Speaking from personal experience, I can say that having family support during OT intervention is crucial for successful outcomes. My maternal grandfather fell last Christmas and fractured one of his vertebrae and had to be hospitalized. My grandfather, affectionately called "Pop", has Type II Diabetes, is a stroke and cancer survivor, and has had numerous falls in his nearly 84 years of life. Needless to say, he has quite the medical history. But being a veteran of the Korean War, he doesn't let much get in his way. Though he is sweet, he can be VERY stubborn at times.
When my grandmother was alive, my Pop would do everything for her. He took care of her the best way he knew how, from the time they were both in high school until my grandmother passed away in March of 2012. Since then, my grandmother's three sisters as well as my mom and aunt have stepped up and have taken on the role of being his caretakers. Before my Pop's fall, he was fairly independent. He liked to walk around the neighborhood, play golf, and visit with his family. After his fall, my Pop couldn't do anything by himself. When he was discharged from the rehabilitation hospital, he relied a lot on the women in our family to bring him meals, help him with bathing and toileting, dressing, and getting ready for bed. They even got up with him in the middle of the night.
It's hard to say how my Pop would be doing if he didn't have that constant support. I don't think he would be doing nearly as well. (Full disclosure, he has really enjoyed having his girls over to help him out with his day-to-day tasks and acts like he can't do anything on his own. According to my mom, his OT has really whipped him into shape and has made him use his walker to get around and has even helped him prepare meals and snacks by himself). But I really think having his family around really played a key role in his recovery process. My family has been by his side ever since his fall last Christmas, and they have been watching him and checking on him constantly to make sure he has what he needs and that he doesn't have another fall. I hope that my kids and grandkids will be as supportive for me when I am his age.
Tuesday, April 25, 2017
Monday, April 24, 2017
SCI Case Study: John Stoker
My biggest takeaway from Grace's presentation was that someone who has sustained a spinal cord injury can still live a happy, high quality life. Her family friend, John, sustained an incomplete spinal cord injury as an indirect result of a motorcycle accident. During exploratory surgery done by his doctors, John's aorta was clamped too long, which resulted in the formation of blood clots that ultimately damaged his spinal cord.
Before his injury, John was a very active man. He loved to work on cars and ride motorcycles, was a naval seaman, and enjoyed being a husband and father. After his accident, John became totally blind, used a trach to help him breath, a G-tube for nutrients, as well as a saliva bag. Though John became almost totally dependent upon his family to help him with his activities of daily living, he still found enjoyment in visiting with his mother and sister, talking on the phone, listening to the Bible on tapes, and being an avid Green Bay Packers fan.
I think the important thing to take away from this presentation is that individuals like John can still find meaning and purpose in their lives, despite the many challenges they face on a daily basis. John lived another 20 years after he sustained his spinal cord injury. Those years could have been quality, happy years or sad, lonely years. I believe John had a much higher quality of life because of the support from his family, which is crucial for successful outcomes.
Before his injury, John was a very active man. He loved to work on cars and ride motorcycles, was a naval seaman, and enjoyed being a husband and father. After his accident, John became totally blind, used a trach to help him breath, a G-tube for nutrients, as well as a saliva bag. Though John became almost totally dependent upon his family to help him with his activities of daily living, he still found enjoyment in visiting with his mother and sister, talking on the phone, listening to the Bible on tapes, and being an avid Green Bay Packers fan.
I think the important thing to take away from this presentation is that individuals like John can still find meaning and purpose in their lives, despite the many challenges they face on a daily basis. John lived another 20 years after he sustained his spinal cord injury. Those years could have been quality, happy years or sad, lonely years. I believe John had a much higher quality of life because of the support from his family, which is crucial for successful outcomes.
Thursday, April 20, 2017
Neuro Note #1: My Beautiful Broken Brain
As I was searching for what to do for my first Neuro Note, I thought about watching a Netflix documentary. I love watching Netflix, and thought it would be a great opportunity to learn about strokes. The documentary is entitled, "My Beautiful Broken Brain" and follows a 34-year-old film producer, Lotje Sodderland on her journey of recovery from her intercerebral hemorrhagic stroke. I chose this documentary because we had just talked about strokes and seizures in our Neurological Aspects class, so I thought this would enhance my learning, and really give me an idea on what someone who has a stroke has to deal with on a daily basis.
As I was watching the documentary, I took some notes on what Lotje was experiencing as far as language and speech deficits, trouble remembering how to read and write, and forgetting how to do everyday tasks. She talks about having a new heightened sense of reality, and often feels frightened because all of her formerly familiar surroundings now feel unfamiliar. Over the course of a year, Lotje tries different interventions such as inpatient rehab, medication, and even experimental non-invasive brain stimulation to regain her memory, speech, and language skills. She experiences many ups and downs along the way, and has several setbacks that would make her discouraged or lose hope.
