OT's involvement with injury Blog Post #7

Yesterday in foundations we continued learning about ethics and professional development. In neuro, we had the pleasure of listening to Fletcher Cleaves talk. He sustained a C5-C6 SCI from a distracted driver. After being a star athlete in high school and making the football team at Lambeth College,  he had to make adaptions to many aspects of his life. One of the coolest adaptations we saw was his truck! I have never seen a truck like that. The doors slide, and he sits in his wheelchair in the truck.

Fletcher Cleaves had an amazing story and works for Autozone as an IT specialist. Even with his life being turned upside down, his faith remains strong. He said that he had to relearn how to do a lot of things. The main thing that resonated with me from his talk was how he said that his doctor told him everything that he could not do. Fletcher discussed that if he kept this mindset of how many things he couldn’t do, he never would have made as much progress as he did. As an OT, this is so important to remember. We need to focus on the client’s strengths, what they can do, and have an optimistic mindset about their recovery. If there is something the client wants to do or accomplish, as OTs we need to make that happen in some way, shape or form. The doctor’s take on Fletcher’s injury is exactly how we should NOT be as OTs.

Neuro Note 3: Memphis Rollin' Grizzlies

WOW! That is the main word I can use to describe last night. Last night, I had the opportunity to attend a Memphis Rollin’ Grizzlies practice, and I am so inspired. The Memphis Rollin’ Grizzlies are a nationally ranked, wheelchair basketball team from Memphis, TN. This team is made up of all kinds of individuals, all with different stories.

It is always amazing to watch the body take on any type of athletic event, but I did not realize just how intense this game is. It looked like it took such strategic movements to block other players or even make turns on the court. It was also cool to see how the players blocked each other. It looked sort of like “bumper cars.” One thing that really amazed me was their endurance. They practiced non-stop for about 1 hour and 45 minutes with hardly any breaks. I can honestly say I was more involved and attentive to the practice than any other basketball game I have attended.

In class, we are learning about spinal cord injuries (SCI). We learned about the causes of injury, the level of injury, and whether or not they are complete or incomplete injuries. One particular individual we saw on the team was a basketball player in college, and the coach said he would have gone on to play for the NBA if he did not sustain an SCI.  Life is so short and so uncertain, but it was so cool how the person, environment, and task were adapted like we learn about in school. Also, we learned that with different levels of injury, there are different functions associated with each. It appeared that all of the individuals on the team had arm/hand function, and we learned that with a T1-T9 injury there was more trunk control. We also learned that people with this level of injury usually have wheelchair backs that are lower or below the shoulder for more thoracic movement. All of the wheelchairs used in the sport are lower backs in order for the players to have shoulder movement.

At the end of the practice, we had an opportunity to try out wheelchair basketball. Due to the fact that I am extremely uncoordinated, I decided to watch, but it put into perspective how difficult the sport actually is. I was impressed by some of my classmates, though, and think that some of them should even consider it as a hobby! 

To find out more about this amazing team, check out their website: http://www.rollingrizzlies.org/who-we-are

Memphis Rolling Grizzlies. (n.d). Who We Are. Retrieved from http://www.rollingrizzlies.org/news/

Take away from OT 537 Neuro Case Study: Chucky Mullins

My main takeaway from my group discussion about Chucky Mullins was how unpredictable life is. Chucky Mullins was a football player for Ole Miss, who experienced a spinal cord injury after a tackle. We always hear about how dangerous football is as a sport, and this brings that into perspective. Annesse discussed that it was a little difficult to come up with goals for him, since he was a tetraplegic and had a trach. We discussed that some of the interventions an OT could have for him would be adapting social environments and helping him with his social abilities to help him reach his ultimate goal of finishing college. Honestly, it is so hard to imagine what this would be like to experience. During the discussion, I was trying to think of things that I would work on as an OT if I was helping a client who experienced a similar injury.

Some cool pieces of information that we learned about the whole situation was that the Vanderbilt player that Chucky tackled during the game goals and visits Chucky's grave every year. This was really neat to hear about because it was such a tragic accident that occurred. In addition, the Ole Miss alumni collected funds and built him a special house that was modified and adapted for his use. This relates to how an OT would help in this case, and I was so glad to hear that the college he attended did this for him.

