The first memory I can recall, like a snippet of video tape in my head, is medical. Oh, don’t worry, being formerly from the Portland Oregon area, and having dealt with thousands of people there, I feel compelled to say that I am not going to regale you with the story of my birth moment; (or tell you about chemtrails, or disclose that my true father was a half-grey, or...or...), no, don't worry, but my first memory medical story might actually entertain you. Please read on.

I can still see it with perfect clarity: I was standing outside a large building which I much later came to recognize as the gymnasium of the local elementary school that I eventually attended. I was with my parents, sisters, and grandparents, waiting in line to go inside this big building and swallow a sugar cube in a little paper cup.

I remember one of my sisters saying in a whisper that my grandfather was making a face because he had diabetes and had to take whatever was on the sugar cube plain and that it tasted terrible. I had no idea what any of it meant at the, I just have this bit of mental videotape.

When I was old enough to recall my first memory and make some sense of what had taken place that day I realized that I at that elementary school gym to receive my dose of the Salk vaccine: a medical miracle that ended the nightmare of Polio Myelitis. So why did I tell you this little story?

Here’s why: I am beginning a series of articles with the purpose of helping others have better results than I did when they have to deal with medical professionals and serious health decisions to deal with their medical mishaps.

I also want to make myself and anyone who may choose to join my virtual group a source of patient support, moral and otherwise, for those who might find themselves in the throes of a medical mishap. I am one of those lucky people who walked through fire with my medical problems and health decisions who somehow managed to emerge mainly intact on the other side I want to share my patient voice.

I want to share what I have learned about dealing with modern medicine, maybe partly as therapy for myself perhaps but also because dealing with such issues can put a person in a very strange and lonely place; people can try to understand, some times they do, but there is no substitute for having "been there and done that", I want of provide real help to others who are facing the same sort of health care decision making moments that I did.

These are not only going to be articles for those who are already in a bad place with their health. Knowledge is power, (in this case power over your own life), and almost no one manages to skate through life untouched by the challenge of making serious medical decisions, so I hope well people will go along for this little ride through the medical business as well.

As I go through these articles, though, I will be saying things that are critical of the medical profession; but don’t worry, as I think back on my own experiences I have plenty of room for criticism of my own actions as a patient. Patient is really the wrong word, I don't like it anymore, to have the attitude I now believe people should have about their health choices a better word to use is “customer”.... less passive!

I have also made somewhat of a scholarly study of this subject as well, so don’t think my contributions will all be homespun, personal stuff. I’ve always had this need to understand why and how things work. I approach thought problems with the critical analysis skills of an MBA, which I am. I want to make this series an engaging mixture of good thinking spiced with entertaining analysis and comments.

My last point: (back to the beginning), and an ambivalent point it is! Although I have plenty of legitimate complaints about the medical profession and how its foibles and flaws have changed my life forever had it not for the intervention of this same flawed profession during these last 10 years I am very confident I would not be here to write these articles.

Things like the Salk vaccine and other modern miracles are wonderful, but like anything else these days you have to be a sceptic, do your own research, and be your own best advocate when dealing with the medical profession. Its your life.

Please Stay Tuned. Harryc