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Seems the flu has attacked my school this week. Numerous staff members have been down for 5 or more days, students are checking out more and more everyday. Not a happy sight for someone who doesn't have an immune system!
On top of that, we're attempting (if we don't get the predicted 4" + of snow tonight) to enroll our 8th graders to 9th grade...an all day and evening event that is supposed to occur tomorrow. This will mean that not only will I have to deal with the possibility of picking up something from the kids, but also from the general public. Oh joy.
I try to avoid being in crowds after the first of the year as much as I can. I used to love to go to basketball games...now, I don't. I don't attend church as often as I used to for fear of picking up some type of bug. I watch attending concerts during this time of the year for the same thing.
Now, I could probably do all of this if I'd just give in and wear that stupid, hot, non-flattering surgical mask that the Transplant clinic always insists that I wear. But they don't have to take in the stares when you go into a Quik Trip for a hot cocoa, or try to find something that goes with the baby blue or yellow thing on your face.
Oh well....college basketball and NASCAR start up before long....if I can survive the school I can hang out at home on the weekends. And, if I catch it....let's just hope I don't have to visit my pink palace for an extended stay!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Friday, January 14, 2011
Good Out of Bad
What a tragedy in Arizona this week...what a waste of human life. A obviously mentally unstable young man took a semi-automatic gun and started firing at a Safeway store where the local Congresswoman was holding a "Congress on the Corner" event. He killed 7 innocent people who were just there to see their goverment representative and express what they'd like to see her attempt to do for them at the national level.
I won't even begin to get into the rheotric being passed around regarding whether the tone of our current political arena is what set this individual off. I was raised in a family where if you couldn't say anything good about another you were better off keeping your mouth shut. But, if there were some truth to that, then I would wish that all who were responsible would think of the 9 year old victim before they opened their mouth. Words do hurt...I see it everyday at school. If you think they don't then your living in the world this individual apparently did.
There are two items I can address in this situation, however. First, we aren't addressing mental health issues in this country correctly or fast enough. When parents take their children for in-patient services, their insurance tells them how long they can stay, not whether the child is "better" or able to cope. I have students come back to my school that have no business being there, but because we are a public school we have to continue to serve them. Sometimes they are served through a home-based situation, sometimes they are back on campus. I often think of a conversation Spock and Captain Kirk have in one of the Star Trek movies...."the good of the many are greater than the good of the one". Sometimes the rights of an individual should not be more important than the safety of the many. I am in no way excusing the acts of this individual, but I do believe and see everyday others that could do the same act that are not getting the help they need.
We also have a stigma about people who have mental health issues...truth be told, we all have some mental issue but it manifest itself worse in some individuals. We need to start thinking of helping people, not labeling them. In most cases, with appropriate counseling and sometimes medication, people can live and survive in society with no major issues.
Secondly, today I learned that the 9 year old victim was an organ donor...now, I'm sure she didn't make this decision on her own but her family probably did. Out of their grief they seeked something good. I'm positive that the person/people that are now gaining another chance to live, to see, to function are grateful for their gift. I'm also sure that they will be saddened to hear of how it occurred. Out of something bad, something good happened to these people.
God bless the parents and family of this child. I certainly hope that in their hours of sadness and darkness they take comfort in knowing that others are living through their daughter.
This may be my most unpopular post I ever put on this blog, but I felt I needed to say something. My career choice and my experience as one who has been given the gift of life would not allow me to not say something. You don't have to agree....but you should be thinking about all the points made. The world cannot afford for you not to.
I won't even begin to get into the rheotric being passed around regarding whether the tone of our current political arena is what set this individual off. I was raised in a family where if you couldn't say anything good about another you were better off keeping your mouth shut. But, if there were some truth to that, then I would wish that all who were responsible would think of the 9 year old victim before they opened their mouth. Words do hurt...I see it everyday at school. If you think they don't then your living in the world this individual apparently did.
There are two items I can address in this situation, however. First, we aren't addressing mental health issues in this country correctly or fast enough. When parents take their children for in-patient services, their insurance tells them how long they can stay, not whether the child is "better" or able to cope. I have students come back to my school that have no business being there, but because we are a public school we have to continue to serve them. Sometimes they are served through a home-based situation, sometimes they are back on campus. I often think of a conversation Spock and Captain Kirk have in one of the Star Trek movies...."the good of the many are greater than the good of the one". Sometimes the rights of an individual should not be more important than the safety of the many. I am in no way excusing the acts of this individual, but I do believe and see everyday others that could do the same act that are not getting the help they need.
