My mother had rheumatoid arthritis. This is a disease that will never get better; it simply progresses until the individual is in constant pain, no longer having the ability to move easily. The time finally came when she could no longer get out of the water bed without help, and she and Dad were shopping for a different bed. Mother regretted the necessity, as the warm water soothed her joints.
For many years, Mother had been the organist of our downtown church. She was a long-time member of the American Guild of Organists, and a very talented woman, proud to call herself a two-foot organist. It hurt her deeply when she could no longer play.
My Aunt Lou also suffered from this debilitating disease, and had chosen the medical route years before. She consulted specialists, suffered through steroids and gold shots, yet found herself in a wheelchair while still in her prime with fingers twisted to the point she could not use them. Mother watched this happen, and when her time came chose holistic medicine.
It isn’t easy to find a holistic practitioner. The medical community hates them and the uninitiated prefer a doctor who will prescribe drugs, at least to make the pain go away for a little while. Mother’s practitioner put her through a series of uncomfortable tests and found she had developed allergies to wheat and vegetables from the nightshade family, which includes tomatoes, potatoes, and peppers. The diet the doctor prescribed was extremely restrictive. Every Wednesday evening before choir practice, our church held a family night supper that featured delicious foods Mother could no longer eat. She brought her own plate of fruit and corn patties, though, and continued to enjoy the fellowship.
In time, thanks to that diet, Mother’s arthritis went into remission. She was playing the organ again and trying to get others interested in what she perceived as a miracle cure. Sadly, few people are willing to trust their health solely to diet and exercise and in time her holistic practitioner had to move away. Those doctors HEAL their patients, and after a while, they run out of people to treat … to the great relief of the medical community who are aware that if too many patients are healed their doctors’ incomes will be negatively affected.
After a year or two, Mother’s arthritis worsened again. Her toes became twisted and deformed, no more pretty shoes! Even worse, her knuckles had to be replaced, forcing her to step down as church organist. She made jokes about her “bionic hands,” gave piano lessons, and forwarded a message to my choir director, “Make a recording of your music now against the day you may no longer be able to play.” Many years later to my surprise she advised, “Consult a rheumatologist. They understand the problem and know what to do; and don’t wait too long.”
These days I have degenerative changes in my feet, and my knees and knuckles ache from time to time. What am I doing about it? I’m taking supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin, and when the time comes I’ll try to find a holistic practitioner of my own. You see, I still remember Mother’s miracle cure.
