by jdansmall

Disappointment . . . His appointment

change one letter, then you’ll see that the thwarting of my purpose is God’s better plan for me.”

So goes a song we heard years ago.

Some circumstances are easier than others for embracing the providence of God in the everyday affairs of His children.  Tonight Tirzah had the opportunity to rejoice for 15 others who qualified for the semi-final round.  She didn’t make the cut.  So, we’ll relax, enjoy the waterpark and other entertaining events!  Thanks for your support -the good news is that she (and we) have lots of Scripture truths in our minds and hearts that we wouldn’t have otherwise!

And, on the health front, I’ve added an impending root-canal to my issues.  For now, antibiotics are dealing with the pain and poison. Also, my involvement in the clinical study for Panobinostat in New York has been postponed until February.

There is a verse somewhere that says, “in everything give thanks for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.”

. . . it is and we do!

by jdansmall

Hope Deferred . . .

I’ve got good news and . . .

The good news is we’ve made steady progress in our trek across America.  It’s Thursday and we’re visiting our daughter in Fremont, NE.  It meant a couple of lo-o-o-o-ng days to do it, but here we are -and the “Dream Machine” (our newish van) is living up to its name!  It’s been great!

The bad news is that Rebecca has been dealing with alternating fever, debilitating cough, and sore throat that won’t let up.  We’ve tried a variety of remedies, so today we’re trying the old-fashioned one: REST!

Hope deferred refers to a phone call I just got from Mt. Sinai in NYC.  They won’t be ready to do my screening and start me in their study till sometime in the New Year.  So, we won’t be taking a detour to the east as part of this trip.

Tirzah is finishing up her memory work and boning up on the finer theological nuances of Ephesians and 1 John.  Competition begins 1 week from today!

Today or tomorrow we’ll head on over to Brentwood, TN where we’ll be able to stay put for several days.  Thanks, Huffords, for your remote hospitality!  Wish you were there with us!

by jdansmall

Hidden Heroes

I’ve been through 59 Veteran’s Days in my life and I can’t remember ever truly thinking of my dad as one of “them.”  My dad wasn’t jumping out of a carrier on D-day, he wasn’t part of the brave forces on Iwo Jima, and he never fought in battle -at least not the kind the military is famous for.

You see, Dad was a Chaplain’s Assistant.  I can see the sneer growing just under the surface -“a what?”  That’s right, he served on “different fronts.”  And not very many chaplains have been the focus of ticker-tape parades.  In fact, news in recent months indicates that military chaplains (at least of the Christian faith) may be an endangered species.  It is almost as though there are forces at work to eliminate this “non-essential” dimension of our military might.

On this sacred day of remembrance, look for the unsung heroes, the behind-the-scenes folks without whom our whole armed forces would be rendered impotent.  Thank God, especially, for those devoted men and women who shepherd the grieving, lonely, confused, and often injured soldiers.

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by jdansmall

Coast to Coast

The Bible tells us that God called Abram from his own birthplace to go out to a land He would reveal in due time.   The Apostle Paul went from city to city and was sometimes deterred by God’s Spirit (Acts 16:6) and other times by God’s enemy (1 Thess 2:18).  Sometimes he decided where to go based on conversations with co-workers (Acts 15) and at other times it was during a season of prayer and worship that God supernaturally commissioned him(Acts 13).

All that to say, there are no formulas to knowing what one should do next.  But it is smart to do/go whatever/wherever in the atmosphere of enjoying God’s fellowship and His promises.

And it is in that ultimate “comfort zone” that we plan to load up our “new” 2000 Ford van and head east on Sunday into an unknown future.  Sure, there are things we have planned, folks we look forward to seeing, etc. BUT, we also realize that we have no idea what extended road travel will do to my body.  We do have peace about it and are excited about the adventure.

Our first major target is the National Bible Bee in Sevierville, TN from Nov 20-23.  Once Tirzah clears the preliminary round (Thurs) the semi-final (Fri) and final (Sat) rounds will be live-streamed and as the day draws nearer we’ll send out a link in case you’d like to see her “take home the prize!”

The second main event will be Thanksgiving with the Sheldrake/Plumb tribe in Indianapolis.  More reservations are coming in as the day draws near so this should be a great reunion even though brief (or maybe because it’s brief?).

