Amanda Hugginkiss turned 16 this weekend. That's not her real last name, of course, but the nickname I gave her, a reference to one of the names Bart Simpson used to taunt Moe the bartender with on those prank calls. We went to her party to wish her well. She's the daughter of a former coworker/ current friend. She's gorgeous, if I went to high school with her I'd probably have hated her, good looks AND she's nice. She was in our wedding, we dressed her up and had her greeting our guests and passing out programs; Amanda had more genuine enthusiasm for the occasion than one of the bridesmaids (live and learn).

Amanda suffers from RSD, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy, a rare disorder, and suffer is the right word for it. RSD is "a chronic neurological syndrome characterized by: severe burning, pain, pathological changes in bone and skin, excessive sweating, tissue swelling, and extreme sensitivity to touch." The pain is intense for her, she's missed lots of school over the years and endured many procedures, too many for someone her age. I just can't imagine having to deal with all that at such a young age. Her mom works two jobs to keep up with the medical bills. I think Amanda has to go to the hospital again this week.

It just makes me so mad, when there are so many mean, souless, heartless people out there who never have to deal with this sort of thing, and then there are so many young innocents who are burdened with something like this.