this forum is great, you meet many nice interesting people here, you agree and you (rarely) disagree, but with friends thats just part of the fun...
here,
and the lesson learned should be :
"Be kinder than necessary ,for everyone you meet is fighting some battle"


Just up the road from my home is a field,
with two horses in it.
From a distance, each looks like every other horse.
But if you stop your car, or are walking by,
you will notice something quite amazing.
Looking into the eyes of one horse will
disclose that he is blind.
His owner has chosen not to have him put down,
but has made a good home for him.
This alone is amazing.
If nearby and listening,
you will hear the sound of a bell.
Looking around for the source of the sound,
you will see that it comes from the
smaller horse in the field.
Attached to her halter is a small bell.
It lets her blind friend know where she is,
so he can follow her.
As you stand and watch these two friends,
you'll see how she is always checking on him,
and that he will listen for her bell and then
slowly walk to where she is, trusting that she
will not lead him astray. When she returns to the
shelter of the barn each evening, she stops
occasionally and looks back, making sure her
friend isn't too far behind to hear the bell.
Like the owners of these two horses,
God does not throw us away just because
we are not perfect or because we have problems
or challenges. He watches over us and even brings
others into our lives to help us when we are in need.
Sometimes we are the blind horse being guided by
the little ringing bell of those who God places in our lives.
Other times we are the guide horse, helping others see.
Good friends are like this ..........
You don't always see them,
but you know they are always there.
Please listen for my bell and I'll listen for yours.
"Be kinder than necessary,
for everyone you meet is
fighting some kind of battle".

Very nice story. We had a dog that was diabetic. She eventually lost her site. For the last four years of her life she was totally blind. Our other dog, a small lab, was her eyes. In our large fenced backyard you wouldn't even know she was blind. Now our small lab is very old and needs help from his younger partner.

thanks Jim, thats a great story too!
and I noticed my story came up 3 in a row ,so I edited...I`m sure you "got it" the first time! Wasnt trying to brainwash people...lol

Of our two cockers, the older (black) girl is now 90 percent deaf. The younger (brown) guy has figured this out and ensures the deaf one knows when something important is going on (back door open, feeding time, someone at the front door, etc). He bumps his nose to hers and points with his nose towards the event.

Cockers are extremely smart, but I can't figure out how the younger one knows the old girl can't hear!

I think I'll put my wife asleep

WOW !

I wonder if I could put a bell around my wife's neck??

Don't do it Gary! Don't do it!

My daughters pony has uv-itis and will eventually go blind. One super pony. She took my daughter from a beginner to a jumper. I'm all ready dreading the day she will lose her sight.Wonderful idea!! having a bell. Should be funny though her companion is a Thoroughbred and is 10 years younger. I wonder if she will keep up. Ron

The week of Thanksgiving was the worst week of our lives...the Monday before Thanksgiving we had to put down our dog (a sharpei)that we had for 14 years she too was totaly blind for the last 9 years of her life. It was amazing that she got around the house like she could see....Then the day prior to Thanksgiving our Daughter was hit head on in her car by a 19 year old kid who thought it was fun doing fishtales in the rain....She is fine now but her car was a total loss and unrepairable...Then Thanksgiving Eve a family member was diagnoised with a rare genetic disease known as (Tuberous Sclerosis)that causes brain tumurs to grow on the brain....The only way we found out about this is they went to get glasses to see better and was told there was something pushing on the right eye stopping the vision...Testing has been going on all week for this to see how severe the problem is....If any other FGF members know of Tuberous Sclerosis please let me know, all first hand info would be appriciated...Thanks

John, we'll add your family to our prayers here in Tennessee. Hang in there.

THANK YOU! I really mean that.
John

Definately in our prayers too, John.

