There was a lot of courage to write something like this. And yet it is an important story to tell.

I had friend born into an upper middle class family in Edmonton. He was an interesting fellow with an obvious mental illness (social skills of a 12-year old). But because of his family's income and support, he managed to hold life together reasonably well. Had God put him into another family situation, he would not have fared very well.

Many of the rich would have spurned my friend as a loafer and loser had he come from a dysfunctional background. I too learned how to overcome a few prejudices by being his friend. I don't think I was the only one. His parents did a great job in teaching the world about mental illness.