Toward the end of the documentary, Lotje talks about how her priorities have changed, and how she only focuses on what matters to her. She goes on to say that she isn't defined by limitations, but by endless possibility. The biggest takeaway I got from the film was that life is going to throw you curveballs along the way, and how you react to them will ultimately determine your success. Lotje remained optimistic throughout her rehabilitation process and never gave up. The therapy process can be slow, and it can be hard to see progress sometimes. She was determined to not give up, despite the many setbacks she faced. Filming her experiences gave her a sense of purpose and meaning, and gave her a way to understand her own story.
After watching this film, I have a better understanding of the many obstacles that come with rehabilitating from a stroke, and can better sympathize with individuals who have experienced a stroke. I would highly recommend this film for anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of stroke and seizures.
Robinson, S., Sodderland, Lotje (Directors). (2016). My Beautiful Broken Brain [Documentary]. Retrieved from: https://www.netflix.com/search?q=my%20beautif&jbv=80049951&jbp=0&jbr=0
As I was watching the documentary, I took some notes on what Lotje was experiencing as far as language and speech deficits, trouble remembering how to read and write, and forgetting how to do everyday tasks. She talks about having a new heightened sense of reality, and often feels frightened because all of her formerly familiar surroundings now feel unfamiliar. Over the course of a year, Lotje tries different interventions such as inpatient rehab, medication, and even experimental non-invasive brain stimulation to regain her memory, speech, and language skills. She experiences many ups and downs along the way, and has several setbacks that would make her discouraged or lose hope.
Toward the end of the documentary, Lotje talks about how her priorities have changed, and how she only focuses on what matters to her. She goes on to say that she isn't defined by limitations, but by endless possibility. The biggest takeaway I got from the film was that life is going to throw you curveballs along the way, and how you react to them will ultimately determine your success. Lotje remained optimistic throughout her rehabilitation process and never gave up. The therapy process can be slow, and it can be hard to see progress sometimes. She was determined to not give up, despite the many setbacks she faced. Filming her experiences gave her a sense of purpose and meaning, and gave her a way to understand her own story.
After watching this film, I have a better understanding of the many obstacles that come with rehabilitating from a stroke, and can better sympathize with individuals who have experienced a stroke. I would highly recommend this film for anyone who wants to increase their knowledge of stroke and seizures.
Robinson, S., Sodderland, Lotje (Directors). (2016). My Beautiful Broken Brain [Documentary]. Retrieved from: https://www.netflix.com/search?q=my%20beautif&jbv=80049951&jbp=0&jbr=0
Friday, April 14, 2017
My "Why" for Choosing OT as a Profession
Many people choose careers based on their past experiences, or someone important in their life has influenced them to go down a certain career path, such as a parent, teacher, or other mentor. I have had several people in my life that have played a role in my choice to pursue occupational therapy. These people are my "why".
Why did I choose occupational therapy over physical therapy? That was the plan whenever I started my undergraduate career in 2011. I didn't even know what occupational therapy was until the spring of 2012 when I visited my grandmother in NHC in Franklin, Tennessee. Her OT was working with her on the arm bike, encouraging her, and giving her guidance and confidence, while remaining patient with her. She treated my grandmother like she was her own. Her passion for helping others and kind nature influenced me so much that I went home that day to research the field of occupational therapy. That initial encounter sparked a fire in me that would change my life forever.
Over the course of my undergraduate career, I took prerequisite classes that would help me get into occupational therapy school, such as medical terminology, kinesiology, lifespan development, as well as the exercise science classes I took for my major. It wasn't until I did my internship in a pediatric OT clinic my last semester of college that I truly fell in love with the profession. I encountered several children at that clinic that left a lasting impact on me. I will never forget their smiling faces, drive, and motivation to be better. I was able to experience first-hand how a little girl conquered her fear of balls, and dolls with faces. I worked with another little girl with sensory processing who was frightened by loud noises and the dark. It was an honor to be able to work with them. Another little girl, probably one of my favorite clients, overcame many challenges during her time in speech, OT, and PT after recovering from a stroke at age 4, and 2 brain surgeries before the age of 5. One little boy that stood out to me was a stroke survivor, and wasn't able to talk or walk by himself. During my internship, I watched this 3-year-old little boy how to walk again. How amazing is that?
I don't want to go into this field for the money. I would honestly do it for free, just because I love it so much and I love the way I feel by getting to help another person reach their goals and maximize their potential. I could go on and on about the numerous interactions I've had with people over the years, but this gives you a little glimpse into my life and why I am so passionate about this rewarding field.
