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Thing is with the rehab hospital I was at, the doctors were only there for
a few hours a day to check on daily progress of their patients. They rent
out office space in the hospital to see those that have been discharged on one
side of the hospital so are there if any problems but the patients would
normally only see them for a few hours a day.
I was there for 4 months and was my room was right next to the
recreation room. I would often wake up to hear the television on.
When I started self cathing, I would be woken up in the middle of the night and
have conversations with the C.N.A.'s while doing so. I heard so many
stories of what goes on there in the middle of the night. Also a lot to do
with while I was finally getting woken up was the fact that I started to self
cath and I moved hallways because where I was was at the end of the hall and the
last room to get anything. I was always late to rehab b/c I was saved for
last and needed the most help. I was the only spinal cord injury
there. Most could do for themselves. they had knee or hip replacements,
most of them. I moved closer to the nurses station and had different
nurses and C.N.A.'s in my second room. I would often get woken up by
C.N.A.'s that looked like they had just woken up themselves before I moved
rooms. I would get left for hours when I would only get into bed to
cath. No one knew how to help me transfer so they didn't want to. My
therapists gathered everyone together to show them and they only half paid
attention. Most complained that it wasn't there job and it wasn't that
type of hospital. Something about acute and sub acute. My argument
was if I could do everything myself, I wouldn't be there. I had
problems even with a therapist. My first day in therapy there, my
therapist wanted me to lift my leg which I couldn't do b/c I wasn't strong
enough yet got upset with me b/c after trying I asked for help. She was in
my room one day working on transfers into my bed getting upset with me because I
wasn't pushing enough on my arm rest. A nurse overheard that and said
something and she was quickly taken away from me. It amazes me the people
that have little regard for others when they do a job.
I am stern in advocating for myself. Not only was I doing my rehab
but also trying to find a place to live, not taking no from anyone. I was
writing letters to my representatives and making phone calls. It all paid
off. I'm still doing the same now to get the things I need. Advocating for
myself had kept sores off of my ass, a place to live, rental assistance after
fighting for almost a year after I finally did get to a place to live, and now
finally something to drive. Now I finally have a van (I forgot to mention
it). It is set up for someone who had a very small chair so I still am not
able to drive it. DORS won't do the work because it is almost 10yrs old
and has more than 40,000 miles on it. My new task is getting it made
accessible for me and I again won't be taking no for an answer and will get the
work done. I think I can get it done through the waiver somehow, but the work
will have to be done in Baltimore 3 hours away.
Oh and the whole reason why I am going to school is to help people advocate
for themselves. Many people don't know how and end up in endless no end
situations. If I didn't speak up, that is where I would be now. If
people don't like me because I am so demanding, then so be it. This
is my life and I intend to be in control of it no matter what has happened to
me.
wow, I got myself worked up in this post. LOL!! I'm just
saying, if more people spoke up for themselves no matter who it is or the
situation they are in is, you'd be surprised at the results.
Stacy
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