2011 October — Invisible Disabilities Association

IDA Helps Disney Make a Change for People with Environmental Illness

October 27, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

In 2011, IDA Founder and President, Wayne Connell and his wife, Sherri needed to travel to California for medical reasons, so they decided to stop in Disneyland first. Due to her illness, disability and chemical sensitivities, Wayne needed to consult with Disney representatives to see if the visit would even be possible.

One of the concerns Wayne addressed was the automated air fresheners in the bathrooms. Wayne provided information from IDA’s Cleaner Indoor Air Campaign regarding the prevalence of chemical sensitivities, asthma and allergies and how the sprayers can pose a blockade of accessibility to the restrooms.

The outcome was not what Wayne expected. Not only did Disney agree to make a special accommodation for Sherri, but they changed an entire policy in order to remove a barrier for thousands of others who would like to enjoy the parks.

Read Full Story

About

The Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA) encourages, educates and connects people and organizations touched by illness, pain and disability around the globe. Formerly known as The Invisible Disabilities Advocate, IDA was founded in 1997 and incorporated in 2004 as a 501(c)(3) non-profit. IDA reaches out through our websites, projects, articles, pamphlets, booklet, social network, resources, videos, radio interviews, seminars, events and more! Get the word out! Share a link to our articles and pages with Google Plus, Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and through Email by clicking on the Share link. Leave a comment!

Filed Under: IDA in the News, Invisible Disabilities Assoc. Awareness Tagged With: accessibility, advocate, air fresheners, awareness, chemical fragrances, disability, Disney Parks, environmental illness, food allergies, helpful tips, illness, injury, invisible disabilities, multiple chemical sensitivities, spreading the word

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Invisible No More: Laurie Cohen

October 24, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Through the project, Invisible No More! the Invisible Disabilities Association is bringing awareness, compassion and belief to millions living with debilitating conditions, shining a light on the “invisible” and making these valuable, incredible people Invisible No More!

This video features the story of Laurie Cohen, who lives with neuropathy in her pelvis, as a result of a car accident. Because Laurie is unable to sit and must stand or lie down, she calls this her “Sitting Disability.” Laurie is a volunteer DJ at her local college, KSCU Santa Clara 103.3, where she recorded a Public Service Announcement about IDA in order to create more awareness about invisible disabilities. Visit her Facebook Page.

Learn More About Invisible No More TV	Go to Invisible No More TV Channel
Join Invisible No More TV on Facebook	Submit Your Invisible No More Story
Order Invisible No More T-Shirts and More	Order Invisible No More Wristbands

About

Filed Under: Invisible No More, Personal Stories Tagged With: awareness, disability, injury, invisible disabilities, neuropathy, pain, personal story, sitting disability

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Falling Off The Mountain

October 24, 2011 by Angela Pierce 4 Comments

February 13, 1985 was a day that changed my life forever. I was a freshman attending Ft Lewis College in Durango, Colorado. On that day, I spent the day rock climbing with 2 friends, a sport I had taken up 9 months prior. Later in the afternoon, I had reached the summit; it was an exhilarating moment, as looked out across the valley. I felt at peace and was thankful for the experience I had. I was now ready to come down.

I leaned back as I began to repel down. As I looked over my shoulder to get my bearings, I heard a loud click and a swooshing sound, and I knew I was in a free fall. Suddenly I saw the sky, trees, ground, and the mountain racing past me at what seemed like 100 miles an hour. Seconds later, I hit the ground feet first and heard a loud crunch. I blacked out for a second and saw my body twisted like a Raggedy Ann doll turned in all the wrong places. The pain was excruciating. I had just survived a 125-foot free fall.

During the course of the next 26 years, I went through 40+ surgeries and have too many scars to count, many of which are emotional. I have many physical and emotional complications as a result of my accident, including hepatitis, kidney failure, severe pain continuously, battle PTSD, and other challenges. I take multiple prescription medications on a daily basis. My life is a challenge beyond description.

