completely paralyzed - the best years of his life

Motek

Sun, Sep 16 2007, 3:54 pm

Quote:

At the age of 57, he had everything going for him. He was handsome, athletic, happily married, the father of six children, and successful in his career. Dr. Rahamim Melamed-Cohen, with a Ph.D. in Special Education, held a leading position in Israel's Ministry of Education, served as Head of the Education Dept. in a Jerusalem college, and pioneered Special Education programs throughout Israel.

Then one day, he felt a weakness in his left shoulder. Soon the weakness spread down his arm to his fingers. When he made Kiddush on Shabbat night, the Kiddush cup shook and the wine spilled.

He and his wife Elisheva made the rounds of neurologists, until one doctor gave them the dread diagnosis: ALS, also known as "Lou Gehrig's Disease."

you've got to read the whole thing!

http://www.aish.com/spirituali.....n.asp

Lechatchila Ariber

Sun, Sep 16 2007, 7:39 pm

Thank you for sharing that.

Its amazing to see how people when faced with physical challenges turn outwards and give in order to cope with their lot in life.

makes the rest of us think twice when we kvetch about the little things in life and let ourselves get held back.

Motek

Tue, Oct 02 2007, 10:03 pm

a powerful message from Rigler's article:

Quote:

Dr. Melamed-Cohen is an example not only for sick and disabled individuals, but for all people who feel that they can't get on with their lives because of something they are lacking: a spouse, children, money, a fulfilling job, etc. Dr. Melamed-Cohen, who lacks the most rudimentary functions that the rest of us take for granted, advises everyone: "DON'T DESPAIR, BE OPTIMISTIC, AND WORK ON SIMCHAH [JOY] IN YOUR HEART. NO MATTER WHAT YOU'RE LACKING, THINK OF WHAT'S POSSIBLE TO DO IN YOUR PRESENT SITUATION."

and here's another article about him:

Quote:

Melamed-Cohen has gained a certain prominence in the Israeli media for his outspoken opposition to the euthanasia movement. "What is mercy-killing?" he asks. "For whom is the mercy? Is it for the person with an illness? Or is it for the family, so that they should not have to suffer? For the medical establishment, to reduce expenditures? For the insurance companies? Mercy means helping others to live, and with dignity. Helping people to cut their lives short cannot be called mercy."

http://www.torah.org/features/......html