Kemal, Be very very thankful that Ethiopia DOES, for the most part, have the extended family system because when it comes right down to it is really only family that gives a damn. Or should give a damn.
But there are several people on this list who are finding that family, when it comes right down to it, do not want the responsibility and obligation that comes with quads and especially high-level ones that require constant care. If it were not for my husband... god knows where I would be. My ex of 12 years decided he wanted out to my surprise and horror after what I thought was a perfect match. I think you saw that in the long run things would get harder and he had become more of my primary caregiver so when he began to reach the age of 40... he told me one day that "he did not love me in that way anymore." I always use the Indians and the Oriental cultures as examples of folks not throwing the disabled or the elderly and their families away in institutions. Thanks for adding Ethiopia to that list. At least for the families who really believe in it truly! Lori Michaelson C4/5 complete quad, 28 years post Tucson, AZ On Dec 13, 2007 2:43 AM, Kemal Zakaria <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > kemalzk wrote: > > The situation in my country cannot be any better as we are one of the > poorest in the world.Things may changebut very slow.Our health care system > is very poor .we have no rehabilitation centers. There are less than 10 > neurosurgeons, few physiotherapistsand occupational therapists.you cannot > think of power wheelchairs nor vehicles because they are not available. > > The only thing good we have is the family system which is extended and supportive and assistive as well. May be i am one of the luckiest because i have brothers outside the country who can help ,have an internet access and so on. But things have started changing and now we have a number of colleges training physiotherapists , the number of medical and nursing schools have increased. The government is becoming more aware about the situation as well.I hope that the next generation could have a better chance of survival and care.