The irony is that if you met me today, you would not have a clue that anything was wrong with me. I did not lose any limbs and am not in a wheel chair. I look like every other average size female you see every day. The truth is that I’m permanently disabled, even though I don’t look like it. The fact that my disability is invisible only adds to the challenge. However, I’m not alone, not even close. Everyday we all pass by people who look, sound, and smell “normal.” They’re far from it, because they’ve “fallen off their own mountains” and are living with one or more invisible disabilities.

Believe it or not, there is a silver lining in my cloud. I have learned many valuable lessons as a result of my accident and the challenges I face every day. As I continue to write about the specifics of what I’ve learned, I believe that I can help others to learn how to live with their invisible disabilities.

About Angela Pierce

In 1985, Angela Pierce survived a 125-foot free fall while mountain climbing, breaking her bones in 168 places. Her story of survival is a miracle. The lessons she has learned over the last 27 years are an incredible inspiration to others who must climb their own mountains every day. Visit her website, Falling Off the Mountain.

Filed Under: Living with Invisible Disabilities, Personal Journey Tagged With: angela pierce, disability, injury, invisible disabilities, kidney, pain, personal story, ptsd, surgery

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The Rolling Stone

October 23, 2011 by Kris Harty Leave a Comment

“Maybe I’m an exception to the ‘rolling stone gathers no moss’ adage.”

I’m feeling pretty darn moss-covered myself some days, especially when work and life seem to be rolling downhill. It’s overwhelming at times. It happens far more often than I’d like. Needless to say, I’m a mite suspicious of the proverb about a rolling stone gathering no moss.

Prove it.

The faster the downward tumble speeds up at a breakaway pace, the more moss - the more yuck, the more issues – I seem to accumulate. I can’t shake it. Its fuzziness is annoying. Get this stuff off me!

Perhaps that wasn’t the original intent of the phrase. Still, I beg to differ with it – as sometimes seems to be my nature.

Do you ever feel that way, about the rolling downhill part? That life is rolling along at its own merry clip, and all you can do is attempt to merely match the same pace, while all the while gunk is building up on you, instead of falling away, off to the side, where it belongs?

I’ve felt that way in the past as a patient, I sometimes feel that way as a professional, and I certainly feel that way in my personal life.

My neighbor Jeanette and I meandered onto the topic of overwhelmingness this weekend. She’s the busy mom of two young boys whom she home-schools and the mom of one husband – who, of course, she doesn’t.

Although we live lives that are more dissimilar than similar, we both feel it. The ‘it’ being the weight of all we carry, all we’re responsible for, all that the world throws at us. It’s never-ending and no matter how much we do, more keeps getting added to the list.

In the midst of our commiseration, Jeanette stopped me when she offered a game-changer, a brain-changer. She said, “We can’t stop from rolling downhill. We can only learn to roll downhill better.”

Ooooh.

Huh.

She’s right. We can’t stop more and more stuff – activities, obligations, requirements, messes, muck and miscellaneous – from entering our lives. But we can determine that we’ll handle them all better. We’ll learn to juggle. Not by juggling nine pointy knives at one time, but by juggling two or three soft foam-like balls.

No rush to learn or perfect the craft. We’ve been dealing with green muck attaching itself to us all our lives. It’ll take a little while to intentionally step back, take a breath, and figure out how to deal with the muck that needs to be dealt with, and how to apply muck-repellant for that which doesn’t.

Identifying the muck and green moss that we don’t need to put up with in our lives is half the battle. Once we learn to identify it and handily repel it so it doesn’t stick to us, our downhill roll will be much less encumbered. Less overwhelming. Much more freeing.

We might even be able to relax and enjoy the ride – sans our green mossy selves.

