[QUAD-L] Why you were injured
I've asked myself several times as my first 20 yrs of life was living with a disability of dwarfism. I grew up in a small town in Ohio and most of the town new me because see I'm a dwarf. Going to school in the early years was a challenge as I was leg braces tromping through the snow to catch the bus to school. My schoolmates would sometimes call me names or exclude me from school games. I'll never forget 4th grade as I had an overweight teacher who had a half inch paddle that if you got hit by it you knew it. Well, one day the teach was out of the room and and people started throwing paper balls, erasers and other things at each other. I made the mistake of joining in, but I threw an Elmer's glue at a kid. He ducked and the bottle broke the glass fish tank. All the fish in the bowl were all over the floor when the teacher came back to the room.She called me up to her desk to explain why I was throwing things and I said everyone else was. Well, that was the wrong answer. She picked up her paddle and took me out in the hallway and gave me a long lecture about what happened and how it was wrong. She then told me to bend over and grab my knees. I was bracing myself for what was coming, but just when I thought I'd feel the pain I heard three slaps up against the wall. The teacher and I went back to the room and you could of heard a pin drop. No one ever thought the teacher would paddle me. I never said a word to my school mates because I knew consequences if I said anything. The night before I went to high school I asked my mother if she thought the kids would accept me. She encouraged me to ask the athletic coach if I could be the football manager. That afternoon I asked the coaches and they said sure.I was ecstatic as this was my way of fitting in and at the same time I knew that no one would mess with me. Those four years were the most exciting but challenging time of my life. I attended a junior college and after a year and a half I got burned out. At that time my father accepted a job in Kuwait. He asked me if I wanted to go along and work for his company, I did not hesitate to say yes because I knew I'd never get this chance again. Kuwait at that time was very peaceful as they were looking for companies that could get their oil out of the ground. We flew into Kuwait via Amsterdam. We spent two days in Amsterdam and visited the canals, what a site. The next day we flew into Kuwait just in time to meet our dog who we shipped via London. Our dog was happy to see us and after taking him out of the crate the Kuwait's that were staring at me soon scrambled when the dog was out. We went to customs to claim our bags and what we thought was going to be a hassle turned out to be very easy. I found life in Kuwait was very different then what I thought sure the people there would stare but once I spoke to them I was soon accept me.We spent a month at the hotel while waited for out villa to be finished being built. Once we moved into the villa it was great. Our house in California paled in size compared to its tall vaulted ceilings that were in the villa. I went to work with my father, while my mother unpacked and settled in. There was a titor we came to our house to help my mother and I Arabic. We learned the simple words and numbers first because you didn't want to be cheated when going to the different markets. We had a maid from India move into the maid quarters outside. Her name was Matilda and I appreciated her very much a she was a great cook. She made great curry's and dahl which my stomach enjoyed very much. She was a big help to our family and she would go with me into town to get fruits, vegetables and Arabic bread for the homas that she would make. that tasted great. After about a 1 1/2 years. I decided it was time to come back to school in California. I moved into a motel apartment and attended classes at the local junior college. I adjusted to living alone as I feel it help me mature to the man I have become.The first three semesters went very well, I attended college and passed my classes. In order to afford monies for gas and extras, I took a job at a local pool hall. I spent about half my time there and the owner appreciated my work and moved me up to assistant manager on the weekends. I'd go to school on Friday and after school I'd go to my job at the pool hall. until 2am. I learned very quickly to make friends with the biggest bikers and any one else that I thought would help me keep the peace in case there were any fights at work. Everyone accepted me as an equal even though our size was very different. Every once in a while you'd get some unruly customers but with my new friends and a big stick behind the counter, I managed to keep the peace very well. I went to a district Little People convention and met a girl there and I thought I'd try to
