This rehabilitation nursing journal article School-Age Children’s Responses to Parents with Disabilities was written and completed just one week prior to the assault of traumatic brain injury. It was not published until 2 years later after having a colleague co-author and help submit the manuscript for publishing. Read the rest of this entry »
Category Archives: Education
When your doctor won’t listen
O. M. Lanstrum, Physician, Helena, Montana. (1911) (Photo credit: Butte-Silver Bow Public Library)
Many patients go to the doctor with complaints only to feel they have never been heard. You know when there is something wrong. You know all the struggles in your life. You are your best advocate, unless you are fortunate to have someone help you out. The question is what do you do “When your doctor won’t listen?” Read the rest of this entry »
To my last patient…and the last of my patience! Part 4 of 4
This is the final pages of my letter to my last patient part 4 of 4. This letter in its entirety has clearly identified numerous safety issues without our healthcare system and specifically rehabilitation for neurology and traumatic brain injury patients. Safety is ultimately the concern for all patients and staff. Do healthcare professional overlook obvious symptoms because it is just a “job”? Are patients truly safe?
Neither myself or immediate family ever sought legal action against this facility. I was trying to get well and had no energy to do anything else. In retrospect, if we only knew the long-term consequences and had the proper legal advice with authorities looking out for the innocent the outcome would have been totally different. Maybe, it’s what nurses are expected to put up with and the facility is always right.
Read the rest of this entry »
General and simple tips for handling and taking medications Part 4 of 4
It is your life and medications can help you with specific problems, but you need to be cautious and know what is working for you and what is not. It is up to you to report exactly how you are feeling.
Keep a medication journal, especially when Read the rest of this entry »
Who Are We
On June 30, 2012 we are asking all those to sign-up to register as a picnic day to bring Awareness of Brain Injury to family and friends. There is an estimated 1 billions people in the world with brain injuries of varying degrees, neurological disorders and brain dysfunction and yet education and understanding is lacking. This is considered the first global picnic.
Click on the link below for the details. Don’t miss out on this opportunity.
To my last patient…and the last of my patience! Part 3 of 4
To my last patient part 3 of 4 poses a number of problems that cause further psychological harm to inpatient on this rehabilitation unit. The fear they demonstrated throughout this lengthy stay was insurmountable. It’s sad that these patients were more concerned about my well-being following the assault they witnessed than staff themselves. Safety is always a priority. How safe can anyone feel while being hospitalized? Read the rest of this entry »
General and simple tips for handling and taking medications Part 3 of 4
Physician appointments, Emergency Room Visits, and Hospitalizations–Take all your medications, vitamins, herbs, natural remedies, and anything over the counter. 
Take a list of your medications as well. Sometimes there are mistakes with medications and this help alleviate those errors. Read the rest of this entry »
General and simple tips for handling and taking medications Part 2 of 4
Allergies-Make a list of all your allergies. The list of allergies should include both medication allergies and food allergies. DO NOT take any medications you are allergic to. Usually the most serious allergic reaction occurs when you take the medication for the second time. This can be life threatening. Read the rest of this entry »
To my last patient…and the last of my patience! Part 1 of 4
This letter was written in 1993, a little over a year after my injury. This letter details not only what was happening to me shortly after brain injury, but what was happening inside the healthcare system. The information is accurate and correct as supported by documentation. It has been retyped, but no other revisions exist. Read the rest of this entry »
Healthcare professionals with a traumatic brain injury. Who should know better? Part 3 of 3
Awareness of Brain Injury Daily. I’m applauded with the behaviors and treatment toward my nurse friend when she needed educated healthcare professionals to help her. Instead it was quite the opposite. They simply did not understand traumatic brain injury and they believed she was manipulating her symptoms so she could work the hours of her choice. If they only knew how she was suffering and what she needed to do to show up to work. These healthcare professionals were totally in disbelief of her symptoms and never understood anything following her injury. They began questioning her behaviors and other issues following this mild traumatic brain injury. She wasn’t even told or diagnosed with a mild traumatic brain injury until about a year following injury. Read the rest of this entry »
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