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| Vol. 18 No. 1 |
October
2006
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www.spinalcord.ar.gov |
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In
Memory of a Leader Former
ASCC Commission Chair, Harold O. Thomas of West Memphis died on August
11, 2006, at age 72. Harold was a 30-year-old father of two when he dove
into a lake on July 4, 1964. He lived the next 42 years with C5
quadriplegia.
By chance, Harold worked for the St. Francis County Levee District, whose chairman was Maurice Smith. Mr. Smith and his wife, Jane, assisted Harold in getting to NYU Rehabilitation Center, as there was no acute rehab program in Arkansas. As the story has it, Mrs. Smith got then-Governor Faubus to send Harold in a state National Guard plane to New York. Harold went on serve as the “silent partner” in the establishment of the Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission (ASCC). He testified in front of the Joint Budget Committee about the need for the Commission in 1974. When the Arkansas Spinal Cord Disability Registry was established in 1977, he was one of the first people listed. Harold served on the Commission from 1975 to 1988, serving as Chair for most of those years. His quiet demeanor and friendly smile won over many legislators. Harold was the leader in an effort by the Commission to establish the Arkansas Spinal Cord Injury System and an SCI Rehabilitation Center. “If Jane Smith was the godmother, Harold Thomas was the ‘godfather’ of our Commission,” said ASCC Executive Director Cheryl Vines. “He served our Commission in so many ways over the years, we may not have existed, except for Harold’s cool head and business acumen.” West Memphis Case Manager Sharon McCoy relates her first day on the job at ASCC, “I was at the office on my first day and I got a call, ‘Sharon, I know you are busy on your first day, but could you come over to the Levee District office–RIGHT NOW?’ I was scared to death! It was only a few miles away and I raced over, only to be met by a very distinguished gentleman who just wanted to meet me and to let me know he was there to help.” Over the years he proved to be a great help. Harold served many other Arkansas institutions, as Chairman of the Boards of Directors of Crittenden Memorial Hospital, Arkansas State University and on the Board of East Arkansas Enterprises. After his injury, Harold returned to his job at the St. Francis Levee District and worked until his retirement last year. Harold is survived by his wife, DeFaye, his son, Harold, Jr., daughter, Cary, and his grandchildren, who were the lights of his life. The members and staff of the Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission honor Harold and extend our sincere sympathy to his family. New
Spina Bifida Research Has A recently
published article based on Arkansas mothers, their families and their
child with spina bifida provides new insights into the nature of spina
bifida. The article titled, A Reproductive History of Mothers with
Spina Bifida Offspring—A New Look at Old Issues, appears
in the journal, Cerebrospinal Fluid Research, and was written by
ASCC Research and Statistics Manager Tom Farley. |
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We
are in an exciting time with several |
In a critique of this study, Dr. Steven C. Kirshblum applauded the researchers for their groundbreaking work, but also pointed out some problems:
It’s that time again. Be sure to protect yourself with a flu shot!
Volunteers Needed for Stranded Wheelchair Drivers
Do you
use a wheelchair or other mobility device? Have you been in a situation
where your vehicle broke down while traveling and you were left stranded
on the roadside because you were unable to get into another vehicle? Did
your vehicle have to be towed and you were not allowed to go with it?
(Most service trucks will not allow a person to stay in the vehicle while
it is towed).
If any of the above has happened to you or you have thought about what
you would do in this type of situation, you may be interested in the following.
Several people who have wheelchair-equipped vehicles have already agreed
to participate in an effort to help wheelchair drivers if their vehicle
breaks down. Volunteers need to have a van with a lift or some other vehicle
that can carry a motorized wheelchair and be willing to help. This is
strictly on a volunteer basis.
Your name and contact information will be forwarded to the Arkansas Criminal
Information Center. A list of volunteers will be compiled and made available
to all 911 and law enforcement agencies.
If a wheelchair driver’s vehicle breaks down while traveling within
the state, they can simply call 911 and advise them of their situation.
The operator will access the list of participants and contact a volunteer
in their area. The volunteer will come to their location with a wheelchair
accessible vehicle and transport the driver where they can obtain further
assistance.
If you would like to volunteer to provide this service, contact
Doug Knight, 871 N. Slemmons, Monticello, AR 71657, e-mail doug_knight@sbcglobal.net
or call 1-870-367-2000.
