Guardian Editor:
Letter of the Day 
The death this week of bluesman Jeff Healey reminded me once again that people with disabilities are tough.
Jeff Healey wasn’t just blind, which would be enough of a cross to bear.
He battled various illnesses and cancer for most of his life.
Despite all that, he was a popular and award winning musician.
He endured the grueling life of a touring road performer. He owned Jeff Healey’s Roadhouse in downtown Toronto where he performed twice a week. He was also a husband and a father.
Jeff was loved by his family, his friends and his fans. Despite the pain and problems of his disability, he kept a positive outlook on life.
Most people with disabilities are like that. They have constant pain, the loss of some major part of human existence like walking or vision or hearing. Yet they have learned to shrug it off. They are some of the most positive people you can meet.
One of my best friends is suffering from a degenerative neuromuscular disease. You’d never know it from talking to her. Life is good.
Terry Kelly, another blind musician and singer, has a second career as a motivational speaker.
Both Neil Young and Joni Mitchell are feeling the effects of childhood polio these days. Neil performs using a chair or stool and has returned to his folk-rock roots. Joni had a special light guitar made that she can play without straining her weakening arms.
They’re just celebrity examples of what people with disabilities do everyday. They endure the pain and keep moving on, finding the positive bits in life.
Stephen Pate, Charlottetown
Featured image – Jeff Healey photo by Bob King/Corbis
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