#looking bright

Hey, folks. Just a quick update to plug someone else’s work for a change. It’s still someone involved with SPCM, though, hence why it’s here.

My good friend, co-creator and general partner-in-crime Jake Elmer has a lot of other artistic sidelines besides SPCM, and he’s just started posting one of these right here on Tumblr. It reads as follows:

Lookin’ Bright is the story of four friends - Ricky, Bryan, Kaylee and Sparky - trying to make it on their own in the great state of Arizona, but nonetheless getting into all sorts of insane hijinks - not least those which they’ve brought upon themselves.

Like I say, Jake’s just starting out on this venture, but you can check out what he’s done so far at the link below.

New Story has been published on https://enzaime.com/shawn-s-new-grad-bright-future/

SHAWN S. – THE NEW GRAD WITH A BRIGHT FUTURE

As a young teen, Shawn Smith played as much basketball and baseball as he could, knowing that in a very short time, chronic, ongoing pain would sideline him.

Shawn was diagnosed with sickle cell disease at birth, one of the 100,000 Americans with the red blood cell disorder. In Shawn’s case, it gradually caused a loss of blood circulation in his leg and deterioration of his hip joint.

“It was hard to bend, move, walk and even get out of bed,” he says. “I needed help putting on shoes and could only sit in certain chairs at school. I couldn’t play sports or hang out with my friends, which were both very important to me.”

While surgery was an option, doctors delayed it because Shawn was young and still growing. Then in the fall of 2015, he got the nod.

“The doctors are actually great to talk to – they don’t just jump into action,” he explains. “It’s like meeting with a therapist, but it’s medicine. They have a conversation and get to know how you’re feeling, answer your questions and make decisions based on your needs. It’s a great feeling and a great atmosphere.”

Shawn underwent hip arthroscopy surgery by Dr. Misty Suri, who is a hip arthroscopy specialist at Ochsner in January 2016. Shawn didn’t just undergo a regular hip arthroscopy (which in itself is very highly specialized and complex). Shawn’s condition warranted a highly complex surgery that only a few hip arthroscopy surgeons do in the world! In fact, Dr. Suri’s extensive research and patient series with this type of condition and procedure is amongst the largest in the world.

“Almost immediately, it took a lot of the pain away,” says Smith. “My surgeon, and the whole Ochsner team, stuck with me and gave me confidence throughout my recovery after hip surgery. They told me if I kept trying, I’d succeed.”

Recovery from the complex arthroscopic hip surgery was followed by a rigorous physical therapy program. “It was tough, but I kept going because I wanted to walk and have fun. I knew I could do it if I put the time and effort in,” he explains.

At age 18, Shawn has walked a long, tough road. But the future is looking bright, including plans to go to college and study business and technology.