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Times-Advocate, 1981-08-06, Page 21Spinal cord injury changes Cathy's life Coping with a wheelchair A hotry Alderson Sunday afternoon in e,arly summer. Cool, clean water in the bottom of a gravel pit. Good friends, good times. A dive from the roof of the van into the water. Sunday. June 17, 1979. That's the day Cathy O'Neill's life changed. She spent the next six months ly- ing very still on a striker board at University Hospital. London. She is now in a wheelchair. Her foot slipped while div- ing off the van. She plunged straight into water only four feet deep at the edge of the pit. Her neck was broken — a spinal cord injury. Most of us would view that fateful day in Cathy'sllfe as tragic. pitiful. horrible. But talking to Cathy, you get the impression that she somehow feels better about herself sine the accident. Cathy. now 24. says that she has matured and changed, now that her life has chang- ed. "I like myself better - . - now." Cathy says simply. Sure. it was a horrible day. She had gravel imbedded in the top of her head. Although not alone. There were several other patients in hospital because of spinal cord injuries. During that summer there were 53 peo- ple in diving accidents in On- tario who are now confined to wheelchairs. Automobile and sport ac- cidents comprise the majori- ty of spinal cord injuries. Many of the accidents are alcohol related. Cathy was in hospital with four others who had spinal cord injuries. "We were so close. we were all about the same age," she says. Sometimes. they felt like room mates at summer camp. rather than patients in a hospital. she tries to ex- plain. Two of Cathy's fellow patients were there because of car accidents. Another was the result of a sports in- jury — he broke his neck playing hockey. Cathy's div- ing injury is also considered a sport's injury. The fifth patient. a young woman, was paralyzed after giving birth to a baby. The five of them all cameto hospital at the same time. and worked together IN HER CAR — Cathy O'Neill, confined to a wheelchair as the result of a spinal cord injury, sits in her own car, which she can operate with hand controls. Cathy enjoys the freedom which driving her own car brings. Staff photo there wasn't any pain at that moment. she suffered in the months to follow. "It was stupid." Cathy says. "I didn't know what I was doing on the top of the van anyway. I'm afraid of heights.'. Cathy tells other people to never. ever dive oft anything into anything. There are so many diving injuries, so many broken spinal cords. Many accidents take place right in back yard pools. In this. the Year of the Disabled. much more has to be learned about spinal cord injuries. Cathy has been for- tunate in being able to han- dle her life since her acci- dent. Others have not been able to tope with their situation as well, Cathy acknowledges. Just two years later, Cathy is willing to talk about her feelings. She has been told that it is medically im- possible for her to ever walk again. She has accepted that. and has learned how to use a wheelchair as best as passible. She has also taken it upon herself to learn all she can about the mysterious and delicate spinal cord. And yet. Cathy nurses the hops that some day there will be a miracle and she'll walk away from her wheelchair. She knows enough about her situation, to realize that the miracle won't come in the form of a wonder drug, or magic operation. She knows that the longer she stays In .her wheelchair, the more useless her legs become. Yet. since her accident, her religious beliefs have been strengthened. If there Is a miracle. it will be God's doings. she says. In the meantime, she does the best she can with her life, in a wheelchair. Although Cathy was will - Ing to talk about her acci- dent and tell what it's like to be in a wheelchair, she was, at first, reluctant to have her story printed in the newspaper. But when she realized that telling her story may prevent someone else's diving accident, or might clear up some mis- conceptions about those in wheelchairs, she was happy to talk. Cathy spent most of '79 in the hospital as the result of that June dive. But she was V at their recoveries. - Cathy spent two weeks flat on the striker board. She saw only the ceiling and the floor. Visitors at the hospital had to lay on the floor to talk to her, or stand uD over her bed. After that she was in a "halo" - a cage -like device which held her head perfectly still. Slowly she learned to ac- complish things, such as lighting her cigarette lighter. or fastening a safety pin. - Cathy is an "incomplete quad". That means she is not a total quadriplegic. A total quadriplegic has no use of any of the four limbs. Cathy has