Julie Black Rolak lived almost her entire life with an incurable disease that most people don't know anything about. It's called psoriatic arthritis, which is a crippling disease affecting every joint in the body. It's one of those chronic diseases that gets worse over time. It is non-curable. No-one ever gets better. Those who have this disease have an outcome that most of us cannot accept. Currently, modern science has produced newly discovered medications like Enbrel, Humira, and other biologic medications designed to keep one's own immune system from destroying the joints of those infected with this awful disease. But I believe that in Julie's case these more modern medications came along too late in Julie's life to be considered by her. She had every main joint in her body replaced. She had her ankles fused, allowing her to walk for a time. And she lived every minute in pain, spending a lifetime of dependence on medication to mitigate that pain as best she could. And when she could no longer walk, she lived in a wheel-chair. And she slept in a special bed to prevent her from getting bed sores. Whereas life for Julie was so cruel, her death at long last gives her the freedom from her medical condition she always sought, and few could bear. Yet, on the outside, anyway, she managed to be as cheerful and as engaging as she could possibly be. And her friends? --- My goodness, Julie was a friend to all who knew her ! And as we all marvel at her attitude toward her condition and dogged good nature, we say goodbye to our Julie. May she at long last, Rest In The Peace she sought while with us here on earth. ...Bruce*********