The Story Behind U2's Song "Miracle Drug"

(Originally published on Yahoo! Voices on July 29, 2011. The link in this article was extracted then)

U2 are famous, among other reasons, for the surprisingly touching and often pregnant with meaning inspirations for their songs. One of their songs that has been most discussed for its meaning is "Miracle Drug" from the studio album "How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb", copyright 2004 U2 Limited. Although never officially released as a single from the album, "Miracle Drug" has quite a devoted following among the band's fan base, and even outside it. Here is the remarkable story that inspired it.

Cerebral Palsy is an "umbrella term" that covers a number of neurological disorders of varying severity and symptoms caused by lesions, and sometimes tumors, in the brain. Therefore, there are various types of CP as diagnosed, and it is not uncommon for an individual to have multiple types of varying degrees in the same case. Because CP is so variable, very little is known about it. There is no cure. And treatment consists wholly of attempts to correct growth anomalies and minimise symptoms and long-term complications. Even this is very hit-and-miss, more experimentation than anything. Researchers and doctors are not able to even agree on what causes the lesions and damage to the brain that results in CP (though oxygen deprivation is the undisputed cause of a small percentage of cases).

Christopher Nolan (September 6, 1965-February 20, 2009) was born with severe Cerebral Palsy. His was a very complicated birth. He was breached and, in order to save the life of both mother and child, a C-section was performed. A second surgery was also required on his mother. He himself was deprived of oxygen for approximately two hours, but somehow he managed to survive. His condition has often been described as paralytic, but that is inaccurate. As he himself wrote in his memoir "Under The Eye Of The Clock" he rarely ever stopped moving. The trouble was that he had almost no control over those movements. He humourously describes his embarrassment when stress and tenseness caused his limbs to fly about unbidden and he punched someone in the face or worse. His spasms were so severe that when he commanded his body to move a certain way it often froze and refused to move at all. Even his ability to speak was affected: his words came out only as moans and shouts. He was placed under the care of the Central Remedial Clinic in Clontarf, Dublin, and when he reached school age his family moved into Clontarf so that he could attend at the school sponsored by the clinic. His family, friends, and school staff communicated with him through a system of meaningful eye movements. After the medication Lioresal became available, he was able to control his head just enough to type using a "unicorn" device attached to his forehead. He immediately began writing letters, short stories, plays, and poems heavy with alliteration. Soon, he decided he wanted to attend school with the able-bodied. He tested as having above average intelligence, but a school could not be found that agreed to take him.

Mount Temple is a secondary school in Clontarf, Dublin which was established in 1972. It was an experimental school for its time. It was the first public school in Ireland to be nondenominational and one of the first to enroll both sexes. The faculty employed a very liberal, tolerant attitude toward the behavior of their students and in the teaching methods they used. (Interestingly, it also has the distinction of having the most star-studded alumni in its period of Irish history, the most recent of which being actress Eve Hewson, Bono's daughter.) It was thus the school to which to send children who didn't fit anywhere else. After a brief interview with Nolan, they agreed to take him on. He was the first disabled child to be taught there. For the first week, he attended half-days in order to build up his stamina for the full-day schedule, to give him time to become relaxed in the public school setting, and to give his able-bodied student helpers time to adjust as well. In time, he adjusted very well to the format of Mount Temple despite the great fatigue that the long days gave him and he had a large body of friends there. When he was fifteen, his collection "Dam-Burst Of Dreams" was published which established him as a school legend to this day. Eventually, he went on to Trinity College, Dublin and published two more books: "Under The Eye Of The Clock" (a reference to Mount Temple Comprehensive) and the novel "The Banyan Tree". He died after choking when he was 43 years old.

The boys that became U2 also attended Mount Temple Comprehensive School. They were also put out of other schools because of being children of bi-national and/or bi-religious parents and/or having behavioral issues. Fourteen-year-old Larry Mullin, Jr. posted a sign up there for auditions in his family's kitchen. Seven boys answered the post and the Feedback was born. Mount Temple allowed the boys to use a classroom there to practice in. In time, the lineup was whittled down to its four current members and the name was changed to the Hype and, finally, to U2. It was by winning a talent contest at Mount Temple that the "baby band", as fans now affectionately call that stage (originally coined by U2's manager Paul McGuinness), was able to cut its first EP with CBS Records: the now very rare and sought after "U2 3". All of which is now the stuff of legend.

It was just as U2 were enjoying their last year of school that Nolan arrived. He must have left a mighty impression on the boys of this band, for there you have the possible roots of Bono's least discussed and longest held cause: disability advocacy in Ireland, particulary for those with CP. And the inspiration for "Miracle Drug" which is written as if from the view point of Nolan's mother.