[QUAD-L] ~~~~~Attention It
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Re: [QUAD-L] Wheelchair Monologue
For the last 8 years I've been confined to a wheelchair due to a spinal cord injury. The 42 years prior I lived a life looking up at people not because of my injury but because I'm a 4'6 dwarf. Yes, I said dwarf not midget as midget is a derogatory in the dwarf community. A little like the 'N' in the black community. Living life as a dwarf was a cake walk compared to my life now, as I am now pretty much home bound and with the exception of a few things am dependent on someone to assist me. I can feed myself, if the food is cut up and of course prepared. I can get my shirt off most of the time, but all other clothes have to be put on and taken of my wife or daughter. When I'm out in the community, there are many times that the city sidewalk don't have curb cut outs or theres a cut out on one end not other. Believe me the city gets tired of me showing up at their monthly meeting complaining about this or that. In stores I will usually ask someone to reach something off the shelf or if no one comes, I'll reach as high as I can and knock something that won't break down to the ground. Nothing pisses off a store manager than to haves for his displays come tumbleing down like a stack of 2 litter plastic bottles, toilet paper, peaches and oranges etc. Now every time I go back to the same store all the store employees are aware I'm there. In most cases though when I am out most people are more than happy to assist me. It's really all in the way you ask for that assistance that matters. - Original Message From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: QUAD-LIST@eskimo.com Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 7:36:14 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Wheelchair Monologue The target audience here is definitely the AB crowd. I think it was also poorly done - it should have had a much more upbeat tone with a here i come - you guys better be ready for me attitude. I go out a lot and don't have a bit of problem asking for help. I am pretty self sufficient but if i need a hand i ask for it. Most people are clueless what to do around gimps so guess what - - - it's up to you to tell them what you need. Why would you EXPECT them to know your needs? You are an oddity - a true minority, Just tell them please get me that yellow peanut butter off the top fricking shelf and put it here in my tray what's so hard about that? they love helping us - it's built in. i always ask the large breasted women for help so i get a double bonus out of it if you know what i mean. don't expect anyone to KNOW what you need - they don't. just ask and it shallbe yours - now where have i heard that b/4? AZDAVE In a message dated 4/27/2008 9:03:14 A.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: TheStar Press - www.thestarpress.com - Muncie, IN Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. Hope is the last thing that dies in man; and though it be exceedingly deceitful, yet it is of this good use to us, that while we are traveling through life it conducts us in an easier and more pleasant way to our journey's end. François de La Rochefoucauld Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
Re: [QUAD-L] State We All Live In.
So. Calif.
David B.
- Original Message
From: Kevin M. Rudolph [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Quadius [EMAIL PROTECTED]; Greg [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Cc: quad-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Friday, March 7, 2008 6:25:02 PM
Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] State We All Live In.
Message kentucky
Kevin M. Rudolph
Louisville, Kentucky 40214-4023
E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web site: http://www.turbokev.com
Instant Messengers:
AOL: kyprincecharming ICQ: 28414413
MSN: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo: turbokev
-Original Message-
From: Quadius [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, March 07, 2008 9:15 PM
To: Greg
Cc: quad-list@eskimo.com
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] State We All Live In.
Tampa, Florida
Quadius
PS I seem to remember someone doing a survey of the entire list around seven
or eight years ago. I wonder how many people besides Eric, Lori, and
wheelchair are still on the list.
On 3/7/08, Greg [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I'm in the Phoenix
area.
Greg
Hi, I noticed some were talking about the State's We
All Live InBesides All the Quad Friends that reside in Other
Countries, Where do All the U.S.A. Quads now
live?
I live in {Missouri-- In the Midwest.} I have not seen
any quads from places like.. Wyoming or Utah or Alabama and so on ???
Dan H.Mo. C-6 10.6 yrs.
