AT THE HOSPITAL...

2011-06-05T22:11:00.000-07:00

http://video.about.com/sanfrancisco/Belly-Dancing-in-San-Francisco.htm

---We have had belly-dancers at the hospital. They enliven the setting with their presence

2010-10-09T09:46:00.000-07:00

2010-10-08T19:11:00.000-07:00

---Fictional

2010-08-01T21:22:00.000-07:00

2010-05-05T18:43:00.000-07:00

''Do What's Important!''
Dr. Grace Dammann -

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---As many of you know, Dr. Grace Dammann, was involved in a head-on collision on the Golden Gate Bridge. This happened around May 20, 2008. It was touch-and-go for awhile, but there are now pictures posted on her website that show there is a marked improvement. She is getting better, as we speak.
---I, myself, have always held Dr. Grace in high regard. She and Dr. Behrman have been my doctors since I began living, here, five years, now, come November.
---She was in a coma for several weeks. The doctors didn't quite know exactly what the outcome would be. Though, she needs time to rehab and rest, she is doing quite well.
---She has gotten over 30,000 hits on the CaringBridge website, tracking her progress. Many, have sent love and good wishes, her way.
---She has, also, sent a message back to US all. This is the one that I heard, anyway. It is one that many people at the Hospital, could echo. It is simply this - ''Do what is important.''
---Thanks, Dr. Grace D., and CARRY ON with the business of healing. As the BEATLES once said:

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''The Love You Take, Is Equal To The Love You Make.''

For Giving and For Getting -

(Written 10/01/08)

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---I was thinking about the accident that Dr. Grace has been in. I thought about what life-lesson she could be learning...from all this. I see it this way:

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---Since I have known her it seems that she been very good at giving. I wondered if she receives, as readily.
---I don't know the answer to this, and won't go there, but I do know that life works better, if you receive as well as you give. Giving and getting have to balance.
---People who give all or most of the time, usually, don't get as easily. It is, also, true in reverse. Those who get, or take, can come up short and not know how to give.

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---In summary, it is, also, necessary to be on the same page. Giving and getting works much better when what is given is needed by the ''getter.'' Just picture how annoying it can be if you need water and you're given sand. It is not a good fit. Sometimes, it can be sadly this - water is needed, but it is refused. It is important to know what you're doing. Take Care.

Knowing Yourself, Resolves This Dilemma.

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Grace Dammann's Journal

(Speech Given by Dr. Grace)
Tuesday, May 5, 2009 5:08 PM, CDT

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Below is the speech Grace wrote and delivered in person at the Dalai Lama's Unsung Heroes of Compassion Event on Sunday, April 26, 2009. New photos have also been posted from the event.Grace asked to thank John, her speech therapist and scribe.CompassionApril 26, 2009Presented to the Unsung Heroes of CompassionFor the last forty years, I have been a somewhat compulsive caregiver. However, I found an appropriate niche in medical school, and have happily practiced medicine for the last twenty-five years. For the last year, however, I have been on the opposite side of the caregiver/caretaker divide. For eleven months, I have been totally dependent on others for everything: for brushing teeth, being fed, wiping my buttocks, helping me in and out of the chair. What I initially thought was that compassion ought to be aligned with warmth and empathy. Now I feel that it must be aligned with wisdom.

Compassion comes from the Latin word pati, which means to suffer. So compassion means to be fully present with pain and suffering. When I say that compassion ought to be aligned with wisdom what do I mean? What I mean is that when I am served by other people who are driven by their own standards of excellence, and not by the demands of my “whiny self”, and then I am best served by them. I have learned that the most compassionate behavior is that which appropriately encourages my independence from either depressive states of mind or dependence on another being. The least compassionate behavior, conversely, is that which enslaves me, making me dependent on the person performing the behavior.

When I first woke after two months of being unconscious I was focused on one main point. Somewhere during my unconscious period I had decided that all we could do in life is “clean up our acts”, you know, the long trail of, “Could I have done this more skillfully, or better?” I was captivated by the people visiting me and was more than happy to share my so-called wisdom with them. I would ask them, number one, are you in a relationship? And, number two, if in a relationship, are you married? If not, why not? If it is not working why not get out now? What about work? Are you passionate about it? If not, why not? For everyone I had the same fairly boring message: find a place to put your energy with total commitment. That place might be where you are currently standing. My motto was: Just do it now.

So what was it that I had learned lying on my back? I realized that I needed to clean up my own act. I knew there was a way that I had not gone through, "the eye of the needle" that we can only go through with 100% committed behavior. I had all the time in the world to finish my thoughts and so many of those thoughts were driven by, not so much regret, as understanding that I hadn't completely shown up in life. Those few times that I had shown up had given me complete happiness. I also noticed that those who are dear to me were a great deal happier not to be seeing my back all the time — not to be competing with a pager or a cell phone. I was encouraging commitment because, for the first time, I had nothing to do but look at my life, love the sunshine and people as they presented themselves, and just be.

I hit my head in the accident, and strangely enough my old thought processes no longer engaged me that much, thank God. What the therapists might have called inattention or processing problems actually enabled me to be completely in the moment. For example, pain came and went, nausea came and went, constipation came and went, but for whatever blessed reason, they didn't hold my attention for long. I spent a great deal of time enjoying the total pleasure of a shower, the way the water felt on my head or the sensation of someone's nails as they were shampooing my hair. I spent little time thinking about the future, what I would do, what had happened to small me. Instead, I was totally fixated on my immediate environment. Waking up, I saw that I was completely held and embraced by the very Earth itself as well as by my wonderful family and community of support.

I realize now that my greatest happiness in life has been in my service to people, particularly the joy that comes from being totally present with my own and their suffering. My new emphasis in service is to remind myself of this motto, “Do it now, just do it now, and be more responsive.” If you want to know how you are doing, just ask the people around you. They will be happy to tell you. Your job is to just listen and absorb it. Take it in. Really try to understand your impact on other people. If you want to know how you are doing at work, just ask your colleagues. Finally, if you want to know how you're doing in the world, just ask the trees and wind, and watch the sun.