"Miracle Drug" by U2 ("How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb", 2004)

http://www.youtube.com/watch? v=RNm7P2lY9DA

How to Successfully Cope with a Chronic Illness

(Originally published on Yahoo! Voices on July 5, 2008)

Having a chronic illness of any sort is one of the most challenging situations to cope with. Especially is this so if one is young or inclined to be active. So how can a person successfully cope with a chronic illness?

First of all, *knowledge is power*. Educate yourself about your illness. Ask your team of doctors specific questions (you'll find they appreciate this and you will receive better care as a result). Ask them for any and all material they have that discusses your illness. Go to your local library and scour its shelves. You may find it helpful to talk with others with the same illness. Much information can be found on the internet. However, a word of caution is called for when searching on the internet: make sure the information is from a credible source. The more you know about your health issue, the more involved in managing it you can become. You will know what to expect and will be better equipped to handle it. Knowledge also does much to keep your viewpoint positive.

That is the second step: *try to be positive*. It is okay to grieve the loss of your health. It may even be healthy to do so. However, it is imperative not to allow yourself to be swallowed up by longing for the "good ol' days." Too much of such nostalgia could easily develope into self-pity and self-pity can actually exert a most negative impact on your long-term physical health. A positive attitude is vital to successfully living with a chronic health problem. One thing that will help you to maintain a positive attitude is to keep a balanced view of the medical world. Doctors know a great deal and following their advice is usually advisable. But they don't know everything. If the diagnosis is glum, so what? You still have a chance, however small, to beat the odds- and people sometimes do. But you won't beat those odds if you don't try. Also, make sure your living conditions are clean and cheerful. This can do much to improve the spirit. Research shows that access to a window makes a great difference in a patient's well being. If you can go outside, do so as often as possible. Have friends over often and go to them if you can. And yes, it is perfectly okay to laugh at an illness and at oneself. In fact, a ready sense of humor is your best ally. All of this can make all the difference in your viewpoint.

Thirdly, *set realistic goals*. It is important to "listen" to your body. Particularly is this so if you are going through the initial adjustments after a recent diagnosis. It is important to feel out your limits carefully, perhaps with the help of a caring family member, friend, and your team of doctors. It is also equally important to continue to adjust as limits change over time. Once you know your limits, stay within them. You will accomplish nothing by working against them. Instead, work through or around them. Some physical activity is necessary to promote healing, stabilization, and mental well being. Realistic goals that work within, around, and through your limits can accomplish much good in this regard. You may well be pleasantly surprised by the variety and complexity of activities you can perform with patience, a little time, and a keen awareness of what your body is "telling" you. Your friends and family may be surprised, too!

Fourth, *learn to deal with the reactions of others*. Let's face it: people who do not yet have chronic illnesses of their own or a family member with a chronic illness are not always going to exhibit sensitivity. Not that they are callous to your situation- not at all! It is simply that, being still blessed with good health, they cannot fully understand what it feels like not to have it. So when ones make a thoughtless remark or otherwise do something inconsiderate, how can you handle it? It may be possible in most circumstances to ignore the comment. After all, they more than likely did not mean it as it sounded. They probably didn't realize the hurt or offense it could cause. In some cases, you could anticipate an awkward moment and head it off by bringing it up. "Would you like to know why I'm in a wheelchair?" or "I think it's only fair to warn you: sometimes I can't control my arms and legs so I might kick you if you stand there." Laugh it off with them. Do everything you can to put them at ease with a smile and your sense of humor (remember that from before?). Personally, I keep the viewpoint that I want such ones to remain innocent of what it's really like to be in my shoes as long as possible - I can enjoy that innocence as something refreshing, even if ignorance on their part is sometimes painful to me. I feel joy for them precisely because they don't understand. Think how beautiful such an existence is! By cultivating a positive point of view regarding people's reactions and reacting positively to them, before you know it you may find that some people even forget that you have a chronic illness!

Lastly, *don't quit!* By focusing on others instead of yourself, you will cope with a chronic illness successfully. You could volunteer (within your limits) in your community. Or you could help others in smaller ways. Share a happy story with someone and a smile with another. Play a game with a child, perhaps "I Spy" or "Guess the Object". Invite a friend or two over at a time for coffee and a sandwich - hospitality need not be complicated or beyond your abilities. Think simple and pleasant. As someone with a chronic illness, you now have a most special gift to share that others may not have: empathy.

By remembering these five things, you can successfully live with a chronic illness!