In my 45th year, I learned about life -- through my 12-year-old
daughter's pain.  She was normal, happy, smart, beautiful and
full of life until the day in February 2006 when she complained
that her back hurt.  For two weeks, I thought it was normal
adolescent complaining. After all, she had been lugging her
middle-school backpack for almost five months. When I finally
took her to her pediatrician, the doctor took back X-rays to
make sure, then suggested I get her a new backpack.  About two
weeks later, we were back again. This time, the doctor decided
to run blood tests. The blood work came back normal except in
one area, but the doctor was not too concerned and suggested we
come back in a few weeks.  From February to April, I watched my
sweet daughter deteriorate. She cried each morning before
school. She cried when I took her shopping. She began to walk
haltingly; she could not climb the stairs to our house.
Eventually, she could barely walk. It was spring break week and
all she could do was lie on the co