I Want Friends Who Are Actually Friends

That's very sad when medical problems become such a barrier, but I wonder if they would avoid you because the illness itself frightens them in some way?

Many people cannot cope with others' disabilities or chronic illnesses, largely because they don't know what to do or say. They don't want to reject the sufferer, but are afraid of saying or doing something unwittingly insensitive, only they don't realise that avoidance is even worse.

I have a friend with MS but still living at home and I think still able to drive short distances (a car with automatic transmission); and I had lunch with her and her husband today. I have another now in a home thanks to Alzheimer's Syndrome. I visit once a week or so, his wife sees him a bit more often; and she and I talk to each other about our visits, which are separate. Both being married helps them, but it must be distressing for the spouse, and is difficult for the rest of us.

We humans can be prone to some cruel diseases...