I would like to thank Dick Grace from the bottom of my heart for generously giving me this experience two years ago. He helped me find my pod by introducing me to like peas. My sense of belonging to this pod has sustained me over the past year. I bow down to his Holiness with deep gratitude for his willingness to put himself in such difficult situations for so many years with such humor and wisdom and compassion. He is my model for the possibility that with great diligence and practice, we can all become truly compassionate people. For all of you who are acknowledged today as heroes of compassion, thank you for your undying efforts. I suspect that at some deep level, you are happy with your lives. And finally, for those of you who are here to witness this event and are moved by these compelling stories, just do it now. Do whatever it takes so that you can give happily, and thus be happy. . .and compassionate.

2009-07-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

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What It Feels Like To Have a STROKE -
Watch It ALL...If You Can. About 20 mins.

Jill Bolte Taylor - A Brain Scientist Had Her Own Stroke
A BEAUTIFUL TALK!

2009-04-05T22:26:00.000-07:00

Cecil ''Jerry'' Whitmore

---I've known Cecil for five years, now. We have been on the same ward in the same hospital. When I first arrived on the ward, Cecil had already been here, for awhile.
---After a time, they moved a few of the beds around...and Cecil's bed was one of them. We were only two beds away, now, and started to talk one day. The man between us, didn't seem to mind.
---Cecil and I had obvious things in common. We both had had strokes. Mine happened at work while Cecil's happened when he was on stage. That got my, immediate, attention. I wanted to find out more about this.
---After a time, I got the story. The gist of it is that Cecil played lead guitar for a regional blues band called, ''the Whitmore Family.'' He played the blues for some 38 years. He, with his sons, made a career out of this.
---Some of his sons still play. Cecil doesn't play, since the stroke. One of his arms doesn't work, anymore. But, he has some great tapes, from the days, when he was Jerry Whitmore - Lead Guitar. If the tapes are any indication of how good the band played, I'm sorry I never got a chance to see them. The tapes are from 1983.
---I'm sure, Cecil's story is just one of many stories, that we have, here, at the hospital. If any resident has something of interest that he/she would like to share, let someone know. If you can't write it down, someone will help you. It may be fun for someone to hear about your story or you just may have fun telling it. Take Care.

Cecil's Band - Follow Directions (It Will Play)

http://www.mediafire.com/?lwtogo2eyzm

http://www.mediafire.com/?mjgxgndyoyg

http://www.mediafire.com/?wiikbgzhnyv

(Last song is re-recorded)

2009-03-19T21:52:00.000-07:00

Today, John K. passed on.

---The man, above, John K., passed on today. I don't know all the details, but the fact is that John is gone. Everyone at the hospital seems to be set on, ''stunned.'' It was very unexpected to me.

---Everyone was remarking that John visited many of the wards, yesterday, and was very upbeat. I didn't see him, personally, but I can picture the mood. Todays date is March 19, 2009. He just turned 51 years old.

----John and I had a history, together. We were both from the same neighborhood in Worcester, Massachusetts. We both attended the same grammar school. Gates Lane School. I am almost 7 years older, so John was much behind me.

---Their were two options opened for us on Saturday mornings. Hockey and Bowling. I bowled, as a Hockey Stick, seemed too hard to handle with my hand and all. This worked fine for me, as I received a few trophies in the process. John was a Hockey Player. John was built like a Football Player and it wouldn't surprise me to find that in his past, somewhere.

---We had kids in common, in the neighborhood, but being 7 years older at a young age, makes me know the older brothers of the kids he hung with. I didn't have much contact with Johns age group. Admittedly, I didn't know John in Massachusetts. But, he knew me.

---I played in the Bobby Darling Show in and around Worcester. An underage John, saw us play a few times in Worcester. We played in bars most of the time. John was not only a Hockey Player, but he was a regular at a place called Breens. Actually, it was called the ''Patriot,'' when John saw us. They were capitalising on 1976, the bi-centennial. I mentioned that John was built like a Football Player, so I guess that it was easy to pass for 18 years old. Of course, I would have had him arrested, if I had known. He was very lucky. I'm just kidding.

---We both headed west, eventually. Me, because I was on the East Coast and was hitching and John, because he joined the Merchant Marines. We both ended up at the same hospital with only one year difference in our timing. John arrived here about one year after I did. The only difference was that John was CEO, while I am a patient.

---It is strange how the ''means to an end,'' goes, but we were both quoted as wanting to make things ''better''...obviously, from very different perspectives. John worked at keeping things afloat and I have been President of the Resident Council. I would say that his temporary predecessor has this in mind, also.

---A realization that John had a few months back seems to state much of the mindset of the places that I have been in. His realized this: ''I attend many meetings on behalf of the residents, but I am not attending the residents meeting, itself.'' To paraphrase, it could be: ''I do many things for the residents, but I don't do things with the residents.''

---I always have seen fault with that, because there is much advantage from doing things with others. It can be, the old adage about fishing: ''If I buy them a fish, they can eat for one day, but, if I teach them to fish...'' In defense of any staff anywhere, there is a stifling amount of paperwork to document staff to patient interaction that I personally can't blame staff for limited interaction.

---I remember how we reunited at the hospital. I had shown my blog websites to Rowena T. She is part of the Administration Team. She showed them to John. John happened to read the word Massachusetts, and shot an e-mail off to me. He asked, where in MA. was I from.

----I didn't know John from Adam, so I wondered why was the new CEO sending an e-mail to me. He had been here a few months, and I had yet to get my power wheelchair, so I stayed on my ward while his desk was 6 floors away, in Administration. I didn't even know where that was. And, I would have a long trek, even if I knew all these things.

---I told John that I was from Worcester, and then in his next e-mail, he asked, ''where in Worcester?'' We met up and fleshed it out. As I have said, I have lived here for 23 years, but had never met anyone who rememberred the Bobby Darling Show...let alone the fact that he had seen us perform. This fact, ''knocked my socks off.'' I was amazed.

---We had many things and people in common, but as I said, the difference in age was enough to block my knowing John. We didn't live next door and were really on the fringe of each others neighborhood. If our houses were closer, there is hardly any doubt that I would have known him. With all the that said, it is nonetheless fantastic that our being at the hospital, simultaneously, would occur.

