Hello Amanda. It has been almost?10 years with TM for me, and I guess I'm practically over the "embarrassment", most of the time.?? When I was in rehab, one of the things that we had to do before we could be released is to go on an outing into a?public situation and we were really close to a shopping center, so that's where we went.? Very Public!? It left many impressions, but also, my husband isn't the kind who likes to stay home all the time and would just want to go out for the sake of leaving the house.? I guess if he didn't feel any embarrassment being with me, I shouldn't have either, but that didn't make me not feel it.
One of the first things to come to my mind when I found myself paralyzed was that?our kids were grown, ages 20 and 26, and I had a pretty good marriage and good insurance.? We had a 2 yr old grandson that I wished to play with on the floor though, and that was my biggest goal.? I finally made it and still do, but it's very hard to get back up, but I do it with 3 little boys now.? We play many games, read books and watch movies though in my bed, which is a very special place for all. I don't think I'll ever walk again the way I used to, but I am able to walk a bit with my walker, crutches, and on a really?good day, my cane.?? Please keep up the physical therapy, exercise program, or whatever you do to keep your body strong.? I was so good at it for a long time, then?didn't do too much for a long time.? I am now working on my body again and gaining a bit of strength back.?? And, about the bladder thing, it's something?that so many of us deal with.? I've actually got the bowel and bladder thing, luckily they function, but with urgency, meaning I don't get the signal till it's time to go.? Doesn't matter where I am, last night we were shopping at Safeway and I had to find the restroom NOW!? But, I made it, barely.? We could tell you so many stories, some would leave you laughing so hard, and others so touching you may cry. Pity parties can be shared here, and happen off and on, so don't feel badly if you need one.? We are here for you as we've all been there. Big hugs, Barbara A ?? -----Original Message----- From: Amanda Diskey <adis...@yahoo.com> To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Sent: Sat, 28 Mar 2009 12:46 pm Subject: [TMIC] Thank you I just want to say that I am amazed at the amount of information I have gotten from you all about stem cell research and use! I never expected such a response, but I didn't know who else to ask. Of course my family and friends just want me to get better,?and I want to be normal again so bad I would do anything to be that way. I miss playing with my kids, and cleaning my house, and driving, and going to work, using my hands, not wearing depends, and not being embarassed to go in public because of all of the above. I just want to be me again! I was looking for an easy fix, even if it cost 30,000, but thanks to this list I can make a more informed decision. This list is a wonderful place to go for information or support. I don't post a lot, but I always read the posts. Thank you all so much for understanding when no one else does! AMANDA From: "tmic-digest-requ...@eskimo.com" <tmic-digest-requ...@eskimo.com> To: tmic-dig...@eskimo.com Sent: Thursday, March 26, 2009 10:03:50 PM Subject: tmic-digest Digest V2009 #200 -----Inline Message Follows----- tmic-digest Digest??? ??? ??? ??? Volume 2009 : Issue 200 Today's Topics: ? Re: [TMIC] going to DC? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? [ Lawrence King <we4king...@verizon.n ] ? Re: [TMIC] Embrionic Stem Cell Discu? [ Lawrence King <we4king...@verizon.n ] -----Inline Message Follows----- Try to find the Albert Einstein memorial near the?Vietnam?Vets Memorial & Constitution Ave. ?we wanted to get there but the bone chilling cold 9F. ?got the better of us and we gave up on both. ?It's a site most tourists miss and don't know about. ?and the museum of natural history is renovated and wonderful... you can see the hope diamond. I want to hear about it when you get back! On Mar 26, 2009, at 9:09 PM, ptpatti200...@aol.com wrote: Mindy the Artist Thanks Mindy I found the info on the tourmobile before we decided that I needed some sort of transport and I forgot about the wheelchair storage on the bus so that link was helpful. .? It will be perfect.??I found that it was the only bus through the cemetary - one of our desired stops.? ?I know we are going to use their two-day pass and see all of those sights.? Did you have a special spot that I might miis if I wasn't aware of it in advance?? I'm taking all the advice I can get.?? Thanks Patti - Michigan? -----Original Message----- From: Lawrence King <we4king...@verizon.net> To: tmic-list@eskimo.com Cc: Lawrence King <we4king...@verizon.net> Sent: Wed, 25 Mar 2009 2:38 pm Subject: Re: [TMIC] going to DC Hi Patti, We went to DC in Jan for my father-in-laws funeral at Arlington Natnl. ?Cemetery and decided it was now or never to show the kids DC. ?What ever your needs are I encourage you to take this tour bus: ? ? ?http://www.tourmobile.com/disability.php ? ?and not the other ones. ?I believe it cost us $32 per adult a day and we could get on and off at will. ?I am walking wounded and would have been in agony if I had to walk from monument to monument. ?I gave you the disability page so you can discuss your needs with them. ?this is the only tour that has Natln. park service?affiliation?