Category: Disability-related

My “Virtual Star Trek Movie Marathon Fundraiser” Didn’t Work

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August 30, 2020

1:30 pm

3 Comments on My “Virtual Star Trek Movie Marathon Fundraiser” Didn’t Work

2020, Disability-related, Funding, Technology for Me

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I still think it was a good idea. I need to learn how to speak my needs more clearly and openly, I’m not afraid to share others’ needs. This is just a downside to my being “a hardheaded woman from a long line of hardheaded women.” It is also a downside from my tendency to “John Wayne” my way through illness.

(I’m sure you know what I mean: he has been shot and is traveling across the desert with no water. Someone offers him a drink of water from their canteen and to bandage the gunshot wound. He says, “It’s just a flesh-wound. I’m fine.”)

Anyhow, Saturday I was sick enough to admit that I was sick. I stayed in bed and did NOT drink Romulan ale.

In spite of that, I couldn’t focus well enough to enjoy the movie. To top it off, only two people were able to participate. (That’s on me. I obviously did planned and advertise well.)

Onward and upward. I learned from this.

A recipe: Romulan Ale

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August 23, 2020

4:31 am

3 Comments on A recipe: Romulan Ale

2020, Funding, Technology for Me

We can’t have a party without something fun to drink. How about ROMULAN ALE? Not only does it match my uniform, it is forbidden in 15 planetary systems.

Here is the link to the non-alcoholic version.
Virgin Romulan Ale

Here is the one that sounded like fun to me:
Romulan Ale Cocktail

INGREDIENTS
1 ounce vodka
1 1/2 ounces blue curaçao
1/2 ounce simple syrup
3/4 ounce fresh lemon juice
1 egg white
tonic water
4 drops orange blossom water

INSTRUCTIONS
1. Fill a pint glass with ice.
2. In a cocktail shaker, combine vodka, blue curaçao, simple syrup, lemon juice, and egg white. Shake vigorously for 10-15 seconds to emulsify.
3. Pour into glass and top off with tonic.
4. Add 4 drops of orange blossom water and enjoy!

 

Next Week, at about This Time, My Fundraiser Should Be Finishing

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August 22, 2020

8:20 pm

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2020, Health, Technology for Me

There are so many folks who need additional help with funding medical needs! I found a group who helps with that. Take a look at HELP HOPE LIVE.

They are helping me get that bed funded, and there is a lot of creativity behind this. We are doing a Star Trek Movie Marathon watch party on Facebook. We are each getting a copy of my favorite trilogy of the classic movies, watching them in comfort of our own home, and discussing it online.

A link to the Star Trek marathon fundraiser https://helphopelive.org/campaign/17488/
Come to my Star Trek themed fundraiser.

Recovering from My Computer Crash

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August 28, 2019

4:31 pm

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Books, Losses, Technology for Me

Well! That was fun (NOT)!

Man screaming screaming at broken laptop
Photo Credit: “day 115 – 22.12.2008 – live dammit live” by ardenswayoflife on VisualHunt / CC BY-SA

You know the little plugy-iny-thingy place that connects the power plug to the laptop? It wouldn’t actually connect and the battery was lasting like… 45ish minutes. I pulled every trick I could think of. I asked all my nearby computer gurus.

The Reader’s Digest version is that it was going to cost more to fix than it was worth.

Soooooo… I have another laptop. It took me a while to get it MOSTLY configured and working the way I like, but it is Lisa-usable.

It’s Spinal Muscular Atrophy Month

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August 4, 2019

8:36 pm

1 Comment on It’s Spinal Muscular Atrophy Month

2019, Disability-related, Health, Me

It's just me, my face, and I celebrating Spinal Muscular Atrophy Month

It’s just me, my face, and I celebrating Spinal Muscular Atrophy Month

I’m behind, and August has barely started! It is SPINAL MUSCULAR ATROPHY month. Yes, it is still weird to me to celebrate a disease, but celebrating people who have rich and full lives with SMA is kind of cool.