---John was a great guy, and treated me very well. But, even if I wasn't from the same town, John would have treated me very well. John was a ''fixer,'' by trade, and wanted everyone to succeed. The stress of trying to hold it all together, while he saw the economy go down the tubes, was very difficult for him. I have a better picture, I hope to post, eventually. Thanks, John. RIP.

2008-02-01T17:44:00.000-08:00

---There has been talk for awhile, now, about moving the Hospital away from the ''INSTITUTIONAL'' model, into making it a more home-like environment. Here is my take on the subject. I think it is a very good idea.

Making The HOSPITAL A Home - The Movie

(ABOVE)

2007-12-23T21:06:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays!!

---CHEERS and SEASONS GREETING to everyone. I hope you ALL have a GOOD DAY that carries forth, to whatever you may find yourself doing in The NEW YEAR!!

---Enjoy and Share, what you DO HAVE, and DON'T WORRY about the things you DON'T HAVE. We will make future times, much better, this way. PEACE is far and away, better, than being upset and frantic, all the time. Keep the Spirit of the Season, all year long.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!

2007-12-15T15:04:00.000-08:00

The Blood Pressure - MOVIE

---I have filmed the taking of my Blood Pressure. It goes out to anyone who may have ''trouble,'' getting their own BP taken. For whatever reason you have, for NOT getting your BP checked, I hope this encourages you to do it. It is a painless procedure and can be controlled, if not quite right.

---My own Blood Pressure was around 200/125, a couple years before the STROKE. I controlled it for awhile, but I did NOT continue with the regimen of control. I allowed it to get high, again.

---My advice is to - Stay With Whatever Keeps it NORMAL. (120/80)
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The BLOOD PRESSURE MOVIE -
http://www.mediafire.com/?a2yjpyjmb9b.

---Meditation - lowers BP

http://how-to-meditate.org/

2007-11-25T13:40:00.000-08:00

Michael Marley

(1946 - 2007)

To Be Like Mike - A POEM

(Nesta)

This Is One Thing Of Many
That You Taught Me,
And It Is For This Fact Alone,
I'm Glad I Knew You

Enjoy What You Do,
And Be The Best That You Can Be
It Is Okay To Keep It Simple, And,
It Is Important To Toss
Your HEART Into The Ring

You Did Things According To This,
People Would Look Forward To Read Your Words.
You Were An Ambassador To Your Vision,
A Machine That Was Stuck On - ON.

You Are Somewhere, Now
We Can NOT See
But, You Taught Me Well, My Friend
To Be Like Mike,
I Have To DO, What I Believe -
That's What Your LIFE Said To ME.

http://www.mediafire.com/?6hy9hznisgw

(The Above Link Is From Mike Marleys Last Poetry Reading. It Was (11/13/07). He Passed On (11/17/07). He Was Very Weak, At This Time.)

2007-11-07T08:18:00.000-08:00

VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION TEA -

---It Was A Very Good Day, Indeed.

(Pictured: Linda A.)

2007-11-07T07:39:00.000-08:00

2007-08-11T21:12:00.000-07:00

The MAYOR - The AUTHOR,
(Gavin N. Meets Paul H.)

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---I'd like to say that The MAYOR, somehow, got ahold of my book, read it, and felt he had to meet The AUTHOR. The book changed his life around, and cleared up many issues that he had been carrying since childhood. He is a much happier individual, today. That ALL began, when he read My BOOK.
---But, you probably know, as well as I do, that it didn't happen that way. This is closer to the way it really was.
---On, August 1, I was visited by Rowena T. and Arla E. They said that The MAYOR was coming the next day and would like to meet a few of the Residents. They asked if I would care to be part of his visit. He had come to the hospital in the past, but I had never met him. This visit had much to do with his seeing the ''New'' Hospital being built, here.
---At about supper time, that night, I received a call from Rowena. They were making giftbags, for the Mayor and his entourage, and wanted to include a copy of my book in each. Luckily, I have piles and piles of them, left. I, GUESS, The 'Big'' Run On Them, HAS YET TO HAPPEN.
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---The Mayor arrived the next day. We talked of my hearing him on a local radio morning show. I APPEARED impressed that he would know ALL the DJ's, personally. It must be a real ''kick,'' etc. Well, anyway, I thought it was funny. (In the hierarchy of things, the Mayor is before most of us.)
---I found him to be very engaging and personable. He Is very down-to-earth, and didn't put on any airs. I kidded him that, in some sense, he is my landlord, and discussed paying the rent.

---I, also, suggested he wear a ''hardhat,'' while touring the New Hospital site. He joked, that he had enough Gel, in-his-hair, to withstand anything. (If I asked him to put on my extra eyepatch, he may have.) He is a very good sport.
---I spied that Rowena had a digital camera, and the wheels started turning. My Book, the Mayor and a Camera. You do the math. Here is a photo opportunity, if there ever was one...and it WASN'T the Mayor snapping a picture of ME, holding the Book.
---He held my book, with NO questions asked. I had asked him to humor me and at least look at it. I told him that He and Co., were receiving giftbags that had HIS copy. (I, really, was, saving face, in case he wondered why I didn't give him one.)
---My fantasy is that he would read my book, be so MOVED by it, MANDATE and PROVIDE copies, for everyone in the city. From there, I think it goes, ''...And They All Lived Happily Ever After.'' I could be digressing, but...anyway. I found him to be a nice guy. I'm glad he came by. Is Arnold waiting in the wings? Be Well.

