The TASC Net Newsletter September 2007

January February March 2008 The Buddy Organisation www.tasc.org.nz In this issue Membership Renewal Smoking & SCI Fishing in the Coromandel Sky Diving Supra Pubic Catheter Tendon Transfer Surgery Pressure Sores Show Off Day
President’s Report Dear Readers, Welcome to our first newsletter for 2008. Summer has slipped past already, lovely summer that it was, and we are quickly heading down hill towards winter. I’m afraid we experienced our first Autumn rain on Show­off day. It was dreadful weather that day but we have been very lucky with weather on the 9 previous occasions. Firstly thanks to the exhibitors who did turn up, the celebrities and guests who, along with our sportspeople to help the day be as successful as it turned out. Thanks to our hardy public who weathered the storm and came along. Thanks to TASC’s and Parafed Auckland’s hard working staff and helpers who worked tirelessly over the period and lastly thanks to our sponsors. Without them we could not proceed. Congratulations to the winners of the Bruce Hopkins Art awards. Thank you to the people with disabilities who exhibited their paintings. The art was of a very high standard this year. Thanks to Parafed Auckland for organising the Hopkins Awards and the judges for their hard work. TASC has Art classes starting this week here at the Spinal Unit. This is thanks to the generosity of Creative New Zealand whose grant will pay for tutoring and art supplies, so no cost to the students. We are still looking for more students, so if you’re interested, contact the TASC office. The ladies in the office have been working on new initiatives including joint ventures with spinal unit staff and guest speakers on the sexuality for people with spinal impairment meetings, both in Auckland and the regions. Plus our Satellite meetings in places like Whangarei and Rotorua. So get ready to meet with your peers in those areas or even around Auckland, we look forward to renewing our acquaintances with you. One of our new initiatives is giving away computers to TASC members who can’t afford to buy one. Good quality computers have been donated to us from some very generous people, and we have been lucky to have Grant and Meredith Hale who refurbish the machines for us. Thanks also to Microsoft who donated us some software. We do have one slight problem though, we have more computers to give away than screens. If anyone has a number of spare monitors, they would be well accepted. Not much more to say except, look after yourselves as we head towards the cooler weather and get your flu vaccines early, they should be in stock at your doctor’s now. Regards, Murray TASC Membership In order to keep up with our funding & to be able to provide our services including this newsletter all members must be financial. Please fill in & post your $5 membership to TASC—PO Box 236 35—Hunters Corner—Papatoetoe Name— Address— Phone— Mobile— Email—
2 From the Health Desk
Smoking and Spinal Cord Injury We are all too familiar with the harmful effects of smoking including lung cancer, heart disease, emphysema and shorter life expectancy. Despite this many clients are willing to take their chances or simply find quitting very difficult. Perhaps this article will infuse some wisdom in changing an unhealthy habit. Smoking reduces the total lung capacity already decreased by Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) and diminishes the amount of oxygen in the blood stream used to nourish tissue and power muscles. Also, smoking can further increase an already heightened risk for bladder cancer. So how can things become worse for the person with SCI with regard to breathing? Smoking increases the production of mucous and secretions and contributes to congestion. Normally this build up of mucous and secretions are coughed out. However, the muscles responsible for coughing are affected with cervical and to a varying degree with thoracic injuries as well. An impaired ability to cough can lead to collapse of the honeycomb like air sacs trapping secretions in the lungs. This can often lead to pneumonia, one of the common causes of sickness and death following SCI. A study of 165 clients with SCI found that those who smoked tested poorly in both the amount of air they were able to cough out as well as the force with which they were able to expel it. Smoking raises the stakes in SCI placing clients at a greater risk. As people age with SCI both breathing capacity and lung volume decrease. This is from the combined affect of loss of elasticity of the lungs and muscles of the chest wall. Other potential problems that could make the situation worse include
