Push Girls

I had a chance to check out this show, and perhaps it's just my perspective, but it doesn't seem to be out of the ordinary.  If anything, I think it's necessary to get people to think. We have to start somewhere, but does reality TV have to be the catalyst? It's official, I'm an old fart!
'Push Girls' Shows the Normal Lives of Women in Wheelchairs - The Atlantic

Louie Zamperini and Laura Hillenbrand Symbolize Mutual Admiration

This past Sunday, a segment on CBS Sunday Morning, warmed my heart. In honor of the Memorial Holiday, CBS profiled a WWII veteran named Louie Zamperini.  He is in his 90s, but lives with the zeal of anyone half his age.  Louie is someone I would be happy to know, and live by his example.  Check out the link and see for yourself:

<http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=7409886n&tag=showDoorFlexGridRight;flexGridModule>

After viewing the video, I was moved to see that Louie, and Laura Hillenbrand forged a bond.  This bond was not through common experiences, but through the mutual understanding and respect for each other as human beings.  It was refreshing to see Louie and Hillenbrand lift one another up without bringing someone else down in the process, a quality visibly absent these days.

Unbroken, Hillenbrand's novel, is on my summer reading list.  The summer I have time to read it, might be years away.  I will work it in.  The important thing to remember about this work is that even though Hillenbrand did not experience Zamperini's pain, she respected him enough to want to learn about it.  She took it a step further, and wrote about it.  The power of the pen has given Hillenbrand a means to support herself and manage her own pain.  Hillenbrand, as many others with chronic fatigue syndrome, suffer in isolation because everyday activities, we take for granted, are very painful.  Getting out of bed is tough enough.  Some question the validity of chronic fatigue syndrome.  Until, you have the misfortune to experience it.

Hillenbrand has found a way to work with her pain and live her life, not unlike her friend, Louie.  Neither of them focuses on the differences of the other.  Instead, they concentrate on living life to the best of their ability, and live on their own terms.  Whether it's carrying an Olympic torch or writing a bestseller, never underestimate the abilities of any person.  We all have a purpose, and a place.  Do not let anyone tell you otherwise.  Zamperini and Hillenbrand are a shining example of what mutual respect can do for the human spirit. 

On that note, I want to pay my respects to my grandfather, Wilbert Wiese.  He served in Europe during World War II.  He never did speak of his time on the battlefield, but he was the strongest man I knew.  What I admired most about him was his strength in hardship.  Yes, he could be tough at times.  However, I recognize the lessons he was trying to teach me, and I am grateful for my time with him. 

1915-2004

                                                                  

Fun in the Sun

I made a conscious decision to talk about something fun, since our weather is decent today.  (I won't blather on about misery or monkeys-I pinky swear) I believe, our temperatures are supposed to get to the lower 70’s.  To celebrate this occasion, I've been scouring the Internet hoping to find a 90% off coupon for all of us to use at Twin Cities ice cream specialty shops such as, Pump house Creamery at 4754 Chicago Ave, in Minneapolis, or Izzy's at 2034 Marshall Avenue, in St. Paul, to name a couple of them.  Sorry, no such luck in the coupon department.  However, I can give you one justification.  The weather is going to be lousy the next few days, so, enjoy today. 

Ice cream has several health benefits.  Yes, I said health benefits.  According to Mobile Life Today, ice cream is rich in calcium, which is great, for those concerned about bone density. (http://mobilelifetoday.com/03/21/health-benefits-of-ice-cream/).  Ten percent of your daily value of protein and calcium is in 1/2 cup serving of ice cream.  If you can squeak by, with your half cup, kudos to you, but you might be stretching the truth a little.  That is okay.  It all comes back to another M-word, moderation.  In an effort to keep it fun, we'll save that for another day.  If you decide to indulge, it will be our secret.  I pinky swear.