Post
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Re: [QUAD-L] spinal fusion
Danny what your describing sounds like you might have a
syrnix. I would suggest that you take a look at the attached
websites that can explain your possible problem
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/archive/index.php/t-5966.html
http://sci.rutgers.edu/forum/index.php
I'm a dwarf and I have had several back surgeries because of
my spinal stenosis. I've been cut open and fused from C1 to C7
and then from S1 to T8. I also have rods that help stabilize my
back that run from L3 to T8. I currently have a syrnix that's located
in my C2 to C5 area that has given me a lot of pain and increased
numbness which in turn causes me to take more meds. There's
a lot of excess pain not only in my back where the rods are, but I
also have a constant pain that feels like someone is squeezing
my groin and abdomen area. The doctor tells me that the syrnix
is causing this pain.
David B.
- Original Message
From: Danny Espinoza [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: Stacy Harim [EMAIL PROTECTED]; quad-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 5:52:32 PM
Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] spinal fusion
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{} -- I was originally fused from my skull to T1…. The doctors at Craig
then removed some to give me head movement….. But I haven’t felt what your
describing…. I think any grinding is bad and
should be checked…. Better safe than sorry!
Danny Espinoza 24/m/California
Occupation before accident - Network engineer / SR. Network security engineer
Broke c2,c6,c7 and doner bone at c2
TBI from blood going to central cortex from spinal cord
off a vent woohoo however only one diaphragm works right now due to
asymmetric SCI
http://secureminds.us/
From: Stacy Harim [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Friday, January 11, 2008 4:52 PM
To: quad-list@eskimo.com
Subject: [QUAD-L] spinal fusion
For those of you who dont know, I had to have my spine fused in several places
last May. Well it really began hurting last week like something was rubbing.
After the fusion was done, I had to have a screw removed b/c it was too close
to my aeorta so I worried something was shifting and went to my doctor. My
neurosurgeon is out of town so I went to my pain doc bc he used to be a
neurosurgeon at the University of MD. We had xrays done and he doesnt see
anything that would require me to have surgery, but I am in unbelievable pain
to the point I can barely move and its in more than one spot.
Has anyone else had any experience with the rods rubbing a bit or a screw? I
am hoping after taking it easy for awhile the pain will go down but it has been
getting a little bit worse every day and today it's about the same. It doesnt
hurt as much if I am laying down on my side without moving too suddenly but it
does hurt more to sit up and hurts a lot to adjust myself while laying down the
first time for the day. I've been staying in bed a lot hoping I can get the
pain down as pain meds arent helping very much.
If anyone has any ideas on how to try to get the pain withstandable, I would
apppreciate it. I have 3 cages and rods from top of tspine. One cage replaces
T 4,5,6,7 and maybe 8; another replaces T 11,12; and another replaces L 4,5,
and maybe 6. There is about 7 or 8 discs missing in all. In the lumbar
section there are a couple of sets of rods with rods next to rods. Lots of
metal!!! I tried to put a pic in but it couldnt be delivered.
Anyone else have this much metal?
Stacy
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Re: [QUAD-L] Neck! Syrinix question?
