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Every Day is Precious: Healing touch comes from a caring friend
By ROB PAYNE For Williamson A.M.
Have you ever gotten a massage by someone who knew what they were doing? Did you like it? Who doesn't? My wife, Marcy, may be the biggest animal lover on the planet. But after starting Happy Tales Humane, the no-kill animal shelter at the Factory in Franklin, she found lots of people who were close runners up. One of those people is Suzanne. Suzanne is an animal lover supreme who also happens to be a certified massage therapist. About a year after Marcy's diagnosis of ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease,) Suzanne heard about it and offered to come over and give Marcy a massage. We thought Suzanne was just being nice well, we knew she was nice, everyone who loves pets enough to give their Saturdays to adopt out homeless pets is nice, right? Also, for the first couple of years in the disease, we didn't reach out for help very often, so Suzanne's offer was politely turned away. But as we started warming up to people and accepting help, even asking for help from time to time, the seed that Suzanne planted started to germinate. Seven or eight weeks ago, out of the blue, Marcy used her speech synthesizer to spell out a message that a massage would be nice. I remembered Suzanne's offer and called her to ask for a massage for Marcy. This was about a year and a half after her original offer, so I wasn't even sure she still lived in Tennessee or if the number Marcy had for her would still be good. She does and it was. ''Hi Rob,'' Suzanne started. ''How's Marcy doing?'' It was like we had talked yesterday. I gave her the latest on Marcy, that Marcy was on a ventilator at home and mentioned that a massage would be nice. ''Sure, how about Tuesday?'' she said. Not a moment of hesitation, no whining, no talk about how busy she is, she just jumped into it. She came that Tuesday and has come every week since. It must feel great because it always makes Marcy smile and she seems more relaxed for the entire day following one of Suzanne's massages. Suzanne always goes an extra step. She has come to the house at the time she promised and found us not ready in the middle of another treatment or procedure. She always waits patiently, talking about anything and everything. One week my father-in-law was having one of his back spasms when he and Suzanne were both at our house. She jumped right in and gave him a massage right after Marcy's. She even comes when she can't find a place for her kids to stay. She brings them along and they entertain themselves while their mom improves Marcy's body and spirit. If someone you know is going through some troubling times, consider taking a couple of massage classes. You won't become a massage therapist overnight, but they should give you enough technique and confidence to know what you are doing. Then offer a massage to a person in need. Even if they don't take you up on it right away, they will be touched by your offer.
Every Day Is Precious is a column to remind us to treat everyone we see today as if it could be the last time we see them. It is written by Rob Payne, whose wife, Marcy, was diagnosed with ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease) in August of 2000. Now 40 years old, she has gone from winning 5 and 10K races to being quadriplegic and on a ventilator at home. For more ways to help others, to find more about Marcy, or to receive email updates on her condition, visit www.everydayisprecious.com. Readers may contribute to her care by sending donations to Every Day Is Precious, 2051 Harvington Drive, Franklin, TN, 37069. If you have helped someone without being asked, or know of someone who has, share it with others. Send to rob@everydayisprecious.com or to Every Day Is Precious, 2051 Harvington Drive, Franklin, TN. 37069.
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