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Increase in weight which can make breathing more difficult
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General decrease in exercise leading to decreased breathing capacity
Posture problems (slouching, rounded shoulders, scolosis) leading to smaller lung capacity
Spasticity that can affect chest
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Increase in frequency of chest infections Therefore smoking not only multiplies the problems listed but also increases the risks. There is also an increased incidence of pressure sores as well as longer healing time with or without surgery. The reason for this is poor circulation. Smoking in general and nicotine in particular, causes a decreased blood flow to the extremities. In addition smoking produces carbon monoxide which severely impairs oxygen from entering the blood vessels. Not only does smoking cause less blood to get to the skin, but the blood that gets there has far less oxygen. A reduction of blood rich in oxygen and insufficient removal of waste products from the skin contribute to the development and progression of pressure sores. The risk of bladder cancer is also high in those with SCI and worsens in those who smoke. In summary combining SCI and smoking is very risky, fraught with danger and not advisable. Dr Sridhar Atresh Medical Director Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit 3 Fishing
Tales with Robert Courtney For those people out there using manual or power chairs that like to fish but not sure which boats are acces­ sible then for starters try the Mussel Barge that operates out of Te Kouma Bay in the Coromandel – 5 minutes north of Coromandel township itself. They operate two barges – one is quite small but if you use a manual chair you can pretty much roll around the en­ tire boat – a power chair would not be very practical (you would probably get on ok but would have to remain in one spot the entire trip). The other barge is a lot bigger and a lot more open with room to move. The barge pulls up to the side of the concrete ramp and there is always plenty of vol­ unteers to lift you on and off the boat. Cost is $40 per person and $5 for a rod and reel if needed. The departure/return times are 7am – noon and from 4pm – dark. Preferred baits are squid, pilchards, mullet and mussels. The fishing is normally in shallow water 5­10 me­ tres and sometimes to 20 metres. Last year fishing was still going good up to June/July. The most common fish caught are snapper who like to feed on the mussel lines which is what we anchor to most times to fish. You will also get the odd kawhai, trevally and kingfish. Even the odd John Dory. Kingfish are a bit tough to bring in as by parking next to the mussel lines the line soon get hooked up and lost as the old kingi heads straight for the safety of these lines. If you get lucky the boat will have a good day and everyone will get their limit of fish early. You will catch a lot of 30cm long pan size snapper but lately when I have been out have caught a few 3 – 4 kg snapper. About a month ago Anita and I did the early morning fish on a weekday which means leaving home at 4.30am so you have to be keen. We had been out once before and Anita caught a few that time which bolstered her confidence so we had a bet of $5 on who caught the most. I was using mullet and was doing just fine – by the time we came in I had my limit no problem. Anita for some reason had caught lots of yellowtail and switched over to these for bait. Well you would think that if someone was pulling up snapper next to you and you were only catching yellowtail – which did not count towards the bet of course – then you would switch baits. Oh no – she perse­ vered and of course she lost the bet. Anyway it was a good day on the water. Next time I will try one of the fishing boats out of Whangamata and give a report on that and then maybe Tauranga and Westhaven.
