What a Shame
I was reading an article the other day and copied the following:
"A survey regarding extremity amputations and mental health issues:
The Amputee's View conducted by Ron VanDerNoord, MD of the Frazier Rehab Center
in cooperation with the Amputee Coalition of America provides the following
insight to amputee rehabilitation.
"75% of amputees said they needed more education than they were
given from their medical professionals."
"57% of amputees said they
received NO educational materials."
Of the 43% who did receive materials, only 15-20% of the available materials
were considered helpful." "
What a shame and disgrace. The
medical profession has seen fit to keep amputees in the dark. This is something
I have been fighting for years. Just plain ignorance that is all it is. The
medical profession does not want the peers of the amputee to tell them the
facts, facts that will make their life more productive and satisfying. Why?
Because, most of the medical profession can not admit that they do not know it
all. Many of this profession are not willing to give up control; the control
over the amputee is of paramount importance to the doctors. And why? There are
men and women out there who are able and willing to give of them, and by the
way, at no cost to the medical profession, freely to help another amputee. Why
can't we? What is wrong with an amputee talking to an amputee? Nothing,
absolutely nothing! So, what is the big deal? It seems that the
"professionals" would be glad to have the help. NOT SO!
They hold on to the old idea they
have the answers. They are by far better trained and educated in the art of
removing body parts, however, have no clue to the ramifications of such a
procedure. It is true the doctors and other medical professionals have been
through much more training and have a lot more education than the average
amputee? Does that alone make them qualified to counsel an amputee? I submit it
does not. In fact, they usually do not have a clue in the complete process of
amputation. They know how to cut and some one else does physical therapy, then
off to the prosthetics. Get a leg or arm, or other body parts, and get on with
life. Wow, no clue at all, what a bummer for the poor amputee.
What is the answer? INFORMATION! Plain and simple information that the amputee
can understand and a helping hand from some one who has already walked a mile
or two in their shoes. There are no magic bullets to perform miracles on those
who do not want help, but there are many that want a real life after amputation
and do not have the tools. I guess that is what the peer counselor offers,
tools, to make life better. I was lucky, I found my tools.
So
I went out and hunted up other amputees that gave me what I needed. No doctors gave
them, most do not know how. But, the guy with the wooden leg, who was working a
40-hour week and making good money, showed me how. He told me," if I can
do it so can you". The answer is in education, not the formal school house
kind, but the kind from the school of hard knocks. If there were a degree form
that school, I think I would have a Ph.D. Amputees need to educate the medical
profession on the ways that the amputee can benefit form the use of peer
counselors. Only then, will the medical
profession be able to treat the whole amputee. Not just his amputation, but his
self worth and self-esteem. So, what do you think? Let me know if you have a
story about an amputation, please send it. I want to compile more evidence to
back my claim and present it to the medical profession. Maybe then we can help
every amputee receive the information needed to adjust to normal life.
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