no use of her legs, but she does have partial use of her hands. A paraplegic has only the use of two limbs. usually the arms, while the legs are paralyzed. She explains that her neck was broken in the dive. Her spinal cord was damaged at the seventh vertabrae from the top of her neck. The amount and area of the paralysis depends on the location of the break. "The spinal cord is similar to a telephone communica- tion system, in that it transfers messages through hundred of wires," Cathy ex- plains. If the cord is cut at a certain point, then the messages can only be sent as far as the point of damage, and no farther. The nerves in the upper section of the spinal cord contain the messages to the upper part of the body. and the lower part of the spinal cord supplies the lower body, Cathy says. She feels very fortunate to have some use of her arms and hand. Every spinal cord injury is different. Cathy finds it easier to study up on,spinal cord in- jur.es more than other peo- plc• might. Before her acci- .tent she was a registered nursing assistant and work- ed for a London nursing agency. lived in London in her younger years, but seven years ago. her family moved to Crediton. She went to South Huron District High School in Exeter. After her accident, Cathy's family moved to Lucan. Their Crediton home was too difficult to adapt for someone in a wheelchair. They were able to find a one storey one at the south end of Lucan which was made accessible with a ramp to the front door. Cathy stresses that her family and friends have made her adjustments much easier. Her parents, Grant and Jean O'Neill have changed the home to suit Cathy. Her sisters, Mar Pertschy and Sandy, as well as brother Tim visited her frequently while she was -in hospital. When her sister Marg married Robert Pertschy In the fall of '79, Cathy was per- mitted to leave the hospital for the first time. She was thrilled to be able to attend her sister's wedding, and hust getting out of the ospital was a riFery emotional experience. There were so many thingsthat Cathy hadn't seen for so long — she enjoyed seeing such ordinary thipgs as cows in fields. And 'she cried after being given a warm welcome by the fami- ly dog. Recovery has been a long, difficult haul. Physio therapy and exercise are very important. Cathy spends about three hours a day exercising, and she goes back to University Hospital for therapy regularly. Because of the paralysis, muscles that aren't used, simply disappear. Cathy works to keep her usable muscles in shape. She also tries to stretch as much as possible. Unused muscles tend to shrink, she says. Because she has to lift herself in and out of her wheelchair.and in operating her chair, Cathy has developed new arm muscles. Soon after her return home. she went back to the nursing agency and took a desk job. But it was "too much. too soon," Cathy says. She found her neck aching after leaning over the desk all day. and she soon had to leave the job. She spent a longer time recuperating at home. This summer, she felt more able to handle work, and she has taken a position as a receptionist at Universi- ty Hospital. During her stay at home, she tried to do most of the housework. while the rest of her family worked. She washed dishes and dusted, and kept the house tidy. She found she could adapt to do most jobs. For example, a long han- dle on the duster allowed her to cover a greater territory from her wheelchair. There's an answer to most problems. if you just stop and think of alternatives, she says. Once your home Is adapted so that you can move around in a wheel chair, "it's not so bad," Cathy smiles. But there are problems — most people don't realize that the loss of mobility is not the only difficulty with spinal cord injuries. A spinal cord injury, changes and effects one's en- tire body. Cathy says. Along with the loss of in- dependence and mobility, there is the loss of bowel and bladder control. There is sometimes a loss of sexual function. Unexpected things occur — your appetite changes. and so does your physical appearance. Another change is the fact that your skin doesn't perspire on the parts of the body that are paralyzed. While some might think that not sweating is and advan- tage. it does, in fact, cause great discomfort. "I save money on deoderant," Cathy laughs. her sense on humour showing. e Not only does the victim of t a spinal cord injury go through severe psy- chological problems, but they also suffer personality changes. Some of these problems can be attributed to the many drugs they are given. Cathy says. Cathy explains that while she was in hospital, she was taking a frightening amount of medication. At one point she was swallowing 13 different pills. She was given sleeping