4 SKYDIVING DON’T KNOCK IT UNTIL YOU’VE TRIED IT!! By Grant Aickin It was with much anticipation that I arrived at NZ Skydive in Mercer for what would be my fifth tandem skydive. In the previous two weeks my three attempts to go were postponed because of unfavourable conditions. On this occasion the conditions were perfect, a few light clouds and a gentle breeze all added to what was going to an unforgettable experience. Upon my arrival I met up with tandem master Tony Moore. I must confess my first impressions weren’t that great, I casually asked him “how many jumps have you done Tony?” his reply left me questioning my decision to even turn up, about four he said casually, FOUR I shouted back, yeah about four thousand he calmly replied! Any apprehension I may have had suddenly disappeared and the eager anticipation returned. We soon got down to the serious business of discussing the do’s & don’ts of the upcoming jump. With my partner Harriet’s assistance we began to get suited up. First the jumpsuit which is basically a flash pair of overalls. This was followed by the most important piece of equipment – the harness. Once I was all suited up we took a few precautions which an able bodied person wouldn’t require but I would recommend for a para or quad are essential (I’m a C5/6 quad). As the harness is pulled extremely tightly there is the potential for pressure areas. A simple solution is to place a couple of hand towels under the harness strap particularly around the inner thigh. My ankles were also wrapped with hand towels and they were tied together to stop my legs flaying around while we’re plummeting to earth. Lastly a cord from the ankle straps ran up to my waist for me to pull on so I could lift my feet up as we approached our landing. Both these precautions worked perfectly. We then headed off to the plane a short distance away. A simple transfer from wheelchair to plane and before we know it we were off. As the ground below us disappeared and we headed for our target of 14,000 feet the adrenalin was pumping. Tony the tandem master repeated his instructions several times to me, “when we leave the plane cross your arms, keep your head back & most importantly enjoy it”! It was only about 12 minutes and we had reached our altitude. Before I knew it Alex the cameraman stood up & slid the door open which was the only thing between me and the earth thousands of feet away. It’s right at this point that I admit to my first feelings of pure unadulterated fear! Suddenly thoughts like “what the hell am I doing here” and “shut the bloody door and take me home” surfaced, however I’m pleased to say the adrenalin kicked into overdrive and with Tony’s instructions echoing in my head I put the game face on. As Tony swung his body around towards the massive hole in the side of the plane I went with him. The first thing out of the plane were my legs, as they were hanging out of the plane Tony moved forward leaving me hanging out of the plane while he went through his last sec­ ond checks. Suddenly those feelings of fear returned but this time ten fold! Fortunately before they took over I felt Tony move forward and we were gone. The instant blast of air as we plummeted earthwards is literally breathtaking but I had heeded another of Tony’s instructions – keep your mouth shut! The intense rush is indescribable but suffice to say it is the ultimate blast. We are freefalling at 180 kph (approx), Alex the cameraman is so close I can almost touch him. It all seems so surreal. After about 80 secs the free fall is over and suddenly there is a big jolt as Tony pulls the rip cord and the parachute bursts open. Instantly the intense noise and rush of the fee fall is replaced by a deathly hush as we peacefully make our way towards terra firma. The contrast between the free fall and gracefully floating to earth under parachute is instant but just as overwhelming. The best way to describe it would be to imagine you are sitting on top of a cloud floating through the sky as you survey the world below you. It’s a magical experience! Tony then lights things up again with some rapid twirls which enables us to do a series of 360 degree circles as we speed towards the ground. After several minutes of exhilarating fun the ground is suddenly rushing up to us at a huge rate of knots. As the ground approaches I notice several tiny figures racing to the drop zone. Within seconds they are easily recognisable as a couple of the NZ Skydive staff who were there to grab my feet as we landed. This proved unnecessary as the landing was absolutely perfect. Like the entire jump the landing was brilliant. For anyone considering the prospect of skydiving I would not hesitate in telling them to go for it. It is an absolutely unforgettable experience that words can’t describe, you need to do it to get a real understanding of how fantastic it is. The NZ Skydive staff are brilliant and Tony Moore my tandem master is simply the best. His professionalism is second to none, his experience with disabled makes you feel extremely safe and this helped make the occasion even more memora­ ble. It has been two weeks since I jumped and I’m still on a high!! Grant Aickin
