Slumgullion #45

Yeah, I'm still here. I got new eyeglasses this weekend, and while it may take a few days to adjust to the bifocals (!) I hope to be spe...

The Russian

On my first night at the rehab hospital, I was about as vulnerable as a person can be. I'd been in the ICU at a different hospital for a...

Grand Rounds: Briefing the Next U.S. President

The latest Grand Rounds, a weekly carnival on medical and health blogging, is a collection around the theme of "Briefing the Next U.S. ...

Just when you think you're safe

This past August really sucked. September did too. I got a routine feeding tube replacement at the end of July and then had weeks of agony e...

On Ruben Navarro

If you read just one thing this week about disability in America, read this . I briefly mentioned Navarro's case here but the above lin...

Hospital violated state law performing "Ashley Treatment"

I will do more than simply post the links on this soon, but the news for now from the Washington Protection and Advocacy System (soon to b...

Ron Kovic on war

This is a video of activist Ron Kovic by MoveOn.Org speaking about war, the disability it causes and the cost to Americans. Thanks to Trini...

Coming Tuesday -- Info pulled upon request

The full info on Tuesday. Update: Info here .

Medical professionals who are excellent, asses and part of a failing system

My posse and I trekked into the Twin Cities this morning (despite threats of dangerous weather that have come true all around Minnesota ove...

Poetry Monday: Their Sudden Tongues

Tulips by Sylvia Plath The tulips are too excitable, it is winter here. Look how white everything is, how quiet, how snowed-in I am learning...

More on Emilio

I posted about baby Emilio Gonzales on Wednesday, but here's a petition to sign for him . It does appear that public attention and invol...

Little Emilio and the Texas Futile Care Law

The AP story here : A dying toddler facing removal of his life support system received a reprieve Tuesday when hospital officials agreed to ...

Anniversary -- Escaping institutionalization

This Tuesday, March 6, was the one-year anniversary of my returning home from my four-month hospital stay. What makes the date so important...

Losing my religion, part 3

In August of 2005, before my medical crisis that November, and prior to the long hospital stay and the thoughts and prayers offered by so ma...

Doctors involved with Ashley Treatment not as unified in support as previously indicated

From today's Salon.com, Rebecca Clarren reports in "Behind the Pillow Angel" that: Doctors at the Seattle hospital that opera...

Like a sieve, only not so much

I had that ABG draw this morning, as scheduled , to determine if recent dizziness is caused by my ventilator settings or something else. Tha...

Death of 14-year-old only tip of the iceberg of abuse

From the Atlanta Journal-Constitution , "A Hidden Shame: Death and Danger in Georgia's Mental Hospitals" : Alone in the darkne...

Friday at the Gimp Compound or Dizzying up the Girl

So, about ten days ago, my trach's cuff burst. In my throat, in the middle of the night. And just for fun, this happened when I was just...

Saturday Slumgullion #22 -- Best of 2006

This is the last slumgullion of 2006, and like Hugo Schwyzer , I've gathered a list of what I feel like are my best posts of the year. T...

This week at the Gimp Compound

It's been busy around here. On Monday I spent time with four new nurses who will be helping me out. It's been hard for the home heal...