2007-07-20T22:43:00.000-07:00

CONSIDER THESE...
My BOOK Of Self-Acceptance

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---Well, I finally had an opportunity to put my ''writings,'' into some sort of book. This has been a dream of mine, since the 60's. It is NOT that I haven't tried and aborted many attempts. But, for some reason, it just never has come together, as it has now.
---CONSIDER THESE..., contains about 25 entries of my essays and poems. Some of the material is NOT on my blogs. There are a few pictures, also. The whole book is very short - only 46 pages.
---I have been writing all my life. My first, was, basically, ''The Adventures Of Bob Lund.'' It was 62 pages, and typed by my Cousin Linda T. There was one copy and I think there was a price and all. 60 cents. It wasn't very good, but when we were bored, my friend Hempty would drag it out and read it aloud. I wrote the book at age 8, and was listening at age 26. The loudest laughter may have come from me.
---A strange aside to this is that I had met someone named Bob Lund, who came to see the Bobby Darling Show, quite frequently, back in the late 70's. Bob's girlfriend, at the time, was very interested in reading the book. I remember being on stage at The Blue Max, and her being in the audience, reading in earnest. It seemed as though she was going to discover something about Bob. It would be funny if she had.
---Back to CONSIDER THESE.... If I meet someone with this name, I, myself, will begin to wonder...and read, in earnest. The main focus is around the fact that it really is OKAY to BE YOURSELF. The reason I say this is because, being born missing four fingers on my left-hand, I found myself almost forced into realizing this fact. But, what a great blessing it was, when I finally did.
---I have met many people who are trying to be someone they're not. Most people aren't even aware of this. I know I wasn't. We ALL have what we need inside, but are so busy looking outside, that we don't see this. Stop competing and comparing. Learn what Love, really means, as a fact. Stop focusing on if you feel loved or not. You will stumble across it. Guaranteed. It is in there. Take Care.

The BOOK Is Available On Lulu.com.

2007-07-06T22:35:00.000-07:00

A ''LEFT - HANDED'' COMPLIMENT -

Paul C., Talks About Book

---Everyday at 3:30 Paul H. stops by my office on his way to exercise in the therapy gym. We typically chat about the day's events or other commonalities. We've both recently been in the market for a computer and we've been sharing opinions about the different possibilities. On Tuesday of last week, Paul wheeled into my office and handed me a book. Actually I can't say he handed it to me because he doesn't have a hand on one side and is so tremulous with the other hand that he can't hold things without dropping them. I'd never asked Paul why he didn't have a hand and the subject never came up in conversation, but when he gave me the book it brought back memories of another friend of mine.

---Several years earlier, when I first started working at the hospital, I was carpooling with a group of other hospital employees. Being new to the city and the hospital, I was anxious to find friendships and the carpool seemed a good way to get to know some of the folks I worked with. As it happened, one of the members of the carpool was missing a hand in almost the same fashion as Paul. In my eagerness to get to know the group I nonchalantly asked Nancy what had happened to her hand. During the next 45 minutes she explained the whole story of getting her hand caught in a leaf cutter and all of the details of the ensuing physical and emotional trauma. By the end of the ride she was crying with the telling. She apologized for her emotion, telling us that she hadn't actually told the story in many years and was surprised herself by her reaction. This surprised me because the other carpool members had been riding with Nancy for over 5 years. I asked one of them later if anyone knew Nancy's story, but no one had thought to ask. That morning ride was a defining moment in the group and helped to solidify some relationships that I carry to this day.

---Paul gave me the book and excused himself from my office with only a brief comment that he hoped the book would be useful. Ironically, in the first chapter Paul tells the story of his hand. He said that most people assumed that he had lost his hand in an accident, but the truth was he was born without it. He tells of a painful childhood where he made great efforts to hide his hand by sticking it deep in his pocket, even among people that knew he didn't have the hand. He goes on to talk of how he gradually embraced his loss by forcing himself to keep the limb out in the open. While I was reading the story it occurred to me how I had been hiding some of my own missing parts and how there might just be value in bringing those into the open. In other words, the telling of Paul's story touched my life in a deeply personal way.

---In the carpool I had thought to ask the question of how Nancy had lost her hand and that ultimately led to a deeper relationship with her and the others in the group. Paul's story had a similarly compelling effect, but I could have gotten there sooner had I thought to ask. We talk about patient centered care from the perspective of trying to make a home like environment, or scheduling things according to our patient's needs, but we seldom take the time to ask and we don't expect to be changed ourselves. It's in the asking that not only gives us the appropriate perspective but can ultimately lead to fundamental changes in who we are as individuals. Paul C.

(Paul C. MPT, GCS, Was Rehabilitation Coordinator, There. Paul C. Was My Therapist, The ONLY Day I Was Able To Walk, Unaided, Following The Stroke. We WALKED About 3/4 of a Mile. The Date Was Near September 1, 2002. Paul C., Has Gotten Another Job...And Has Left The Hospital, Now. He Left July 2008. Good Luck, Paul.)

2007-06-30T16:25:00.000-07:00

HOW CONVOLUTED:
Past + Present and
East + West

''Past Dealings With Executive Administrator''

---This is very convoluted from my own standpoint. I don't know what it may sound like to you. It is how my past and present has converged.
---I went to High School with Joe L---. I have written about this in my website called BOBBY - OGRAPHY, ETC. We formed the Bobby Darling Show, and performed many times together. It was a great time in my Life, and there were more than a few wonderful moments.
---This all happened in Massachusetts, where we were born and raised. I stopped playing in the Bobby Darling Show due to what was occurring in my personal life. It is more or less there on my Blogsites, if you care to read it. For me, it was time to move on.
---I hitched from Massachusetts and got to California in 1982. I spent time in NC, TN, TX and then Southern California. I left there for my final destination, where I have been for about 24 years and counting. I joke that, ''I Stopped in California, because I couldn't hitch to Hawaii.''
---I had always kind of wondered if ANYONE I would ''run'' into would be from MA and remember the BDS. I have met others from MA., but nobody remembered. I accepted this and as the years have gone on, I just expected it NOT to happen.
---I had some Documents I had written and I wanted to give them to the Staff at the Hospital where I live. I began to attend some of the meetings, but did not know how to convey any info, other than running in to them, and picking-and-choosing my chance.
---Someone suggested I e-mail them and attach the document. Well, being as sharp-as-a-marble, sometimes, I didn't know what he meant. Attachments were NOT on my SHORT LIST of things I can do on a computer. Learning anything on the computer has really been a need-to-know process.
---A volunteer at the hospital had taught me how to Post on a Blog. I began Posting my ''vital'' info on a Blog and we would look at it during the meeting. As I'm sure some may know, some people were far more impressed than they would be, if they knew how easy it is made.
---I showed my Blogs to Rowena T., in the Administration Office. I could tell that she was not aware that anything like this existed...and that I had a bunch of them. I don't know if there is a limit on the amount one can host, but I will bet it approaches infinity. My relationship with Rowena had grown as she was instrumental in my being invited to different Staff meetings that were being held.