Neuro Note #2: Unstoppable

Yesterday in our Neurological Aspects of Occupation Centered Practice class, we discussed seizures and epilepsy. When I got home and was scrolling through social media, I came across an article titled “Chattanooga Runner Nathan Sexton Fights Through Five Seizures to Finish.”  I was extremely interested to read this article as I lived in Chattanooga for 6 years, love running and am amazed by anyone who completes the Boston Marathon, and had just learned about seizures in class.

Nathan Sexton is a 30 year old Chattanooga resident who has a stage 4 brain tumor. He raced in the Boston Marathon this past Monday, April 17. While running, Nathan had 5 seizures, but still finished the race. The article mentions that Nathan was allowed “special entry” into this year’s Boston marathon because he did not qualify for the 2018 Boston Marathon due to a seizure during the qualifying race. This is an amazing feat for anyone, and it just shows you that anything is possible.

With the specific type of brain tumor Nathan had, the article states that Nathan was given approximately 15-24 months to live. After being told this information, Nathan became a super fast runner in his area of residence. I became interested to hear more about Nathan’s story, as it seems like his occupations may have changed since receiving his diagnosis, similar to the story we watched when we were learning about the Theory of Occupational Adaptation. I was interested to learn more about Nathan’s story, and I found another article titled “Chattanooga Man Fighting Brain Cancer Returns to Race where his Running Career Began” along with a video about Nathan. It detailed his journey and discussed how his priorities and outlook on life have shifted since his diagnosis.  Even with the challenges and setbacks, he still perseveres and maintains a positive outlook on life. He mentioned in the video that before being diagnosed with a brain tumor, he was more focused on work. Now, his family and his relationships are his main priority.

Like we learned in class, seizures can be a symptom of brain tumors. Although the articles do not include anything about therapy, as I was reading I was imagining what the role of an OT would be if Nathan were receiving intervention for his diagnosis/symptoms. We learned that an OT would assess the client’s environment/routine, provide support/adjustments to a routine to reduce risks, and could recommend safety equipment.  An OT would focus on his priorities, which are running and his family/ relationships with people. With running such a huge race, it was important to have a medical team on site. It is inspirational to see how events people experience in their life do not define them or have to limit them. Occupations may shift or change, but your ability to live life to the fullest does not have to.

Cobb, D. (2017, March 3).  Chattanooga man fighting brain cancer returns to race where running career began.  Times Free Press. Retrieved from http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2017/mar/03/back-more-local-mfighting-bracancer-returns-r/415703/

Cobb, D. (2017, April 17).  Chattanooga runner Nathan Sexton fights through five seizures to finish Boston Marathon. Times Free Press. Retrieved from http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/local/story/2017/apr/17/kenyans-kirui-kiplagat-win-121st-boston-marathon/423254/?utm_content=buffer92a9e&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer

OT 425 Professional Development/Ethics Blog Post #6

As an OT student and eventually an OT practitioner, it is vital to represent our field, school, and our own reputation in the best possible manner. A written code of ethics holds each individual across the OT spectrum to standards for consistency, accountability, to protect the clients, and for integrity of the profession. The principles in the AOTA Code of Ethics include: beneficence, nonmaleficence, autonomy, social justice, procedural justice, veracity, and fidelity. Each of these principles protect the client and make sure they receive the best, fair, and appropriate care. They also are not limited to the workplace, and they are to be upheld even when not working. Starting to practice and uphold these principles begins in OT school! It is important to remember that as a student we are representing something so much bigger than just ourselves.

