in my last blog, I am now on medication for Systemic Lupus. The medication is supposed to take up to a month to show results but I believe I can feel some differences already. Not totally you understand, and what I am feeling may just be the placebo effect that will be replaced once the medication actually kicks in. Since I am not a doctor or a scientist, I can't tell you if this is even possible but for whatever reason, I am feeling a bit better.

I wish I could say the same for my son. Ricky, Brandon's dad, was in the Army for almost three years. He was part of the 82nd Airborne. Now before you ask, no, he didn't go to Afghanistan or Iraq - and there was a reason for this. In a training exercise shortly after 9/11, his parachute mechanism malfunctioned and his chute opened up into the chute of another soldier. They dropped like rocks and hit so hard that it was heard over a hundred yards away. The first soldier hit first and Ricky was destined to land on top of him, but my wonderful son had the presence of mind to swing his legs to the side and land squarely on his buttocks. It was a miracle that no one was killed but Ricky has always had guardian angels watching over him and I thank God that this is the case otherwise he would not be here today.

At any rate, the fall caused numerous problems and although they treated him for over a year, he was eventually given a medical discharge. He left the Army, came home and got a job with Ben E. Keith as a loader. He married Glynda and they had Brandon and you would think they were going to live happily ever after. Not so. Ricky works in a very cold environment. He has worked for the company for nearly three years and now he is experiencing severe pain in his back and hip and arm. He went to the VA hospital and they suspect that he has developed arthritis in the injured area. What this means for my son is a drop in income and a future of constant pain. I have had arthritis for many years but it didn't even begin to develop until I was in my mid-to-late thirties. Ricky is 23.

Right now, Ricky isn't even allowed to lift his own son, but he stubbornly does so and immediately pays a heavy price for it. My son is frustrated and upset by this turn of events.

I will keep you posted on this latest development in the soap opera that is my life. In the meantime, if you pray, send one up for my son - he can use all the prayers he can get these days.