On my channel, I answer questions surrounding spinal cord injury, quadriplegia, living a life as a person with a disability in modern America. I broke my neck in an automobile accident in April 1968 and thus, my channel will also present observations of changes in treatments and equipment used in the rehabilitation process for people with disabilities which have occurred over the last 50 years or so. I will also address changes which have occurred in our society and our culture regarding people with disabilities and the independent living movement generally. There will also be discussion about relationships, living with the need for personal attendant care and other issues of interest to the disabled community.
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Thank you for sharing! I’m not a quadriplegic but I do use a power chair with a chin control. It’s always interesting to see other setups!
Rotating beds have advanced so much and now they have beds that can also pound on your back to help you remove secretions, so that you do not get Pneumonia. the Stryker inTouch bed has Lateral Rotation, and has the ability to play beautiful music through the speakers on the bedrails.
I purchase HPV herbal medicine from doctor Ehimare on KZread and i received it within 4 days and i use it as prescribed by him, I tested negative after 3 weeks of usage!! Do well to also contact doctor Ehimare on his KZread channel for any help too and also for Al's
sad but true facts.
keep at it Lloyd. Try hard on one day and then, try hard again on the next day.
So true. Still top 3.
I think within the next couple of videos I post I'm going to note that "us quads" are so lucky now that the medical establishment can keep us alive long enough so that more and more of us are dying from "regular" adult male diseases such as heart disease. Double lucky.
Omg so interesting!!
Thanks. I hope you are enjoying the videos and I hope you do learn a thing or two as well.
Thanks Rett...glad to see you back "On The Air!" Very informative, as usual.
Thanks Jeff.
Glad you're back on.........quad life is unpredictable. Always fun to go back in time.
It's always something.
Interesting history. I've only visited there.
Rancho is indeed a very interesting place. I find its history quite interesting. It gave me a good grounding and good information which has served me well.
everyone should know they are TAB's.
I agree. I sometimes think that our culture is simply drifting away from "grown-up" concepts such as delayed gratification.
you've been through a lot.
No more than you I reckon.
change is hard
I agree. It takes a commitment to yourself and continuous effort over an extended period of time.
I like the name rolling forward=)
Thanks. It was a serendipitous spur of the moment name.
great info
I appreciate that, coming from an expert.
Starting a new adventure is fun & a challenge. Keep at it.
That's the plan!
I've lived this horror for 12 years now. 2019 it took a big jump and I've been suffering ever since senselessly
Hang in there. Seek information from multiple experts. Keep pushing and search for all the possible solutions. There are many solutions out there. Keep at it.
Hi Rett, Thank you for this video, looking forward to hear more ! I’ve been wondering have you had many different types of beds over the years & if so, could you please explain the differences about them - Thank you My best to you
when I first left the hospital I used a regular hospital bed. A longer bed was very helpful for my height. After just a few years I switched back to a regular bed, and while I could not sit up it was okay. About 10 years ago my wife and I got a frame which raises the head and or the foot of the bed which we use underneath a regular memory foam mattress.
the only safety feature I remember in childhood car memories is my mother's arm coming out across the front seat. You were lucky to hit her elbow instead of the dash or windshield. Getting used to seatbelts took a long time but glad they were mandatory by the time I had children to drive around.
Very inexpensive safety. All you have to do is use it. It takes about two seconds.
you add so much perspective by focusing on the history and demographics of disability. Sad to think that our war casualties have at least advanced medical knowledge so that more maimed veterans are able to live and disabled people benefit from medical therapies developed.
Let us hope and let us let our politicians know to provide the homecoming veterans received enough support in the medical arena, in social support and assistance in becoming resettled so that they do not become the homeless population of tomorrow.
Rett ... I found this very interesting, such common denominators to the human experience, fear, apprehension, the uncertainty of what the future will bring. I am looking forward to hear more on this...
Jeff, I am really happy that you are watching this. I appreciate hearing your responses and your opinions. They mean a lot to me.
Thank you once again Rett. This episode brings up the philosophical discussions of fate and destiny. In any case, that you made peace and moved so beyond your circumstance is a testament to your true destiny and karma...very positive. I can't find the episode where you talked about approaching people in chairs and asking them questions. You are obviously someone who is very open to discussing with strangers. I am not sure everyone in chairs is as open as you and I can see where one would be hesitant to approach not knowing the person's response. Everyone is in their own place of evolution. It is so helpful to all though, that you have opened the gates for us in so many ways.
Claudia, I think you are correct in that some people may not appreciate being approached by strangers. People who are disabled are after all, simply, people. People with disabilities vary just as to people without a disability. I think common sense and courtesy will serve all people involved in any interaction in a positive way. Approach a person in a wheelchair as you would approach any person. Do not approach a person in a wheelchair as something other than a person. I appreciate your comments and hope you continue to watch.
