By Don C. Reed As a kid, I spent a lot of time in hospital. Nurses were a big part of my life. Most were kind. But one was not a friend to children who asked too many questions… I remember the day when a newcomer on a wheeled bed was shoved in next to mine: a pale...

ATTACKING ARTHRITISBy Don C. ReedToward the end of her life, Gloria tried to use our home stairs only twice a day: once coming down in the morning, once climbing back up at night. We would do the steps together, her arm across my shoulders.It was slow and...

By Don C. Reed “Would you want to live forever?”, asked Gloria, beloved wife of nearly half a century. At 75, I consider myself middle-aged. My father, Dr. Charles H. Reed, is 98 and still plays doubles tennis twice a week. He is currently reading the Bible in French,...

A DANGER FOR ELDERLY WOMENBy Don C. ReedWe all know the feeling of needing the restroom, and squeezing our internal muscles to delay the inevitable.But when those muscles weaken, due to age or other causes, we face inconvenience — or...

By Don C. Reed Imagine being told that, to save your life, one of your legs must be cut off: amputated. One possible cause of this nightmare is Critical Limb Ischemia (CLI), hardening of the arteries. CLI is an all too common threat, especially with the aging of our...

By Don C. Reed In a moment, the stem cells. But first, let me tell you a story. Can you remember your most important decision? Mine was the night I asked Gloria to marry me. She was visiting in rural Pennsylvania, and there was a thunderstorm outside the hotel room. I...

By Don C. Reed “You ought to get a computer!” said my cousin Tommy Snyder, a couple of decades ago, “It would help you write your books!” “Sure,” I snapped,” Next time I get an extra $5,000 (computers cost a lot back then) I will just dash right out and get one!”...

On September 10th, 1994, my son Roman Reed received a spinal cord injury while playing college football. One moment he was having a superb game at middle linebacker, with eleven solo tackles and a diving one-hand interception; the next he collided with a 351 pound...