Having had a syrinix for over 6 years I've made a choice not to have a surgery that more then likely will just end up in failure. I would like to hear more from any of you that have or had a syrinix and what kind of pain you have. The pain that I've is a constant pins a needles feeling from mid chest area out my arms and finger tips to my toes. A feeling like someone has a vice grip on my groin area all the way up to my mid stomach area all the way around to my back. The pain med that has helped me is 2700 mg of neurontin a day and two darvacet at night. These two drugs seem to keep my pain on a even level with no spikes As far as my bowel and bladder issues I'm doing pretty good with both. However there are times that the darvacet leaves me a little constipated I use a magic bullet to help move things along. Living with my choice has made life difficult for me since I'm confined to my wheelchair, home-bound and dependant on my wife for my care full time. This at times creates a lot of friction between us but after 28 years of marriage we have learned to go to neutral corners and after a little time things get better. So I'd appreciate any of you that have dealt with the experience good or bad of dealing with a syrninix to please share your own experiences. This hopefully will help others. David B. - Original Message From: Lori Michaelson [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: Amy Davis [EMAIL PROTECTED]; quad-list@eskimo.com Sent: Sunday, January 6, 2008 1:54:25 PM Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] Neck! Syrinix question? Obviously my voice softwarel typed out Heaven is rather than having a in my e-mail below! You would also think that voice recognition software would be more perfected by now as well! It saves my user files over and over and over again but it always makes numerous errors many times. But it's still easier and much faster than having to type with my fist or fingers or a pencil! Lori On Jan 6, 2008 2:50 PM, Lori Michaelson [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: Again, everyone is different so it is a crapshoot. Some people find relief with surgery while others do not. I had success with draining it for the first two years but even though my shunt did not fail... I began having other pains in that area and a wider area around my spine. To be honest... just like Heaven is spinal cord injury... people can try different things but you will find that it is far from being so simple as there has to be something that can be done. Oh how I wish there was! My life would be 100% better if that miracle cure (along with a cure for spinal cord injury) can be found with this rare condition. Even Craig Hospital admits that surgery only has a 50% chance of helping. Sometimes people find that a certain drug helps them enough to get by while others, like myself and Corie Jones, cannot find anything that works. Lori Michaelson C4/5 complete quad, 28 years post Tucson, AZ On Jan 6, 2008 8:54 AM, Amy Davis [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: I know a lot of you have to Deal with a syrinix. My question is this. Is there any relief? Have any of you had sucess with draining it or with surgery? Does it always come back? There has to be something that can be done. -- Lori C4/5 complete quad, 27 years post Tucson, AZ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ
Re: [QUAD-L] bowell program components
Here is a link for the P.I.E. system.
http://www.mybowel.com/
David B.
- Original Message
From: Ms Linda Ferrell [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To: quad-list@eskimo.com
Sent: Saturday, December 8, 2007 1:37:22 PM
Subject: Re: [QUAD-L] bowell program components
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--
John you are just too funny.!
Kemal the PIE system works as you said. We had
a Quad on our list that lives in Canada, I don't recall his name. He
made his own pie system Maybe Wheels remembers his name.
Lindaf
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[QUAD-L] Unidentified subject!
Curious to know if any of you are suffering from a syrnix? I've had on for over 2 years and very afraid to do anything about it. The reason for this is that it is located in the C2 to C5 area and I'm deathly afraid of ending up on a vent or with a trach. Other then increased numbness and some nueropathic pain, I've been able to control it with neurontin and darvacet. Since I'm only 4'6 and probably weigh 150 and my wife who is only 4 foot tall and only weighs about 112 and she is really concerned that if I get much worse she will not be able to handle me. The major problems that we have is transfers into the bed, shower and commode. I do have a ceiling lift which makes it a little easier, however rolling me from on side to the other can wear my wife out as well hurt her back. I'm able to stand up with the aid of a platform walker to get into my commode but i cant get out or into my wheelchair on my own. The reason for this is because during my last surgery, I had a mini stroke that affected my left side and the syrnix also affects it. I've been trying to find a way that i could get some p/t help to assist my weary wife who works on an average of 35 hrs a week. With the income I make from SSDI and the monies she makes we do not qualify for the Home Community Wavier program or the IHSS program. So you see if I get much worse I might have to go to a assisted living facility or nursing home which would drive me nuts since I'm only 50. It's really sad that when people become disabled at such a young age that instead of giving assistance to all that need it they want you to become disatute prior to giving you help. Knowing how much work my wife does for me in a days time and then she goes and puts in another 8 hours at a local retail store, I don't know how she keeps from going nuts or maybe she does and just hides itt well. If I lost her I don't know how I'd carry on. If any of you are going through living life with a Syrnix, please respond so that we can compare notes. David B. Be a better sports nut! Let your teams follow you with Yahoo Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/sports;_ylt=At9_qDKvtAbMuh1G1SQtBI7ntAcJ