5 A light hearted look at a serious issue by Gayleen Mackereth Me and my “ Penis” The famous or infamous psychologist Freud said that women suffer from penis envy. Perhaps I have always had a hidden desire to be a man, and now with the co­operation of the kind doctor who stabbed me in the stomach and gave me a supra pubic catheter— Guess what? I can now compete with any man with true equality. You see, it didn’t happen at once. At first I battled leg bags, night bags and various other things, but one day a sort of miracle happened. A senior nurse offered me the chance of trying a flip­flow valve. But this was not just any flip flow valve but a streamlined German one. Fortunately for me reasonable hand strength had returned and by dint of using a long fingernail assisted by the other hand, I could push the simple button on my valve up or down. I have never looked back. After a couple of weeks of emptying the catheter at regular intervals urinary sensation returned and I knew when I wanted to go to the toilet. All I had to do was to empty the catheter into a plastic milk bottle which I could discretely carry anywhere, then empty the contents into a toilet when I got to one (disinfecting the bottle later of course) This enabled me to urinate most discretely in places like airplanes where I just rolled up my trouser leg with a blanket draped over the top. I have even ditched leg bags at night­I just wake up and empty my catheter into a bottle at regular intervals. The valve is long and pencil thin so it is almost invisible under my track pants. (http://www.uromed.de/englisch/produkte/produkte_set1.htm) The only time I have been caught out is by New Caledonian police who wanted to check my “weapon” under my trousers before boarding the plane. I have made considerable improvement in the two years since my accident and I live a life close to “normal” thanks to this Uromed flip­flow valve. I can even stand, so when I reach a toilet I can now stand and “Do it like a man”. Not for me the dirty toilet seats women dread I can now just whip out my “penis” as I fondly call it point it in the right direction and all is well. However I still have a couple of things to learn about being a man. One day, the bottle was forgotten, we had been travelling for a while in the country and I wanted to empty my catheter. Unable to hold on my husband reluctantly said he would find a patch of bush and pull off the road. I got out and stood then started to release the valve. There was a cry from my husband ”Stop, Stop” “You need to know what every little boy learns early­You don’t urinate into the wind!!!!” Well, as a woman how was I to know that?? So there’s more to having a penis than you think! I have tried the more common white flip­flow valve but it proved a menace to me, cutting my skin and opening when I pulled my trousers the wrong way. With the Uromed valve I have been able to go swimming with never a leak, go to riding for the disabled and do many other things with never an embarrassing moment. If you think a flip­flow valve would suit you, ask about one like mine. If more people use them I feel many lives would be altered. mackereth.g@gmail.com
6 Getting a grip on life again Being able to pinch a Press photographer is a source of satisfaction for Courtney Edmonds. The 32­year­old tetraplegic has just regained use of his thumbs after receiving four­ hour tendon transfer surgery at Burwood Hospital. Auckland­based Edmonds was left paralysed from the chest down when, driving home three years ago after a long week, he fell asleep at the wheel. His car, travelling at 100km/ h, left the road, flipped, took out a power pole and then caught fire. "A guy helped me out of the car. Because the roof was collapsed on me, I was kind of protected but when he moved me it broke my neck and damaged my spinal cord," Edmonds said. "It was either that or burn to death." He has a crushed spinal cord and is confined to a wheelchair. The surgery, which is only available in Christchurch, utilised an unused tendon, formerly connected to a bone in his arm, by weaving it to his thumb. "What he (the surgeon) has effectively done is given me back a thumb grip. It opens up a whole new world for me. Before, I would have to pick up a chess piece in my fist and it would be very difficult to let go of.” "Now I can hold a menu and I'm working on using plastic knives and forks.” "Having the ability to eat gracefully is going to be a big thing for me.” "I will eventually be able to write probably not well, but I'll be able to sign my name." Edmonds likened learning to use his "new" thumbs to giving up smoking. He has had to learn a new method of picking up items, and is gaining strength as he masters the unnatural technique. "It's mind over matter," he said. He can only feel the front half of his arms but may consider further surgery that would utilise his unused deltoids to recon­ struct his triceps next year. The visit was the second for Edmonds, and focused on extensive physiotherapy after the surgery three weeks ago. Article copied from The Christchurch Press—Published 4th March 2008—Written by Katie Wylie Dear Lord, So far today, I’m– doing all right. I have not gossiped, lost my temper, been greedy, grumpy, nasty, selfish, or self­indulgent. I have not whined, complained, cursed, or eaten any chocolate. I have charged nothing on my credit card. But I will be getting out of bed in a minute, and I think that I will really need your help then.