Thinking of you here as well. He's going to hear the prayers with this kind of coverage!

your kind words and prayers mean more then I can express, It means a lot to me and I know that all of you mean what you say, It makes me feel VERY GOOD that the people I share a common interest in such as first generation Firebirds care a lot about people they have never met...There is one person on this site that has helped me with research a great deal that person is a very special person and has a heart bigger then anyone knows....So I will tell everyone now that the family member that has this disease known as Tuberous Sclerosis is me....I have been fighting this for a long time as a seizier disorder and when my sight in my right eye got to be almost non existing I went for an MRI and they found that a tumor was pusing on the inside of my right eye stopping the clarity vision...and that all tests have shown this disease...althought I am not sure how severe it is yet, I hope for a good 15-20 more years and hope to keep this at the state it is in and not to let it worsen. Don't worry, I plan on being here a long time and will try to get along with Jim a little better (ONLY KIDDING JIM). I will keep everyone informed as the test results become available. JOHN

I've seen the brain tumor story beginning to end quite recently. My father-in-law went through it beginning to end in a year. He had a much less curable Astrocytoma stage 3. It was in the very center of his brain. Radiation only destroyed him. Chemo wouldn't touch it. For years before he was diagnosed he had very strange behavior. One day he ran his van into my garage while I was working in it. He came in the door and didn't say a word about it. Often, he wouldn't remember things he did just weeks or days before.
John,
Rather than apologize for every time I found that your posts were way 'out-there', I will hope and pray for your recovery. Check into gene therapy. It was just in testing two years ago when it was too late to save Dad.

Wow John, I am sorry to here about your situation. I hope the very best for you.

Tim

Jim, Thank you for your thoughts. Although, I only made one apology to you ever, you are right as it was this week and it was your post not mine...I felt that the way I lashed out at you was wrong so I did apologize, that was the one and only time... I am working with a lot of very good Drs here in the Boston area, Unfortunatly there is no cure for what I have only treatment to the symtoms and that I will do.

Tim...AKA Cat..Thanks
John

Don't give up on a cure. They are working wonders with stem cells. A local doctor, that was the president's doctor for a time, is a leader in this research. His name is Malcolm Field. He travels the world helping incurable diseases like yours. To Dr Field, there is always hope and no truely incurable diseases. Also, recently there has been break-throughs in radiation therapy where they put a small amount of radiation particles inside the tumour. It shrinks the tumour without hurting any surrounding brain tissue.

Jim this info is from the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke...And I thought I would share it with you
John....................

What is Tuberous Sclerosis?
Tuberous sclerosis (TSC) is a rare genetic disease that causes benign tumors to grow in the brain and on other vital organs such as the kidneys, heart, eyes, lungs, and skin. It commonly affects the central nervous system. In addition to the benign tumors that frequently occur in TSC, other common symptoms include seizures,
Is there any treatment?
There is no cure for TSC, although treatment is available for a number of the symptoms.
What is the prognosis?
The prognosis for individuals with TSC depends on the severity of symptoms. Individuals with mild symptoms generally do well and live long productive lives, while individuals with the more severe form may have serious disabilities. In rare cases, seizures, infections, or tumors in vital organs such as the kidneys and brain can lead to severe complications and even death. However, with appropriate medical care, most individuals with the disorder can look forward to normal life expectancy.

I see a lot of positive in that. It's a good thing that the tumors are benigh(slow growing). You are going to be around a while!

Yes I hope so...Althought, I have been having seiziers for 23 years now and back then diagnoised as Epilepsy. Its amazing that we have come soooo far in medical in 23 years.

This is my 1st time reading this post.
I'm sorry to hear about your situation John.

Consider yourself in my prayers also.

Thanks Doug.. Hope all is well with you.

John, now I'm taking a personal interest in this too and will do alot of research on Tuberous Sclerosis.

Just maintain a positive fighting attitude my friend! We are all supporting you in our thoughts and prayers. Let your family know about us so they too can feel the support and concern from your other (FGF) family.

THANK YOU Nash, I really appriciate it
JOHN