Why did I choose occupational therapy over physical therapy? That was the plan whenever I started my undergraduate career in 2011. I didn't even know what occupational therapy was until the spring of 2012 when I visited my grandmother in NHC in Franklin, Tennessee. Her OT was working with her on the arm bike, encouraging her, and giving her guidance and confidence, while remaining patient with her. She treated my grandmother like she was her own. Her passion for helping others and kind nature influenced me so much that I went home that day to research the field of occupational therapy. That initial encounter sparked a fire in me that would change my life forever.
Over the course of my undergraduate career, I took prerequisite classes that would help me get into occupational therapy school, such as medical terminology, kinesiology, lifespan development, as well as the exercise science classes I took for my major. It wasn't until I did my internship in a pediatric OT clinic my last semester of college that I truly fell in love with the profession. I encountered several children at that clinic that left a lasting impact on me. I will never forget their smiling faces, drive, and motivation to be better. I was able to experience first-hand how a little girl conquered her fear of balls, and dolls with faces. I worked with another little girl with sensory processing who was frightened by loud noises and the dark. It was an honor to be able to work with them. Another little girl, probably one of my favorite clients, overcame many challenges during her time in speech, OT, and PT after recovering from a stroke at age 4, and 2 brain surgeries before the age of 5. One little boy that stood out to me was a stroke survivor, and wasn't able to talk or walk by himself. During my internship, I watched this 3-year-old little boy how to walk again. How amazing is that?
I don't want to go into this field for the money. I would honestly do it for free, just because I love it so much and I love the way I feel by getting to help another person reach their goals and maximize their potential. I could go on and on about the numerous interactions I've had with people over the years, but this gives you a little glimpse into my life and why I am so passionate about this rewarding field.
Monday, April 10, 2017
Ethical Practice in Occupational Therapy
Before I was accepted into UTHSC's Occupational Therapy program, I was working as a physical therapy technician at an outpatient orthopedic clinic. Though I value my experience there and the knowledge gained, I can't help but realize that the therapists at the clinic I worked at were not very ethical. You would think that clinicians, especially new graduates, would always go by the book, and practice morally and ethically. As time has passed being in this program and learning about the AOTA Code of Ethics, I have come to know and understand how unethical my clinic was.
The general rule of thumb was that we were not supposed to talk about patients in front of them. My boss, the lead physical therapist, said it was fine if we were out having a beer at our local watering hole and vented about the difficult patients we had that day. The same woman, again, my boss, had me practice measuring knee flexion with a goniometer on a male patient who had just had knee replacement surgery. She pushed him past the point of his pain threshold to where his torso was halfway off the therapy bed. I tried to get an accurate reading, but it was impossible. How do you ethically measure that and BILL for that? You don't. This SAME WOMAN has thanked me for "treating her patients" for her. To elaborate, I would take the patients through therapeutic exercise, while she did manual therapy. Then when she was done, I would hook up the patient to electrical stimulation, or ultrasound, as well as heat or ice. She actually saw the patient for 10-15 minutes total. I have also seen other therapists spend less than 10 minutes with patients and then charge them for 4-6 units of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, modalities, etc.
As a future clinician, this type of behavior absolutely sickens me. The company that I worked for is a large corporation with over 100 clinics across the southeast. From my experience working there, I came to realize they are money-hungry, and only care about the bottom line. They only care about patient outcomes if it can get them a raise. I will one day work as a practicing occupational therapist, and I promise to uphold my own moral and ethical standards, as well as the standards and Code of Ethics set forth by AOTA. I will treat my patients and clients with the utmost respect, and only have THEIR best interests at heart.
The general rule of thumb was that we were not supposed to talk about patients in front of them. My boss, the lead physical therapist, said it was fine if we were out having a beer at our local watering hole and vented about the difficult patients we had that day. The same woman, again, my boss, had me practice measuring knee flexion with a goniometer on a male patient who had just had knee replacement surgery. She pushed him past the point of his pain threshold to where his torso was halfway off the therapy bed. I tried to get an accurate reading, but it was impossible. How do you ethically measure that and BILL for that? You don't. This SAME WOMAN has thanked me for "treating her patients" for her. To elaborate, I would take the patients through therapeutic exercise, while she did manual therapy. Then when she was done, I would hook up the patient to electrical stimulation, or ultrasound, as well as heat or ice. She actually saw the patient for 10-15 minutes total. I have also seen other therapists spend less than 10 minutes with patients and then charge them for 4-6 units of manual therapy, therapeutic exercise, modalities, etc.
As a future clinician, this type of behavior absolutely sickens me. The company that I worked for is a large corporation with over 100 clinics across the southeast. From my experience working there, I came to realize they are money-hungry, and only care about the bottom line. They only care about patient outcomes if it can get them a raise. I will one day work as a practicing occupational therapist, and I promise to uphold my own moral and ethical standards, as well as the standards and Code of Ethics set forth by AOTA. I will treat my patients and clients with the utmost respect, and only have THEIR best interests at heart.