Donated Computers TASC has a number of donated computers to give away to our financial members. Do you know any TASC members who would benefit from this offer. Please contact the office to see if you are eligible. 7 From the Nurses Desk: Pressure Sores Preventing pressure sores is a daily concern for individuals who have a spinal cord injury (SCI). You want to stay healthy and avoid this serious skin problem in order to be free to do whatever life has to offer. This Info Sheet tells you some of the things you need to do to prevent pressure sores and how to care for them. Listed at the end are some excellent resources that give additional in­ formation on the prevention and care of pressure sores. A pressure sore is known by many names, like pressure ulcer, decubitus ulcer, ischemic ulcer, bed sore or skin sore. No matter what it is called, it is a serious problem that can take days, weeks, months or even longer to heal. There are four stages of a pressure sore. Stage 1 ­ Damage is limited to the top two layers of skin, the epidermal and dermal layers. The skin is not broken and the redness does not turn white when touched. Stage 2 ­ Damage extends beyond the top two layers of the skin to the adipose tissue. The skin is slightly broken. The sore appears to be an abrasion, blister or small crater. Stage 3 ­ Damage extends through all the superficial layers of the skin, adipose tissue, down to and including the muscle. The ulcer appears as a deep crater and damage to adjacent tissue may be present. ways use proper equipment when seated or lying down. Have a doctor or qualified professional recommend what specialized equipment you need to protect your skin.
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Your seat cushion needs to fit your body and your chair. It needs to be properly adjusted to offer the best protection against pressure areas.
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Your mattress needs to provide proper support and protection. Use pillows or sheepskin to help protect areas of the body that get too much pressure. ∙ Move often. Sitting or lying in the same position for too long causes the flow of A Pressure Sore is an area of the skin or blood to be cut off. The skin or underlying underlying tissue that is dead or dying as a Stage 4 ­ Damage includes destruction of all tissue begins to die, and it results in a result of the loss of blood flow to the area. It soft tissue structures and involves bone or pressure sore. can begin in a number of ways. The most joint structures. Undermining of adjacent common is when you rest on a bony area tissue and sinus tracts may be associated Do weight shifts (pressure relief) at least for a prolonged period of time. The ex­ every 15­20 minutes when sitting in your with these ulcers. tended pressure leads to a pressure sore. wheelchair.
Ways to prevent pressure sores Risk factors for getting a pressure sore · If your injury is at levels C4 and higher Anyone can get a pressure sore, but ∙ Check your skin completely twice a day, you can use a power tilt wheelchair for individuals with spinal cord injury are at high once in the morning and once at night.
regular pressure relief.
risk. It is estimated that up to 80% of individuals with SCI will have a pressure · Carefully look for skin damage or sore during their lifetime, and 30% will have redness, especially on bony areas. more than one pressure sore. If you have a low level of injury you can use There are a number of factors that put you a mirror to inspect areas you cannot easily at risk. see. If your injury is at a higher level, have a family member or personal care attendant ∙ Limited mobility can place extended check your skin. pressure on an area of your body. ∙ Know the places on your body that are ∙ Moisture from bladder and bowel more likely to get a pressure sore (See accidents can further weaken the skin and picture ). The four most common areas for a cause skin to break down more quickly. pressure sore to develop in individuals with SCI are on the sacrum, or tailbone, the heel ∙ A lack of feeling in specific parts of the of the foot, the ischium, which is at the base body can keep you from sensing that your of the buttocks and the bony areas of the skin has been damaged. A cut or scratch foot. The trochanter or hip is another area at can quickly develop into a larger problem if high risk for individuals who spend a lot of not properly treated. time in bed. ∙ Spasticity or transfers can sheer (rub) the skin and cause damage. ∙ Stages of a pressure sore Al­ The most common sign that a pressure sore is beginning is the appearance of a red area, or red spot on the skin. Ordinarily, redness should clear within 30 minutes after the pressure is released from the area. If the redness does not clear, a pressure sore has begun. A person with dark skin may also see a change in their skin color. The area may become light, dry, flaky, or ashy. Other signs that may indicate the beginning of a pressure sore is an area of skin that is warmer than normal or a change in the skin's texture. ·
With an injury at levels C5 or C6 you can usually lean forward or side­to­side for regular pressure relief. If your level of injury is C7 and below you can usually perform a wheelchair push­up for regular pressure relief. While in bed it is usually recommended that you change position at least every 2 hours. ∙ Keep skin clean and dry. Wet skin can become soft, inflamed and is less resistant to damage. Moisture weakens the skin and causes it to breakdown more quickly.
