Steve,
I myself have looked into going back to work, especially after I finished
school with a BA in history, but have decided that it is better off for me to
remain retired at the ripe age of 42. Ironically this is the age that I had
planned on retiring at if I had been permitted to remain in the service. Of
course, my spinal cord injury precluded this, so I was granted a disability
retirement. Since I received a good pension, I don't really have to work, but
I have decided to try to do as much volunteer work and activities with in my
community to remain involved.
One of the volunteer things I am trying to become more involved in is disabled
advocacy so that people that would be better off not working full time, will
have the ability to do this. Unfortunately, have not figured out how best to
achieve this goal, but it is worth working for.
I apologize for the rather rambled nature of this, but I am trying to get
through a bunch of these. Right now I have 103 messages stacked up.
Yours,
Billy (Quadius)
PS I apologize if there are any errors in this e-mail, however, since I'm
using voice-activated software there are occasional errors which I don't always
catch in my quick perusal of this correspondence. I ask for your indulgence.
"It is not the length of life, but the depth of life."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Steve Oldaker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
I will be 19 years post injury in May and share your goal of living to at
least 80, however, as you pointed out, statistically, a C4 quad's average life
span is roughly 10-15 years less than someone without a SCI. I am 45 now, so I
hope I can reasonably count on another 15-20 years, hopefully more.
Chronic pain, UTIs, periodic skin trouble, and working full time in spite of
it has taken its toll over the past 18 years. I have never really felt good
since being injured, but I have really felt lousy for the last year. I am
seriously considering a disability retirement. I hate to think I may be
squandering future years just for the sake of working, but I don't want to stop
working prematurely. It's a tough call.
Steve - C4, 18 years
---------------------------------
From: B. Kimberlin (Quadius) [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Monday, January 01, 2007 8:31 PM
To: Steve Oldaker
Cc: [email protected]
Subject: RE: [QUAD-L] Passing of a good friend
I am approaching 12 years post injury in April, and I am planning on trying
to live until I am at least 80. However, my doctor seemed to think 60s is a
more attainable goal. Since I am now 42, that gives me around 18 years,
however, I really think I'll last much longer.
I have also lost several quadriplegic friends way too early and a few of them
have been due to neglect. It is just a shame that our system does not take
better care of each other. It amazes me that a society as rich as ours is
inordinately uncaring when it comes to making sure each citizen is given
affordable housing, care, food, etc.
Quadius
Steve Oldaker <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Passing away at 41 years old is far too young, with or without a SCI. I
hope Houston was not alone when he passed, and I hope he was not neglected
beforehand. I do not read every message posted on this list, but I always read
Houston's.
Our local long time quad patriarch and one of my biggest quad mentors passed
away at 45, and another local quad friend of mine passed away at 46. They too
were far too young to go so soon. I miss them very much.
May they all be at peace...
Steve - C4, 18 years
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