2 replies to this topic

[Lil red]

My stepson was in an automobile accident on Aug.29, 2011. He had crushed the C5 & C6 vertebrae and split the vertebrae from C5 - T1. He has been undergoing rehab at Touro in New Orleans for a month now and is to be released on Dec. 7. While in the hospital, he developed many "superbugs" and incurred a fever of 108.7degrees. Sometimes he seems to be ok mentally and sometimes he seems to not comprehend how his life is changed. Of course, this could be denial. He had no insurance, except Medicaid and we have been told he will have to have round the clock care. The rehabilitation facility is prepared to send him to a long term care facility because we do not have the means to care for him at home. I was wondering if anyone knows of special resources I could look into for the state of Louisiana. He refuses to accept that he can't return to his old life. He is adamant about not going into another facility, but I do not know how he could be able to live at home with the extent of care he will require. He does need to be placed into a facility where they will actively perform aggressive therapy with him. He is getting very depressed, understandably.

[Kwag_Myers]

Actually, there are a few quads in this forum who live relatively independent lives. If he's old enough to live on his own before, he's old enough to make that decision for himself.

It's a long, slow process to rehab and he may change his mind about living on his own later on. However, I would recommend you not discourage him from setting that as a goal. He will work harder during his rehab if he has goals, even if they seem unrealistic. Several of us were told we'd never walk again, but yet we do. That doesn't just happen, it takes a lot of hard work.

The best thing you can do is respect his decision. Celebrate the victories, no matter how small they may seem.

[wheeliebear75]

I know there are other C5 quads who live relatively independently....& hopefully they'll be on shortly to chime in with how they've accomplished this.