Recommended doc for autistic family and friends: "Dad's in Heaven with Nixon"

The title's as odd and perplexing as the complex family portrait that plays out from simple summers in South Hampton to the eventual diagnosis of autism in one of its youngest.

When I recorded the documentary (airing on Showtime) it was described as "A woman ensures that her autistic young son will become an independent adult."  Well, only someone with a particular interest in the subject is likely to respond to this.  Let's just say I do a lot of reading on the subject because of some of my own relationships.

But the fact is, and I don't mean this as an insult, the film's main subject (Christopher Murray) is the closest thing to Forrest Gump as I've ever seen; hell, the entire film is a love letter from his brother Tom. 

Sure there's early misunderstanding of Chris' condition --- autism is relatively new to the medical vernacular, after all --- but his seeming limitations end up translating the world into an artful, beautiful place of blue skies, puffy clouds and sturdy buildings.

And some freakin' impressive celebrity fans!

Seriously, you can't believe who pops up in there. There's a better description of the documentary written by a random IMDB contributor. It still doesn't quite capture all that happens in the brief hour and twenty-five minutes, but it ain't bad.

Read IMDB's more robust plot summary.

There's also a fan page on Facebook if you want to "like" the movie. While the caliber of the actual film may not be on par with a true Hanks/Zemeckis team-up, it'll definitely lift your spirits and remind you to appreciate the simplicity of life and family.

And to be frank, it almost makes you wish you could borrow that autistic lens to look at the world every now and then.

Kay Redfield Jamison risked everything to talk about her mental illness

I discovered Kay Redfield Jamison during a voracious consumption of memoirs in 2009.  I undertook most of the memoir readings as both examples and support once I made the decision to write my own medical narrative.

Although I myself do not suffer from any discrete mental illness, due to circumstance I've always taken a strong interest in issues of the mind.

And so, the title of her first memoir grabbed me and I plunked down my credit card eagerly, only to return a week later and purchase her follow-up that chronicles the grief of losing a spouse.  It's certainly on par with Joan Didion's "The Year of Magical Thinking," with an acknowledged dash of crazy mixed in.

As it turns out, "An Unquiet Mind" was Kay's own poetic speak for bi-polar disorder. But the soul-baring confessions of her manic depression nearly overshadowed the most shocking part --- her professional credentials:

Kay Redfield Jamison
Professor of Psychiatry
Co-Director Mood Disorders Center
The Johns Hopkins Hospital
John Hopkins School of Medicine

There are some truly awe-inspiring interviews with Dr. Jamison available throughout the online universe (video and audio). I would like to recommend this one as an introduction because I think it covers some pretty major territories in 25 minutes or less.
Listen for free.

I'd also like to take a moment to commend her for her courage in speaking so frankly about her extremely private life as a way of helping other people. Personally, I plan to focus many of my own confessions on medicine's other dirty little secret --- pain. 

But believe me, there are infractions aplenty on my own medical rap sheet (thereby germinating a book).  And it's thanks to people like Montel, Michael J. and Kay that it's a lot less scary to tell it.

I don't like babies, but I love "Babies"

The newly released documentary chronicles a year in the lives of four babies (from birth canal to first steps). It's a wonderful observation on the universality of human development and behavior, posed poignantly against the diversity in our cultures. 

Read the "Entertainment Weekly" summary and review for more.

Basically, it amounts to 87 minutes of no narration, little dialogue and very occasional musical editorialization. I could hear impatient conversation from the audience at times, sandwiched between the many ooh's and aww's. Although everyone thoroughly enjoyed it, I'm not sure American audiences really know what to do with that much reality.

The first part of the movie, you know when the baby arrives, was slightly off-putting. And I probably would have been more comfortable in "A Nightmare on Elm Street" than with the breastfeeding scenes. Having said that, I think the effort involved in birth and rearing might be exactly what inspires those who procreate to have such an entitled attitude. At least in my neck o' the woods.

Not that I'm against parenthood as a choice, but keep in mind that it is your choice, so keep that snot away from me!

While we're on the subject, you may notice how the overbearing spoilage manifests in developing little personalities. I found myself most attracted to the Mongolian approach to raising a baby. Just tie him up close by and he'll be all right. Let the cows walk on him and big brother beat him up a little; gets him ready for the real world.

American audiences are sure to be shocked at times, but take one step outside the red-white-and-blue box and remember that not everyone on the planet lives the way we do. Some don't even have movie theaters!

Regardless, babies have been surviving just fine for millenia. And yes, there are plenty of bodily fluids, germs and genitalia for your dollar. But the most entertaining --- and cringeworthy --- moments involve siblings and animals. And babies.

If you're into that sort of thing.

Let Bret Michaels be your guide --- even the most modern medicine can be clueless

It's times like these that everyone should take a moment to consider exactly how little we know. 

Since 1996 a very close friend of mine has often confided her intense fear of a brain aneurysm. Still in my mid-20s, I couldn't understand how she could have cultivated such a medically random fear.

But 15 years later I'm shocked at how often I've learned of people with unexpected death or disability due to brain bleed. Sometimes explicable, most times not.

