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BadgesSurgery: A mental challengeIf you've ever raised a child, you know the difficulties every parent must endure. However, if you've ever raised a retarded child, you know that these difficulties can easily be compounded by ten. Linda Brichard, from Norfolk, Virginia, is a normal person with normal people genes, so is her husband Tom. The thought of having retarded babies was more distant from her mind than being assaulted by an ape at a barber shop (although this did happen to her once). However, despite her intense prayers for a healthy child, little Harry was born on December 24, 1995 with severe micro-inflammatory conjouleosis. Although the birth date suggests this infant was a Christmas gift from God, for Linda and Tom, it was more like a Christmas curse from Satan.
The sickness, also called "cock foot syndrome," or "CFS," is a debilitating illness limiting range of motion and mental awareness of one's own extremities, in addition to the gradual browning of the testicles.For Harry's parents, this was simply a minor setback, "I wasn't going to just sit back and watch Harry's testicles brown," says Linda, "We wanted for our son, what every parent wants for their child, flesh colored testicles." Having heard of a breakthrough medical treatment being practiced locally which was said to cure the cock foot, the couple implored Dr. Walst Miller for help. "I could immediately see that Harry's case was severe. Bone deterioration and an excess growth of skin and open wounds made him look pitiful," explained Dr. Miller. When asked to describe the sight, he said, "Have you ever dropped pieces of chicken meat onto a plate of vanilla pudding?"
At age three, Harry underwent the intense surgery to repair his shattered body. The operation was a success and miraculously, over the next year, the little boy's health reached that of a normal child's. Now, closing in on his eleventh birthday, Harry is better than ever and his parents couldn't be happier, "With his health under control," says Tom, "His mother and I have more time to focus on the treatment of our advanced HIV." Harry's story has certainly taught us all to slow down and enjoy our days on earth. When life throws us a
challenge, embrace it as an opportunity to
retard.
(
Possibly written by Chris)