(and the monuments are a natnl. park) ?and be happy there are?accommodations?at all the monuments to allow full access regardless of ?your level of ability. ?So enjoy yourself and wear an Obama button (the workers will be friendlier) Mindy the Artist Jeanne What a story!? You couldn't make that up if you tried and I think it's better (or worse) than anything I've seen on "House".? Your miracle is that you lived long enough to get to the right hospital and that they started you on steroids.? Thanks for sharing the details. You brought up?the subject of maneuverability and I need help dealing with it.? I decided it was time to go to Washington DC - a long-time desire of my hubby and myself.? I always use a cane and have a wheelchair that I loaned out a year ago, but could get back. I quit wearing my AFO after two years because my feet burn and I prefer to wear shoes that I can take off every time I sit down (even in public.)? I?looked pitiful sitting with my brace beside me letting my feet breathe.? So, I will need to use a walker and/or be pushed in a wheelchair in Washington and am concerned about my hubby lifting the chair in and out of our car.? I have looked at 3 wheeled walkers that would be easier to maneuver in crowds, 4 wheeled walkers of all kinds, a 4 wheeled that turns into a transport chair ($400), and just a simple transport chair itself?? A transport chair is a wheelchair for?being pushed in,?with?(4) ten-inch wheels instead of the?large wheels on the back for self-maneuvering.? The transport chair ! is about 12 lbs. lighter than my wheelchair and would be e! asier to get into my small car.? The 4 wheeled walker that turns into a wheelchair is $400 on-line.? A transport wheelchair is $200 at Walmart.? I can buy a 3-wheeled or a 4-wheeled walker for $50 each on Craigslist.? What would YOU take to Washington DC?? What will I need? How will I feel using one for the first time? I DON'T want to have to use any of them!? I'm ANGRY! Patti - Michigan ? Need a job? Find employment help in your area. = Need a job? Find employment help in your area. -----Inline Message Follows----- Jim, I have even more respect for your view now that you have explained it in such a personal way. ? I haven't changed my own view but I love getting to wear the other persons moccasins (I'm Christian and my best friend is?Buddhist). ? I'm thrilled at how well this discussion has gone (can we talk about race next... just kidding) Mindy the Artist On Mar 26, 2009, at 8:02 PM, Jim Lubin wrote: They are just going to throw those unused blastocysts away only because someone is making the choice to do so. After they are created they remain frozen indefinitely until a decision is made by someone to remove them from their frozen state. I've seen the argument be made that they are going to die anyway so why not use them to help others, such as organ donation. I started thing about that reasoning a few years ago. As someone who is only being kept alive by a ventilator breathing for me I began thinking that "someone" could decide that if I was taken off the ventilator I would die anyway so why not use my organs to better someone else's life. Someone might decide that my heart, my liver, my lungs would be better used by someone else who might be more important or more productive, less of a burden cost wise, to society. I am not an organ donor. Remember the Terri Schiavo case in 2005? It was a big topic on the vent-users list. Her husband claimed she was in a Persistent vegetative state, her family said she was not. The media kept saying they want to remove her from "life support". She was not on life support, she had a feeding tube. Big difference. A ventilator is life support. Her feeding tube was removed and she was starved to death because nutrition was withheld. It was very scary to everyone who is on life support they way people were fighting to get her feeding tube removed. If people felt so strongly about her being removed what about us? I believe that human life begins at conception and that those blastocytes should be protected until natural death. Use them what they were created for or keep them frozen (i.e. on life support). I don't think these blastocytes should have been created in the first place, if a couple can't have a baby without intervention then it's not meant to be. That's just what I believe. Obviously it's legal so the world doesn't operate the way I believe. Jim At 10:24 AM 3/26/2009, Westgold wrote: They just throw those unused blastocytes in the garbage, they end up in some medical waste dump somewhere.? Would you rather than that, than see those cells being used to help cure a lot of horrible diseases?? You say that you support organ donation -- isn't giving these blastocytes a chance to help save somoene's life similar to organ donation?? Don't you think they would rather do some good with whatever life they have, rather than just be thrown in a dump? ---- Jim Lubin?????????????? jlu...@eskimo.com http://makoa.org/jim disAbility Resources: http://www.makoa.org