5 replies to this topic

[Lucydog]

Did anyone read the article this week and also continuing over the coming weeks? I want to know if anyone knows the level and type of SCI he sustained? Im just being dead nosey, thats all!!

Thanks

L

[kanga2433]

I think he is low T, Lucy. He was fired at by a sub machine gun and has lost a lot of guts and bladder and is ostomised (wow, a new word!) now. I think I heard him say he had done some walking with crutches but it was a while ago.

[Gary Anderson]

I was working in Stanmore when this guy was having rehab to walk. Not sure how successful. He did get his "gong" using a zimmer and callipers. He was hoping one day to walk with callipers from the knees down. His injury is fairly low. I heard him on Desert iSLAND Discs and he said he had feeling above the knees but nothing below. Although a long term wheelchair user he should be able to walk at some point and I think he is determined to still do so. Dont know anything about up to date position.

His book is out on 8th May - because I met him at Stanmore I will be buying a copy.

Mind you, I have during the couse of my work met people who know him very well and I gather from things that I have read since 2004 that he was in an area where no-one had asked them to go, they were killign time until it was time to catch a flight back.

I never heard of the guy before this happened but have seen him on the telly. Mind you, if he is head of security, heaven help us, all he tells us on the TV is what we already know "THIS BOMBING COULD BE AL QAEDA." Although not my style of reporter I cannot slate the guy for his determination to recover.

I just wonder if he were in "normal" life like all of us would he have a job? I was studying to be a surgeon at the time of my accident and had to divesify to something else because of my chairbound state.

How do you access the article on the web?

[Lucydog]

Yes the job thing is always a big issue, and you might say he is 'lucky' not to have been say a construction worker in the middle east. I used to be a pathologist believe it or not, working in the field of organ transplants. Its pretty hard to be retrieving kidneys at 3am when you cant stand up, so I left to do something else. people are always amazed when I say I left for that reason as the assumption is that the employer will always make the right adjustment for the individual. naive eh. But also I have to say in my own case it would have been totally impossible and impractical for me to continue in my role and I also felt it was a good time to do something else. I just cant see how you can reconcile the 2 issues of being fairly immobile and standing over bodies!

[Gary Anderson]

Hi Lucydog

My problem was someone suggested a standing wheelchair - OK in principle but how do you move up and down the body as a surgeon has to? So, I diversified, and became an anaesthetist instead. Still quite important - holding life and death in my hands - yet I still hanker after surgery. Maybe one day someone will invent a way. Until then, I'll plod on. Thankful that I can still work.

[bubbleandsqueak]

I don’t know but have seen a paraplegic that has a lift on rails that he uses to word on cars all day long. He dose custom work and he has his own (what he calls street racer) but he races on and only on tracks.