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Wash and dry skin right away after any bowel or bladder accident.
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Change clothes when they become wet.
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Use lotion instead of powder on your skin.
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Eat a well balanced diet. Foods high in protein, vitamins and minerals help your skin stay healthy and heal more quickly.
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Drink the recommended amount of fluids to help your skin stay soft.
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Drink at least 8 to 10 glasses of water per day. Limit the number of caffeinated drinks like coffee, tea and soft drinks.
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Protect your skin from harm.
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Avoid movement or activities that rub, scratch or cut your skin.
tory problems or urinary tract infections. Pressure sores also can lead to infection, surgery or even amputation. Treatment can be very costly in lost wages or additional medical expenses. ·
Avoid clothes and shoes that are too loose or too tight fitting.
Your doctor will determine the best type of treatment needed and instruct you on how to clean and dress the pressure sore. · Avoid clothes with thick seams, buttons Cleaning helps to remove dead tissue, skin or zippers located in areas where they put or fluid draining from the sore. pressure on your skin. Remember to always wash your hands (or Take special caution when doing transfers instruct the person who is changing the and participating in new activities or sports. bandage to wash their hands) before clean­ ing the sore and changing the bandage. ∙ Do not smoke. Smoking decreases oxygen to the skin and can make it more Watch for signs of infection, such as, difficult for skin to heal. redness around the edge of the sore, warm skin, large amounts of greenish drainage ∙ Do not abuse drugs or alcohol. Both can from the sore, odor or a fever. You want to damage your skin and can also lead to other know what caused the sore, if possible, so it health problems. does not occur again. Questions to ask yourself are ­ ∙ Care and treatment of a pressure sore By the time you realize there is a problem, damage to the skin has already occurred. Once you see signs of a pressure sore, stay off the area and contact a doctor im­ mediately for advice on treatment. ∙ Were my clothing or shoes tight in that area? Did they rub or pinch my skin? ∙ Do I have any new or changed equip­ ment? Something as simple as a change in how your feet rest on your foot rest can cause the skin to become irritated. The treatment for a pressure sore ranges from extended bed rest to surgery. You ∙ Did you have any change in your job or must keep weight off the area for it to heal. activities that caused a change in your rou­ This means you must take time off work and tine for doing your pressure reliefs? limit your activities. When you are less ac­ tive you are also at higher risk for respira­ The total cost to treat a pressure sore depends on how quickly the sore is treated. It is much quicker and less costly to heal a sore when it is in stage 1, than it is to heal a pressure sore that is in stage 4. Conclusion 95% of all pressure sores are preventable. The key to preventing a pressure sore is maintaining healthy skin. For individuals with spinal cord injury, prevention of pres­ sure sores is an ongoing, lifelong process. It is important to always look for better ways to keep skin healthy and protect skin from damage that may lead to a pressure sore. After all, healthy skin is always the key to staying on the go. Published by: Medical RRTC on Secondary Conditions of SCI UAB Spain Rehabilitation Center 619 19th Street South ­ SRC 529, Birmingham, AL 35249­7330 (205) 934­3283 or (205) 934­4642 (TTD only) Email: rtc@uab.edu Revised: December, 2000 Developed by: Linda Lindsey, MEd, Phil Klebine, MA and Ann Marie Oberheu, MD © 2000 Board of Trustees of the University of Alabama. The University of Alabama at Birmingham provides equal opportunity in education and employment This article was found at www.spinalcord.uab.edu Sex, Intimacy & Spinal