About Kris Harty

The Short Chick with the Walking Stick is Kris Harty, Stickability Specialist. Kris’ expertise as an entrepreneur and a lifelong patient helps entrepreneurs and those in healthcare – on the giving and receiving ends – to persevere and Stick To It-No Matter What! Kris speaks, writes, facilitates and regularly contributes to online medical journals, in addition to recently publishing her first book A Shot in the Arm and a Strong Spirit: How Health Care Givers Help Patients Persevere. She can be reached through her company's Web site, www.ShortChick.com or call 1.877.711.KRIS or through any of the links directly below.

Filed Under: Finding Humor, Living with Invisible Disabilities, Personal Journey

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Living with Unlimited Purpose

October 17, 2011 by admin 2 Comments

Author, Tai of Allsup.

Luis Carlos Montalván is a former captain in the U.S. Army. During his 17 years of military service, Montalván earned the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. He lives with post traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and a traumatic brain injury (TBI).

I recently met him at a banquet held by the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA), which recognizes organizations and individuals who are raising awareness and advocating for compassion, greater understanding and civic involvement for and by people with disabilities.

October is Disability Awareness month, and it’s a fitting time for the annual IDA Honors Banquet in Lone Tree, Colo., which Allsup sponsors. This organization’s activities are important to Allsup because so many people who qualify for Social Security disability benefits have invisible disabilities. This was my third year attending, and again I came away inspired by the honorees and guests.

Capt. Montalván shared his story of the “war after the war,” dealing with the often debilitating conditions of his invisible disabilities. Like a true warrior, he was determined to overcome his personal battles.

With the help of his “best friend”— a golden retriever service dog named Tuesday—Montalván found hope and healing, and now advocates for his fellow veterans and the disability community.

During the same event, the first thing I noticed about Margaret Ferrante, MD, was her beaming smile and effervescence. I never would have guessed that she lives each day with multiple chronic illnesses and injuries, including TBI, resulting from an automobile crash.

She was honored with the IDA Perseverance Award for using her experiences as both patient and physician to encourage others. Her enthusiasm for living a purposeful life and for encouraging others was summed up when she shared one of her favorite bible verses, Romans 8:28,“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”

Disability Awareness Month is a good time to remember and remind others that disabilities never, ever limit people’s purpose.

Read more personal stories from those with a variety of disabilities in Allsup’s online real stories section.

ABOUT ALLSUP

Allsup is a nationwide provider of Social Security disability, Medicare and Medicare Secondary Payer compliance services for individuals, employers and insurance carriers. Founded in 1984, Allsup employs nearly 800 professionals who deliver specialized services supporting people with disabilities and seniors so they may lead lives that are as financially secure and as healthy as possible. The company is based in Belleville, Ill., near St. Louis.

For more information and a FREE consultation visit Allsup.com.

ARTICLE RESOURCE

Allsup, Inc. All Things Disability – Allsup’s Blog. Living With Unlimited Purpose. Author, Tai of Allsup. October 14, 2011.

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About

Filed Under: IDA Awards Others, IDA Events, Invisible Disabilities Assoc. Awareness Tagged With: Allsup Inc, awareness, blogs, disability, events, IDA, IDA award recipient, illness, injury, inspiration, invisible disabilities, luis carlos montalvan, pain, personal story, spreading the word

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IDA Launches Invisible No More TV

October 15, 2011 by admin 1 Comment

Envision a World Where People Living with Illness, Pain and Disability Will Be INVISIBLE NO MORE!

Invisible No More TV is a project launched by the Invisible Disabilities Association to bring awareness to people living with invisible disabilities, education to friends and family and support to those living with debilitating conditions. INM TV shares real-life stories to not only shine a light on their challenges, but also their incredible perseverance, courage and determination.

