[lumberjim]

This sucks, spode. I can't imagine how helpless you feel. The seemingly random affliction like Steve has does not seem fair. I am sure that you may rely on the positive energy of all the people that have taken the time to read your post about the situation he's in, even if some don't feel comfortable in expressing it because they may not know you, or whatever. I have never been in a situation like you're in, and hope I never am, so any advice i might offer is a bit empty. That said, however, I would offer one little thing:

Try to take from this whatever positive you can find. I firmly believe things happen for reasons. The pain he suffers must have an equal and oppisite flipside .....somewhere........ I hope you can find it.

Ljim