---It, Finally, Gets CONVOLUTED---
---This is where it gets convoluted. Rowena T. innocently shared the fact that one of the Residents/Patients has all these blog websites. She shared this with the Executive Director of the hospital, John K. Next thing I knew is that I have an e-mail from John K. He was very supportive of what I had done and asked,''Where exactly in MA., was I from?'' He read this fact in my blog.
---He had been appointed CEO a year or so after I had taken residency. As the saying goes, I didn't know John from Adam and he didn't know me (as far as we knew.) But, now, we had some commonalities in our past. I would like to add here that I had always gotten along well with John K., but was completely in the dark about our pasts.
---After a few e-mails and meetings, I found out that John K., is from my hometown and we went to the same elemetary school. We have a few people in common, but what really ''knocked-my-socks-off,'' was that he remembers the BDS and saw us play at a local ''establishment,'' in MA. The unfortunate part is that I am about 7 years older, so seeing us play would have just put him into the, ''Get away kid, you're bothering me,'' age group. I'm just kidding. Actually, I'm here to see that the, ''Boys from Main South are eating all their vegetables per order of Mr. Mahoney, our former Grammar School Principal.''
---As, I said, someone seeing the BDS is something that I had placed on the ''back-burner'' a number of years ago. If, thirty-years ago, someone had said that,''this man will someday be the CEO of the hospital you are going to be living at in California,'' I would have thought that this is crazy talk. ''What do you mean hospital, anyway?''

Bobby Darling MOVIE - This is a MOVIE about a place John, Bobby and Myself, have in common.

http://www.mediafire.com/?82fiim9zbm3

2007-06-30T11:41:00.000-07:00

CREATIVITY

(Pictured - Myselves, John K., Bobby Darling)

To Improve Relations
And The Whole Situation
We Can Make This Stipulation

We Have Communication
With Appreciation
For The Frustration

This Stokes Imagination
That Leads To Examination
And Exploration Of The Motivation

Self - Expression Is The CREATION
.

To Cheer Yourself Up,
Cheer Someone Else Up.
Mark Twain

http://www.mediafire.com/?b0drg9nhzm3

http://www.mediafire.com/?cpz2djmvtyt

2007-05-16T19:08:00.000-07:00

New Residents Council

Efficiency Ideas
1st and 3rd, Thurs. of month, 10:30 – 11:45 AM.

Old Biz - Mins of last meeting – Gist of Mins
Was anyone NOT satisfied with what was
done about concerns of last meeting?
Example- Concern [Gist] - D3 Res. Said stalls are not wide enough for wheelchair. Ans- Widened stalls.

1. Explain: ALL Residents have IDT. It is made up of doctors , nurse mgr., charge nurse, social worker, dietician and activities therapist. It is also made up of ANYONE who may lend a hand, in your case, It is also made up of one more important person, YOU. Encourage Res. To use. [Essays, IDT and YOU, and Residents Role.]

2. Encourage Res. Involvement – PREP/VOL
Program. Jobs – Redeemable Vouchers

3. Encourage INSIDER- [How Community
Communicates and Showcases its work.]

4. Resident Guide Books – lists what you need.
Be sure Res. receive one on arrival. M5

Guests and/with Announcements – This section
depends on time

New Biz – Resident Concerns, Who has –
Nursing and C.N.A care [concerns]
Smoking ‘’
Food ‘’
Elevators ‘’
Noise Levels ‘’
Cleaning ‘’
Bathrooms ‘’
Other ‘’

Concerns – What is it?
A little venting time
How it will be handled. [To
which dept. it will be given.]

(Picture by Linda A.)

2007-05-16T19:00:00.000-07:00

CARTOON BREAK - ''Getting Better, Though.''

2007-05-16T18:57:00.000-07:00

OVERVIEW:
The Resident Council

Meeting – Residents Voice Concerns
Concerns are anything that the Resident
sees as improving THE Situation.

Handling Concern - Refer to appropriate department, to IDT itself or deal with immediately.

[Resident should be notified, (how concern is handled), by whatever means are necessary, to explain, to his satisfaction, why outcome is as it is, whether it be good, bad or indifferent.]

Role of Resident – Identify NEEDS and PREFERENCES, that are seen as necessary to improve quality of life.

Role of IDT – Help Resident identify N's and P's. [When developing N's and P's, be Realistic, Honest and Viable.

Resident and IDT agree on 4 or 5 N's and P's, that are conveyed to C.N.A., or whomever is deemed necessary. These are part of Treatment Plan. If carried out regularly, we see Residents Quality of Life improve. If NOT, renegotiate N's and P's. Straighten out ground-rules.

Member of IDT meets with Resident 5 - 10 mins per week to find out how N's and P's are going [whether they are carried out or not,] how's he doing, any new biz, etc. For ex. If IDT member is AT, he/she will bring back question to SW, and response will be ASAP.

2007-05-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

THE Certified Nursing Assistant, Approach
by Rudy M.

Resident (At-A-Glance)
(Circle)

Name: ____________________________
Unit: _________

1. Language - a. English b. Spanish c. Chinese
2. ADL’s – a, Ind. b. Assisted c. Total Assist
3. Transfer/Mobility - a. Ind. b. Pivot c. Easy lift
4. Devices – a. _____ b. _____ c. _____ d. _____
.e. _________ f. ________ g. ___________
5. Meals – a. Ind. b. Set-up c. Assist w/meals.
6.Bathing – a. Shower b. Tub c. Alternative
.d. Bathday: Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun
7. Toileting – a. BRP b. Commode c. Incontinent
.d. ________
8. Favorite Activities – a. __________
.b. ____________ c._________
.d. ___________ e. ____________
9. Strategies/Interventions – a. ________ b. ________
.c._________ d. _________ e. __________
10. Special Approaches/Precautions –
Name- (over, if necessary)

11. Bedtime + Nightwear - (name and time)

CORE PRINCIPLES - Respect and Dignity,
Communication, Safety, Infection Control,
Independence, Privacy____________

2007-05-16T16:18:00.000-07:00

Residents Role

The Resident sees something that needs to be done. Or, he may be aware of his own need that has to be met. These are things to think about, before pushing the nurse call light. What should he do, before he involves staff?