And, as of late this afternoon, a third TARGET has been added to the itinerary.  I received a call from Dr. Mascarenhas at Mt. Sinai Hospital in NYC and they’d like me to come in for a thorough screening on Dec 3 in hopes of joining their clinical trial of Panobinostat.  If you’re wanting more details about the program there’s some info here: http://mpnforum.com/the-silent-gene/

From there we hope to return home for Christmas on the west coast -possibly to return to NYC for an extended stay.  Lots of loose ends and unanswered questions at this point, so, join us in praying for God’s clear guidance (and blessing on this research team)!  NYC is probably the last place I’m inclined to live but if the Lord calls us there, it’ll be awesome!

It may be a while before I have more health news but, in this case, no news is mostly good news!

In closing, have I got a deal for you . . .

I read about a scheme you can “buy into” that will result in you being “filled to the measure of the fullness of God.”  I know, sounds too good to be true.  That’s what I thought.  Until . . . I tried the formula.  Why don’t you try it out -it’s “over-the-counter” in Ephesians 3:16-19 with vv 20-21 thrown in free if you buy now!!

Meet you around the next bend,

jdansmall

by jdansmall

New HOPE!

After many weeks of no news, I write today asking for prayer that this new door might open for me.  In a roundabout way I learned of research being done at Mt. Sinai hospital in NYC.  Early reports are VERY encouraging for folks like me who have had no curative prospect for myelofibrosis.

I have had email contact with the department (Dr. Hoffman) and sent medical records -now I await word from them inviting me to come in for a consultation.

Meanwhile, we are firming up plans for a trip east starting Nov 10 in Yakima, WA.  We are heading to Sevierville, TN for the National Bible Bee in which Tirzah is competing.  She’s nearly finished memorizing some 800 verses of Scripture and doing an in-depth study of 1 John and Ephesians for the competition.  Lot’s of hours of review and pop quizzes from her folks over the next few weeks!

Some dear friends have made their van available to us for the trip and my body seems “up for the challenge.”  We’ll include a mini-reunion with Rebecca’s relatives for Thanksgiving and maybe end up heading east to NY after that if Mt. Sinai is ready for me.

Here’s a link to the article that describes what’s happening at Mt. Sinai: http://blog.mountsinai.org/blog/physicians-identify-successful-drug-for-myelofibrosis/

Thanks for praying,

J. Dan Small

by jdansmall

Small Update

Many have waited patiently through the month of September for an update on my health -I haven’t written much because there wasn’t really any news.  In general, my energy level and discomfort level have remained the same but blood tests and check-ups reveal that the spleen is growing and white-cell count is still up over 80,000.  The Dr is putting me back on the first med (along with the one I’ve been taking) to see if it will push back those symptoms.

I am able to function adequately from a semi-reclined position so I’ve made some progress on writing projects.

Naturally, the question I’m asked most often is, “how are you feeling?”  To be brutally honest, I think I can relate (emotionally) to someone who has been put on death row and told that the execution may be imminent but they won’t know until “they come to get you.”  I’m sure that’s unhealthy “negative think” and I don’t engage in it at a conscious level unless I’m being asked to make decisions re future activities -or responding to someone who’s just asked me how I’m doing.  I suppose I could be evasive and say, “better than I deserve.”

In another fit of transparency I’ll admit to occasional bouts with enemy “arrows.”  I was reminded the other day of Martin Luther picking up his ink jar and throwing it “at the devil” who was oppressing him.

Mind you, I don’t share those two paragraphs in hopes that my readers will inundate me with good counsel -it may be one of those times that the less you say and the more you pray, the better off we’ll be!

Speaking of future activities, many of you don’t know that Tirzah (our almost 18 yr old) qualified for the National Bible Bee contest in Tennessee from Nov 20-23.  Her preparation is rigorous: nearly 800 randomly assigned Bible verses to memorize and a thorough, inductive, self-developed study of the book of Ephesians.  Upwards of 120 contestants from around the nation will be vying for the top prize of $100,000.  Second place will have to settle for $50,000.  And, of course, the gov’t will probably get half of it.

So, we’re seriously contemplating a family trip starting in about a month.  If my health holds out, we’d drive and hope to swing thru Texas and the midwest (coming and going or vice versa) and maybe pull off a Sheldrake Family Thanksgiving Reunion (Rebecca’s family) along the way.

We’re upheld by a faithful support team and thank God often for each of you!

jdansmall

Thanks, Mikki Cowles Photography, for making it look like we've "got it together!"