Along with the Code of Ethics, an OT student and practitioner will also need to practice continuing competency to develop goals for the future and assess skill levels. After OT school, an OT practitioner will need to commit to being a lifelong learner. If an OT practitioner chooses not to become a lifelong learner, he or she will be doing a disservice to the client, the school, and could even lose his or her job. This is necessary to participate in because OT is such an evidence-based field.  I am excited to continue as a lifelong learner because I enjoy learning new things. In addition, I think it will be interesting to learn about things that I am interested in. With continuing education, there is freedom to pick what you want to learn. If I specialize in geriatrics, for example, I can take classes that are centered on that population. It is in our client's best interest to provide the most effective interventions, and one way we can make sure this happens is through continuing competency. Being a lifelong learner will help me stay up to date with the advances in research and technology as well, which is so necessary for providing OT services!

OT 425 Clinical Reasoning Blog Post #5

Today in foundations we discussed clinical reasoning. Throughout my time observing before OT school, I always wondered how occupational therapists were able to know exactly what interventions to do with their clients.  From my shadowing hours, I saw a lot of interventions that were the same with all clients, regardless of their injury or disability. I figured that these interventions were just the "norm" for OT practice, and I always figured that it would be just something we would learn in OT school as time went on. Little did I know, that was so far from the truth.

We learned today that this process is a science, an art, and involves ethics. Scientific clinical reasoning involves considering the possible things that can be done for a client. Artistic clinical reasoning uses creativity, humor, or other means to support the specific needs of a clinic. There are 7 types of clinical reasoning.

As an OT student, it will be important to remember that this process includes things that you have seen, your knowledge, and your own emotions. Clinical reasoning is a part of the learning process. This process will be shaped and learned as you are in school. In addition, your abilities will grow as you gain more experience.

Neuro Note #1: Recovering from Traumatic Brain Injury

After learning about traumatic brain injuries in my neuro class, I became interested in learning about personal experiences and living with a TBI. In one of our Foundations classes, we watched a video about an individual who was the first c6 quadriplegic to compete in an Ironman. This video sparked my interest in learning more about people who are competing in ironman competitions post-injury, which is how I discovered this personal blog.

The blog is titled “How to Recover: Comebacks from Traumatic Brain Injury” and is about an individual named Mike Wilkinson. The posts detail his recovery from a severe TBI, which was a result of a colliding with a motor vehicle while riding his bike. One thing that stuck out to me when reading his blog was how he doesn’t consider himself a “patient” and did not want to call himself one. He discusses how he isn’t sick; he is just recovering. As an OT student, we learn to refer individuals receiving our services as clients, instead of patients. Mike’s post validated the fact that the word “client” is more holistic, and that there is a negative connotation of being sick with the word “patient.”

Another important post was from November 27, 2011. Mike references his OTs! He discusses how his OTs helped him return to work, use a wheelchair, and helped him remember conversations with others. Wow! It was so great to read this shout out to occupational therapists and how important Mike considered them to be in his journey of recovery. I have included the link to this particular post: http://howtorecover.blogspot.com/2007/11/nod-to-ots_27.html.

Mike’s journey was so interesting to read. He discussed his most difficult symptoms, websites that were helpful in his recovery, what it feels like to be living and dealing with this injury, and his adaptations resulting from this injury. The main reason I picked this blog to write about was because Mike Wilkinson was training and about to compete in the New Zealand ironman when his accident occurred. Mike discusses how after the injury he believed it would be impossible to compete in an ironman, but through adaptations, he began to believe that he might be able to compete in an ironman one day. In April 2010, 5 years after the accident, Mike completed an ironman! What an inspiration. I feel like this story ties in with the OT theory of Occupational Adaptation. This theory involves adapting to increase the participation in occupations. Competing in an ironman was already a goal/occupation of Mike, but after the accident, adaptations were implemented in order for him to compete. His thinking was adapted, and he had to relearn how to run. One statement that stuck out to me was when mike said that recovery isn’t always about relearning things and getting back to where you were pre-accident, it’s about accepting and improving who you currently are. You can read more about Mike, his acceptance of his TBI, and his other blog posts here: http://howtorecover.blogspot.com/2008/04/hardest-thing-of-mikes-tbi-recovery.html

Wilkinson, M. (2007, November 22). How to Recover: Comebacks from Traumatic Brain Injury. Retrieved April 8, 2017, from http://howtorecover.blogspot.com/2008/09/keeping-at-it.html