1. Assess situation and see what the situation
really is. Assesses timeframe it needs to be
dealt with. How urgent is it?

2. If he is able to carry out solution, himself?
Do you NEED assistance?

3. How much assistance is NEEDED? When
considering this, be HONEST with amount of
laziness involved. Doing things for yourself
is very therapeutic. Builds self-esteem and
character. Lessens Frustration.

4. Work with Staff person to come to viable
solution.

People, whether Staff or Resident, tend to be lazy or bored, if they are NOT involved with what they do. I think that a NEEDS and PREFERENCES list tends to put ALL on the same page.

(Picture by Kim J.)

2007-01-10T14:03:00.000-08:00

HOSPITAL TIME

TIME Is ''DIFFERENT'' For Residents And Staff
Resident TIME Is Much Slower,
FOR THE MOST PART!!
When A Resident In ''PAIN''
Waits For TEN MINUTES
It Can Seem Like ''FOREVER.'''
TEN MINUTES To The Staff
Almost A ''BREAK.''

Staff GO Home
GO Out
GO
Have PARTIES

Residents ARE HOME
Watch TV
Take MEDICATION
Go To BED

The TRICK Is -
To FEEL GOOD

http://www.mediafire.com/?2cz4m303gbv

2006-12-31T09:55:00.000-08:00

LIBRARY

PHOTOS -

2006-12-25T09:19:00.000-08:00

My Nurses JOKE

---The Wife is in the kitchen, banging pots and pans.
---Husband asks, ‘’What’s wrong, honey?
---Wife- ‘’I found the name Mary-Louise written on a paper-in your pocket.’’
---Husband- He saw his wife distressed by this and said, ‘’That is just the name of a HORSE, that I was betting on.’’
---The Wife felt much better, now.

A few days later, the Husband heard the wife crashing pots and pans around the kitchen, again.
---He went to the kitchen and asked, ‘’What’s wrong, now, honey?’’
---She was distraught and answered, through a flurry of tears, ‘’Your HORSE Called.’’

[He Should Have Been HONEST, A Long Time Ago.]

You Will Find Ray, The ''COMEDIC-STEED,'' On The CHLOE - ''INTERVIEWS''

2006-11-12T16:35:00.000-08:00

FISH

CHAPEL

SIMON THEATER

ELEVATOR

3rd FLOOR

ROOM

AT THE HOSPITAL...

---These Are The PHOTO'S.

2006-11-11T17:17:00.000-08:00

My ''NEW'' Place

The Place Where I Lived
Did Serve Me Well
Some Liked It, Some Didn’t
Some Were Taken Aback,
Some Just Avoided It.

The Place Is Now, In A WHEELCHAIR
Confined As I Am,
I'm Not Complaining

I've Travelled Far And Wide
They Think It's Fun To Be THAT Free
But, I Think I Am ‘’More’’ FREE,
Learning, What It ''Means,'' To Be Me.
.
http://www.mediafire.com/?bzysgxkc7qd
(Picture by Linda A.)

2006-11-10T09:15:00.000-08:00

RESIDENTS WITH ATTITUDE
RWA

---Resident's With Attitude is a direct rip-off of NWA. The NWA didn't discover attitude, and they certainly weren't the first people to have one. One has an attitude as soon as one thinks his way is better than the one that he is carrying out. It has nothing to do with the color of ones skin. Attitudes probably came into existence when someone thought it should be done My way, or done differently than the Status Quo dictates. (The N does NOT stand for Nurses-But it could. Rapping is NOT a requirement.)
---So, that brings us to RWA. If we still take our cues from NWA, we have OUR attitude because of the way the ''man'' has mistreated us over time. We find, almost immediately - SWA, Staff With Attitude. We realize that the ''man'' is just playing his game [to piss-off as few people as possible, while getting his needs met.] The ''MAN'' has a ''MAN,'' if you catch the drift.
---We have to realize that their really is ''No Man,’’ in the Human sense. He really would be ‘’ANYTHING’’ to which we have given ‘’our’’ power. That ‘’Being’’ or ‘’Belief System’’ that we end-up with when we would rather do things differently and to our ‘’eyes,’’ better. We ‘’feel,’’ that whatever or whoever, thinks ‘’His Way’’ is the better way, ends up with an attitude. We have ALL had to compromise how we really see things.
---Someone is only our authority if we allow and designate him to be. Otherwise, no one is responsible for ''us,'' except us. So the attitudes that we have - create the situation and the circumstances we find ourselves. In other words, it comes down to YOU - Your Own Universe..
---To Go one step further, if we think our way is truly the better way, we have to make that attitude known. To get this need met and to piss-off as few people as necessary, we have to realize that we have made someone elses attitude our ''KING,'' and must now deal with it.
---To hold on to an attitude that is not working [Examine and keep, upgrade or let go.] suddenly becomes foolish.
---IMPORTANT - We kill off attitudes and replace them with better ones. If we think so-and-so has an attitude that is the wrong attitude - look at this. His attitude is his attitude. If we have allowed the '’man,'' or whoever, to run us, because we have allowed his attitude to run our lives, we have to look at the fact that it is our attitude that has given his attitude, so much clout. Check your own ‘’attitude.’’ You have allowed another to be your authority. [If you are fine with this, you have NO bad feelings and everything is okay..]
---REMEMBER – Attitudes can change so we work on that and NOT try to ‘’get-rid-of’’ anyone who does not agree with US. It is ALWAYS – ‘’Change an attitude and then you will see the person himself, Change.''

