HOORAY for Nicotine!

Not. Joking.

While the demon known as Myasthenia Gravis has been trying to suck the quality of life out of my Dad, we found something that is able to subdue it: Nicotine. Specifically the Nicotine patch.

Crazy right? Especially since my Dad stopped smoking, cold turkey, 40-some years ago.

Seventeen days ago my Dad could barely talk, breathe and had the negligible energy to walk between the bathroom and his recliner.

Seventeen days ago, from a suggestion they received from someone with an autoimmune disease also, my stepmom bought a store brand box of Nicotine patches, of the lowest dose, and stuck one on my Dad.

Unbelievably, and thankfully, it is working!

People trying to quit smoking typically start Nicotine therapy at the highest dose and gradually step down until they, hopefully, give up smoking for good. My Dad started at the lowest dose and has since moved up to the next higher dose and the improvement in him is, dare I say, miraculous?

Until the past few days, my Dad had not driven a vehicle or tractor in more than a year and his tool belt has hung, neglected, on the hook inside his workshop. Since wearing the Nicotine patch, not only has he been able to drive, two days ago he also tore down the engine in a go-kart, identified the problem, and FIXED it.

How this is working:

Myasthenia Gravis is attacking my Dad's immune system, causing a disconnect between impulses between thinking about doing something, "I want to lift my hand", and doing, which is, lift my hand. The Nicotine patch is giving the life-sucking creatures something else to devour instead. Kind of like Pac-Man.

So, YES, in this case, NICOTINE IS A BADASS (in a GOOD way)!