Over time there have been many misconceptions about medicine, geography, sociology, or even morality in general. People ridiculed Christopher Columbus for his suicide expedition as most believed he'd sail off the edge of a flat world. The Catholic church was in the back pocket of most European government rule. It put its foot down on freedom of religion other than Catholicism. This spawned a small exodus we know as the Separatists who landed at Plymouth Rock on the Mayflower. A woman showing her arms or calves was considered risqué. At one time your morality was questioned if you stood up tall next to a black man in support of his right to the same freedoms as white people. Doctors use to practice 'blood letting' to drain the body of poisons and perform surgeries in non-sterile environments. Psychiatrists would lobotomize patients to cure insanity. History is riddled with examples of theses kinds of thought processes.
This brings me to today. There are issues today being batted around in our own legislative system. When are we going to take the next step in recognizing gay marriage? Right or wrong its there. I've seen a lot of Christian hetero families fall apart quicker than homosexual ones. Stem cell therapy...the US is so far behind the curve on implementing stem cell transplants because of ethical concerns. Meanwhile millions suffer from cancer, heart disease, brain damage, spinal cord injuries, etc. Its incredible how quickly your stance changes when a loved one is hit with an ailment that can be resolved by this kind of break through. For every homeless person that supposedly 'chooses' to live that way there are 2 that don't have a choice. Mental and physical disabilities have got them chasing their own tails in pulling themselves out of their rock bottom. If you believe in a higher being like me, my Jesus wouldn't shun two men holding hands. He wouldn't walk away from a couple choosing stem cell treatments to correct their infants heart defect.
There has got to be a philosophical changing of the guards. Where would you or I be if the Mayflower party hadn't the gumption to break away from that mainstream religious frame of mind. Unfortunately time is the only true game changer. Time sprinkled with a bit of contagious open mindedness. Its difficult as our own ideologies have been ingrained in us for so long. Being asked to be open minded about an issue is often misunderstood for being asked to conform. You don't have to agree or change your mind. Just change the angle at which you see something. So much is gained by changing your perspective. I've been guilty of not being open minded on so many things. All it takes is a few to begin antiquating the principles that hold us back.
Tuesday, February 11, 2014
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Music That Means The Most To Me
Ive always liked music based on its lyrics. Words have meaning and if an artist is able to get the meaning of a song in a creative artistic manner my ears perk up and I listen. Classic rock is a given for me in the fact that a lot of it extremely creative in their lyrics, most likely drug induced but creative none the less. All genres have a collective group of unknowns whos music is largely unheard of. You have to dig for it but its there. Heres a few of my favorites based on lyrics...
Saturday, February 8, 2014
Ask Me What Its Like...
People always ask my how i'm feeling, but they never ask me what its like to have a spinal cord injury. First of all yall have to know its ok to ask me. I'm not sensitive about it and am happy to answer any questions you may have. With that said.
I have a SCI that involved incomplete damage to my cord at C4,C5, and C6. Incomplete meaning no severing of the spinal cord. Basically, just bruised. This is often referred to as spinal shock. Those 3 vertebrae were fused. They replace the disks with bone grafts and secure them with a plate. After about 6 months the 3 vertebrae have fused into one solid bone. Anywho....
An injury at this level affects approximately from the upper chest down. Initially in the ICU it was causing breathing issues for which I was but on a ventilator. Fortunately I was only in a vent machine for about 5 days. As of now my breathing is normal. I get winded easily but I attribute that to low stamina.
The biggest issue I faced from two weeks in the ICU was muscle atrophy. Most of my muscles are weak and Im having to work on developing them again. My forearms shoulders and chest are small compared to before. I also have whats called muscle spasticity. They contract on their own. Muscle tone is another problem I deal with. Its a stiffness of my muscles that limit my range of motion. It feels as if I have springs in my triceps. Its a struggle to bring my hands to my face. I also have a tough time raising my arms up over my head. When I sit for a while and extend my legs my whole body planks and my arms, hands and fingers extend by my sides. Im on medication to control this.
I have nerve pain which is also called neuropathy. Specifically I have an area on my shoulder and neck which is extremely sensitive and by sensitive I mean ticklish! On the flip side it can be painful. Sometimes it feels like Im literally being poked with needles. I also am occasionally hyper sensitive to sound. Sometimes in the quiet Im startled by a cell phone notification, or by the dryer buzzing or even by my sons coughing in another bedroom. It sends a shock through my nerves like electricity. I feel like someone jumped out of the dark at me with a butcher knife.