Cord Injury TASC & the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit invite you to an informative evening to discuss topics sur­ rounding sex & intimacy following SCI. The evenings are open to both singles & couples. Time– 6:30—9:00 pm Cost—No charge (For ACC clients ACC will assist with transport & or accommodation if needed) ( If you are a MOH patient please contact us and we may be able to help with funding) ( Health Professionals/ Caregivers Workshop 2:30—5:00 pm (same venue and date as the evening workshop) there will be a workshop on sexuality & spinal cord injury for caregivers, counsellors, physios, nurses. OT’s etc. the cost for this workshop is $50.00 pp There will be a certificate issued at the end of the workshop. Dates & How to Book Hamilton 24th April at the Sunningdale RSA Veterans Home– 174 Peachgrove Road—Hamilton East Auckland 30th July at the Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit—30 Bairds Road—Otara Rotorua 30th October at Parksyde Community Centre—7­9 Tarewa Road For more information or to book for the afternoon or evening workshop please email tasc@woosh.co.nz or ph TASC (09) 270 9033. Please RSVP 2 weeks prior to the date of the workshop as we need a minimum number to run it. Here is what one participant said about the evening workshop: “ The evening was set up for comfortable conversation. The academic section was easy to understand and very informative. The video clips were good to get the panel talking about themselves. I thought the people attending were comfortable to offer their opinions & experiences & that was because a safe environment had been set up. I think we all found the session of questions & discussions were forthcoming & of helpful information.”
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Show Off Day 2008 Some of the art for the Bruce Hopkins Award Sponsors & Supporters The Invacare chair with all the bells & whistles The weather wasn’t the best for this years Show Off Day but to all the exhibitors & members who attended a big Thank You. Everybody had a chance for a good catch up & to view the excellent exhibits. Very popular were the mobility dogs & the modified wheelchair which included the huge speaker system, MP3 player & GPS system. The day included a game of basketball as well as the usual rugby with some ex All Blacks par­ ticipating. The para slalom time trial with a $100 prize money donated by Derek Wight is also starting to be a popular regular event—the event being won by Lee Warn who just shot thru the course. John Pepper & his fellow musicians keep the crowd entertained with their live music. Next year will be the 10th anniversary of Show Off Day so we all look forward to another great day in 2009 Auckland Spinal Unit DB Breweries McIsaac Caregivers Pedco Motors Cairnwood Hire First Party Hire & Events Drury Rotary Club Hinuera Stone Specialist Ltd Rainbows End Poppin Florist Derek Wight Auckland Drum Corporation The Sign Formula Bundaberg Ginger Beer Lipton Acton International Marketing Ltd Simuvich Olive Estate
Melrose showing off their wares The wheelchair rugby teams with the Ranfurly Shield John Pepper & his fellow musicians kept us all entertained The lads who completed the Para Time Trail with Derek Wight The Mobility Dogs are always popular 10 Bits and Pieces Electric Hi­Lo Bed For Sale Restwood Totalcare Electric bed in excellent condition. Size: Extra long double 1350mm wide x 2150mm long. Full electric control with connected remote. Head of bed sits up, foot end of bed raises and the whole bed goes up & down. Restwood ICAM deluxe mattress. Good for skin care whilst firm enough to make moving around on the bed easy. The bed is on lockable castor­wheels, comes with head and foot boards and 2 fitted mattress protector sheets. Contact Peter on 021 104 7832 PARALYMPICS
The idea for the Paralympics was born in 1948 when a ports
completion for people who had injured their spines while
fighting in WW11 took place. Over the years it got bigger
until 1960 when an Olympic—style event took place in Rome.
By Montreal in 1976 athletes with other disabilities were
included as well.
The Paralympics have always been in the same year as the
Summer Olympics, but have only been held in the same
country since 1988 in Seoul, Korea.
