Sunny Roller, Ann Arbor, Michigan
Having just finished a strenuous two-day training program and carrying a heavy book bag, my crutch tip hit some water and I hit the ground, smashing the wall, clanking a wastebasket, knocking the wind out of me, fracturing my leg.
At the emergency room, I learned that my health care institution did not easily accommodate a person with a disability. The physicians on duty did not understand why I should be admitted as an in-patient for a broken leg. They wanted to send me home by myself to my wheelchair-inaccessible apartment. I felt I needed nursing care and rehabilitation. They suspected me as being homeless with nowhere to go, wanting to use the hospital like a hotel room. They felt my problem was a social one, not a medical one.
My experience as a person with a disability obtaining appropriate treatment was not a matter of common sense and need, but a matter of common practice and standard insurance reimbursement policy Fortunately, my physiatrist advocated for me.
From the first day in the hospital I set goals for my recovery. Through the ten days of rehabilitation and hospitalization, the three months at home in a wheelchair, and the five months of daily physical therapy, I applied what I have learned as an adult polio survivor – to make my own decisions about my care.
In my apartment a door had to be removed, cupboards had to be rearranged, and I learned how to take our city's accessible bus service (when they could fit me into their schedule).
I worked full time at home and the office. At the same time, I managed physical therapy to regain strength and walking ability, the paperwork for worker's compensation, and I purchased new shoes and a wheelchair seating system. One of the best decisions I made during that time was to swim twice a week after work. Swimming gave me stress release from an old fear of never being able to walk again.
During my recovery I received support from my physician who made house calls, friends, family, and neighbors, and I was able to attend a meeting in Germany.
Even with the finest of care, it took nine months for me to recover from the injury. It was a time to learn about the medical implications of what was happening to me, to relearn to be open to new ideas, and to take control of the situation.
I learned that polio survivors should have an injury control checklist with two categories: intervention and prevention.
Injury Control Check-List
INTERVENTION
___ Post-polio physician to contact for consultation:Name: _____________________________________________________________
Telephone: _________________________________________________________
___ Advocate who will meet me at the emergency room or treatment facility:
Name: ____________________________________________________________
Telephone: ________________________________________________________
___ Post-polio literature collected and collated for health professionals
___ Organizations to call for support and information:
Local post-polio support group: ________________________________________
Telephone: ________________________________________________________
Post-Polio Health International, 314-534-0475
Local center for independent living to contact for information about financial, medical
and other support services and products available:
Contact person: ____________________________________________________
Telephone: ________________________________________________________
___ Optimism and flexibility available on demand.
PREVENTION
___ Energy conservation and pacing a part of my routine.
___ Home safety inspection and upgrade completed.
___ Assistive devices checked and upgraded regularly.
___ Safety precautions considered before traveling outside the home.
___ Personal wellness / fitness needs considered and addressed.
___ Positively focused on living every day in strength, health and wellness, and
never really plan to use this list!