Christopher Dior Simon's Blog, page 3

Book journeys weekend

It’s been a good time listening to books so far this weekend. I love the journeys they take me on. Though I read mostly non fiction, I have added historical fiction and several enjoyable categories.

Go to Hoopladigital.com, find out if your library participates or where the nearest participating library is, get a library card if you don’t have one, and then sign up for Hoopla digital and audiobooks.

There may be many challenges in our lives, but reading books are an essential aspect to many ways of spreading out our dreams and imagination. Then, set off to making your dreams come true.

If the world isn’t our enemy, neither is it our friend. Ernest Hemingway. Do the best that you can to make some friends on the journey of life, Simplysaidbysimon. What have you read lately? I’m going to read Only the Brave by Danielle Stelle this month. ALS – Assertive Living Strength.

Criminal medical mismanagement

I’m not the brightest bulb in the house. Every halting of my functions is a sure way to cause unnecessary degeneration. It’s like I am the only one who has a clue. ALS patients have already arrived with diminished functions and abilities. Unfortunately, very few Healthcare providers and professionals appear to know much about ALS, and instead of helping, they help their residents to an earlier grave than already prognosticated.

Hey, but I have the drive and determination to live and enjoy life as I imagine most of you do. I’ll begin labeling those who have mismanaged my care under the camouflaged guise of being careful. The way I see it, I have been medically kidnapped against my expressed will or any indication of the need for intervention.

I have been limited in much of what practical facilities would provide. I’m still waiting for an answer to what the facility actually provides. Most of you would quickly say, not much. Smile. In some cases, you would be correct. But it is getting better. I now have to prove that I can safely eat what I have been eating for over six months. I’ll put it all in a book to help others not to tolerate the same mistakes as long as I have. Certainly, to determine whether a facility can adequately provide for your loved ones needing care.

Things are getting better. I’ll update you on the progress, positive energy, and cultural improvements. I’m not a hostage, and people should be held accountable when denying patients their rights. Or say, we won’t feed you orally, but someone else can. Remember Yoda, do or don’t do? I have made the best of many don’t do or don’t do well… yet. A better day after a while. ALS – Angry Loud Simon.Thanks, Yvette

Make you wanna dance

Yes. I agree that sometimes I have seemingly absentee treatment with absent-minded care. However, I am still enjoying my life. Those tragic stories I tell sometimes are just a blimp on my radar of life. People do the best that they can, knowing what they know and who they are at this moment.

You are looking at me now, but I am saying because I have been on death row for fifteen years, this month does not diminish how horrible ALS is or just how great my God is. Hmm. I walked into the doctor’s office and was told I had ALS and was dying with no cure. Because I didn’t die immediately doesn’t change anything. My wife cried in the doctor’s office. I told her on the drive home that nothing had changed. God holds my future… and I will die when He says so.

You may know Jesus, but that does NOT mean you don’t grieve your loss due to cancer, ALS, or another disease. You are not like others, without hope. Praise God. Our God is good, and His mercies are everlasting.

We need to grieve the loss of our loved ones who died and are dying without our Savior. What a wonderful Savior is Jesus my Lord. What a wonderful Savior to me. He hideth… What are some of the next words? Simplysaidbysimon, don’t die without Him. Just one worldview and perspective. ALS – About Loving Savior. Thanks, Jilliane. ALS- Awesome Living Savior. Thanks, Gwen. ALS- Available Life-giving Savior. Thanks, everybody.

I am open to everyone who has a different experience and view. Just keep on living.

Well, it’s not so bad

I woke up and needed to use the urinal. Remember, I don’t get to eat because of some clueless people… But, that’s another story. So my liquid needed to come out more and more urgently. Finally, I couldn’t hold it, and it rushed out.

Since my legs are above the height of my head, all the urine ran up my right side to chest level. I type this as my first message. Duh. How do you know you’re wet? I am asked. I have a clue! I had to have urine run up my side until someone responded to my call light.

My next message was to get the clean sheets. How do you know your sheet is wet? We finally figured out that my sheet and bedspread were wet. Hmm. They did not have the same clues as me. So, where do they need to wipe to clean Simon? Evidently, it’s not so simple. After several exchanges, I got them to wipe my side all the way up to my… You guessed it, my chest.

Then I had to tell them to also clean my right arm. Why? Because they had no clue. Amazingly, Simon has all the clues and has to repeatedly say how he knows.

Well, after everything was finally understood and they knew what I needed, guess what? We are out of chucks that go underneath my butt. Everyone answer with me. Why did we run out of linen? Because the laundry person had no clue.

I then had to wait ten minutes for the person to finish getting my head on straight. If you have any type of eye gaze technology to help you communicate, you understand how critical it is that your help knows which way is up. I’m grateful I was shit out of luck; I only had urine. Simplysaidbysimon, sometimes you just gotta laugh. ALS – Always Laughing Simon.

Memories of five years ago

We don’t know how good or bad things can get sometimes. I’m looking at a picture of memories, and I better know now how bad my bad was. I often told the staff they were the best, but that just says how bad other people have it.

No kidding, I got a massage, CNAs walking me with two people holding me up stable, one cook who made me Mexican, Chinese, and Italian food, and he helped me to get the facility lawn in shape. I had an Activities Manager who helped me with planting flowers, baking bread, developing a website and beginning my books, filing my fingernails, doing a range of motion, and was generally helpful.

