[misc.handicap] Oldest & longest quadriplegic

Greg.See-Kee@f631.n712.z3.fidonet.org (Greg See-Kee) (05/25/90)

Index Number: 8501

 JC> I have been a quad for 30 years and have a friend who has
 JC> been one for 34 years.
     
I wish that the older people would share their stories.  We need
these "Scare" stories, to try to have the younger quadriplegics
become more conscientious.

My old friend Joe is dead now.  He became so "Power-crazed" -
having and apreciating Heavy Political power, that he neglected
his fluid intake.

The warning signals were there: intensive care a few times,
severe head-aches, etc.

If I continued my old job, as "Minder" to the high-flying,
high-powered quadriplegics at the Australian Quadriplegic
Association, Joe would not have died, and AQA would not be in the
extreme financial mess that it has today.

 JC> With modern antibiotics and good draing
 JC> bladders there is no reason to fear kidney failure.
     
EVERYONE alive has slowly deteriorating functioning of all their
body organs.  That is the irreversible process we call "AGEING".
Modern medicine can't handle "Ageing" - yet.

Even "healthy" and "able-bodied" people need to drink regular
fluids.  I would say, even more than disabled people do.

        Reason?

 1) They will live into old age, particularly with the medical
sciences that we have now.

 2) They consume more calories (are generally more active) than
us disabled people. (Hence have more active kidneys, etc).

There is a fear in everyone of knowing the full reality of life.
But unless someone says: "The Emperor isn't wearing anything!"
then the population will continue being stupid and ignorant.

We disabled people have an important to tell the rest of the
world.  Our message is:

  "YOU TOO WILL ONE DAY BE LIKE WE ARE TODAY!"

They won't listen to us.  But there are people in the "Education"
and "Entertainment" business who know how to pass these unwanted
messages.

But the educators haven't any subject material, unless we supply
it to them.

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