What's most nightmarish about our culture's practices around illness & dying?
That the insurance commercials are just ploys to suck citizens in to an economy of lies. That a percentage of Americans can not get health insurance because of a preexisting condition, or a physical 'flaw' that would affect the companies financially. I never new what I took for granted, being about to go to any hospital as a kid, and getting treated for my kidney problems. I now see how spoiled and ignorant I was when I use to complain that my mom and I were waiting in the waiting area too long.
What alternative practices offer the most positive re-orientation in illness & dying?
People say that 'it is all in the mind.' I would have to say that spiritual healing is one alternative that we could at least try once. That fact that we can regenerate ourselves, like a computer automatically resetting when detecting a virus, fascinates me, and saddens me that people are so dependant on technology that we forget that our bodies are machines themselves.
What might you do or address differently as a result of what you've learned this unit, individually and with your family?
If you want the truth, I really don't put in enough effort to keep myself health, but I do have a few ideas. When getting cafeteria food, take a fruit cup and regular instead of chocolate milk. Because I love to listen to music while walking my dog, make the excuse that I want to hear more songs on the walk, resulting in longer walks, keeping me and my dog healthier.
How do dominant social practices (DSP) around illness & dying connect to DSP around food in our culture?
The fact that we are blinded by the truth. We grew up thinking that the food we ate came from healthy animals and happy workers on clean, roomy farms in the middle of the country. We grew up believing that every American is treated equally, that the health insurance companies and the government had our best interest in mind.
Friday, January 21, 2011
Thursday, January 20, 2011
HW 31 - Comments 3
To:
Lina:
Wow, I like how you started off with a joke. I love the way you described your grandfather, it could actually picture him. I always thought there was only one type of polio, I'm pretty shocked to find that there are three types of it. Really awesome job
Michelle:
I really liked your post, and the evidence you used was useful, but I have to say it didn't really...'capture' my interest. Maybe if you 'spice' it up, I believe it will spark interest in the reader, other then that, great job!
Lina:
Wow, I like how you started off with a joke. I love the way you described your grandfather, it could actually picture him. I always thought there was only one type of polio, I'm pretty shocked to find that there are three types of it. Really awesome job
Michelle:
I really liked your post, and the evidence you used was useful, but I have to say it didn't really...'capture' my interest. Maybe if you 'spice' it up, I believe it will spark interest in the reader, other then that, great job!
Monday, January 17, 2011
HW 30 - Illness & Dying - Culminating Experiential Project
Receiving Quadruple Bypass Surgery Over the Age of 60: The Survival of Martha Ryan and Death of Virgina Caroccio
Quadruple Bypass Surgery is cardiac surgery which requires the heart to be surgically open to repair any defects of the heart such as repairing damaged blood vessels. While under anesthesia the patient is hooked up onto a heart-lung machine to deliver blood to the body, because the heart is stopped. (Robin Parks, MS)
In 1989, at the age of 71, Martha Ryan suffered from four 'silent' heart-attacks, which soon resulted in a 'major' heart-attack. That same year she went to receive a Quadruple Bypass surgery at New York University. With the comfort of a large, caring family she was able to heal properly at the hospital and was later released 4 weeks after the surgery took place. After being released Martha was put on blood-thinner medication, Coumadin, different antibiotic medication to prevent infections, and different types of pain killers. "She went from being a very lively women, to being a fragile women." As described by my mother, her daughter, Kathleen. She required home help aids to take care of her, though she was a strong enough individual to continue cooking for her family, one of the many motherly hobbies that she enjoyed.
In 2007, at the age of 74, Virgina Caroccio went to receive Balloon Mitral Valvtomy, the placement of balloons to expand the heart valves at Bellevue Hospital. The unsuccessful surgery led to her transfer to New York University to receive Quadruple Bypass Surgery. After surviving the surgery she went home. She did not have any nurses come home with her, instead she received care from her family. Soon after being released she was sent back for having "water discharging in her lungs, placing more pressure on her already fragile heart." As described by my mother, her step-daughter, Kathleen. She soon died later that year in intensive care.
Sources: 1) http://surgery.about.com/od/proceduresaz/a/CABGSurgery_2.htm
2) Kathleen Ryan
Video of Explanation of Open Heart Surgery:
Quadruple Bypass Surgery is cardiac surgery which requires the heart to be surgically open to repair any defects of the heart such as repairing damaged blood vessels. While under anesthesia the patient is hooked up onto a heart-lung machine to deliver blood to the body, because the heart is stopped. (Robin Parks, MS)
In 1989, at the age of 71, Martha Ryan suffered from four 'silent' heart-attacks, which soon resulted in a 'major' heart-attack. That same year she went to receive a Quadruple Bypass surgery at New York University. With the comfort of a large, caring family she was able to heal properly at the hospital and was later released 4 weeks after the surgery took place. After being released Martha was put on blood-thinner medication, Coumadin, different antibiotic medication to prevent infections, and different types of pain killers. "She went from being a very lively women, to being a fragile women." As described by my mother, her daughter, Kathleen. She required home help aids to take care of her, though she was a strong enough individual to continue cooking for her family, one of the many motherly hobbies that she enjoyed.
In 2007, at the age of 74, Virgina Caroccio went to receive Balloon Mitral Valvtomy, the placement of balloons to expand the heart valves at Bellevue Hospital. The unsuccessful surgery led to her transfer to New York University to receive Quadruple Bypass Surgery. After surviving the surgery she went home. She did not have any nurses come home with her, instead she received care from her family. Soon after being released she was sent back for having "water discharging in her lungs, placing more pressure on her already fragile heart." As described by my mother, her step-daughter, Kathleen. She soon died later that year in intensive care.
Sources: 1) http://surgery.about.com/od/proceduresaz/a/CABGSurgery_2.htm
2) Kathleen Ryan
Video of Explanation of Open Heart Surgery:
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