Most of this list disappeared when I moved to the new place. But it was worth it because it brought me closer to my wife. The things we endure for love. Live for today and not the fears of what may come.
Hadley Vlahos, RN. Independence is happiness. Susan B. Anthony. Education is the movement from darkness to light. Allan Bloom. I’m now in the light, and it’s pretty dark. Simplysaidbysimon, walk in the light, beautiful light, down where the… Who knows the rest of the song? ALS – Advocating Leaders Support. Thanks, Janal.

It’s hard on the good staff

I have lobbied for the improvement of the staff for three-plus years. The solution given to me was to hire my own personal caregiver. Duh. I thought that was what the VA paid for. We have new members on the management team. It’s going to take time. For now, the patients who scream the loudest get the better-skilled staff.

I’m sorry about the overworked people who suffer from our previous management mistakes. Enabled poor performers will get proper training and management. Woohoo. The song says it well: It’s been a long time coming, but I believe a change’s gonna come.

Better remain silent, better not even think, if you are not prepared to act. Annie Besant. Innovation distinguishes between a leader and a follower. Steve Jobs. We are going to have peace even if we have to fight for it. Dwight D. Eisenhower. The only sure weapon against bad ideas is better ideas. Alfred Whitney Griswold. Simplysaidbysimon, together we can make a change. ALS – Another Light Shines. Thanks, Jilliane.

I’m thankful for the flowers

Roses don’t grow all the time due to inclement weather. I love looking at them when and while I have them. It’s magnificent to experience the simple joy of painting the yard outside my window. How sweet it is.

Soon, I will conclude my setup of the last two devices. I have people who do what they can or desire to do. Others come, and it is all done at some point. I don’t get upset about what was not done, but I am grateful that someone did something for my good, kinda like life is how we look at it. I looked down at my legs last week and laughed. Whose legs are these, I thought? I could reminisce of bigger legs and better days. Overall, I wonderfully appreciate the time I had with legs that participated in sports, exploration of nature, etc.

Courage is knowing what not to fear. Plato. He who knows that enough is enough will always have enough. Lao Tzu. Unless we remember, we can not understand. E. M. Forster. Simply said by Simon, enjoy, enjoy, and enjoy. ALS—Amazing Live Spontaneous. Thanks, Belinda.

Hallucinating is a coping mechanism

I thought about it, and some of the positive things about my experience in healthcare are that I have seen some clean buildings and met some helpful people who went beyond their job descriptions to make my life comfortable and enjoyable. I have helped some to become better professionals with insights from a patient’s perspective.

My experiences with Healthcare have made me stronger, wiser, more creative, understanding, and compassionate. I now realize better how some will use information to threaten and medically bully a patient. I have been told, repeatedly, that I sound like I am confused and hallucinating and could be sent back to the hospital. That just means that my defense mechanism is working, and I see their horrendous situation as good.

I have been able to beautify one facility’s outdoor area with greener grass, flowers, and a birdbath. My room has also been an oasis at both facilities where I have stayed. I have been able to begin my website, book writing, bread making, and other activities.

Live for today and not the fears of what may come.
Hadley Vlahos, RN. We first make our habits, and then our habits make us. John Dryden. The home is the chief school to human virtue. William Ellery Channing. Hope is the only bee that makes honey without flowers. Robert Green Ingersoll.

Healthcare has many beautiful people and a few monsters who I have met. I’ll continue to make positive changes when possible. Simplysaidbysimon, make this healthcare reform a better system if you can. ALS – A Little Speedo. Thanks, Jilliane.

Healthcare has no clothes

I hear it often said, “I could lose my license.” Truthfully, I am not sure how some people ever qualified. It’s good to have a great fit of skills, motives, and reciprocal appreciation.

I have seen too many illustrations of less-than-healthy protocols being followed. My doctor made orders without examination that were harmful to me. Also, when he did come, he didn’t wear gloves or wash his hands when entering my room. Tell me, how basic is that, especially in the COVID era? I’m still advising people who should know better.

I’m unsure of what level of service I am getting for what I am paying via the VA. I’m thankful for what I receive, but the Healthcare I see has no clothes. So, can I make it better? How can I provide at least some Speedo outfits for this naked care that many of us receive?

I want to offer more than just comments about what’s wrong. What are the things going right? Hmm. Let me think about it and get back to you, Simplysaidbysimon. We see what we look for. I’ll get some rose-tinted glasses. ALS – Always Listening Simon. Thanks, Jilliane.

Well, I haven’t cried, uncle

No worries. Since the staff doesn’t have to feed me orally, I guess they just forgot to come by and check on me. No kidding, today I thought I had the “A” team. Oh well, I keep hearing I’m sorry, I’m sorry. I love it. It gives me something to write about, and if I really wanted it, I would press my call light and not expect people to do what they get paid for.

I have enjoyed reading today and still enjoy good thoughts, feelings, and decisions. I keep looking at pictures of flowers from yesterday. Miracle Man is truly miraculous. Let your smile be the treasure of someone’s day. Chris Simon. We aim above the mark to hit the mark. Ralph Waldo Emerson. Simplysaidbysimon, it is what we make it, and I am growing flowers. So what? No one has checked on me for a good while. The ventilator reading should be taken every two hours, and bed sore prevention every two hours. I document it, but I leave their names in my posts. Things will change, or I will hear another, “I’m sorry.” ALS – Always Loving Stronger. Thanks, Barbara