Editor’s Note: The stranded wheelchair drivers service is not
an ASCC program.
Do-it-yourself
Floor Cleaning . . .
from a Wheelchair
By Don Bragdon of London, Arkansas
I’m
paralyzed with a T12 injury. I live alone in a 2,100
square foot house that has all vinyl floors except for a small, carpeted
area. I do most of the housework myself with the exception of tasks that
require reaching high places.
After years of cleaning the vinyl floors with Mop & Glow®,
a waxy buildup was getting to be a problem. The floors looked darker,
dirty and had no shine.
I decided that I was going to accept the challenge of cleaning the floors
myself. Now, as anyone in a wheelchair knows, this wasn’t going to
be easy.
I decided that I was going to accept the challenge of cleaning the floors
myself. Now, as anyone in a wheelchair knows, this wasn’t going to
be easy.
Photo
courtesy of http://www.hoovercompany.com
I
decided to purchase a Hoover® FloorMate™
SpinScrub™ after seeing a TV advertisement
for one. The ad showed how the unit would first vacuum the floor, scrub
it with a cleaning solution and then suck up the dirty solution. The unit
does this by using two containers. Water or dirt is vacuumed into the
lower unit while the upper unit applies cleanser, wax or just plain water.
The price was a little high (about $170) but there wasn’t another
comparable vacuum on the market at the time.
Once I had the FloorMate, I started out by purchasing a gallon of Johnson
Floor Stripper. I diluted the stripper per instructions with water and
applied it evenly to the floor with a sponge mop. I let it soak for five
to seven minutes and then used the FloorMate to suck up all the grime
into its lower container. I then sprayed clear water from the upper container
and the unit sucked up that water, leaving a very clean floor.
With the entire floor clean, I applied a mixture of Murphy®
Oil Soap and water. My routine was to scrub with soap and water while
pushing the unit forward and then to suck up the dirty wastewater on the
way back. When finished the floor dried to a nice shine.
I did adapt the FloorMate to make it easier for a person in a wheelchair
to use. The unit has a pedal on the base that has to be pushed by foot
to lower the handle. Of course, being in a chair, I had to bend way down
to release the pedal with my hand. So, I made a lever in my shop and installed
it on the side on the unit. Now all I do is push down on the lever to
lower the handle.
The floors now shine like new. When people come over to visit and ask
if I had a new floor installed, I just grin and say, “No, I cleaned
them myself!”
Up Close and Personal:
Leetha Wren
This is the twelfth in a series of articles profiling the ASCC Case Managers.
Leetha
Wren began her Case Management duties in the ASCC Batesville office
in November 2004. She currently provides services to individuals in
a ten county area in North Central Arkansas. “As I visit the individuals
in my area,” Leetha stated, “I am often reminded of what my
grandmother once told me.‘It is a privilege to be invited into
someone’s home and you should always honor that.’ Treating
individuals with respect goes a long way in establishing good working
relationships and we as Case Managers should always remember that.”
Leetha has been a dedicated state employee for almost 24 years. Previous
to her employment with ASCC, Leetha worked for Services for the Blind,
Children’s Medical Services and the Employment Security Division.
She holds a Masters degree in Social Work from UALR Graduate School
of Social Work.
After spending two years providing case management services to individuals
with spinal cord disabilities her advice to any new Case Manager is
that they should always remember, “You can never catch up, as there
is always something that needs to be done.” Client Services Administrator
Patti Rogers commented, “Leetha provides excellent support to the
persons on her caseload. She has a positive outlook and a great sense
of humor, which helps smooth the way in difficult times. We are very
fortunate to have found Leetha.”
|
PROFILE: I Absolutely Will Not Eat: Liver One
Thing People Would Find Surprising About Me Is:
I’m a big fan of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders, Inc.
— “the toughest sport on dirt”) |
Barry Vuletich, ICAN Program Director, tries his skills exercising to
the
Need
for Speed Underground
game on the GameCycle.
Want to change
your exercise routine from boring to fun? How about burn fat and build
muscle while playing video games? Sound too good to be true? It’s
possible with the GameCycle®, a new addition
to the Increasing Capabilities Access Network (ICAN) Clearinghouse of
Technology.
