Sheila.Fava@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Sheila Fava) (05/30/91)
Index Number: 15874
[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]
Quotes from the computer of Keith Jones.......
KJ-> what kind of an operation you had ten years ago? Did it result in
KJ-> your injury? I had an operation 7 years ago and it resulted in my
KJ-> injury.
Keith, I had a malformation of my cerebellar region that I was born
with. It was diagnosed in 1977. I had a second opinion at the
University California, San Francisco and a third opinion at Stanford
University Med. Center. All the doctors agreed that it was inoperable.
Since I felt I was too young to buy the farm, I went on an active hunt
for the -right- doctor who could excise the offending malformation. The
hunt led me to the University of Texas at Dallas. The examining
neurosurgeon warned me that the cerebellum is the mobility center and
that -for sure- I would be disABLED. I felt that was better than being
dead so, on March 24th, 1981 I was operated on. Seven months later I
departed for home. So you see, I -deliberately- had that operation and
fully knew the consequences.
Was your operation deliberate? No choice? What?
---Sheila.
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Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!157!3!Sheila.Fava
Internet: Sheila.Fava@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.orgKeith.Jones@f3.n157.z1.fidonet.org (Keith Jones) (06/18/91)
Index Number: 16205
[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]
Sheila, I guess I should tell you I am 35 years old. The operation
took place when I was 28. If I only knew then what I know now. But it
does me absolutely no good at all to morbidly reflect on the past and
wonder what if. I have got to live in the now with the SCI and make the
best of it.
I should mention that the neurosurgeon who performed the operation
was highly regarded. He had not had any problems in 10 years and had
done this procedure hundreds of times. I should mention that his mistake
devastated him (not nearly as much as it did me). However he has to live
with himself knowing what he did. I'm not so sure I would want to live
in his shoes. Anyway I have no malice towards the man. He is human and
he made a mistake. It is just that a neurosurgeon's mistake causes much
more harm than a auto mechanic's mistake. God has enabled me to forgive
fortunately.
I did file a malpractice suit but needless to say no amount of money
would ever give me back what I lost. I would gladly give back all to be
ablebodied again. Again,I cannot live in the past.
As I mentioned I was able to go back to school and get a degree in
Social Work. That was before the terrible problems I now have with pain.
Unfortunately, because of a bad back my sitting time is severely limited
and getting worse daily. I also have terrible foot pain. I simply cannot
work a full-time job and the characteristics of my pain (never know when
it will be good or bad) will not allow me to even commit to part-time.
Additionally, I worry about losing my Medicare benefits if I work,
though I have heard there are ways around that. I also have terrible
spasticity which is exascerbated by cold weather and changes in the
weather. May sound like a lot of excuses but they are all major
obstacles. I really would love to work!
Finally, As far as wheelchair sports go, I have not raced since the
pain started two years ago. I really did enjoy it and even got some TV
coverage. Because of the aforementioned problems this activity has been
put on the back burner (for two years now) and I wonder if I will ever
race again.
My story may sound like a hard luck story and it is, but I know of
many others who never had the opportunities I have had. What is hard is
to work hard at something (school, racing, etc.) and then lose the
ability to do it. I have to constantly search within myself to find
something else I can do. Now it's this computer. With everything else I
had going on, I certainly never would have discovered this. Thank God I
have.
Well thats enough self disclosure for me, now tell me about you.
-Keith-
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