King's themes of invalids and damaged people

[fushingfeef]

Nearly every work of Stephen King's has either:
1. A bedridden/chronically ill/hypochondriac/terminal person, who is often holding back another character somehow.
2. A damaged or handicapped person with a special power.

I'll leave it to others to list the many examples here if they wish, but I do have a question, maybe someone can answer?

I know SK as a child was living in a household at one point with an ill older relative (the short story "Gramma" was nearly autobiographical), but I haven't heard much about King's personal experiences with handicapped, mentally challenged or otherwise disadvantaged folk. Has he had a person in his life like that before?

 

[Walter Oobleck]

I thought I read of a character in Hearts in Atlantis...perhaps the man w/the crutches? The standing water...the aftermath...thought I read that someone from those college days became a lawyer in San Francisco...lawyer in a wheelchair. That...or I imagined it...could be either, or. Dunno where I read that, or imagined I read it and I might could be inferring something...as...maybe I did read something about a lawyer in Frisco...and I extrapolated that it was the man with the crutches. The laughter though...I believe that was a real event.

 

[SusanNorton]

Great question, feef.

 

[prufrock21]

No doubt, as most (if not all) of these characterizations are achingly real.

 

[Spideyman]

FF- If I recall correctly, Steve's daughter Naomi has a disability.

Spoiler: family

 

[king family fan]

FF- If I recall correctly, Steve's daughter Naomi has a disability.

Spoiler: family

I believe she was born with it.

 

[Spideyman]

Bio: Naomi King is a Unitarian Universalist Christian minister, who primarily ministers via social media and digital devices. She has lived with chronic illness her entire life and chronic pain since her teens. She loves to read, knit, cook, hunt fossils, and garden.

 

[Walter Oobleck]

You know...come to think of it...I think I read what I posted in Hearts...heh! So...it has to be true! It does have that ring...thought I saw some lawyer in Frisco in a wheelchair...we got some lawyer family from downstate, Detroit maybe...one brother is...blind I guess. Think he's running for Congress or something. Nevermind.

 

[morgan]

FF- If I recall correctly, Steve's daughter Naomi has a disability.

Spoiler: family

I believe she was born with it.

I wonder how long she's had to use a motorized wheelchair?

 

[king family fan]

I wonder how long she's had to use a motorized wheelchair?

with in the last few years. cause the picture i have with her and my grandaughter was taken 6 5 or 6 years ago. She did not use one then.

 

[morgan]

with in the last few years. cause the picture i have with her and my grandaughter was taken 6 5 or 6 years ago. She did not use one then.

Do you know what her illness is, KFF?

 

[king family fan]

Do you know what her illness is, KFF?

I read it somewhere but do not recall. Maybe I can find out.

 

[morgan]

I read it somewhere but do not recall. Maybe I can find out.

I tried looking online, but couldn't find anything. I hope she doesn't get any worse! She's obviously a very good and loving person!

 

[king family fan]

Do you know what her illness is, KFF?

She was born with a chronic deficit of the hormone adrenaline. This was in New York Times, Article the kings August 4,2013

 

[king family fan]

I tried looking online, but couldn't find anything. I hope she doesn't get any worse! She's obviously a very good and loving person!

She is very awesome. What a wonderful giving person she is.

 

[morgan]

with in the last few years. cause the picture i have with her and my grandaughter was taken 6 5 or 6 years ago. She did not use one then.

She is very awesome. What a wonderful giving person she is.

How and when did you meet her? That is awesome!

 

[king family fan]

How and when did you meet her? That is awesome!

I have not met her.But She has done a wonderful thing for my child and well I will conversation you.

 

[morgan]

I have not met her.But She has done a wonderful thing for my child and well I will conversation you.

Okay-thanks KFF!

 

[GNTLGNT]

...great inquiry Bob...no clue as to a definitive answer, but aside from his daughter-I think he just has an almost eerie ability to empathize with those that are "roont" in some way-without having to be around them for any length of time...he has an amazingly keen eye for the human soul and psyche....

 

[Prescott fry]

Wow this is an interesting post. Doesn't anyone remember nick from the Stand???