Doc Ernie's Blog : Doc Ernie's Blog : Ernie Franz M.D. : Spinal Cord Injury, Disability, and Rehabilitation

Conundrum - co·nun·drum  -  from Merriam-Webster's Dictionary; first known use in 1645.

 

 

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Greetings!  As I have mentioned in a few previous entries, I enjoy speaking to a variety of audiences.  IF anyone can glean lessons from this story of my life as it unfolds, it gives me great satisfaction and has me believing that what occurred to me can really turn out for the greater good of humanity.

In the past few months I have spoken to our military regarding the behavior choices they face when both on and off duty.  Sharing the story of what happened to me hopefully gives us all reason to pause before we get behind the wheel of a car, especially if one has enjoyed a drink with friends.  Clearly the choices we make do impact the lives of others.  While there is great opportunity for good and bringing joy to others, there is also the potential to bring sadness and brokenness.  This of course applies not only to driving, but I am speaking here of how we treat each other - within our own families, and throughout our communities and cities.

After I spoke to several hundred at both the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and Bangor SubBase, I was asked to speak to about 1000 of our local Bainbridge High School students during a drug and alcohol-free week.  In September of 2010, I spoke during all 3 Sunday morning services at NorthSound Church in Edmonds, WA.  The last of the 3 messages was recorded and can be found thru this link here.  The message is about 20 minutes long; I trust you will find it interesting.  You will need to download it and follow the instructions on the website.  Out of that opportunity has come yet another, to speak at a CRISTA service in of all places - Palm Springs, CA  this spring.

I am available to speak and share my journey.  I do not ask for much in the way of compensation, only to cover my travel expenses and to provide a small stipend.  I can speak with deep personal experience to the following topics.....

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Normally this time of year I bring to you a bicycling update, though this year has been different than the last two years which were filled with a lot of great miles and season ending goals being met or exceeded.  More on that soon.

A primary focus has been on family sustainability; making good decisions and allowing us to live where we do for at least the near future.  Some of the "cutbacks" have been rather minor and possibly a bit humorous; like eliminating home delivery of milk and purchasing it in our local grocery.  I made the executive decision to move to a wonderful milk offered in glass bottles produced by grass fed happy cows thriving in Lynden, WA.  We have given up home delivery of milk by another good company - a decision my wife laments.  Yet I have reminded her, we have to make some sacrifices in order to still enjoy life as we know it; in this case we now save 20 cents per half gallon purchased!

Other changes have been more difficult, but in reflection, only more troublesome because they required a deviation from what had become our "standard of living" for the past 22 years.  So merely because I now drive a VW instead of an Audi (which I had really enjoyed the past 12 years), I can be quite thankful it still moves me from point A to B reliably and safely, with better gas mileage and is still a kick to drive!

What follows is then a brief update on life and finances.  I will blog about job opportunities and some medical health updates very soon (promise) ....

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First, an apology - I am not the best of bloggers, which is perhaps obvious!  I am not inclined to feel like you, all of my readers, need to know every detail of our existence.  Yet during my recent bicycling rides I have been pondering just what honest truth I can share with each of you about this life as one with a spinal cord injury.

What follows then is, more or less, where we are at as a family in terms of finances following my injury.  You may have noticed I have until this point avoided this topic; yet lately a bit of financial angst has set in - so that, if nothing else, this writing gives me a chance to vent some of those frustrations.  This also will give me the chance to relate what I am trying to do about our ongoing financial shortfall, and (as writing can do) perhaps organize my thoughts around this topic.

Thanks for reading and for even possibly for considering my employment .... some ideas on that topic as you read the following.

 

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In January of 2008 I was asked by my friend and Harborview trauma surgeon Jerry Jurkovich, MD to be present with he and US Senator Patty Murray as she introduced her proposed Trauma Bill to the press and local TV stations.  It was certainly an honor to be asked to be a part of this effort, which will begin to help fund uncompensated trauma care.  This growing financial crisis for many critical "safety net" institutions, such now as Grady Hospital in Atlanta, has resulted in 20 US trauma centers closing since 2000.  Though efforts are being made to keep Grady, and other such institutions open, I believe some radical changes will soon be necessary in the way we deliver and pay for health care. Continue Reading...

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Although update #1 reflects my most current "work" related volunteer activities, I have also been involved in a few legislative actions which will be touched on here and in another post to follow.  The information below is specifically in regard to Washington state's Crime Victim's Compensation program; the post to follow this will be in regards to US Senator Patty Murray's Trauma Bill. Continue Reading...

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I will attempt to quickly bring you up to speed with how I currently fill my days.  It has been both a challenging life, and yet a satisfying one at the same time.  Still hard for me to comprehend, but my family, and particularly my wife, believe I am now a much better person post-trauma, than I was prior to August 23, 2004.

A few of the activities I have mentioned in detail below these paragraphs were recently covered in The Trauma Report, a publication printed once every three years by Seattle's Harborview Medical Center.  It was an honor to have been chosen to write a brief article for that publication, in which 3 trauma stories were featured, mine being one of those.  By following the link in this paragraph you will find the article.  Reading further below will certainly give you a more complete idea of the service activities I have pursued in this new life...

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