Thanks, Mikki Cowles Photography, for making it look like we’ve “got it together!”

 

 

by jdansmall

Live Wholeheartedly

Always enjoying the scenery!

Always enjoying the scenery!

So, while many see the closed door re a bone marrow transplant as a setback, I am grateful to now give full attention to the writing projects the Lord has laid in my lap instead of exploring medical mazes.

One of my priorities is to expand on the 12+ couplets I used in various memorial services for Jeremiah last year.  But, I want this to be a collaborative effort.  So, I’m presenting (by way of overview) the text of one of those services.  If your life was uniquely touched by Jeremiah in one (or more) of these dimensions and you recall a specific event/situation in which he demonstrated it, I’d love to fill a book with stories that will help readers embrace these life-shaping “markers.”

What a tribute this has been to our son’s life and legacy.  Thank you for sharing in what will last in our family’s heritage for generations.

Jeremiah was keenly aware that his talents and virtues were not the result of some personal strength or inner potential –he journaled about the people God had put into his path, the heritage of generations who feared God, and the influence many of you had in shaping his life.  So, although this is a celebration of his life, it is very much a celebration of life-giving relationships.

This is the fourth memorial service we’ve had for Jeremiah.  In the city of Sulaimaniyah we were surrounded by hundreds of his students, their families, co-workers from the school, news media, dignitaries, and many who benefited from his community development projects.  It was a very significant gathering as the nation awaited confirmation that we were not going to demand a blood price for our son’s death.  News of our public forgiveness was broadcast around the world because Jeremiah’s death had stunned the Kurdish people –he was the first American to be killed on Kurdish soil.  We were overwhelmed by the sincere condolences expressed by the governor, the prime minister, and even strangers who approached us on the plane after we left Iraq.  If they doubted our sincerity, the fact that we buried Jeremiah in their city was the inescapable proof that we meant what we said.

As you can imagine, we could go on a long time with stories about Jeremiah’s life and the many testimonies that have been shared with us.  The past two weeks have convinced us that while Jeremiah touched hundreds of people deeply during his life, his death has the potential to affect many more.  It is humbling for our family to be on the front row as God works His mysterious ways through this tragedy.

From the day the story broke we have been inundated with news media seeking any stories behind the story.  One of the recurring questions has been, “Who was your son?” or “What made him the successful young man that he was?”  Trying to capture the essence of Jeremiah into a sound bite for their cameras was hardly possible.  As the days have unfolded bringing more and more testimonies of his influence in lives young and old, I began to organize the impressions into a series of couplets.  

The first pair of words that formed in my mind just hours after getting the phone call is LIFE MATTERS.  Shocked by the suddenness and finality of the news, I desperately hoped it wasn’t true.  Everything inside me convulsed at the thought that our full-of-life, 33 year-young, first-born son with whom I had spoken on the phone for 45 minutes just the night before –lay dead in his classroom; that I would never again hear his voice on the other end of the phone, that there would be no new emails in my inbox from his address.  The pain all of us have shared over the past week is a testament to the universal Truth that life matters!

The sad reality is, though, that meeting someone who lives as though everything about LIFE MATTERS is rare.  Jeremiah’s approach to life wasn’t theoretical or generic.  He grew up knowing that his life mattered deeply and he treated everyone he met as though their life was of infinite significance.  Whether it was the kids he was chasing down the hall, shopkeepers in the Bazaar or poverty-stricken men from Bangladesh needing food and clothing –he valued whoever he was with.

How does a life like that develop?  What are the building blocks of such a life?  I suggest that it begins with LIVING LOVED.  Jeremiah was raised in a family that was committed to learning to love one another.  But far more life-shaping than the love of family was when Jeremiah came to embrace for himself the amazing LOVE with which God pursued him.  Jeremiah was convinced that his life mattered to God and that God’s love for him was intensely practical and personal.  His loving nature was the result of LIVING LOVED by God.

Another dimension that defined Jeremiah from an early age is that he FEARED or HONORED GOD.  Yes, he knew he was LOVED but this was not the doting, permissive “my little boy can do no wrong” kind of love –this was bold, intentional, disciplining love of the Almighty, Ruler of the Universe, Maker of heaven and earth.  Jeremiah learned early on that every thought, every action, and every choice he made was done under the watchful, righteous eyes of a powerful God.  So he learned to FEAR/HONOR the GOD who LOVED him.

