For Rick Hard.

Oscar Pistorius is a double amputee who qualified for the men's semi-finals in the 400 meter dash.

That is an amazing feat, no doubt made easier by advances in prosthetics, so beneficial to soldiers in particular, if to many others, directly and indirectly.

There has actually been controversy over his prostheses, as they are so good now that it is unclear how much of a disadvantage it is in such an event, assuming that one has a good base to which attach the prostheses of course.

No one is cutting their legs off to find out, although those with severe leg injuries that don't technically require an amputation are over time likely to find prosthetics suggested more often, as in crush accidents common in automobiles and industrial settings.

As to how good prosthetics have become, Pistorius was disqualified in fact from running in international races for that reason, until some Grinches had a change of heart.

Heart as spirit is what Pistorious reminds us about, if in reality its usually not so simple as the Hollywood ending at all.

It's a funny thing disability as to human spirit, of which in this Olympics Oscar Pistorius is such a good representative.

If you've ever seen a severe injury like that up close and personal, you admire the spirit of Pistorious, even as you know it doesn't always have that happy an ending, and so don't judge people too harshly for not being up to Pistorious standards.

My cousin Rick Hard for example paralyzed in a sledding accident in his late twenties.

Rick could only use one arm after that, and frankly at times struggled to be as positive as we would like others to be, when its not us without a limb or sitting in a chair permanently.

We like to think we can handle any adversity, even as we secretly sigh relief when the Fates pass over some of the greater hardships on us.

Rick adapted to his injury over time, and like many paraplegics died peacefully from common complications of such injuries. It just wasn't quite a Hollywood movie, if nothing is in life, as to if you know someone with an injury who's down, don't assume that either beating them up or babying them is for the best. Sometimes a little of both does wonders, as we all feel sorry for ourselves sometimes, just as it's easy to say "get over it" when its not you in a chair or otherwise injured permanently.

For every Oscar Pistorious, there is someone who has an injury that tries their spirit more, if that makes the Pistorious story however it ends now that much more important, as what it shows is that how we support people to find their spirit after traumatic injury, or in his case a severe birth defect, which may not be just telling them to quit feeling sorry for themselves, at least not necessarily.

But for showing what minds and spirit can make bodies do, Oscar Pistorious is a very special Olympian indeed.

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