What's on your mind? - Letter to the Editor

Accent on Living, Winter, 2000

HOW CAN WE CARRY TWO SCOOTERS?

Both of us use crutches and electric scooters. Our problem is finding some way to transport both scooters and not be strained physically in loading and unloading them. We now have a Chrysler minivan with an arm lift, but it is too physically demanding and it takes both of us to manage the task. We are considering a Dodge Dakota pickup with a lift gate. Has anyone had any experience with a similar situation?

Paul and Darlene Hahlen

Via email

TOO FAR?

Joni Eareckson Tada goes too far herself in condemning the Gleitsman Foundation's Activist Award to Jack Kevorkian (F'00, pg. 64). Is Jack a psycho case? Well, of course he is. But, if he had not directed attention to the death with dignity movement, people would still be suffering the pains of hell that God allows. Is it socially acceptable to advocate suicide as preferable to life lived in a wheelchair? You're damn right it is, and it's none of our business. People who are physically disabled who choose suicide have been counseled, consoled, psychoanalyzed and prayed for.

Steven Romano

Via e-mail

THANKS FOR FAITH ARTICLES

Thanks for your faith-based articles like "Test of Faith" and "Faith Tested" (S'00, pg. 42 and 57). I look forward to reading more articles like this. They help us all.

B.F. Cardamone

Via e-mail

CHURCH IS NOT A BUILDING

I pity Tom Rasasch (F'00, pg. 19) who finds fault with your magazine for having so many God-centered articles. Tom states, "If God wanted crips in church, he would have made accessible churches from the get-go."

Support from fellow believers keeps us "crips" from despair and the many other troubles of this world. My church building is accessible but even if it weren't, the true church -- its members would still be by my side to edify me by reminding me of God's love. They would support me and help me any way they could.

Lelah Urban

New York

EDITOR'S NOTE: We promised to keep Accent an open forum.

KEVORKIAN A HERO?

I think Jack Kevorkian is a hero. He is a hero because he helped people escape unbearable suffering. The people who he helped to die asked him for his help. They wanted to escape constant pain or the complete loss of functioning.

I don't think anyone advocates death as a solution to disability. But some people with disabilities or terminal illnesses face nothing but constant pain and suffering. Depression is not always a disease. Sometime it is a reasonable reaction to a person's circumstances. Why shouldn't those who find themselves in an intolerable situation be able to ask a physician or help in dying?

Philip Parker

Washington

WORKING FROM HOME

I saw Joanie's note about her difficulties finding at-home employment (F'00, p. 12). "May I work from home?" should never be the first question asked during an interview, but there are tactful, positive ways to approach this issue and create viable options for yourself and your boss. I work part-time from home for a Washington, D.C. area government contractor, and I also write, edit and proofread for various clients. (The "work from home" ads that you see at bus and Metro stops, in newspapers and elsewhere are not to be trusted).

Buying a computer and setting up a work area is only the first step. The next step is knowing what skills to offer and to be willing to learn as much as possible to remain marketable. People who work from home have to network like crazy -- whether it's with former coworkers, the local Chamber of Commerce, through volunteering, professional groups, and so on. Professional-group listservs are a great way of networking long distance. Some well-known internet job sites also have areas for independent contractors and freelancers.

Carrie Smoot

Virginia

MEDS FOR SPASMS

My first suggestion would be to get range of motion to stretch the spastic muscles. Barring that, there are many antispastic medications available: Zanoflex; Liorisol (a.k.a. baclofen); Dantrium; Valium; Ativan and Morphine. Both Morphine and Liorisol can be used with an internal pump. A shunt is placed just inside the dura so only small amounts are necessary. There is no antidote to Liorisol, so an inadvertent programming can be quite debilitating. These two drugs, along with Valium and Ativan, are central nervous system (CNS) depressants and can cause confusion, forgetfulness, addiction, etc.

Zanoflex was originally designed for people with MS, but it works with many conditions. It is also a CNS depressant, but works on the autonomic nervous system. Dantrium works directly on the muscle system by passing the CNS entirely, though it does have an effect on the autonomic nervous system. The most serious side effect, aside from an allergy, is severe hypotension. This can be addressed with caffeine, Wygrain (caffeine and ergotomene), and/or ProAmatine.

If you spasm as a result of a catheter, have you tried an anticolinergic: Ditropan, Levsin or Levsinex SL? As always, consult a urologist familiar with neurogenic bladders.

Catherine Perel

Kansas

"HITS" CALM HIS SPASMS

It seems that after trying all oral medications, the best spasm controller is marijuana. I know it's controversial and illegal, but it has controlled mine nicely for years. Even when the spasms become quite violent, having a few hits' calms me down in about 5-10 minutes. When you've experienced the excruciating discomfort that they bring, spasm control is welcome in any form. It would be prudent to allow marijuana for spasms.