Learn More About Invisible No More TV / Go to Invisible No More TV Channel / Order Invisible No More T-Shirts and More / Submit Your Invisible No More Story

About

Filed Under: IDA Events, IDA in the News, Invisible Disabilities Assoc. Awareness Tagged With: awareness, campaign, caregiver, disability, event, illness, injury, inspiration, invisible disabilities, Invisible No More!, news, non-profit, pain, personal story, spreading the word, support, video

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Invisible No More: Tell Your Story

October 15, 2011 by admin 3 Comments

This campaign was launched by the Invisible Disabilities Association to bring awareness to the challenges of living with invisible disabilities, education to friends and family and support to those living with debilitating conditions.

Go on a journey with these incredible warriors and let their invisible challenges and battles, as well as determination, strength and true grit become Invisible No More!

Learn More About Invisible No More TV	Go to Invisible No More TV Channel
Join Invisible No More TV on Facebook	Submit Your Invisible No More Story
Order Invisible No More T-Shirts and More	Order Invisible No More Wristbands

About

Filed Under: Becoming Visible, Invisible No More, Personal Stories Tagged With: awareness, campaign, disability, event, illness, injury, inspiration, invisible disabilities, Invisible No More!, non-profit, outreach, pain, personal story, project, support, video

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Invisible No More: Margaret Ferrante, MD

October 15, 2011 by admin Leave a Comment

Through the Invisible No More! Campaign, the Invisible Disabilities Association is bringing awareness, compassion and belief to millions living with debilitating conditions, shining a light on the “invisible” and making these valuable, incredible people Invisible No More!

This video features the story of Margaret Ferrante, MD, a woman who lives with injuries from a car accident and Dysautonomia. Dr. Margaret is the author of the book, No More Tears: A Physician Turned Patient Inspires Recovery. You can find Dr. Margaret on her YouTube Channel, DysautonomiaMD and on her website, DysautonomiaMD.

Learn More About Invisible No More TV	Go to Invisible No More TV Channel
Join Invisible No More TV on Facebook	Submit Your Invisible No More Story
Order Invisible No More T-Shirts and More	Order Invisible No More Wristbands

About

Filed Under: Becoming Visible, Invisible No More, Personal Stories Tagged With: advocate, awareness, campaign, disability, doctors and nurses, Dysautonomia, illness, injury, inspiration, invisible disabilities, Invisible No More!, personal story, project, support, video

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Invisible No More: Pete Monfre

October 15, 2011 by admin 3 Comments

This video features the story of Pete Monfre, a man who lives with Crohn’s Disease. Pete is the Interim Executive Director/President of ENZoology. Enzoology Education’s mission is to inspire elementary and middle school students to seek careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.

Learn More About Invisible No More TV	Go to Invisible No More TV Channel
Join Invisible No More TV on Facebook	Submit Your Invisible No More Story
Order Invisible No More T-Shirts and More	Order Invisible No More Wristbands

About

Filed Under: Becoming Visible, Invisible No More, Personal Stories Tagged With: awareness, campaign, crohn's disease, disability, illness, injury, inspiration, invisible disabilities, Invisible No More!, pain, personal story, project, support, video

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Caregiver Symposium on November 12th with IDA President as Keynote Speaker

October 14, 2011 by admin 1 Comment

Stockton, California November 12, 2011. Purchase Your Tickets Now!

“The Invisible Magic of Caregiving” is the Theme of Healings in Motion’s 4th Annual Caregiver Symposium, Benefiting All Those Caring for Others in the Central Valley.

The Caregiver Symposium will feature over Exhibitors, Workshops, Demonstrations, A Men’s Roundtable Discussion, Magician, Heather Rogers, Carol Guest, “Mrs. Utah of America 2011″, A Special Presentation on Diabetes and Keynote Speaker, Wayne Connell, Founder of Invisible Disabilities Association. There will be many other workshop facilitators throughout the day.