And another new couplet that pushed its way into this outline as I scanned page after page of his journals and as I listened to co-workers and friends describe him was that he COMMUNED CONSTANTLY with his Lord.  Prayer was not a checked box on his to-do list, it spontaneously burst onto the pages of his journal, it was like breathing to him and his last breath on earth was spent saying, “amen!” as he prayed over his class that Thursday morning.

That “fear-of-the-Lord,” love-driven communion with God, fueled by his study of God’s Word, produced a sense of destiny, a vision for the unique things God could do on earth through him.  By shaping his life choices around that growing burden he was able to LIVE CALLED.  There were things he could not or would not do because of God’s call on his life.  This focus energized him to pack a lifetime’s worth of productivity into 33 short years.

I must squeeze in another couplet that I found in his journal just yesterday:  FORGIVE LIBERALLY!  He notes that forgiveness is the ‘tipping point’ in the Lord’s Prayer, that it is NOT a utilitarian tool for achieving peace but is, in fact, the very nature of God (and he references Psalm 86).  He says, “because God has forgiven, our persons are transformed:  there is no longer room for illiberality.”  He suggests that whenever we have trouble forgiving we revisit the GOSPEL of our own salvation –that forgiveness enables us to rest in the mercy of God.  Therefore, friends, FORGIVE LIBERALLY!  As God, in Christ, has forgiven you.

Jeremiah would want me to quickly add to these personal, subjective components the vital need to FIND MENTORS.  He knew that there was much to learn in every part of life and he placed himself under teachers and leaders who could supply what he was lacking –whether that was spiritual, theological, philosophical or scientific, Jeremiah read widely, studied voraciously, and humbly took hold of TRUTH taught him by others.  The fact that he learned from others made him a much-sought-after mentor by many friends, students and co-workers. 

Yet another compelling duty in Jeremiah’s mind was to SEEK TRUTH. His appetite for TRUTH meant he was never content with pat answers.  He had to do the hard work of study and critical thinking.  As a result, not only did he learn TRUTH but he learned how to pass on to others a passion for SEEKING TRUTH.

I hear Jeremiah saying, “but don’t forget to LOVE LIFE!”  The majority of his facebook pictures and comments from those who knew him describe a man who loved nature, loved people, and loved being alive in God’s world.  He had the potential to waste away his life in introspection and self-examination (being a perfectionist when it came to self-expectations) but he overcame that with a compelling appetite for adventure.  And his love for life was “contagious” –he infected everyone around him with it.

Part of loving life meant that Jeremiah wasn’t afraid to TAKE RISKS.  He wasn’t one for staying safe.  Several of his students commented that the way Jeremiah forced them to overcome their fears and do things they didn’t think they could do was their most life-changing memory.

Something else that was true of Jeremiah was that he firmly believed God rewards those who seek Him and serve Him, so he INVESTED ETERNALLY.  Through the years there were opportunities to make money or pursue careers that would have provided “the good life.”  Jer opted for a more long-term investment, deferred annuity, if you will.  Or as one of his students put it, “You preached delayed gratification over instant and through your death, you practiced it.”

Jeremiah’s belief in eternal reward was not some “pie-in-the-sky” idea that rendered him passive or “so heavenly-minded he was of no earthly good.”  No, his understanding of TRUTH was that the most satisfaction and fulfillment in life only comes when you GIVE YOURSELF!  Jeremiah GAVE HIMSELF to the point where many of us worried about his health.  He seemed to give away more money than he kept for himself.  He gave time to those around him day-after-day, weekends, holidays, and whenever else they called him. 

I could go on and on with more insights into Jeremiah’s life.  I’d like to end with one more couplet that is vital to all of us as we move forward through this veil of tears.  If Jeremiah could say only two words to us this afternoon, I believe they would be: TRUST PROVIDENCE.  Jeremiah knew that a God big enough to work all things together for the benefit of His beloved child was a God he could trust.  His was a God who routinely took what others “meant for evil” and “mean it for good, for deliverance.”  The facts surrounding his death contain great mysteries.  Only as we deeply trust a compassionate, sovereign God can we hope to build a life that matters. 