pills, Valium, and assorted pain killers. She gradually weaned herself away from the drugs, and now takes no medication. Naturally, the psycological problems are tremendous. To suddenly become a paraplegic or quadriplegic is a shattering experience. Cathy says that in the hospital doctors are reluc- tant to tell you at first that you will never walk again. They told her that she had a 50 percent chance of walk- ing. Cathy is not bitter about not being told the truth — CONTRASTING COSTUMES — Josie Anderson ap eared as she feels that for many ileo- a dancing girl and Karen Henderson as a hobo in aturday's pie, being told they could not parade held at Fun Days in Granton. -A photo walk would make them give up all hope. Many of the spinal injury victims have been in a car accident and have other problems, such as plastic surgery, with which to contend. Cathy was later taught how to handle a wheelchair, and asked about her 50 per- cent chance of walking. She was advised to learn to deal with the chair. It was a dif- ficult time for her. The lessons were made easier by her doctor, who is himself confined to a wheelchair after having polio as a child. Nonetheless, suicide is a very real problem among those who have recently suf- fered a spinal cord injury. "About 30 percent of the deaths among people with spinal injuries are from some form of self destruc- tion." Cathy says: Until recent years, vic- tims of spinal cord injuries did not live long. After the second world war, when many veterans came home with spinal cord injuries, they were only expected to live three years. Fortunately medicine has improved, although spinal cord injury victims are still very prone to infections and disease. Infections occur because the person can't feel them. These can result from decubitis ulcers, or bed sores. from sitting in one place. Frost bite or .gangerine are very real dangers to those who can't feel them. A simple thing like the common cold can kill, because the spinal cord in- jury victim can't cough up sputum. Colds can become pneumonia easily, Cathy ex- plains. While personal hygiene is so important to a spinal cord injury victim, it is that much more difficult. But Cathy's father rebuilt their bathroom so that she can manoeuver her wheelchair in it. and get herself into the bath tub. The bath tub is equipped with a special chair. and ashower head on a hose. so that Cathy can shower. Such equipment and home alternations are expensive, and while Cathy gets a dis- abled pension. there is little other . financial help. The wheelchair itself is very ex- pensive. and all the extras cost more. The chair is equipped with special grey tires that don't leave black marks on the floor. These tires have to be imported from Belgium, and add to the high costs. Cathy has a special cushion made of air pockets, which prevents sores from sitting so long in one posi- tion. The cushion itself costs $300. and the cover for it is $23. Cathy studied the cover closely. them made herself a similar one in order to save money. Cathy also has a device called a wheelchair narrower. It draws in the wheels. so that the chair can travel through narrow doorways. The narrower cost an additional $75. Cathy's chair in the bath tub for taking showers cost $149.50 Cathy complains that these devices are not only expensive. you wait a long time to receive them after you order. Cathy suspects that because the manufac- turers have their buyers trapped. they can charge any price and take as long as they want to deliver such items. Another expense was hav- ing her car adapted with hand controls. But it was well worth the price, Cathy believes. To her, being able to drive a car represents ven more independence han for most people. .The hand control is easy to use. You pull for gas, and push for the brake. Cathy is able to get to work, and also take herself to her therapy appointments. Cathy hoists herself into the passenger seat of the car. and then props up the seat behind her with a special block her father and brother made. Then she collapses her wheelchair and pulls it into the back seat. After that she pulls the passenger door shut and slides across to the driver's side. She finds herself driving to London whenever she wants to go shopping. The newer malls are better equipped for handicapped people. She has tried shopping in Exeter, •but found that most of the businesses had steps, narrow doorways, narrow aisles. or no washroom facilities. Even some of the new buildings. although supposed to be wheelchair accessible. are not. Cathy once pointed out to a mall manager how the washrooms could be better arranged for someone in a wheelchair. Wheelchair accessibility is not justa problem for doorways and washrooms. Some buildings have ramps