Press Release: Stockton, CA (PRWEB) October 12, 2011

As part of National Caregiver Appreciation Month, Healings in Motion presents the 4th Annual Caregiver Symposium on Saturday, November 12, 2011 in Stockton, CA at the Central United Methodist Church, 3700 Pacific Avenue, Stockton, CA 95204, across the street from the University of the Pacific. November 12, 2011 is proclaimed “Caregiver Appreciation Day in San Joaquin County“. This event is a special day for Caregivers to rejuvenate, recharge and serve as a retreat. Caregiving is often a thankless and challenging role. The Symposium salutes Caregivers with a spectacular and memorable event.

The keynote speaker, Wayne Connell, is founder and president of the Invisible Disabilities Association (IDA). IDA was established in 1997 to educate friends and family about his wife’s debilitating illness. Soon afterwards, says Connell, “people around the globe began sending emails sharing how IDA had changed their relationships with their loved ones”. Wayne’s passion is helping people living with illness, pain and disability. Wayne utilizes his extensive background in management, media and technology to propel IDA into a worldwide outreach for millions living with invisible disabilities. His personal experience includes that of a professional, multitasking husband caregiver. Wayne and his wife, Sherri, co-authored “But You LOOK Good” to share how to encourage and understand people living with illness and pain. Some invisible disabilities include Diabetes, Stroke, Back Injury, Brain Injury, Chronic Illness, Chronic Pain, Heart Condition, Muscular Disorders, Neurological Disorders, Seizure Disorders, Spinal Disorders, Bone Disorders, Chronic Injuries, Organ Transplant, Oxygen Impairment, Difficult Pregnancy, Prosthetic, Surgery and many others.

Connell said, “I started IDA in 1997 to educate friends and family about my wife’s debilitating illness. Soon afterwards, people around the globe began sending emails sharing how IDA had changed their relationships with their loved ones.”

Healings in Motion provides educational programs focused on brain health. Magic has been added as a special element to this year’s Symposium. Magic tricks often work by covert misdirection, drawing the spectator’s attention away from the secret “method” that makes a trick work. Neuroscientists have studied brain images revealing that magic is grounded in sensory reality. “Our desire is to shift the focus off the stress of Caregiving and focus on the true magic of it, says Mary Nicholson, founder of Healings in Motion. Heather Rogers is a Magician, Comedian and a multi-skilled entertainer. She brings more than just a magic show to stimulate Caregivers. She entertains with ‘walk around magic’, mind reading, impersonations, card manipulations, contact juggling, escape artistry, and more. Heather’s magic is highly interactive with hilarious bits of audience participation that is always tasteful, with an elegant touch of mystery. Heather understands the challenges of Caregiving and her smooth presentation is designed to make this event memorable, fun and enjoyable.

Alternative health classes on Essential Oils, Therapies including Hyperbaric Oxygen, Music, Family Counseling and more. Get a message, mingle with other Caregivers; relax and discover new resources.

Continuing Education Units provided. The cost to attend this event is $25.00, which includes lunch. For advanced ticket information go to http://theinvisiblemagicofcaregiving.eventbrite.com. This event is supported by Stockton, CA’s Mayor’s Taskforce on Person’s with Disabilities.

About Healings in Motion, Inc.
Healings in Motion facilitates monthly educational programs to prevent strokes and to support recovery from stroke, Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and Neurological Impairments.

RESOURCES:

Press Release. Healings in Motion. Caregiver Symposium. PRWeb October 14, 2011.

About

Filed Under: IDA Events, Invisible Disabilities Assoc. Awareness Tagged With: advocate, awareness, caregiver, conference, disability, doctors and nurses, event, helpful tips, illness, injury, invisible disabilities, loved ones, speaker, spreading the word, support, Wayne Connell

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Allsup Applauds the Work of the Invisible Disabilities Association

October 11, 2011 by admin 3 Comments

Luis Carlos Montalván is a 17-year veteran and former U.S. Army captain who earned the Combat Action Badge, two Bronze Stars and the Purple Heart. His tours in Iraq also left him with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI). Luis shared his story of the “war after the war” at the Invisible Disabilities Association’s (IDA) annual awards banquet, held October 2, 2011, in Lone Tree, Colo.