In case you don’t know much about it, here is a decent article from a reputable website:
What is SMA from Cure SMA

You can also ask any question about living with a neuromuscular disorder. Feel free to put it in my comments. I will either answer privately or publicly.

Many tools are available to make life with SMA easier now than it was when I was younger. For example, breathing treatments have kept me from several rough situations that I faced. My tracheostomy tube is one of my best friends, pulling mucus out of my lungs when I sound like I have inhaled an aquarium.

It’s better than listening to my doctors predicting my death since I was 2 years old!

Some of the things are a little bit pricey. One of the lateral turning rotation beds would be a wonderful tool for my respiratory system and preventing blood clots. Unfortunately, it costs as much as a car. Still, you have got to look at this:
ProBed FREEDOM BED
https://www.pro-bed.com/

Since it costs so much, I decided to treat it like a car and get a used vehicle. Then my church stepped in and is going to help with this:

Zion Fundraiser Annual Ribs Cookoff and Pie Contest Hosted by Zion Lutheran Church, Tomball, TX
1st Annual Ribs Cookoff and Pie Contest Hosted by Zion Lutheran Church, Tomball, TX

Lisa Reads: Employment Options: The Ultimate Resource for Jobseekers with Disabilities

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April 15, 2019

2:58 pm

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2019, Books, Disability-related, Job-Related, Lisa Reads

Lisa Reads: Employment Options: The Ultimate Resource for Jobseekers with Disabilities and Other ChallengesBook cover for EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS
by Paula Ruben Viellet

(My Employment Options) 

I am distinctly ambivalent about this book, but I will give it tentative positive review. After all, it is full of useful information. It is not just designed for people with disabilities, it is for ANYONE with issues in moving forward with for new employment.

You don’t have to read this book “cover to cover.” It is designed for you to choose that areas that you need the most help in. “Employment Options” is particularly good and detailed in the self-assessment areas.

Another bonus is that this book is written by one of the experts who runs the website MY EMPLOYMENT OPTIONS, which is a national Social Security Administration (SSA) Employment Network in the Ticket To Work program. Not getting crossways with the federal government is important, these folks can help you avoid that cluster of issues.

I have two problems with the book.

1. It doesn’t particularly help with avoiding problems with state and local intricacies. Attendant Care, and the payment thereof, is a state issue. Figuring a way to keep your PCAs paid for until you can afford to dump all state funding is a daunting task. Even if some states are better than Texas when it comes to this issue, EVERY state has problems.

A number of people simply give up and decide to live in social media and watching TV.

2. I am already fairly confident in my job hunting skills. Yes, I will continue learning, but I don’t need someone holding my hand and pretending I need them to be my cheerleader. JUST GIVE ME THE FACTS AND THE STEPS and let me do what I need to do!

When it comes to my first problem, I found NMD United to be a much better resource for me. It is for people with neuromuscular disorders, and covers circumstances like my own. So far, the people I met there are interesting, active, and proactive. If you are in Texas, there is also a Facebook group dedicated to our Texas members. If you want more information, contact me and I will tell you about them.

When it comes to actual jobhunting skills, I think that an online course I’m taking is a MUCH better source of information. HOW TO FIND A WORK FROM HOME JOB OR SIDE GIG IN 30 DAYS OR LESS is interesting and fun. After a brief introduction and “setting the ground rules,” it BEGINS by talking about scams, and how to avoid them. I thought that the chapters on effective search strategies were particularly useful.

I’m almost 1/2 of the way through. Next comes the resume and interview practice, then the cover letter. At the very end, there’s even a chapter about convincing the current boss to let you work from home.

If you are interested in that class, here is the info. I found the video toward the top of the page to represent the style of the class very well.