instead o stairways. but they are so steep that most people i chairs do not have the GETTING A HELPING HAND — Dorothy Cunningham and Smith, Michael Urbshott, Regena Kress and Sarah Reed at Vacation Bible School. Helga Kress ore assisting lorry a recent session of the inion T -A photo Lucan firemen respond strength in their arms to t push themselves up the hill. When Cathy's father built the ramp at the front door of their home, he made it in two short sections with a landing in the middle and a 90 degree turn. Cathy says that it is' great because it gives a person a rest in the middle. Cathy also found some problems with wheeling dower sidewalks. At the University of Western On- tario. she found that many of the sidewalks were sloped on an angle. She learned later that they were constructed that way so that rain would • flow off them. and snow could be easily plowed in the winter. But for someone in a wheelchair, the slanted sidewalks put an extra burden on one arm. Cathy says that many peo- ple do not know what to do when they come across a person in Mt—wheel chair. Often they ask stupid and thoughtless questions. For example, she was riding in an elevator on her way to a therapy session at the hospital. when fellow passenger asked, "What did you do? Break your leg?" Cathy replied, "No, my neck." The man was speechless. Often. people will send their children over to ask her about her accident. Another problem Cathy has encountered is people treating her as if she is fee- ble minded. just because she is in a wheelchair. When she goes shopping with her sisters. clerks will not speak to her directly, but turn to her sister and ask, "What does she want?", pointing to Cathy. Cathy wishes that people would sit down when they talk to her. if it's at all possi- ble. so that their faces are on the same level. She un- derstands why some people avoid her. but she wishes they wouldn't. She also suggests that people could Help those in wheelchairs by holding doors open. Trying to open heavy doors, and wheel through at the same time is sometimes quite difficult. While there is plenty to be learned about spinal cord in- juries. there is more to be learned about the disabled themselves. Cathy points 0 ut. A of wo area farm calls The Lucan Volunteer ductea the morning service. Firemen answered a call Vern and Donna Robertson early Monday evening, July and Mae West were welcom- 27, to the farm of Jack ed as new members into the Harrigan, RR 3, Lucan to church fellowship. Accom- quell a field straw fire. panied by Lorraine Ar - While it was pretty well un- mitage on the piano Ken der control when they arriv- Allan sang "The Haven of ed, it could have been a Rest." repeat of the recent Knip Rev. Brewster ministered fire north of Clandeboye. from Psalm 125 concerning On Saturday they trusting God, saying they answered an "assist" call who trust God, who live from the Granton Fire Dept. righteously shall not be mov- to the farm of James ed, as God protects us with McCarthey where it is His protection. God knows believed a spark from an our hurts, our problems, our elevator started a fire in a fears, our actions, and takes bale of straw. The barn was care of 113. destroyed, but Robby Norton SundayeveningLaurie Shaw 16 and Jim Kelly 15, who played her guitar as she sang were working in the barn at "Abba Father", and "I Wish the time, escaped unharm- You Jesus". Rev. Brewster ed. spoke on prayer. In coming to worship and Lutan United Church giving thanks to God for His Rev."Kelth'Brown, back eternal love, the con - from vacation,commenced a gregations of St. James', series of sermon on the Clandeboye and Holy Trinity nature and constitution of joined together in a celebra- the Kingdom of God, in his tion of the Eucharist at Holy message on Sunday, August Trinity Anglican church, 2. It was in the form of an in- Lucan, Sunday morning. troductlon so we may see these truths as -they apply to our daily lives. Betty Hall and daughter Debbie welcomed members to the service. The monthly "minute talk for Missions" was given by Iva M. Hodgins telling brief- ly of some of the world development and relief pro- jects. Following the service the monthly outreach coffee hour was enjoyed on the church lawn by many of those attending the service. Upcoming This morning Thursday, at 9:45, the prayer and share fellowship will continue studying one of the Psalms. This afternoon, from 1:30 - 4 p.m. and this evening at 7:30 members are invited to help in bringing "order out of chaos" in the Christian Education wing, which has been redecorated. As "many hands make light work" do try to come out for a few hours in the afternoon or evening and lend a hand. Nope to members of the Sunshine and Busy Buddies groups Don't forget to