Allsup was a sponsor of the event, which is held each October during Disability Awareness Month. The awards banquet honored individuals and organizations making positive contributions to understanding and treating invisible disabilities.

Millions of Americans have unseen but debilitating chronic physical and mental conditions. These include TBI, PTSD, affective disorders, diabetes, cancer, lupus, Crohn’s disease and fibromyalgia. In addition to enduring life-altering symptoms, many people with invisible disabilities must deal with critical judgments, lack of understanding and discrimination.

Evidence of this was alarmingly clear at the hotel where the banquet was held, when an employee initially refused to allow Montalván’s service dog, a golden retriever named Tuesday, onto the premises. Among other things, Tuesday helps Montalván with balance issues caused by TBI, helps ease anxiety from PTSD and reminds him to take medicine.

“I wasn’t angry, I was indignant,” said Montalván. “There is a difference.” Montalván said he was reacting to something unjust and offensive, and took the opportunity, as he has done so many times before, to educate others about the requirements of the American with Disabilities Act (ADA). [See editor's note below]

The ADA gives civil rights protections to individuals with disabilities and requires equal access to employment, transportation, public accommodations, public services and telecommunications. The ADA calls for state and local governments, businesses and nonprofit organizations that serve the public, to allow service animals to accompany people with disabilities in all areas of the facility where the public is normally allowed to go.

“I’m an advocate, not an activist,” Montalván said. In addition to a letter of apology, Montalván asked that the entire [hotel chain] train their employees on the requirements of the ADA. After getting a crash course on the ADA, hotel staff welcomed Tuesday and the other service dogs in attendance.

That spirit of advocacy and perseverance was demonstrated throughout the evening as individuals and businesses were honored for breakthrough research, volunteerism, corporate responsibility and innovation in meeting the needs and raising awareness of those with invisible disabilities.

“We cannot always judge whether a person is disabled or not by how they look to us,” said IDA founder and president Wayne Connell. “Someone can have a physically limiting illness or injury, even though it is not obvious to the onlooker. Their limitations may be disabling, but because their symptoms can seem unapparent to most, we call them invisible disabilities.”

Connell said IDA offers individuals support, understanding and the comfort of knowing they are not alone. Like Capt. Montalván, IDA educates and raises awareness of the realities of invisible disabilities to shatter myths and increase understanding.

“Believing a loved one when they say they are sick or in pain is the most important thing we can do,” said Connell. “Just because we can’t see from the outside what they are battling on the inside doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. Belief, validation and support can give a friend or family member the strength they need to continue the fight.”

To download a poster in observance of National Disability Awareness month, click here.

ABOUT IDA

The Invisible Disabilities Association is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Parker, Colo., which encourages, educates and connects people and organizations touched by illness, pain and injury around the globe through its website, online social network, literature, projects and seminars. For more information, visit www.invisibledisabilities.org.

ABOUT ALLSUP

For more information and to receive a FREE consultation visit Allsup.com.

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The Marriott Hotel was notified of the arrival of Service Dogs prior to the event and other service dogs were checked in without question. The Marriott Hotel issued a verbal apology immediately and a formal letter was sent to Captain Montalván. The Invisible Disabilities Association also had the opportunity to give a presentation to hotel management and staff, providing education regarding Service Dog and other accessibility laws and other accommodations].

RESOURCE

Allsup, Inc. Allsup Place. Allsup Applauds Work of Invisible Disability Association. October 2011.