The sheer amount of speculation in Bret's case is key. Surprisingly, the words "Aqua Net" have yet to come up. However, I've read multiple stories questioning whether that curtain falling on his face last year caused his brain hemorrhage. That's not where I'd put my dollar, but at this point even his treating physicians would have a hard time placing any bets.

Read a neurology article intended for general public.

In Ron McLarty's novel "The Memory of Running," the narrating character has an exchange with a physician in intensive care after his father's car accident has caused a head trauma. The father, who was in excellent shape, was severly compromised and quickly succumbed due to the leakage of this life-sustaining substance into his head.

"Blood is one of the most toxic entities known. When it gets out of the old veins, well ..."

"I didn't realize that," responds Smithson Ide.

Did you?

Are physical therapists the hot new characters?

More than one film of the blockbuster summer season are centered a around a physical therapist (PT).  "Mother and Child"  --- set to release May 7 --- features one played by Annette Benning, and packs a powerful cast with a lotta backstory, But the title holds the bigger clue as to what the film is really about.

A week later though, in "Just Wright", Queen Latifah plays a physical therapist who falls for an injured NBA player she's helping rehabilitate. Her story is billed as a "PG-rated romantic sports comedy." In other words, does the vulnerable but swagger-rich basketball star fall for the vapid groupie or the confident caregiver? 

Although PTs are located quite a few pay grades below sports medicine docs and surgeons, they're usually the ones who spend the most time with the patient. And relatively intimate time when you think about it. 

There's lots of talking and touching; it certainly takes a special type of person to encourage someone back from an injury, stroke or accident. Someone who's both physically and emotionally strong but with an extensive knowledge of the human body and all its tiny components.

Guess there's a reason why "therapist" is still part of their job title.

Pathology of 80s headbanging; Slayer frontman Tom Araya gets neck fused, warns fans

After a back surgery forced him to cancel tour dates in 2009, but didn't put an end to his pain, Tom Araya decided to go back under the knife and have a fusion in his cervical (neck) region in 2010.  

Listen to his first post-operative interview.

The interviewers ask silly questions about drugs, metal plates and airport screeners. Too bad they didn't bother to learn about the cadaver bone that's usually part of this excruciatingly painful solution.

But Tom keeps the interview focused as he makes clear that both he and Mike Muir (from the band Suicidal Tendendies) avoid painkillers in order to sidestep the addiction trap --- and also to have clarity regarding their symptoms; hard to know when to slow your roll when you don't feel the reality of your own body.

His understanding of pain is pretty enlightened for a guy in an industry famous for its excesses. As it should be, there have been times when he's utilized medications for pain and muscle spasms for short periods of time. 

Tom shares personal medical details about compressed nerves and other specifics that may surprise the average radio listener, but will likely thrill a dark, gothy one. Many of Tom's fans --- and heavy metal colleagues --- have been around long enough to experience some instance of back injury or pain themselves.

In fact, Tom was surprised to learn just how many of his contemporaries had struggled or undergone some type of procedure to relieve chronic pain. They all came out of the medical closet to show him support.

I will say that much of what Tom decribes from a treatment perspective was fairly "old school" in my own non-professional opinion. I know first-hand exactly what he's talking about (even our cervical numbers match up). The fact is, this brutal fusion process he describes is performed frequently in a number of different medical specialties. Although I cannot boast being the frontman for a heavy metal band all these years, I would place a small wager on the type of doc who performed his based simply on how it was handled.

The pop culture impact of the Slayer frontman's return to (modified) live performance has been widespread. Even "Entertainment Weekly" put it on this week's Hit List. I was, however, pleased to hear one of heavy metal's toughest guys announce that he's now an advocate of moderate headbanging.

As one of the radio interviewers blithely comments: We woke up in a different world today.

Two faces to love on "Sober House with Dr. Drew"

These fine fellas didn't even make the cast bios on "Sober House with Dr. Drew," but be assured that the celebrity shit would really hit the fan without 'em.

Give it up for Bob Forrest (shown top left) and Will Smith.

Bob is a recovering addict who never cracks under pressure, although the deeply ingrained lines in his face belie his long history with heroin. As for Will, he's the muscle. Also in recovery, this gentle giant is often the first one called if there's any hint a detoxing patient may perchance get physical. Or if if anyone has to be forcibly removed from any premises, anywhere.

I hold them up for consideration because I think they represent the unsung heroes who staff rehab centers around the globe. Often hired as non-professionals, these folks work side-by-side with specialists in addiction medicine, clinical psychology and nursing for a fraction of the pay. Those who stay sober are often revered as leaders in their 12-step meetings and they ultimately advance professionally with time. 

In addiction medicine, experience can be one of your greatest resume builders.

Bob started out as a musician and today he holds the position of dependency program director, working closely with Dr. Drew.  You can read more about Bob here.  As for Will, the giant remains a mystery. But I know if I ever hear a deep, sensitive voice asking if anybody wants a peanut, I'll expect it to be coming from a guy like Will.

"Sober House With Dr. Drew," which chronicles the sober living process, began airing on VH1 in January 2009. Watch episodes online here.