I have another idea. You might not be able to be with your mother, but you can mail her a letter, telling her how much you love her.

I know it sounds silly, but for the price of a stamp, your mother will have something that she can take with her into the hospital and look at it at will. I'm going to do that with any replies Doug has sent me. I'm going to print out the good stuff and take it to the hospital with me. He might not be able to be there, but I will have a tangible reminder that he cares. I don't know about your mother, but if I were to get a letter from someone, anyone, I'd be thrilled. I've been known to keep letters and cards that I get when sick, for years, just to remind me that people care.

And folks, the phone line has been rather busy of late. Doug's been able to send a couple of good replies. So I will keep them and save them for the dry spells, when he doesn't know what to say.

There is a thing more crippling than cerebral palsy: the prison of your own mind.