[misc.handicap] How do =YOU= use a comput

Jerry.Pickup@p33.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org (Jerry Pickup) (06/06/90)

Index Number: 8663

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

In a message to Frank Whitney <14 May 90  0:23:00> Ed Dobie wrote:

 ED> Well, I just got back from the hospital.  We had to rush Jill back
 ED> due to an OD of Baclofen.  Seems that our nurse gave about a
 ED> weekends supply all at once.  This RN earning $15.00 has only one
 ED> patient, and a =very= easy regular schudule to work.  I've been

 ED> Incompetence is the bigest problem we seem to face.

It's everywhere!  I am a C-1&2 incomplete quad and one of the best
things they taught me where I did my rehab was that nobody else
should be trusted to know what they're doing.  If they screw up,
I'm the one who suffers so I'm the one responsible to see that
things are done right.

They taught me to always know exactly what medications I'm supposed
to be taking, what doses and when.  Many times both in the hospital
and out I've had to correct someone who would have given me a wrong
dose.  I guess it all boils down to the fact that you still have to
be in charge of your own life whether or not you can physically do
what needs to be done.

It's harder for children to do because they are used to trusting
adults and following instructions, but for a child who is a quad it
is never too early (in my opinion) to star learning to be in
control.

                                -Jerry

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!360!1.33!Jerry.Pickup
Internet: Jerry.Pickup@p33.f1.n360.z1.fidonet.org

Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org (Frank Whitney) (06/09/90)

Index Number: 8733

[This is from the Spinal Injury Conference]

> ED> Incompetence is the bigest problem we seem to face. 
> 
>     It's everywhere!  I am a C-1&2 incomplete quad and one of the best 
>things they taught me where I did my rehab was that nobody else should be 
>trusted to know what they're doing.  If they screw up, I'm the one who 
>suffers so I'm the one responsible to see that things are done right. 
>     They taught me to always know exactly what medications I'm supposed to 
>be taking, what doses and when.  Many times both in the hospital and out 
>I've had to correct someone who would have given me a wrong dose.  I guess 
>it all boils down to the fact that you still have to be in charge of your 
>own life whether or not you can physically do what needs to be done. 
>     It's harder for children to do because they are used to trusting adults 
>and following instructions, but for a child who is a quad it is never too 
>early (in my opinion) to star learning to be in control. 
> 

        I couldn't agree more. I guestion every new pill or procedure 
because it's my responsability. I went 20 years without a bad pressure 
sore. I then went for treatment of a minor abrasion, the doctor 
prescribed debredment crystals and duoderm. I asked an RN friend about 
it and she said yes, it works great. We went from an asprin sized 
2 skin layer deep area to an area the size of a silver dollar and an 
inch deep. I needed two surgical procedures; it cut my sitting time 
by about 2-4 hours permanently; loss of skin and muscle tone not to 
mention being out of work off and on for over 2 years with less than 
1/2 my income and almost losing my job. 
        A much sadder and poorer but wiser Frank.

-- Via Opus Msg Kit v1.01 

--
Uucp: ..!{decvax,oliveb}!bunker!hcap!hnews!261!1000!Frank.Whitney
Internet: Frank.Whitney@f1000.n261.z1.fidonet.org