Hi Rhett, To me, your videos are always informative & definitely nice to see & hear how they use to be doing certain things & how it has changed ! You’ve been through a lot & still having a lot of positive outlook on life - Which is Awesome !! Looking forward to your next videos Wishing you my best, Lisette
Lisette, thank you very much for your positive comments. I hope you continue to enjoy the channel. Please feel free to send up suggestions for topics or to ask any questions you may have. Again, thank you for watching.
@@707guy Happy Easter to you & your Family
In school, were you required to learn a foreign language?
Yes. California public school, K-12 requires I think one year of a foreign language. Most colleges and universities also have a somewhat minimal foreign language requirement.
What types of books did you enjoy the most, fiction or nonfiction? Did you like to and were you able to read magazines and newspapers?
I have always been an avid reader. I read for enjoyment, I read as required for school and work and I also read for self-improvement and simply learning more about life.
You said you were a voracious reader, and you took advantage of the well stocked book shelves in your home. That was before ebooks. Did someone turn the pages for you, or were the books somehow placed in front of you in such a way that you could turn the pages yourself?
When I was first injured and still living at home the large selection of books all around the house and periodicals which arrived regularly (Life Magazine, National Geographic, Smithsonian) were a welcome pastime. In the early days, I would place a book or magazine on a stand made to hold sheet music and placed that next to my wheelchair. At first, it was necessary to have someone turn each page for me. Later, some technology moved in to help. Very sophisticated technology such as a stick held in the mouth. But seriously, to get it to be easily functional and to be able to "put it down" somewhere between page turns or I could reach it again took some thinking. Much more will follow on this and additional technology in future videos.
Have you ever tipped over in your wheelchair? If so, how did it happen, and how difficult was it to get it righted?
I have indeed tipped over in my power wheelchair. Several times I have tipped over outside by a wheelchair failure, a judgment failure or simple stupidity. Luckily, no injuries other than a bruised nose have occurred. Getting the chair righted again requires some significant strength. A power wheelchair and a person are very heavy.
How much does your wheelchair weigh, empty?
About 420-430 pounds. Pretty darn heavy. Two big batteries, basically automobile batteries but a little bit larger and made for heavy-duty use. Also, two large electric motors, one for each drive wheel with large and heavy magnets total up quickly.
Always enjoy listening to your videos ! Noticing this # is your last one, & hoping that means, you are on a vacation ? If you do travel by plane, I would love it, if you could talk about this in one of your videos ! Hope all is well & wishing you my best
This one is definitely NOT the last one. More will follow in the immediate future. I simply took a short break. I enjoy making them and will keep doing so as long as they seem to be well received. I have traveled by airplane and it is always complicated. I try to have enough muscle traveling with me to help with lifting and diplomacy. It takes more planning (and more money for the extra labor) but it most definitely can be done.I will definitely add this topic to the future list.
@@707guy Thank You so much Rett Have a great day All the best
You are giving me flashbacks! Remembering folks that worked at North American Aviation and Hughes and....lots of folks from engineers with slide rules to Rosie riveting. Sensei, your thoughtful sharing of your experience is a treasure!
I do remember a lot of aerospace industry in the area near Rancho Los Amigos.
You do the disabled community proud! Like other trailblazers, you set a great example of human being for anyone's enrichment.
I was very fortunate in knowing some of the REAL trailblazers. I thank you for your overstated complement.
Very timely for every kid headed out on spring break....how things can change in a heartbeat. 1968 is full of so many memories.
indeed, the late 1960s were a wild time for the United States and for much of the world as well. Unfortunately, a good or should have the times at some large and that events.
It's to your credit that you never considered the guilt felt by others. People need to be upfront about their feelings so that miscommunication and unnecessary guilt and grief are avoided. Thank for you sharing such intimate memories.
I definitely do not see that as being "to my credit". I think it showed more immaturity and self-centered thinking. I was certainly fortunate in being able to address the issue ultimately. I only wish it had been sooner.
Your theme song ought to be "I Get Around". Can't think of too many other people that are as independent as you are.
Thanks Linda.
Love the way you have made short concise but elegant explanations of everything.
And, thank you again.
Love the way you have organized the material and especially impressed at how you can share some very personal memories.
I hope to broach other subjects as well.
so rich to have the perspective of both sides of being gawked at in public. Just wish there were more men with your depth!
I think I will just say "no comment".
you are so amazing! I have always loved that you are so matter of fact about things without ever being whiny.
Maybe seldom. Probably typically.
Another great segment from a very thoughtful perspective. Having lived this reality before ADA you are so generous in your descriptions of how folks were treated or accommodated before 1980.
Thanks for sure.
Interesting to know about the other passengers. Love your cat meowing in the background!
And sometimes the dogs chime in too.
