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Previous Challenge Entry
Topic: Laughter (10/18/04)
TITLE: Laughter The Best Medicine
By Rose Gingerich
10/19/04
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Jamie lay in his bed watching the raindrops chase each other down the windowpane. His heart was as gloomy inside as the weather was outside. As he lay there he thought of his brothers and sisters playing outside in the rain. Jamie loved playing outside, especially in the rain, running and jumping in the puddles. But because of a tumor on his spinal cord, Jamie was paralyzed from the waist down. He had a rare form of cancer that grew rapidly.

Within days of feeling pain and stiffness in his arms and legs, Jamie was paralyzed. After having surgery to remove the tumor from his spinal cord, Jamie and his family waited to see if his feelings would return. So far they had not and Jamie was under a cloud of despair, feeling sorry for himself.

Jamie tried to read books, draw pictures and other activities that people brought him, but nothing really seemed to cheer him up.

One day a group of his school friends stopped by to see him. They were sitting around Jamie’s bed telling jokes, talking, laughing and having a good time. All of a sudden Jamie noticed that he had moved his toes from laughing so hard.

He had completely forgotten about his paralysis in the laughter and fun. Now he became very still. His friends wanted to know what was the matter. He told them to watch as he strained with all his might to move his toes again. After much effort he moved them again ever so slightly. The room erupted in much shouting and cheers that brought Jamie’s mother running.

Once more Jamie used all of his concentration and moved his toes for his mother to see. His mother was overcome with tears of joy, hugging Jamie and his friends too. By now the rest of the family had gathered to see what the commotion was all about.

Laughter is the best medicine that we can take. It takes our minds off ourselves and we are able to relax our muscles. Whereas despair brings gloom and depression, laughter is a soothing balm for the soul.