Grateful Dead

dead.net the official site

I've been very blessed, so The Grateful Dead was more of a "preventive medicine" for me then a healer. In tough times they prevented me from going into depression. They taught me the exercise and power of dance. They opened my eyes to healthy living, karma, and giving. They brought on the "party when I needed it most." The song "Comes a Time", "helped me make it somehow, on the dreams I still believe..." not to give them up..." And when "I felt so much pain"... they reminded me that "the day may come when you can't feel it all." Thank you Grateful Dead for all the healing music. Thank you Robert Hunter and all the other Grateful Dead songwriters for all those inspiring words and music.

...that my back might need protection." On December 1st 1996 Noah was born after a wonderful healthy pregnancy. Natural birth with no drugs for pain. Two very strong midwives in Encinitas, California. With my then husband Rich and my best friend in the world Lori there to coach me through the 36 hours of labor and delivery. I was ready for my Althea to be with me and nurse and cuddle and in delerium of the endorphines I first heard"it is a B-O-Y?!? OK so he is not Althea? Then suddenly the room went hush, the baby came over to me and then the midwife took him back. "Wait?" No he stays here we agreed he would just be placed with me right away. Then I look at Rich and he said something through tears that made no sense, then the midwife shook her head and I just could not understand what she was saying. The Lori's alarm came through, "Amy he cannot breath but I swear I heard him say "help me" they will take him to Children's hospital" What? WHAT!? I just could not understand.... Then seconds later Noah and Rich were gone in an ambulence, in a flash. I went through the motions of the afterbirth and in a clear voice Mimi and Elyse my midwives told me what Noah was born with. Spina Bifida, and I knew almost nothing about it. Noah had a hole in his back at the L5S1 level. A collapsed lung, an swollen head, a full head of black hair 8 pounds and 10 ounces,and he was born under a fire sign with five more in his birth chart and the spirit of that song..."Althea told me OK that's fine, and now I am tryin' to catch her" On the way to Children's Hospital in San Diego Lori turned on the tape player and the music rocked my worried soul with the sweet words I so needed to hear. It was a show from the Oakland Col. just a few years prior to that day. "I told Althea I was feelin lost,lacking in some direction. Althea told me upon scrutiny that my BACK might need protection." I started crying like I never had and Lori was screaming at me "Hey! You cannot break down now! Hey!" I stopped and looked at her and she pulled over and hugged me for a long time. I knew that Noah would be just fine, he is my Althea and a blessing in my life. I am always learning more about people may have disabilities but that does not make them disabled! Healing is most about faith and all the years of joy dancing loving to go to a show so much that I was still mourning for the loss of in 1996 filled me up with grace and hope and strength. As for Noah, his back was closed with surgery, he had a shunt placed to drain fluid from around his brain.I took him home after 4 weeks in the NICU at SD Children's. He has some issues that have been a struggle but he always finds his way. He started walking at age 3.5 years, he has had bladder surgery to protect is kidneys, he has had multiple surgeries to fix his shunt. He has 20/20 vission in one eye and 20/200 in the other. School is not easy for him but he has achieved grade level ability and socially well maturity will bring the other kids around. He even was stricken with meningitis which knocked him down hard 2 years ago. He beat it! He is now 14 and will graduate 8th grade in June. He will start at Credo High in September 2011. He is involved with the Marin Shakespeare Teen Touring Company, and he loves music and has been to a few concerts(Phil and Friends,Indigo Girls,Spearhead,Phish) The words and melody of Althea will forever be a source of healing and peace for me, and Noah. "There are things you can replace and others you cannot, the time has come..." Thank You! Jerry,Bobby,Phil,Mickey,Billy and Brent,and Vince, and Bruce, and Donna, and Keith and Pig Pen....and Owlsley,and all the rest who made for me growing up in the 70's and 80's the best fun I could have ever had. The memories always are medicine when ever I feel things are too harsh. The energy of the music and the memory of the feeling of being at a show twirling and floating on the notes. I am so lucky thank you! Trade your hopes for joy! Love Amy and Noah!

That's easy. 30 years ago this year, my mom was diagnosed with terminal cancer and given just weeks to live. Then my grieving dad died completely unexpectedly, and my mom then passed three days later. Orphaned! But while growing up I spent every summer up in my family's cabin along the Delaware River and many a day sitting on the shore with that river, well, er, just "shimmering." The song? Brokedown Palace. It got my brothers and I through those days of heartache. Can't wait to see the film. “Fare you well, fare you well I love you more than words can tell Listen to the river sing sweet songs to rock my soul.”