Im numb through most of my body. I do have some feeling but touch feels as if its being done through a layer or two of clothing. The other night my son helped me hop on my motorcycle to start it up and let it run. I burned my inner calf on the muffler and didn't notice it till the next day. I need to be careful. A burn like that could have cause a condition called Autonomic Dysreflexia. A condition that can cause a stroke.
Theres also the psychological aspect of my injury. I deal with anxiety and some depression wondering whats next in my life. I had a very physical job Im no longer able to do. Dealing with insurance companies, getting my long term and Social Security disability set up, in addition to typical stresses of everyday life. I in no way want anyone to feel sorry for me. I just know some people are afraid to ask questions about my accident or injury. I know God has a plan for me. I want to thank all of you who have followed and have prayed for me through all of this. It means a lot!
I have a SCI that involved incomplete damage to my cord at C4,C5, and C6. Incomplete meaning no severing of the spinal cord. Basically, just bruised. This is often referred to as spinal shock. Those 3 vertebrae were fused. They replace the disks with bone grafts and secure them with a plate. After about 6 months the 3 vertebrae have fused into one solid bone. Anywho....
An injury at this level affects approximately from the upper chest down. Initially in the ICU it was causing breathing issues for which I was but on a ventilator. Fortunately I was only in a vent machine for about 5 days. As of now my breathing is normal. I get winded easily but I attribute that to low stamina.
The biggest issue I faced from two weeks in the ICU was muscle atrophy. Most of my muscles are weak and Im having to work on developing them again. My forearms shoulders and chest are small compared to before. I also have whats called muscle spasticity. They contract on their own. Muscle tone is another problem I deal with. Its a stiffness of my muscles that limit my range of motion. It feels as if I have springs in my triceps. Its a struggle to bring my hands to my face. I also have a tough time raising my arms up over my head. When I sit for a while and extend my legs my whole body planks and my arms, hands and fingers extend by my sides. Im on medication to control this.
I have nerve pain which is also called neuropathy. Specifically I have an area on my shoulder and neck which is extremely sensitive and by sensitive I mean ticklish! On the flip side it can be painful. Sometimes it feels like Im literally being poked with needles. I also am occasionally hyper sensitive to sound. Sometimes in the quiet Im startled by a cell phone notification, or by the dryer buzzing or even by my sons coughing in another bedroom. It sends a shock through my nerves like electricity. I feel like someone jumped out of the dark at me with a butcher knife.
Im numb through most of my body. I do have some feeling but touch feels as if its being done through a layer or two of clothing. The other night my son helped me hop on my motorcycle to start it up and let it run. I burned my inner calf on the muffler and didn't notice it till the next day. I need to be careful. A burn like that could have cause a condition called Autonomic Dysreflexia. A condition that can cause a stroke.
Theres also the psychological aspect of my injury. I deal with anxiety and some depression wondering whats next in my life. I had a very physical job Im no longer able to do. Dealing with insurance companies, getting my long term and Social Security disability set up, in addition to typical stresses of everyday life. I in no way want anyone to feel sorry for me. I just know some people are afraid to ask questions about my accident or injury. I know God has a plan for me. I want to thank all of you who have followed and have prayed for me through all of this. It means a lot!
Chernobyl/Pripyat - 25 Years Later
This is footage of the buildings of Pripyat. The city was abandoned after the Chernobyl nuclear power plant had exploded irradiating the entire city. I would love to see this in person. Hell, Id spend the night, but not alone of course....
Creepiest Places On Earth
Its fascinating how people think. The processes of the human psyche of some people who believe in some of these rituals.
Friday, February 7, 2014
Real Milkmen...
August 30th of 2013 I had a motorcycle accident. At the scene I showed no signs of movement. EMS made the decision to rush to Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston. I had an obvious SCI, bad left and right lower leg trauma, and an essentially shattered right index finger. After an MRI and a number of xrays it was determined I had an incomplete SCI of C4 c5 c6. I underwent an anterior cervical discectomy procedure with fusion. I was on a ventilator for about 5 days. Imaging later showed I had developed a pulmonary embolism. I was immediately put on blood thinners. I had an additional 6 surgeries to repair my index finger and leg wounds. 9 days later I was sent to the Texas Institute of Rehabilitation Research (TIRR) to begin inpatient therapy. 4 1/2 months later this video is where Im at....
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