The GameCycle is a hand-cranked stationary cycle that powers a Nintendo®
GameCube. It was designed to help persons with paraplegia build their
upper-body strength, aerobic capacity and motor and cognitive skills.
Users crank and steer the GameCycle like a hand-cycle, and those motions
control Nintendo GameCube racing-style video games. The faster a user
cranks the GameCycle, the faster the car in the video game goes. Users
control the car’s turns, not with a joystick but by twisting and
tilting the GameCycle’s handgrips (which come in varying types
for different hand functions). The GameCycle’s resistance can be
adjusted to make it easier for beginners or harder for advanced users.
The GameCycle is compatible with a wide variety of racing-style Nintendo
games that can be purchased at any store that carries computer games.
Compatible games include Need for Speed Underground, Racing
Evolution, Monster 4X4 Masters of Metal, Mario Kart Double
Dash, Kirby’s Air Ride and Crash Nitro Cart.
The GameCycle
can also be hooked up to another unit so users can compete against their
nondisabled friends. For a demonstration of the GameCycle or to schedule
a “workout” call ICAN at 501-666-8868
or 1-800-828-2799. ICAN is a program
of Arkansas Rehabilitation Services located at 26 Corporate Hill, Little
Rock, AR 72205.
The Squeaky Wheel
The
squeaky wheel . . . gets the grease! This column is about grease—things
that make life for persons with spinal cord disability go smoother
and ease your way in the world. “Things” can be hints, equipment
adaptations, innovations, tricks-of-the trade, procedural shortcuts,
life experiences, or things you “should have done but didn’t.”
Skip Green of Fayetteville, AR tells us how he keeps his urinary tract
infections (UTI’s) under control.
I’ve had my fair share of UTI’s over the years—bad ones with the dreaded shakes and high fevers. I’m sure some of you can relate. Seventeen years ago an Urologist started me on an antibacterial drug named Methenam (Methenamine Mandalate). It’s taken with vitamin C and plenty of fluids to create acidity in the bladder that wards off bacteria leading to infections.
The Urologist told me that it was once a very popular drug for nursing home residents many years ago in combating UTI’s, but fell to the wayside mainly because the people taking it were not getting the proper amount of vitamin C and fluids.
He started me taking 3 Methenam tablets a day with vitamin C and fluids. Over the past 15 years I’ve weaned myself to taking 1 tablet with a 500 mg vitamin C tablet first thing in the morning, followed by a couple cups of coffee. Friends, I’ve had 3—count’em, three—UTI’s in the past 17 years. Knock on wood! If you’re plagued with UTI’s ask your urologist/physician about Methenam. It could work for you too! A special thanks to that Urologist.
Editor’s Note: I checked with Tom Kiser, M.D., ASCC Medical Director, who said, “Methenamine or Mandelamine is bactericidal and hydrolyzes to formaldehyde in the urine. It is active only in an acid environment so the combination with vitamin C makes it more effective. It is less effective against bacteria that are urea-splitting and that increase the pH (e.g., Proteus and some Psuedomanas species). Side effects can be nausea, gastric distress, rash and dysuria.
Use is contraindicated in dehydrated patients, and those with severe renal disease or hepatic insufficincy. Crystals can develop in the urine if urine output is decreased. Avoid use in gout because it can cause urate crystals to precipitate in the urine. Do not use with sulfa medications because the sulfonamides may form insoluble sediment in the bladder. If you are using Acetazolamide, the Methenamine is ineffective since it causes the urine to be alkaline.
This may be a good medication for someone with recurrent bladder infections, but you need to be aware of the above limitations.”
We invite you to send in your helpful hint—your bit of “grease.” Contact your ASCC Case Manager, write us at Spinal Courier, Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission, 1501 N. University, Suite 400, Little Rock, AR 72207 or e-mail us at courier@arspinalcord.org
SPINAL COURIER
Published
quarterly by Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission
Cheryl
L. Vines, Executive Director
Thomas
L. Farley and Dee Welsh, Coeditors
Commission
Members: Joe McNiel, Chair, Jimmy Ashley, James Miller, Sandra Turner
and John Wyrick
The Arkansas Spinal Cord Commission does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, religion, age or disability in employment or the provision of services.
Visit our website at: www.spinalcord.ar.gov or e-mail us at: courier@arspinalcord.org