2006-11-09T23:56:00.000-08:00

My CODE BLUE

---I had heard them called periodically, hoped the person going through ''it'' was alright, but NEVER heard the one called for me. One Saturday afternoon they turned in a Code Blue for me.It was ''my'' turn. It is not that we each have ''our'' turn, It is just that I received some new novels with lots of ''drama,'' and according to different ''accounts,'' drama was the word of the day
---Probably not paying the attention I should, I had been using my ''new'' teeth a bit too freely. I was eating basically everything in sight, without a mishap, ALMOST, until this day. I had never felt very comfortable with the ''bottom-teeth.'' I will say almost as I digress for a moment.
---The almost comes two weeks before, when Dr. C---- was called to my table to deal with a ''swallowing'' situation. It seems that at that time and coincidentally eating the same fruit, or trying to, I got the mellon above my ''palate'' and behind my nose, in the sinus area. To this day, I can't tell you how I did it, but those UN-adjusted bottom teeth gave me some amazing abilities.
---Dr C---- said that eventually the mellon would work its way out through some sort of ''erosion'' method, as I continued with, ''business-as-usual.'' Why he was called originally is that each time I would dislodge the mellon from one area of the sinus it would lodge itself in a new area. I was having to breathe around it.
---Armed with my knowledge from Physical Science, the Grand Canyon, and erosion- I figured this was do-able, I just hoped it didn't take as long. Eventually, it snuck out one of my ''portals.''
---Back to the day of the Code Blue. As I said earlier, my bottom teeth had never been adjusted properly. There is no blame involved - I simply shouldn't have been eating with them.
---I was trying to swallow this piece of mellon, but couldn't get it into my ''swallow-spot,'' where things seem to go down naturally. I had a stroke in 2002, so my swallowing had been a bit compromised. It began going down the ''wrong-pipe,'' as they say, and I could not ''retrieve'' it as I had done many times before. It was heading to the lungs, where it does not belong. When the food goes to the lungs, this is called ''aspiration.'' I could not breathe and 'passed-out.''
---I was aware there was a problem and knew I would need help with this. I am I'm fortunate that I am at a place where help is so ''readily'' available.
---I called on my nurses ''call'' light and my CNA soon showed up. She called the RN and she took it from there. She called in a ''Code Blue,'' and notified the EMT's. All the while, the Heimlich Maneuver was being applied. The Code Blue Team was on the scene quickly, headed by Drs. B-------- and the same Dr.C----, and everyone worked very hard to keep me breathing. The EMTs took it from there and brought me to another hospital. They also worked very hard. I ended up in the Intensive Care Unit for three days and returned to my own hospital bed, eight days later.
---I would like to thank all involved. I remember pressing the ''call'' light, but not much else. Those who helped on my Ward, added to almost immediately by those who helped from other Wards. And also thanks to those who responded from the Code Blue Team. I may as well thank the EMT's and those at the other hospital while I'm at it. According to different accounts, the day was more ''difficult'' than I remember. Let's NOT do it again, sometime. Peace and Love to you ALL. Be Well.

2006-11-09T19:52:00.000-08:00

The STROKE
June 2, 2002

---Many have asked me, ''What was it like.'' People are referring to the STROKE. People seem to want to know what is was like, if I felt pain, and did I lose consciousness. Someone also asked if it affected my ability to perform-sexually. I will answer the last question- last, as it will keep your attention.
---Since you have probably skipped ahead and are not so preoccupied, I will continue. I was a bleeder and bled into the brain-stem area of the brain affecting my right side. My balance was compromised and I can no longer walk. I am legally blind in my right eye and my speech was more affected than it is now. I had what is called, dysarthria. I, also have, double-vision. I see two images instead of the usual, binocular-type, vision, that most have. With the movement disorder, the Holmes Tremor, that has come into play on the right-side, there is a ''bouncing'' that happens with everything I can ''see'' on the right-side. Sometimes I wear an eye-patch. Out of 2500 Stroke-Survivors tested, only 29 developed a Movement Disorder. Just over 1%. Most Stroke Survivors have a paralysis.
---I was at work when the stroke occurred. I had been talking to a co-worker. We were discussing the ''group'' I was to facilitate, later in the day, when I suddenly was ''very thirsty.'' I walked to my office, not so easy now, and I sat in a chair. I proceeded to ''throw-up'' in the waste basket. I knew something was happening, but I didn't know what it was. I thought I would wait it out.
---Things were not improving and the Nurse was called in. She decided that the ambulance should be called. They brought me to the nearest hospital. I never lost consciousness, but the term cerebral hemorrhage was used. A co-worker said she would deal with my apartment, cat, etc. so as to make me as free from worry as possible. I was admitted to the hospital.
---I remember thinking that they will never let me leave like this. I was unable to walk and really did not know what had happened. Nobody had really told ''me'' what was going on. I had to surmise much. As, I said, my mobility was bad, and I couldn't do too much, but I didn't know what to do, anyway. I didn't know what I could or could not do, so I just layed there.
---Everything was ''dealwithable'' until the speech therapist said, ''This man CANNOT EAT.'' That got my attention. I remember saying, ''WHAT MAN? Who are you referring to? WHAT MAN CANNOT EAT?'' I knew she meant me, but I was NOT going to let this go, easily. Eating seemed VERY IMPORTANT. A lot of energy was there for awhile, but it did seem easier to remain relatively quiet.
---It took a few years to get the Swallowing under control. By this I mean, I finally signed a paper, with only my ''mark'' of course, that stated that '' No one will be held responsible in the event their is any choking, or whathaveyou. I take full responsibility for everything I eat.'' I was then allowed to eat in peace. I eat alone and this has given me the time I needed to learn to eat, properly and safely.
---Oh, yeah, the sexuality question. I was never very physical anyway so, the question is really N/A. As you can probably tell, I am much more the talker. HELP ME!! Just kidding. Someday, I may write about channelling the sexual energy up the spine.The Kundalini. I will just add that dealing with your sexuality doesn't mean DENIAL. It is to INTEGRATE it in EVERYTHING one does. ''The best way around something is to go through it.'' Be Honest and you will Be Well.
-
[Since The Picture Above Is Only A Drawing, I Ok'ed It. NO Cat Was Hurt WhenThe ''Cartoon'' Was Drawn. - CHLOE The CAT]

