Ed Matlack's review of "Not That Different After All" inspired this write. Thank you, dear (((friend))).

There once was a little boy,
Whose illness robbed him of happiness and joy,
Doctor's visits, pills his lot,
Along with x-rays, surgeries, many shots,

But the illness stayed the same,
How he hated this disease that left him maimed,
He'd dream of the ocean's roar,
"They" said he couldn't enjoy it any more,

O, the tears, how'd they begin,
He'd sit in his wheelchair, watch the tide come in,
How he wanted to get wet,
But that would only make everyone upset,

One day, with sobs in his heart,
He felt his dreams and hopes were coming apart,
'I don't like living this way,
It hurts not being able to run or play,'

Someone heard his sad, sad prayer,
An angel in paramedic's guise did care,
He went to that little guy,
'What's your name?  I'm Ed, dry your tears, please don't cry,'

'I want to play in the waves,
To be normal again, that is what I crave,'
Ed had tears on his face when heard that plea,
'C'mon, boy, let's meet the sea,'

The little boy lived his dreams,
He split the air with laughter, childish screams,
Thanks to Ed, an angel sent,
Who remembered the boy behind the patient.

(C) Copy written, July 28, 2004, by Karla Dorman.