First Loading Dose Is in the Rearview Mirror

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April 5, 2019

4:07 pm

2 Comments on First Loading Dose Is in the Rearview Mirror

2019, Disability-related, Me, Spinraza

image of a CAT scan machine
This Helped Things Go Smoothly-a CAT Scan (image thanks to daveynin from United States [CC BY 2.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)])
Yes… Earlier this week I had my first step in my adventures with Spinraza.

Other than getting lost and accidentally taking a tour of Methodist Hospital and the associated parking towers, it really wasn’t a bad experience.

Of course, there was some of the “hurry up and wait” that always happens with medical procedures. Of course, I was nervous… THEY WERE STICKING A NEEDLE IN MY SPINE, TAKING SPINAL FLUID OUT AND REPLACING IT WITH OTHER STUFF!

Just the idea makes the hair want to fall out!

I got changed into that fashionable hospital gown, gave necessary samples to make sure I’m okay, and equipment installed in case they needed to give me an IV med, and headed to the procedure room.

I was laying on my side and was strapped down. (Perhaps they expected me to leap around the room once they finished?)

They quickly located the spot and inserted the needle. It wasn’t COMFORTABLE, but it didn’t hurt… Except for when one of my nerve endings got touched. THAT caught my attention, but it was only for a split second.

The whole thing probably took 15 minutes. No headache, no pain… Tiny bruise that is very hard to find.

Since then, I have been dreaming all surfaces under my skin were vibrating as things slowly reawakens. Good dream!

I’m not really sure when to expect any possible changes, or exactly what to expect.

Next dose is in about two weeks…

Related Posts

Spinraza Treatments: LET THE FUN BEGIN

Still Fighting a Cold

Spinraza Treatments: LET THE FUN BEGIN

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March 26, 2019

7:13 pm

2 Comments on Spinraza Treatments: LET THE FUN BEGIN

2019, Disability-related, Health, Spinraza

,

There is a treatment for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, the neuromuscular disease that I have. There are also several others coming down the pike, but… To the best of my knowledge, only one is currently deemed fit for public consumption. It is called Spinraza.

BioGen’s Spinraza information

FDA approves first drug for spinal muscular atrophy

SMA Foundation DRUGS IN DEVELOPMENT

ANYHOW… Next week I will begin treatment with Spinraza. It seems to work REALLY well with infants and young children, less well as we age. Also, this is not a “one and done” treatment. I don’t get to swallow a magic bullet and began leaping around the room. This is more like insolent for a diabetic.

I will get two doses in April and and two more doses in May. After that, quarterly. For life. (Unless I tell them to stick it someplace else…)

picture of a needle going into the lumbar region of the spine
LUMBAR PUNCTURE Photo credit: iem-student.org On Visual Hunt CC BY-NC-SA

Did I mention that they will withdraw some spinal fluid and replace it with medicine? I was actually going to do this last year, but… With my spinal fusion, it was difficult. They are going to do it with a CAT scan from a really weird angle.

Here is what some others with spinal fusions has said about the process:

My First Spinraza Injection Was Like Something Out of a Comic Book
(Absolutely not! They are not going to go through the side of my neck. If something goes wrong going into the lumbar region, it will mean the end of my track and field career. If something goes wrong and they inject that into my neck, no breathing or computer use.)

My Spinraza Journey

I admit, I’m a little bit nervous about the whole thing.

What Are Some Side Effects?

Here Is the List from WebMD

Yeah… It’s enough to make your hair fall out if you worry about it too much. I already have a good many of these symptoms anyhow. Nothing new under the sun…

 

I Need to Come up with More Ideas for Attendant/Caregiver Searching

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July 28, 2018

7:01 pm

1 Comment on I Need to Come up with More Ideas for Attendant/Caregiver Searching

Disability-related, Finding Helper

woman with a funny facial expressionlooking between her fingers
Searching…

Like most people with SMA2, I started to learn how to hire and train caregivers at a young age. I was 12. I didn’t particularly care to wear the “Human Resources” at at that age.

