Life expectancy

Parents a always worry, but in the abstract we all know that anyone's life can be snuffed in a moment.  What matters is living life well now. 
My best friend from college (50 years ago!), had a disabled son 30 odd years ago.  The boy was born without a swallow reflex and so could not eat.  From day one he and his wife were told to expect Jacob's death any day.  They pushed for tube feeding and Jacob fought pneumonias and one infection after another or years.  He lived with a trach and hd operations to allow him to walk, as one leg was much shorter than the other.  "He will never learn to speak", my pal was told.  At 6, with the family having all learned sign language, Jacob figured out a way to speak in a whisper.  My friend and his wife just lived each day, happy for whatever joys they found with Jacob, and tried to treat him like a normal kid, though discipline was very light, although mom always insisted he finish school work that was often delivered by phone, as Jacob missed so much school.  Fortunately Jake was a good kid, though socially very immature. He missed so much school and other kids tended to discount him.  He  walked funny, he talked funny.  

Once hormones kicked in in adolescence Jacob's health improved.  Thank God for my friend's great health insurance (city school district), as Jacob was a "million dollar boy".

Jacob now has a master's degree in education and has held a job in the school district for 4 years, working with disabled kids who love him dearly.  He has an apartment attached to my friend's house.  He started volunteering at the outdoor County day camp when he was 13 and still does that.

We should all aspire to live well rather than long, although living well a long time would be nice. 

In other words- Don't worry, be happy."