In 1970, I made a minor error and wound up on the bottom of a gravel pit - not feeling my legs. Luckily, I was transported to Jersey Shore Medical Center where Dr Pietri performed a laminectomy at T-10. I spent several months (June through July) at JSMC then was ambulanced to Rusk Institute at 400 E 34th St, NYC, otherwise known as Institute for Rehab Medicine (IRM).
Anyway, on a hot summer day the ambulance guys pushed my wheeled stretcher into a hallway at IRM - where I thought they would cure my sci. Inadvertently, and unfortunately they parked me under a bronze plaque with an inscribed poem attributed (probably wrongly) to former IRM patient and NY Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella. It read as follows:
"I asked God for strength, that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do great things. I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things... I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among men, most richly blessed."
You can imagine the effect on a cynical, atheist Jersey guy who thought rehab meant cure. Anyway, during rehab I met numerous wonderful crips, dated 2 physical therapists, semi learned to ambulate on braces, decided to change careers and leave the oil business for voc rehab. Eventually, I met a fellow gimp who taught me how to jump curbs and other things. We married in Las Vegas in 1973. Despite myself and the adversity I have lived a happy life.
Anyway, on a hot summer day the ambulance guys pushed my wheeled stretcher into a hallway at IRM - where I thought they would cure my sci. Inadvertently, and unfortunately they parked me under a bronze plaque with an inscribed poem attributed (probably wrongly) to former IRM patient and NY Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella. It read as follows:
"I asked God for strength, that I might achieve. I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey. I asked for health, that I might do great things. I was given infirmity, that I might do better things. I asked for riches, that I might be happy. I was given poverty, that I might be wise. I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men. I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God. I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life. I was given life that I might enjoy all things... I got nothing I asked for but everything I hoped for. Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered. I am among men, most richly blessed."
You can imagine the effect on a cynical, atheist Jersey guy who thought rehab meant cure. Anyway, during rehab I met numerous wonderful crips, dated 2 physical therapists, semi learned to ambulate on braces, decided to change careers and leave the oil business for voc rehab. Eventually, I met a fellow gimp who taught me how to jump curbs and other things. We married in Las Vegas in 1973. Despite myself and the adversity I have lived a happy life.
The Way It Is
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