I still don’t.

I DO prefer it to finding out what agencies will send me. Usually, they have been unfair to the caregivers and to me. Often, they send people  from 35 minutes away for a very short time. The worst experience I’ve had with agencies is what they told me to go buy a 10-year-old girl. (I pretty much decided to ignore them ever since!)

I am probably using rose-colored glasses when I look back on those days. It seemed to me that ONLY having the option to post jobs in a newspaper worked better than all the options we have now.

Here is my current list of posting places, along with a few comments.:

  • I rarely use it, but probably have to include CraigsList in the mix. I have never had good luck here, but it is so widely used that I have to mention it.
  • I am also not particularly impressed with Care.com, although I have gotten two wonderful caregivers through it. Wading through all the gamesmanship there is discouraging.
  • ClassifiedNY.com has listings for free all over the US. It’s a little bit different, I am testing it now. Why do I suspect that it will be worth every penny I’m paying? Maybe I’m just cynical…
  • One of the newer places geared specifically for finding caregivers is HireMyCare.org. Since it is new, they don’t seem to have a lot of people in all areas, and it is skimpy around here. It has potential… I HOPE!
  • I don’t know what to make of Oodle, but I like that I can link the advertisements here with Facebook.

What resources have you come across? Feel free to add them here… I will also add more in the comments.

2+ Personal Care Assistant Positions

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September 29, 2016

7:07 pm

1 Comment on 2+ Personal Care Assistant Positions

Finding Helper, Uncategorized

I am in Conroe (near I-45 and 1488) and am looking to create a caregiving team for myself to provide me with assistance seven days a week. Initially, I am looking for 2 more part-time caregivers to cover three days per week, three hours per day. Ideally, this position would be Tuesday and Thursday, 7 AM-10 AM and Sunday 6 AM-8:30 AM. While I can be somewhat flexible in selecting the time we agree upon, once we agree on the days and times… Please be here when you agree to be here.

Pay range is $10-$13 per hour.

I am looking for someone to assist me with personal care, household chores, and physical assistance. This includes but, is NOT limited to the following: bathing, changing, dressing, grooming, repositioning, and occasionally doing laundry, dishes, and light housekeeping. *NO EXPERIENCE OR CERTIFICATIONS REQUIRED*

Applicants MUST:
– Be Comfortable Doing Personal Care
– Be Able to Pass a Background Check
– Be Able to Follow Directions
– Be Fluent in English
– Be Easy-Going
– Be Detail-Oriented
– Be Hard-Working
– Be Punctual
– Be Reliable
– Be Quick Learner
– Be Organized
– Be Careful
– Be Trustworthy
– Be Respectful of Our Home, Pets, and Privacy
– Have Reliable Transportation
– Have Ability to Comfortably Maneuver (Roll, Push, and Pull) 130 pounds
– Have Strong Communication Skills

While the selected applicants will be employed through In-Home Attendant Services I am something like the local (very local, my home) Human Resources branch office. I select, hire, train, do regular evaluations of my own caregivers.

Here is a little bit about me. My name is Lisa and I am a 50-something-year-old female. I was born with a neuromuscular disorder that was supposed to kill me by age 2, but I didn’t listen to the doctors then… or now. Currently, I am a quadriplegic but I do have full sensation. I get into my wheelchair (powered) using a Hoyer lift. Most times, you’ll find me attached to a computer or other device that broadens my universe. I enjoy teaching at a university level. Some of my hobbies include science fiction and Lutheran theology. Both my Mother and I have faced health issues this year. As a result, my sister, brother-in-law, nieces, and nephew invited us to share their home and made us quite welcome. We all are looking for a team of Personal Care Assistants to help make our lives run more smoothly. More importantly, this will help me gain more independence in my own life. I am eagerly looking forward to meeting you.

Serious applicants only, please!

If you wish to speed things along, I do have an online application:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/P9QX2Z6