Thank you for you realist answer, Fenway.  So tired of all the religious rhetoric.  My best childhood friend (we are both 59) has had MS for a few years now. She is in her last stages. She remembers certain things but babbles on about things that never happened and are not happening.  It has clearly affected her brain. Tuesday night at the nursing home I wheeled her around in her chair.  I know we will never speak as we once did.  In truth, I have really lost one of my oldest dearest friends, at least for now.  It is so sad.  She battled depression for years and I think she allowed herself to sink into the disease as she has it now.  Her blood pressure often drops so low that she could die in her sleep.  I see how angry you get with these people who think they know everything and I want you to know I agree with you.  We are all each others keepers and sometimes we self inflict our  illnesses.  I love my friend but I always felt she was too pitying, too needy.  It's almost like she willed this for herself.  I will be with her to the end.  And learn from it.  I just wonder how long that will be.