We also have a stigma about people who have mental health issues...truth be told, we all have some mental issue but it manifest itself worse in some individuals. We need to start thinking of helping people, not labeling them. In most cases, with appropriate counseling and sometimes medication, people can live and survive in society with no major issues.
Secondly, today I learned that the 9 year old victim was an organ donor...now, I'm sure she didn't make this decision on her own but her family probably did. Out of their grief they seeked something good. I'm positive that the person/people that are now gaining another chance to live, to see, to function are grateful for their gift. I'm also sure that they will be saddened to hear of how it occurred. Out of something bad, something good happened to these people.
God bless the parents and family of this child. I certainly hope that in their hours of sadness and darkness they take comfort in knowing that others are living through their daughter.
This may be my most unpopular post I ever put on this blog, but I felt I needed to say something. My career choice and my experience as one who has been given the gift of life would not allow me to not say something. You don't have to agree....but you should be thinking about all the points made. The world cannot afford for you not to.
Saturday, January 8, 2011
Arizona and another loss
Tulsa heart transplants lost another member this month. Seems we're losing more and more, which is a scary thought for those of us left. I had a discussion with some of my faculty members the other day about the fact that there are so many things that can go wrong even after 5+ years of doing well. At this point, it usually isn't rejection issues that get you but failure of other organs, cancer, or strokes that come into play because of all the medications we take. Thank goodness that I have decent insurance that helps with the cost of meds and procedures. I'll be having my annual heart cath in February to make sure all is still functioning well. I think that will be my 9th during all of pre and post transplant care.
Arizona caught my attention this week. The state has decided to not finance (via Medicaid) transplant operations of any kind. Currently, there are over 600 people who are waiting on some type of organ transplant. In the midst of all of this decision making, three people have died waiting on transplants.
Heart transplants aren't cheap because of all the aftercare. The surgery itself isn't much more than open heart surgery...it usually takes less time than an open heart surgery believe it or not. But the follow up medications are very expensive. I am assuming that is the main reason why Arizona chose to not finance transplants. But I feel for those waiting on the list. When you have been told that your only chance to live is to have a transplant, then have some government official tell you that you aren't one of the "chosen ones" who will be "allowed" to have a transplant, what hope do you have?
I'll be interested in seeing if any of this was part of today's shooting of an Arizona Congresswoman today. The comments of the law enforcement officers were pretty accurate...we have got to get away from the rheortic of hatred and return to the caring of each other. This shooting may have absolutely nothing to do with transplants, but the return of caring of each other does. No matter what your political affiliation, no matter how you feel about government health care, if that was your family member who needed a transplant and was told they couldn't have it....you would have strong feelings too.
Once again, I thank God for the support of family and friends, a great school system and insurance, and a family who followed the wishes of a 20 year old young woman who wanted to help her fellow man (or woman in my case). Let's start looking out for each other and stop running everyone down.
Arizona caught my attention this week. The state has decided to not finance (via Medicaid) transplant operations of any kind. Currently, there are over 600 people who are waiting on some type of organ transplant. In the midst of all of this decision making, three people have died waiting on transplants.
Heart transplants aren't cheap because of all the aftercare. The surgery itself isn't much more than open heart surgery...it usually takes less time than an open heart surgery believe it or not. But the follow up medications are very expensive. I am assuming that is the main reason why Arizona chose to not finance transplants. But I feel for those waiting on the list. When you have been told that your only chance to live is to have a transplant, then have some government official tell you that you aren't one of the "chosen ones" who will be "allowed" to have a transplant, what hope do you have?
I'll be interested in seeing if any of this was part of today's shooting of an Arizona Congresswoman today. The comments of the law enforcement officers were pretty accurate...we have got to get away from the rheortic of hatred and return to the caring of each other. This shooting may have absolutely nothing to do with transplants, but the return of caring of each other does. No matter what your political affiliation, no matter how you feel about government health care, if that was your family member who needed a transplant and was told they couldn't have it....you would have strong feelings too.
Once again, I thank God for the support of family and friends, a great school system and insurance, and a family who followed the wishes of a 20 year old young woman who wanted to help her fellow man (or woman in my case). Let's start looking out for each other and stop running everyone down.
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