Hi Rett This is a very ambitious story/blog you've started. Keep it rolling. It is all good 'stuff'. I especially appreciate your dry sense of humor i.e. 'if you haven't been paying attention..." I remember going back to THS after spring break and the accident was announced. I did not recall three had died. I do recall very clearly that you were severely injured. That was a gut punch. Yes life can change very quickly. I think the announcement was made in Mr Caudieux's World History class and your seat behind me was empty. Funny the things you remember. Keep up the good work. Take care. I'm going to continue watching. Bob (Fern-Greenwood and THS)
Thank you Bob. I appreciate the comments. It is very interesting to me to hear you briefly describe here about the accident back then as opposed to my perspective of being in the accident. (Of course, I remember you well.)
Thank you Rett...a wise person you are.
I appreciate that
Hi Rett, You are an admiration to me & am certain to many more! I look forward to catching up on your videos & to learn more about all the education you are going to give us !! Wishing you All my Best, Lisette Ps. How long did it take for you to find your place as comfortable as it is now ?
Thank you Lisette. It took me approximately 2-3 years to get my attitude squared away. Actually, it was when I was more or less pushed out of the house by my parents and I moved away to college in that I really got squared away. It only took a few weeks to discover that I could still have fun and I could still make friends and have friends.
I am so glad too have found your videos, what you just said “ that’s all me “ & I feel so lost “ Your calm way of expressing & explaining things, even though I only discovered you three days ago, are helping me ! Thank you so very much ! All my best, Lisette Ps. When did you started with these videos?
Lrsette, I started posting my videos just recently, on March 1. Thank you very much for your positive comments. I hope you can continue to watch and I hope the videos are also benefit to you.
Well done, 44 yrs ago I became an incomplete C3-4 Quad. I enjoy how you express your journey.
Hello brother. I'm glad you are enjoying my story. I expect many similarities with a huge number of differences in the details. Hang in there.
At 9:16 Rett spotted a huge hawk in the distance behind me that had flown up into a tall redwood. I didn't know where he kept wandering with his eyes till he told me after recording.😂😂
Apologies to my viewers. But simply, a breathtaking sight.
I find it fascinating to hear you reflect back on your experiences as a young person (pre-disability) hanging out with and responding to others with disabilities. Really thought provoking share, thanks! -NK
Thank you Daniel. Some of these memories come back to me as familiar as lifelong friends with whom I hang out daily. Others, come back only with effort as a nearly forgotten encounter. This is a very interesting journey for me as I hope it is for you.
I was never clear about the fate of the other passengers, thanks for sharing. Did you keep track of anyone over the years? Did you ever have the opportunity or desire to rehash the event with any of the survivors, or would that have been too painful? Did you ever have nightmares or flashbacks to the crash or the following months? This may be too personal for you to expand on, but these were questions that went through my head. Thanks again for being so open about your experience. -NK
There were two survivors with whom I initially maintained a casual and not particularly close relationship. None of the people in the car represented my closest friends at the time. These were more acquaintances or casual friendships developed through the mutual participation in sports or through simply attending the same elementary school and then high school over the course of years. They were in fact, friends, but simply not my most close and personal friends of the time. As I recall I never did have the desire to rehash events with the actual people involved. Interestingly, I do not have psychological pain or nightmares associated with the accident. Plenty of regret for darn sure. And also, some regret that I picked that particular urinal on that particular night. Such are the things all our lives are composed of. One step in a different direction and our lives are profoundly affected.
With Grace and your Karma you have been blessed with the understanding of True, Inherently Free Happiness....that you moved beyond blame/shame and never had, is a testament to how you healed and thrived, in spite of all you went through. This condition has also served all around you. A Great Teacher you are Rett.
Thank you Claudia. You amaze me as well.
You are such a blessing to this world. Jade just chimneys on how sweet you are🤗
Hi Rett! Thank you for sharing these amazing videos... I’m learning so much!! You mention in this video that you don’t experience phantom pain. However, since there was a time in your life when you did have the ability to walk, I’m curious if you ever have dreams (while sleeping) where you are walking? Thanks again! Tom
That is an interesting question Thomas. Let me say first, generally speaking I do not remember many of my dreams. While perhaps not quite a rarity, it is not frequently that I remember my dreams of the previous night. In the years immediately following my injury I was always a "walkie" in my dreams. As the years marched by, I would begin to appear in my dreams as a quad in a wheelchair. Often, I would be in the chair for some of the time and then stand up out of it, with great effort. As more years passed, a greater portion of my dreams included me as a quad, often unable to arise from the wheelchair. Nowadays, I am virtually always in a wheelchair. On occasion I am able to lift my arms upward or, with great effort, price from the wheelchair. These days I am almost never able to move or walk. Interestingly, my dreams often include me being enmeshed in a very viscous and sticky goo which makes any movement whatsoever extremely difficult.
Lots of good info! I had my injury 8 months ago (T8 complete) and have been learning so much about SCI and other peoples injuries and how they’ve adapted. Try to imagine talking to a person (your wife, a friend etc) when talking to the camera, it might help you feel more comfortable :)
Thank you Kieran. I am always open to tips which may help to improve the quality of the content and the presentation. I know the overall production quality is still quite basic but we are taking steps to make some improvements there. Please keep watching. I hope you have a great life ahead.