turn your tickets in for the Fair quilt draw before 6 p.m. Sunday, August 16. Your craft ar- ticles, preserves. vegetables, plants, etc., are to be brought to the booth on Friday. August 14 between 2 and 4, or phone 227-4714 on Thursday, the 13th. for a "pick-up". Tweedsmuir History curators A Tweedsmuir History Workshop for all London area curators will be held at the Strathroy Middlesex Museum, 84 Oxford Street, Strathroy. on Tuesday, August 11, commencing at 10:30 a.m. Bring a box lunch, beverage will be supplied. Lucan revival centre Rev. Rav Brewster con- AILSA CRAIG REPAIR Farm & Industrial Equipment Repair Welding hydraulic hose general farm supply Ph 293-3502 or come in to see us at 109 Main St. AILSA CRAIG It being the 7th Sunday in Trinity, the collect reminded us that spiritual growth is an ongoing affair. There is no moment when we have "arrived" and have no more Soccer teams post victories Lucan's minor soccer squads had another suc- cessful week, losing in only two tilts. The atom Cougars tied Exeter in a 1-1 contest with Paul Monger scoring for the Irish. The pee wees trounced Exeter by an 8-3 verdict. Mike Pratt popped four goals and Mike Arts had a pair. Erin McComb and Les Arts added singles. The bantams had an easy time as they rolled over Ilderton 10-0. Jerry Emery had five goals and singles were booted by Al Craig, Dean Mills, Darren Mills, Mike Vanderheuval and Dan Reymer. The atom girls shut out Byron Bobcats by a 2-0 count as Lisa Deboer scored twice and the senior girls edged Stratford 2-1 on goals by Tracy DeBoer and Gisele Williams. The losses came as the mosquito gals lost 4-0 to Byron and the pee wee boys all-stars were clipped 4-0 by South -East London. .ununnllllllll,llllnlrnnnunnnnnn ADAMS Heating & Cooling • Heating Systems of All Types INSTA11ED MODERNIZED and MAINTAINED • General Sheet Metal Work • Air Conditioning • Humidifiers • Ventilation 235-2187 133 Huron St . East, Exeter ;minium' llllllll dill lnnl mill milli journeying to ao. rnere is no day when "daily bread" ends. God services what He produces! The Old Testament lesson and Gospel were read by Rev. Pocock, and the New Testament lesson by Loretta Dickson.' In his talk with the children, Rev. Pocock com- pared going on a long trip as being like our journey through life as a Christian. We enjoy going on a long trip but we always enjoy coming home to familiar surroun- dings and loved ones. So, with the Christian- we make our journey in this earthly life. in the light of God's love and have His promise of coming home to Him at the end. During the administration of Communion, Loretta Dickson sang "How Great Thou Art" accompanied by Beaulah Hardy on the organ. Services for August will be held at Holy Trinity, Lucan at 9 a.m. We welcome back our rector and his family August 6, 1981 Page 21 Damages are high The Lucan OPP in- vestigated five accidents this week in which damage amounted to over $16,000 and one person sustained major injuries. Most seriously injured was Vincent Korb, 114 McMaster Drive, London, whose vehi- cle left Cameron sideroad south of County Road 16 and rolled over. The driver was ejected and suffered major injuries. Damage was listed at 11,- 500 by Constable Chapman in the Thursday night crash. There were two collisions on Friday, the first oc- curring on County Road 20 south of concession 8 in Lon- don Township. Drivers in- volved were Tony Vanderyt, RR 1 Denfield, and David Rylett, St. Thomas. They weregoingin opposite direc- tions on the county road and met in a near head-on crash. Damage was set at $3500 by Constable Chapman. The other collision was on Highway 4 south of County Road 16 in London Township and drivers involved were Carol Baker, RR 3 Ilderton, and Paul Murphy, Goderich. They were involved in a - rear -end crash and damage was estimated at $2,100 by Constable Marshall. The final two collisions were on Saturday, the first on concession 3 of West Nissouri when a vehicle driven by Kevin Smith, RR 3 Thorndale, left the roadway and struck a bridge guard- rail. Damage was set at $2,- 500 by Constable Chapman. Theotherwas on County Road 20 at concession 7 of London Township and drivers involved were Grant Lee, RR 1 Exeter, and Cornelia VanGeleuken, RR 3 Ilderton. They collided at the intersection and damage was set at $7,000 i E.J. STEELE DENTURE ;4HERAPY STRATHROY 62 FRONT ST. WEST N7G 1X7 TEL -(519)245-4211 OR CALL COLLECT (519)542-8044 from their vacation. ****************** 1( 4( y( T 4( 4( V.H. Battram & Sons, Ltd. 294-6893 294-6303 CRANE SERVICE PARKHILL AND DISTRICT 25 Ton Mobile Grove 92 Foot Boom — 24 Foot Jib 1****************** LUCAN and have an ICE CREAM CONE 16 Flavours to choose from Here's Your Chance to WIN a set of His & Hers • 3 Speed Bicycles 1