RELATED ARTICLES ON IDA

Allsup Applauds the Work of the Invisible Disabilities Association

Common Mistakes When Social Security is Denied

Living with Unlimited Purpose

November Shines the Spotlight on Family Caregivers

Pain and Social Security Disability Benefits

Six Advantages of Representation for SSDI

Social Security Disability Denial Rates

Spotlight Shines on Invisible Disabilities Champions

Tips on Social Security Eligibility

About

Filed Under: IDA in the News, Invisible Disabilities Assoc. Awareness Tagged With: accessibility, advocate, awards, awareness, banquet, disability, event, fundraiser, illness, injury, inspiration, invisible disabilities, luis carlos montalvan, press release, service dog, social security

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The Non-Compliant Patient

October 4, 2011 by Kris Harty Leave a Comment

“You’re such a non-compliant patient.”

Words I heard again at yet another medical appointment. I really should be fired sometimes.

The words were said with affection, from a nurse who has become a friend.

Nonetheless, though, she’s right. I am non-compliant. I comply when it suits me, and so often it doesn’t.

I recently saw my neurosurgeon for an annual re-check of a surgery he performed eight years ago. The symptoms that originally brought me to their office were similar to symptoms I once again found myself experiencing.

Numbness and weakness in my right hand were becoming all too constant.

Back then, the numbness was caused by a bone spur stealthily growing into my spinal cord. So the nasty little bugger was cut away and the numbness largely disappeared. Until this year.

I weighed my options: do I bring this symptom to my medical team’s attention and potentially deal with another surgery? I’m really not in the mood for an operation at this time. My calendar is full of plans; surgery is not one of them.

Or do I act the responsible patient and mention this numbness, knowing I might not like the answer I hear?

It seems to be a no-brainer, but it’s not so clear cut when your brain is the one involved.

After some deliberation with myself, the ‘responsible patient’ won the battle.

I hesitantly brought up my symptoms to one of my favorite doc / nurse teams.

We did an in-office exam, we did EMG / NCS testing, we did a follow up appointment.

My nerves were shot, but not from physical causes.

My nurse, Vicki, made the appointments as quickly as she could. And because of her seniority, connections and reputation, when she made requests, things got done. I was humbled and grateful.

Finally, at the followup, my neurosurgeron shared the great news. My nerves were fine!

The likely culprit is four decades of arthritis, causing musculoskeletal issues. Whew! Is that all? I can live with that, especially since my recently increased chiropractor appointments seemed to be lessening the symptoms.

I understand that hand surgery would probably make life easier, as my neurosurgeon suggested. But these old gnarled hands get me through normal daily activities just fine, thank you very much. If and when they no longer do, I’ll consider surgery.

At present, I have no desire to add to my eight-count and growing collection of surgeries. Some operations are non-negotiable: for example, spinal cord bone spurs and orthopedic surgeries needed for walking. Ones that are designed merely to make life easier? Pfft, they’ll have to take a number and wait.

Vicki asked if I planned to contact either of the referrals given to me. No, I’ve got my own calendar to get back to right now.

“You are so non-compliant, Kris. But it’s good. You know how all this works, and you think for yourself.”

Maybe so, maybe to my own detriment sometimes. But hey, as long as there’s options to weigh, I will.

####

Reprinted with kindly permission from the Journal of Nursing Jocularity.

About Kris Harty

Filed Under: Living with Invisible Disabilities, Personal Journey Tagged With: author, caregiver, disability, doctors and nurses, illness, injury, invisible disabilities, medical appointments, personal story, speaker

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IDA Helps Disney Make a Change for People with Environmental Illness

About

Invisible No More: Laurie Cohen

About

Falling Off The Mountain

About Angela Pierce

The Rolling Stone

About Kris Harty

Living with Unlimited Purpose

About

IDA Launches Invisible No More TV

About

Invisible No More: Tell Your Story

About

Invisible No More: Margaret Ferrante, MD

About

Invisible No More: Pete Monfre

About

Caregiver Symposium on November 12th with IDA President as Keynote Speaker

About

The Non-Compliant Patient

About Kris Harty

Invisible No More TV

Blog Table of Contents

NEW – IDA 3-LED KEYCHAIN FLASHLIGHT

Invisible No More! IDA Wristband

IDA Awareness

Just Because It’s Invisible