My cousin

[Guest guest]

Amazing what you find at Wal-Mart. I was there yesterday and ran into my second

cousin, who I rarely see or talk to (her family was the " black sheep " side so

growing up we didn't know each other). Her dad was my first cousin, much older

than me. He obviously had undiagnosed RA. She has been having lots of pain and

I told her about me. She said her dad could barely walk and most of the time

towards the end of his life (at the age of 47-my age now) he used crutches when

he could get around. She said his hands would be so red and swollen and he was

always in horrible pain. He was an alcoholic and she thinks it was to try to

numb the pain. So sad, they were very poor and he didn't work much at all

(construction) probably due to the pain. There were 6 kids and the wife worked

as a waitress many hours and the oldest girl basically raised the kids. He

actually died from bleeding to death, I believe from an ulcer. She said the

alcohol is what actually killed him but it was the pain that led to it. Her dad

was my father's brother's son. My father's sister I remember as being very old

and could barely walk or use her hands. I guess I thought all old people were

like that. I realize now that she was probably no more than late 50's which is

my first memory. She probably had RA also. I'm glad I saw my cousin so she can

pass along to her siblings and their children what to watch for.

Becky