Re: [QUAD-L] I Wonder Why-starts in the ER

[Oconnelldb]

Someone (stranger) at my accident scene said, "Well, you're sure screwed now buddy."  I had no idea what he was talking about.  My brother broke his neck ten years earlier, and was not paralyzed (happens about 5% of the time) - so I knew what was in store for me.  My doc - same doc as my brother - said, "No, yours is different."  I thought, OK I can do 'different.'  Well, this is different ok.  He got pissed at people telling him how lucky he was as he lay on a Stryker frame for 6 weeks growing bones.   Now he pretty much agrees with that comment.   I also realize how lucky I am as a partially paralyzed C3 - this list has taught me a few things about paralysis.  I had a lot of false-positive things said to me but about 2 months in to my rehab, they sent in Dr. Hatchet who informed me they were going to give up on my walking skills and concentrate on getting me functional in  a chrome Cadillac.  Ugly but necessary - tough love I guess you call it.  Nat many people in the know spent a lot of time telling me I'd be walking again.  I'm sure WE will find a procedure to alleviate the current pathetic attempts at repairing nerve damage, however I don't think we'll see a major breakthrough in the next 10 years.  15 or 20 maybe - there's a lot of politicking that needs doing 1st.   My hope rides with a foreign country that doesn't have the political stem cell barriers to break that WE do here.  You can bet that when that happens, WE will be first to help ride the wave, loudly beating our drums, and wherever I am, I'll have a BIG smile.   Dave       In a message dated 7/17/2006 2:18:41 P.M. US Mountain Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: Have you noticed that since day one, in the ER, those around you try to be very positive regarding your injury and one's future.  Doctors rarely say anything and work behind the scenes surfacing every once in awhile to let you know that THEY are still alive and breathing. From the ER to CCU to ICU to resident recovery those working with you are so positive always stopping short that you will be walking out of THEIR hospital and may have little need for Rehab.  Always Positive.  When you are ready to be discharged from the hospital and ready for Rehab, they tell you to be posit vie and do the best you can.  Be positive. Always be Positive.  Then you get to rehab and meet several others who are just like you... or it looks that way.  The rehab hospitals always seem to have those cheerleader OT and PTs that try to make the most out of any success you produce and they tell you to be positive. After 3 months of rehab you are toss'd to the curb and often ordered to perform outpatient therapy and remain positive.   Then comes along Superman and tells you to be positive.   After hearing all of this for so long, one actually starts to believe it. Waiting for the Cure which seems just out of reach.  Oh, and remain positive.   We still have so much to learn, and learn and learn, while the masses keep pushing and trying to remain positive.  I honestly believe that it will happen in the next 20 years, but then again, I'm positive.  Good results can not be announced to the masses until successes happen more than once, or twice. But it will happen in your lifetime.   Simple repairs in the beginning and more complex repairs as we learn.   There was a time in medicine that a new born baby weighing less than 7 lbs had little change for survival.  Today, there are babies being born prematurely at less than One Pound that have survived and grown up to be normal healthy humans.   Let's continue to be positive and support those with the responsibility to research and provide positive results.   Best Wishes W     n a message dated 7/17/2006 3:58:00 PM Central Daylight Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: First off I'm not asking anyone to give up hope and I hope it happens asap so then maybe I have a chance, I'm 41 this month not really old but not in my 20's either, hell I wish!   I hope it happens for you and don't misunderstand me if the cure came fast enough I'd get in line right behind you but I have other more important things to focus on like my children and their future as long as I'm successful at that then my life's complete.      Mark     Dave www.daveoconnell.com c3-inc-1967