You will honor the legacy of Jeremiah best by LIVING LOVED, FEARING GOD, COMMUNING CONSTANTLY, LIVING CALLED, FORGIVING LIBERALLY, LOVING LIFE, FINDING MENTORS, SEEKING TRUTH, INVESTING ETERNALLY, GIVING YOURSELF, and TRUSTING PROVIDENCE all the way.  The end result will be a life lived WHOLEHEARTEDLY!

One final epilogue:  Just before returning to Suli for the last time, Jeremiah talked with a friend who encouraged him to ask God for a one-word THEME to define his life in 2012.  The next day he told us that the word he wanted to define him in 2012 was “INCREASE.”  We believe that was providential.

So, friends, students, co-workers (basically anyone who spent time around Jeremiah), you have your assignment.  Let’s write a book!

by jdansmall

Taking attendance

Few of my readers will be able to relate to this but, in my elementary years growing up in a small Upper Michigan town, every morning school classes began with the routine of “taking attendance.”  This amounted to the teacher opening her ledger and, alphabetically, reading the name of each student at which time the pupil was to respond with “present.”  Occasionally we would vary the response by saying, “here” but NEVER would we get away with a mere grunt or disrespectful, “yah.”

So, here I am on the morning of my 59th birthday.  Most years I’ve nonchalantly coasted through the annual marker with a casual nod or “uh huh.”  This year I’m “present.”  I’ve been studying the attributes of whole-heartedness trying to uncover what makes some people seem fully alive while others pass through their days with a distracted grunt acknowledging that, yes, they’re still breathing, but not sure why.

One author describes whole-heartedness as “the capacity to give oneself thoroughly to the present moment.”  I can picture Jesus being like that.  As I read accounts of His busy days there are glimpses into “random” moments when a child or hurting stranger crossed His path and, in that moment, experienced the full attention of Someone who was very interested in them.

By contrast, when I am self-absorbed or occupied in a project, the most you should expect from me is a glance or, perhaps, slightly agitated acquiescence to whatever it is that you want.  My body may happen to be “present” but my heart is somewhere else.

How to become whole-heartedly present in any given moment?  I think, for me, it started with discovering (and choosing to live as though it was really true) that the indwelling Presence was, in fact, PRESENT -ready, any and every moment to connect consciously with me in conversation, comfort, counsel, etc.

As such, I began to realize that “getting stuff done” wasn’t the highest priority to Him.  In fact, He rather insisted that I stop performing and producing at least one full day a week so we could just be together.  I’ve never been very good at living that way -my identity (& income) has always been too wrapped up in accomplishments.

Sadly, I ended up barely noticing life passing me by -until (in my case) He gave me a heads up that life (as I’ve known it) may be coming to an end sooner than I thought.  When I was first diagnosed with Primary Myelofibrosis (mid-July) and told that I may only have a few months to live, all my projected plans and priorities imploded.

Then, when it appeared that a bone marrow transplant could likely correct the problem and I might go on another 10-20 years, I dusted off some of the projects and felt as though I’d “dodged a bullet.”

Then, last week, when we discovered that, not only did I not have a sibling match for stem cells but that the success rate for such a procedure was closer to 15% given my symptoms, the “bullet” was still coming at me.

Yes, I’m benefiting from the prayers and meds  -able to be up and about but not too active, but I also feel the wear and tear of my over-worked vital organs and know that each hour is a gift.

But perhaps the greatest “gift” I’ll experience today is that of enjoying PRESENCE.  God’s presence, of course, but also my ability to be more fully present with my wife, children, grandchildren, and guests.  I can only wish for you this gift -minus the circumstances that enabled me to receive it so whole-heartedly!

Happy birthday to me!

by jdansmall

Decisions, decisions

As it’s been a couple of weeks since I provided any update, here’s the latest:

During the first few weeks of this illness I was extremely weak, my bones felt like I had a fever but I didn’t, I had almost no appetite and was losing weight fast.  If I tried to walk up the stairs I was out of breath half-way up and the only position for relief from internal pain was flat on my back.

Jakafi is a medication developed specifically for myelofibrosis and as as I began taking it the aforementioned symptoms gradually diminished.   Over the past week, however, some of the symptoms have returned limiting my mobility a little.

Meanwhile, it’s been a treat to have Sarah, Jon & their kids along with Keren & Moriah here this week.  We’re planning family pictures and a birthday celebration later in the week.  Thanks to modern technology we can get pics of each family when it is convenient for them and composite them together into a classy portrait (my birthday gift to the family).