In 1976 the first ever Paralympics Winter Games took place
in Sweden. The name comes from the Parrellel Olympics ,
which was shortened to Paralympics.
The games in Japan in 1964 saw the introduction of wheel‐
chair racing—although only in the normal day‐to‐day chairs
rather than the space age machines used by Paralympians
of today. In 1980 the Soviet Union could not, or would not,
agree to the Paralympics taking place & as a result 2,500
disabled athletes from 42 countries went to
Arnhem in Holland to compete.
The 2008 Summer Paralympic Games ‐ the 13th
Paralympics to be held—will be held in Beijing—China
from September 6th through to the 17th
Murray draws quite a crowd with his mouth painting at the Auckland Easter Show The weekly art classes held on Tuesdays are proving popular. Left—Pam Fergusson & Theresa Betham listen intensely to tutor Murray Cohen Right— Kim Hudson concentrates while being instructed by the tutor JP, Micheal, Ethan, James and Scott enjoy a TASC outing at Botany Extreme Centre
The Kenguru Made in Hungary and made to hold one passenger in a manual wheelchair, the Kenguru doesn’t have doors or seats. To get in, the driver opens the extra large back hatch and rolls inside while remain­ ing seated in his wheelchair, which automatically locks into place. A joystick instead of a steering wheel means that drivers with limited arm mobility can comfortably control the vehicle. Kengurus are electrically powered, have arrange of 40­60km & reach speeds of 35­40 kms/hour making them best suited to relatively short commutes. 11 Jokes & Funnies A woman has the last word in any argu­ ment. Anything a man says after that is the beginning of a new argument. A woman worries about the future until she gets a husband. A man never worries about the future until he gets a wife. Married men live longer than single men, but married men are more willing to die
A woman asks her husband if he’d like some breakfast. “Would you like some bacon and eggs, perhaps? A slice of toast and maybe some grapefruit and coffee?” she asks. He declines. “Thanks for asking , but I’m not hungry right now. It’s the Viagra,” he says. “It’s really taken the edge of my appetite.” At lunch time, she asks if he would like something. “A bowl of soup, homemade muffins or a cheese sandwich?” she inquires. He declines. “The Viagra , “ he says, ”really trashes my desire for food.” Come dinnertime, she asks if he wants anything to eat. “Would you like maybe a juicy porterhouse steak and scrumptious apple pie? Or maybe a rotisserie chicken or tasty stir fry?” He declined again. “Naw, still not hungry.” “Well,” she says, “ would you mind letting me up? I’m starving.” A redneck family from the hills was visiting the city and they were in a mall for the first time in their lives.
The father and son were strolling around while the wife shopped. They were amazed by almost everything they
saw, but especially by two shiny, silver walls that would move apart and then slide back together again.
The boy asked ”Paw, what’s at?”
The father (never having seen an elevator) responded,” Son, I dunno. Ain’t never seen anything like that in my
entire life. I ain’t got no idea’s what it is”
While the boy and his father watched with amazement, a fat old lady in a wheelchair rolled up to the moving walls
and pressed a button. The walls opened and the lady rolled between them into a small room. The walls closed and
the boy and his father watched the small circular number above the walls light up sequentially.
They continued to watch until it reached the last number and then the numbers began to light in the reverse order.
Then the walls opened up again and a gorgeous, voluptuous 24 year old woman stepped out.
The father, not taking his eyes off the young woman, said quietly to his son: “Boy go git yer Momma!”
Wheelchair Lament I burn the rubber off my wheels. I can hardly wait. My (wheel) chair is 30 inches wide, the john door, 28. Some plead for civil justice when they are set upon. I ask for just one freedom, the right to use the john. I’ve thought about reforming and changing my evil ways; To be a model of deportment for the remaining of my days. But then, when I get to Heaven and sit before the gate. St. Peter will say “You’re 30 inches wide. Our Pearly Gates are 28!”. ­ Author Unknown (USA)
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