2006-11-08T11:10:00.000-08:00

MA''Z''AGE THERAPY

---I have recently been hooked-up with a Massage Therapist and it is coming along nicely. Her name is Z. She knows her craft very well, and the reasons behind what she does. If one is aligned ''properly,''one benefits from the inherent intelligence the body already has. The body responds and reacts very well, when it is ''right'' again. What she does ''complements'' other positive accomplishments I've had.
---She is a CST - Certified Shiatsu Therapist. She does NOT like to be refered to as a ''masseuse.'' She, herself, says she can ''feel'' what she is doing in anothers body. This seems to ring true as she speaks of my feelings sometimes as if they were her own. She seems sensitive to whatever I may be experiencing, as we go along.
---My situation seems customed made for her skills. She says that what she does, has a particularly ''positive'' effect on people who have had strokes. I had a ''stroke'' a little over four years ago. I can't walk and my balance is ''off the charts.'' For over four years now, I have been sitting or lying down, with infrequent stand-ups. The muscles and everything else in different areas of my body, are very contorted. The years of the stroke numbness, non-movement and lack of proper blood-flow has left certain areas of the body needing a ''reawakening,'' to bring them back to life. She seems to have a feel for where they are and what they need. The body really was not made to be in the ''position'' it's in, and tries to adapt to its present situation, as unnatural as it is. Her ''work'' is to realign things as they should be.
---With her manipulations, I even feel pain at times, but it is a ''good-pain.'' I am just experiencing ''parts-that-are- sleeping'' becoming ''parts-that- ARE- AWAKENING.'' The pain is short-lived and even, at times, welcomed, as you know that something new [and good] is happening. There are others, on my own ward, who seem to be benefitting from her Therapy, also. She Volunteers here, but I wish I could experience her ''gifts'' more often. She goes by the name of ''Z,'' saying her full name only when she has to. ''It's too cumbersome.'' Be Well.

2006-11-07T10:53:00.000-08:00

CREATIVITY TEAM - IDEA

PAINTINGS and POETRY
CREATIVITY from the RESIDENTS

1. Put Paintings and Poetry from ART SHOWS and KALEIDOSCOPE onto Website. Add the ''INSIDER,'' also. Have brief John K. video introduce site.

MISSION STATEMENT - To empirically show that one's creativity can be ''tapped'' into and utilized no matter what the age or ''condition'' one finds oneself. It doesn't matter from which angle one approachs his self - expression, as long as he is expressing himself, He is being creative. Creativity spills over into everything this individual does, making Him a ''HAPPIER'' individual and more efficient, through His Productivity and Creativity. To Tap into the Well of Creativity (which is within EVERYONE) makes people healthier and more vibrant, NO matter what the day-to-day challenges happen to be.

Or, We Could Just Say,

MISSION STATEMENT: No matter what the age, condition or day-to-day challenges, happen to be, creativity can be tapped into, and expressed. This is some of what the Residents have done, up-to-now. We have left room to display more Resident Creativity, in-the-future.

2006-10-15T19:40:00.000-07:00

IN THE SPOTLITE
--JON HAMMOND--

---One of the Musical Performers we get here is Jon Hammond. He has been playing here for quite a long time. He would mention in passing, between songs, some celebrities that are household names. It was done in such a way that it sounded as if he had met some of these people. Come to find out, he had.
---After I got to talking to Jon, I realized that the polish he brings to his jazz piano and, to the Hospital, is no fluke. Jon resides mostly in New York City. He has a place in Time Square. In his neighborhood alone he met Paul Newman. Joanne Woodward, and Al Pacino. He also has a Cable Access show there. On his Show he has interviewed people who he has found interesting. His favorite was Lionel Hampton, the reknowned vibe player. ''At 80 years old, he was full of energy.''
---Another he enjoyed had been Cab Calloway. This was after his re-emeregence from the ''Blues Brothers'' movie. He mentions as one of his non-musician guests to be none other than Andy Warhol. It seems that Andy was interested in the Computer Graphics and Artwork that Jon and his crew used on the Show.
---Though he plays a ''jazz organ'' on his CD 's and with his Band, Jon has been banging on the piano from about age six. When the Beatles came on the scene in '64, Jon, with most others his age, decided to become a ''Rock'' star. He tried his hand at this. He had some groups ranging in name from ''Hades'' to ''Contraband.'' He becomes thoughtful at this moment.''Contraband was a pretty good band.'' At age thirteen he got his first electric-accordian.
---Jon has a small collection of accordians-mostly electric. He has inked a deal with Excelsior, and has received as his choice, some fine instruments from them. He also notes that e-bay, the computer sales website, is a good source. Jon mentions that he will be playing accordian for Broadway's own Fiddler on the
Roof', ''Whenever I learn the music.'' He says it is about as thick as a Telephone Book.
---His latest group is made up of the ''Late-Rent'' Sessionmen. As the name implies, whenever Jon is a little short and behind on his Rent, his landlord
takes some music in trade.
---Jon plays about every month or two here. Look for the fliers and catch his Show. I asked him why someone who trots the globe makes such frequent stops at a California Hospital. He says ''Well, my Father was a physician. My Grandfather was a physician. I'm a musician. I like to see the people smile.'' Jon does his ''therapy'' in another way. He hopes to be one of the first performers when they build the ''New Hospital.'' Happy Holidays.

Listen To His RADIO SHOW:
http://HAMMONDCAST.COM

2005-05-31T14:09:00.000-07:00

PHOTOS -

2005-05-30T17:34:00.000-07:00

PHOTOS - 2

2005-05-29T06:35:00.000-07:00

MEETING LAST NIGHT
(May 30, 2007)

Three Points:

-1. Invite John to Res. council mtg. to talk about Assisted Living Program. (Gist)
--a. Can be brief
--b. Objective to be able to answer in affirmative, whether it was discussed with present residents, or not?

-2. Draft - Something concrete they can
respond to, [to pick apart]
Relates to Resident sharing, feeling of –
expressing himself, to only be squelched.

-3. Curious – Budget and Cleaning. In opinion,
not enough money?