Blood tests continue to indicate that my system is holding its own and, with increased appetite, I’m slowly gaining back some weight.   All the doctors agree that I should continue for 2-3 more months on this before attempting a bone marrow transplant.  So, that’s the plan.

We’ve been in contact with a large hospital in Vellore, India (started in the 1800’s by Ida Scudder) which has a marvelous mission statement and outstanding expertise in bone marrow transplants.  You might like to read about it at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Medical_College_%26_Hospital.  Their price is about 1/10th the cost to have it done here in the States.

On the natural front I continue to supplement/reinforce the immune system with a variety of “potions.”  On the spiritual front I am the beneficiary of heart-felt prayers lifted up on my behalf -and we continue to listen for the Lord’s mind and purpose in this unusual season.

So, your prayers for wisdom are much appreciated.   Many have given sacrificially to help us through the financial challenges and we don’t anticipate needing more than will be reimbursed by http://samaritanministries.org/ (our insurance alternative) if we do go overseas.

Some of my waking hours have been spent rebuilding our website.  It’s not nearly done but you can sneak a peak if you’d like:  www.familyreclamationproject.com.

by jdansmall

Corporate Greed . . . so-called health care

This first appeared on my Facebook page but I want to expand the audience.

AMERICA will collapse under the weight of TOXIC GREED!
Move back from your computer for a moment because I’m about to explode with a rant that could overheat your system.
Since I have been self-employed all my life and have donated many years to non-profit service we have not had access (funds) to commercial health insurance. Instead, we joined a Christian needs-sharing group (Samaritan Ministries) and send $370 each month to fellow-Christians who had health-related expenses. This has been most rewarding and ALWAYS sufficient for the major (not catastrophic) expenses we’ve encountered along the way.  They also have an add-on optional program for those who want catastrophic coverage but we didn’t think we’d need it.
So, now that I find myself in need of a life-saving bone marrow transplant, we are meeting the “enemy” and finding that it is our out-of-control medical industry.
What do I mean?
  • Example A: We went for a 75 minute consultation with a physician (Dr. Deeg) at SCCA (Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center) to hear what they could do for me. Later I discovered everything we learned from him in a 15 minute youtube lecture he gave a year ago. Since we didn’t have insurance we had to give a $600 deposit before he would even talk to us, then, today we receive an additional bill for $700.80. No labs, no exam, just words.
  • Example B: the financial coordinator met us after the Dr. left to say that we would need to provide $600,000 up front to have the procedure -and, “no, that would not include 4 months housing, transportation, meals” which we’d need to line up so we’re close by for follow-up testing.
  • CONTRAST that with the $43,000 price tag we’ve gotten from the top transplant physician in India. A price which includes all testing, procedures, housing for 2, and meals. Oh, that’s right, we’d need to pay for our flights ($2800 for Rebecca and myself roundtrip).
  • Example C: not wanting to commit to having it done at SCCA, I still wanted to get the necessary typing-test to find out which of my siblings is the MATCH for my DNA. “Yes, we can start that process for you,” the sweet receptionist at SCCA says. “Since you don’t have insurance we’d need $6000 per sibling plus yourself… up front.” ($30,000 -to help you with the math).
  • CONTRAST that with a private internationally-acclaimed bone marrow testing company (located down the road in Portland) who is doing it for $1800. Total. For all 5 of us. (www.bonemarrowtest.com)
Most of you reading this (if you’re still with me) probably have insurance of some kind so you never face these realities. I just thought it’d be good for you to know why the system collapsed (when it does).
Oh, one more thing -not a rant but a rave: In stark contrast to this is the way the team at Providence Hospital/Oncology have treated us. Since they’re still ostensibly a private, Catholic-owned medical provider, have as their mission (posted boldly on the walls of their offices): “As People of Providence, we reveal God’s love for all, especially the poor and vulnerable, through our compassionate service.”
They, as well as those who serve with them (SouthSound Radiology, Incyte Labs, Cellnetix) have given us a phenomenal break since our income for the past couple of years has been “below the poverty level.” They are among the few remaining caregivers who do what they do “under God.” Unfortunately, they watch nervously as their independence is at risk with upcoming legislative regulations.
What can we do? As for me and my house, we will boycott and broadcast these abuses. Remember, “the only thing necessary for evil to triumph is for good men (and women) to do nothing.”