Wednesday, April 5, 2017
Occupational Adaptation
One sentence that stood out to me in particular when reading about occupational adaptation in our Willard & Spackman book was, "Practice based on OA is driven by the assumption that if clients become more adaptive, they will become more functional" (p. 528). I believe this is so true! As clients and patients we treat face obstacles and challenges during the treatment process, sometimes they might have to come up with a Plan B, Plan C, or even Plan D when things don't go as planned. But as our clients are better able adapt to changes around them, they will realize that there is more than one way to do something correctly. Knowing that they have options will give them confidence that they can perform at a higher functional capacity.
Reaction to "Terrible, Thanks for Asking" Podcast
Listening to this podcast just broke my heart. This lady was a nurse, caring for her own patient, when she was assaulted and subsequently hit her head. I could not imagine how she must have felt after the attack and what kinds of things were running through her mind, or if she could even remember. I do know she said it was all a blur and she doesn't remember much of that day. It's difficult to say how I would feel or what I would do if I were in that situation, or if I was a caretaker for someone who suffered from a traumatic brain injury.
I could not imagine having a husband and the responsibilities of raising children while continuing to recover from that type of injury. I know that marriage is "for better or for worse" and "in sickness and in health", but you don't really think about a traumatic brain injury being something that you sign up for when you say "I do" to your spouse. It made me sad when she and her husband talked about going their separate ways and that she would try to make it on her own. She alluded to letting him be on his own and not having that burden of always having to keep up with what she is doing. In his own words, he said it was like having another child. Although I don't think I would ever separate from my husband if I were in this situation, I could see where it would take a toll on the marriage and the family dynamic. Honestly, I don't blame them for discussing separation and divorce. However, I am grateful that they are going through this together and that she has a strong support system at home.
I could not imagine having a husband and the responsibilities of raising children while continuing to recover from that type of injury. I know that marriage is "for better or for worse" and "in sickness and in health", but you don't really think about a traumatic brain injury being something that you sign up for when you say "I do" to your spouse. It made me sad when she and her husband talked about going their separate ways and that she would try to make it on her own. She alluded to letting him be on his own and not having that burden of always having to keep up with what she is doing. In his own words, he said it was like having another child. Although I don't think I would ever separate from my husband if I were in this situation, I could see where it would take a toll on the marriage and the family dynamic. Honestly, I don't blame them for discussing separation and divorce. However, I am grateful that they are going through this together and that she has a strong support system at home.
Monday, April 3, 2017
Reaction to Aimee Mullins Ted Talk
I love how Aimee shed light on how using the word "disabled" and its related synonyms can make a person feel. She herself said her voice broke after reading the word "mangled." I do not have a disability, but I can imagine someone who does would lose self-esteem, self-confidence, and self-worth. A person should not be minimized or reduced to their disability or diagnosis. One thing she said that stood out was that the language changes that we use to describe people with disabilities hasn't caught up with the advances made in our society. This is why using person-first language is so critical.
Another thing that stood out to me that she said was that adversity is not overcoming an obstacle and coming out unscathed. This can be applied to everyone, not just individuals with disabilities. Adversity is part of what makes us who we are; it is a part of us. It is not something we can over or get through and move on. Facing adversity makes us stronger, not weaker. We all, at some point in our lives, have had moments where we feel like things just aren't going our way or things will never get better. If we think that things will never get better, then they won't, but if we persevere through our trials and come out on top, we can better relate to our patients and clients that we work with. If they see a living, breathing example of someone who struggles and isn't perfect, that can instill a hope in them that they can do anything.
Having a disability doesn't make you "disabled", it just makes you different, special, and unique.
Facing adversity doesn't mean you went through many trials and came out untouched. Because of your trials, you are stronger.
Another thing that stood out to me that she said was that adversity is not overcoming an obstacle and coming out unscathed. This can be applied to everyone, not just individuals with disabilities. Adversity is part of what makes us who we are; it is a part of us. It is not something we can over or get through and move on. Facing adversity makes us stronger, not weaker. We all, at some point in our lives, have had moments where we feel like things just aren't going our way or things will never get better. If we think that things will never get better, then they won't, but if we persevere through our trials and come out on top, we can better relate to our patients and clients that we work with. If they see a living, breathing example of someone who struggles and isn't perfect, that can instill a hope in them that they can do anything.
Having a disability doesn't make you "disabled", it just makes you different, special, and unique.
Facing adversity doesn't mean you went through many trials and came out untouched. Because of your trials, you are stronger.
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