June Rehab F.A.C.T.S. Presentation

I will be making this presentation which I’ve named “Rehab F.A.C.T.S. These are immutable truths I learned during my brain tumor rehab. Actually, they’re pretty common sense ideas on remain positive and tenacious during rehab after some stupid brain tumor or stroke totally messes with your heretofore wonderful life. I give this presentation because I sense that everybody knows that they need to do their rehab, but few actually stick with it. So my presentation is more about developing a positive attitude, self-discipline and trying to make rehab a bit of a game with, shock, maybe even a dash of sardonic humor.

John

 PS -  This is open to all brain tumor/stroke/trauma victims, caregivers, friends and family.

PPS - They usually serve nice snacks, too.

ABTA Brain Tumor Webinars on Demand

The American Brain Tumor Association (i.e. “ABTA”) calls them “Anytime Learning” and you can find this nifty* webinar series posted on the ABTA website: http://www.abta.org/understanding-brain-tumors/anytime-learning/ 

My only complaint about this is the name - "Anytime Learning." Somehow the name seems to imply that these as common-found-around-the-house webinars. 

They aren't. 

For example, can’t sleep because your steroids are kicking in at 3:00 am? Cruise over to Anytime Learning and watch a really good webinar entitled “"The Role of Rehabilitation in the Recovery of Brain Tumor Patients.”

Worried about that series of radiation treatments you have coming up?  Watch their webinar entitled “What Patients Need to Know About Radiation and Nuclear Medicine.”

Other webinars include:

• "How Neuropathologists Generate Rapid Diagnosis During Surgery"
• "Endocrine Issues Facing the Pediatric Brain Tumor Patient"
• "Neuro-Cognitive Issues Related to Children's Brain Tumors"
• and my favorite, "Understanding Non-Malignant Brain Tumors"

I’m giving the ABTA an “A” for getting these presentations online (and a “D-“ for the name).

*Spiffy? Informative? Helpful? Somehow saying that they're "educational" reminds me of an eighth grade science class and makes me want to run from my room screaming.


Image credit: <a href='http://www.123rf.com/photo_10967570_tutorial-4000-5-jpg.html'>intriga / 123RF Stock Photo</a>

Was your hospital room user friendly?

If you’re like me, you’ve spent way too much time in hospitals. As a result, I think that many of us have gripes or, said differently, suggestions for ways to improve the hospital experience.

Well, Michel Graves is a guy who did more than gripe – he has started to design hospital rooms that are more patient-friendly

And when he designs, people listen.   

Why? According to a CNN article, “Graves is one of the most revered living architects and has won numerous prizes in his field. Critics have hailed him as one of the original American voices in architecture as he has designed hundreds of buildings for corporations, governments, foundations and universities such as the Team Disney building in Burbank, California. He has been praised for making buildings functional as well as aesthetically pleasing.”  He also is the driving force behind many of the product designs for Target stores.

He has been paralyzed from the waist down since 2003 and, upon entering a rehab facility supposedly designed for patients like him, was aggravated with the design and layout of his room and facilities. In a wheelchair, he soon found out that his toothbrush, his toothpaste and the handle for the hot water were out of reach.

In the article, he was quoted as saying “"When I went through some of the struggles that were caused by my room, I lost the self-empowerment that I was supposedly gaining during the day in rehabilitation," said Graves.  "I was no longer self-reliant, but dependent. This makes you feel terrible as a patient... as a paraplegic. You're feeling at the will of others."”

I’ve felt that same feeling. If you’ve been in rehab, I’ll be you’ve felt it, too.

Here’s a link to the CNN article http://www.cnn.com/2011/12/15/health/graves-hospital-design/index.html