Dystonia: A Definition for a Friend P.I

"So," she said quietly, "tell me
of this thing - this Dystonia."
then waited patiently
while he considered.

How
to tell a thing which is nothing - just
a small piece of one man's life.

But in being that smallness, is also
the completeness of his being?

He could, as in the past when asked
such a question, give long,
boring, technical, definitions;

"Dystonia is a movement disorder
which causes muscles to contract
and spasm involuntarily. The neurologic-
al mechanism causing muscles to relax
when not in use does not function
properly.

Opposing muscles often contract
simultaneously
as if they were "competing"
for control of a body part.
The involuntary muscle
contractions
force
the body into repetitive,
twisting, often painful,
movements as well as
awkward,
irregular
postures."

- but it would not suffice
here.

Besides, such definitions invariably lead
to questions of the how, why, what causes,
and what do they know about the Dystonia?
All useful things to know, discuss, and understand
(as far as one can understand
what men and women of learning
do not understand).

"Investigators believe that Dystonia
results from an abnormality in part
of the brain, of the basal ganglia,
where messages to initiate muscle
contractions are processed...

...scientists suspect
a defect in the ability to process
chemicals, neurotransmitters, that which helps
brain cells communicate with each other.

Acquired Dystonia, also called Secondary
Dystonia, results from environmental
or disease-related damage
to the basal ganglia.

Often Birth injury (particularly
due to lack of oxygen)..."

He could tell her these things
when she asks "tell me of this thing -
this Dystonia." then waits patiently
while he considers.

True, it was a traumatic birth, an eighteen
hour battle where a Mother pushed
and doctors pulled - and a child fought
not to enter this insanity. He could tell her
in his politically incorrect fashion how
he was born one race, then swapped
twenty minutes later - so cyanic his skin
black to the eye. He could tell her
how he did not know how to breathe
after they removed the suicidal cord
he had wrapped his throat in like some
woolen scarf until machines taught him
this most basic act

of repetitive motion -

or tell the hurtful things a country doctor
said to a nineteen-year old child
glad only to have her child at last.
Of the confusing lack of visible brain
damage which should exist in the photographs,
or the equally confounding mystery -
no familial history.

- but it would not suffice here.

It will not suffice here my Friend
because Dystonia has been,
and was,
and is,
all of this
in my life.

It will not suffice
here because Dystonia
is none of what I am -
and all that

I am.

_{(For A Friend :: 09-05-2009)}