Pain is growth…

I realized I have been experiencing cognitive dissonance. What is cognitive dissonance, you ask? This term describes internal conflict as we encounter a point of view different from our own, and we question our own beliefs. For example, you have wanted a silver Mercedes, since you were old enough to drive. You work hard, and you say, "I deserve this."

Your cell phone rings. Your best friend has cancer, and she gets laid off in 30 days. You place her needs ahead of your own, and you take care of her. The car holds no value. You make that decision to put your emotional conflict in balance. Perhaps, you decide to buy that car. Life is short, and you had better enjoy it.  I'm not going to waste your time, and say that either choice is wrong because that choice is up to you.  Don't put yourself in limbo to satisfy someone else’s beliefs.  Everyone has a purpose. Each of us must determine  what that is.

I may have caused some cognitive dissonance among readers.  I want to make it clear that my stance on stem cell research is not evidence of dissatisfaction in my own life, or in the lives of my friends with disabilities.  I am very happy with my life, and I am proud to identify as a disabled person.  I am glad to know people, with disabilities.

The true nature of my support to GUSU is yet to be determined, but I'll just keep plugging away, until my role presents itself. I still stand by my initial reaction to the Symanski story. Everyone deserves more choice in his or her medical treatment.  I’m not going anywhere, until that happens.

  Peace

I'm still torn…

The following paragraph was a blog post for my class a couple of months ago.I still feel as strongly about this issue, now, as I did when I wrote it.  However,  in hindsight, I realize the importance of putting some emotional distance  between when I read this article, and when I wrote about it.  Now, I feel compelled to write as a means to process it, somehow. Honestly, I still struggle with this, and I probably always will. I don't agree with how this happened, but at the same time, I would not want someone else dictating my quality of life.


I'm still shaking as I read this article on AOL this morning. All I know is that action must be taken NOW in the treatment of spinal cord injuries, so that at the very least, some other choices exist. The lobbyist leeches and the pharmaceutical companies better get it together… Soon!


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/15/paralyzed-artist-christin_n_1279573.html?ref=email_share

Two Years and Many Days Later…

Hey everybody,

I know it's been a while, and I've never posted a blog before today.  I finally decided to just jump in and do it.  Otherwise, conditions would never be right for me to do this.  So for right or wrong, here we go!

I've been taking a class this semester, which deals primarily with social media, and the positive impact it can have on people.  Our class been divided into groups, and each group is designated a cause to follow, and nurture toward resolution, using social media.  Our group is attempting to lobby for restorative research for people with spinal cord injuries.  Our group leader, Matthew, has a son, Gabriel, who suffered a spinal cord injury, while in Costa Rica in 2008.

Since that time, Matthew's family has worked tirelessly to restore Gabriel's health with intense physical therapy each day.  While there have been some improvements for Gabriel, his true motivation is to be ready for stem cell therapy, when it becomes available, here in the States.  However, the progress towards spinal cord injury research is very slow, in the US.

In hopes of speeding up the process, Matthew has started an organization called GUSU, which is an acronym for Get Up Stand Up to raise awareness for stem cell research, and its potential healing applications for those with spinal cord injuries.  I've had the chance to meet researchers working on this at the University of Minnesota.

I've had the chance to witness the latest science, in its infancy, with a boundless potential to heal those who need it.  Before I go on, I want to note to readers, the research being done is utilizing living skin cells, which we all possess.  I know there are those who feel strongly about the use of embryonic stem cells, and I want to be sensitive to that.  It is not my goal to alienate any of you, but rather to show you the good, science can do.  After all, we survived learning the earth was round, right?  Time to move on to something new…More importantly, anyone who has a life-threatening illness or disease, has more choices in their medical care.  


In any case, please check out some links here and see what GUSU is up  to: http://www.facebook.com/#!/gusu4cure and http://roadreck.blogspot.com please check out the latest video on the road wreck site.  The music is awesome and you get to see Gabe and his loved ones in action.  Have a great day and you will hear from me again… Soon!