I am volunteering again, but this time to the nursing schools.- Update 8/08/2015
I have given much thought and have decided to speak and volunteer at the colleges that teach nursing and pulmonology. We have two schools in town that train and teach nursing, RN and LVN. I will soon get the answer on speaking and volunteering to let then have experance with people who have laryngecyomy's. Most doctors and nurses never see a laryngectomee so they don't know how to help and even treat us. Going to your local doctor or even the hospital knowing they don't know how to give you oxygen to a full neck breather is scarry. So I feel if I work with them so they understand us then they will be more relaxed and know how to care for us, [me]. I guess the life they save just might be mine. They will even tell us we can not have a lung function test because we are neck breathers. This is not true, I had to show them [they had 35 years experience] how to hook me up to their machine. So I made a video and now at least two people have had it done that were told it can not be done. With me geting a second chance on life, I now have a way to make a difference and help others so I should do so, and shair my knowledge. I feel my life now has a purpose and meaning, different than it did before.
I will still be speaking to the High Schools on anti-tobacco when the new school year starts.
May all your tomorrows be better than today, and you all are always in my thoughts and prayers.
Bill
Comments
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Hi Bill
You are so right my brother, I am not happy that I had cancer but I am happy that through my cancer I am able to help others. When you think about it that is the purpose of life, it’s all about giving and sharing what we know to help someone else.
Tim
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Bill, you are definitely a
Bill, you are definitely a great person for all you do to help others! What you're doing truly could save a life as you're right, most hosp. don't know how to treat us. They think we only have a trache and still breathe through our mouths. So, hats off to you for teaching the medical field about us.
Also, where can I get the tool needed to have the breathing test done? I think you've stated that before but I don't remember. i'd like to have one on hand.
Thank you Bill and God bless you, friend.
dj
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Breathing test and what is needed to have onedebbiejeanne said:Bill, you are definitely a
Bill, you are definitely a great person for all you do to help others! What you're doing truly could save a life as you're right, most hosp. don't know how to treat us. They think we only have a trache and still breathe through our mouths. So, hats off to you for teaching the medical field about us.
Also, where can I get the tool needed to have the breathing test done? I think you've stated that before but I don't remember. i'd like to have one on hand.
Thank you Bill and God bless you, friend.
dj
Debbie first you will need to wear a lary botton or tube or base plate for that day. Anything you can put a HME in. Ask them inadvance if they have a 22mm OD x 22mmOD adapter. Now if you have the tubing you use to hook up to a trach mask to give you mosture you will want about 18" of that. You can get that in the opening where the HME goes but it is best with the adapter. The Adapter goes on the end of the tubing then that goes where the HME was, you can still talk if you have a TEP Prosthesis by just putting your thumb over it. The technician will hook that up to his maching and you are good to go. Here is the link to the YouTube. Also you can go to YouTube and in the search just type; wmcross51 and press enter and you will see all of them.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5KzuMLB6WrABill
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Just an update; 08.08.2015
I have learned one thing here that is very inportant. Never Give Up [NGU]
Sometimes the wheel has to squeek to get some attention to get fixed. So I have not heard back on helping the Nurseing college, so I decided to squeek. I went back for a follow up and was able to get the person I needed to. She was very pleased that I was willing to give my time to help and volenteer. She will be out of the office for a few days but said she will get with all the departments, RN,LVN, EMT, and pulmonary. Her first thought is have them all go to their auditorium and have me speat to all at once. Then I can do one on one so they can see up close just what a stoma is and how it is so much different that just a trach. A trach is a hole to help you breath, but is not permanent and you still can get oxygen through your mouth and nose. Where a Stoma might look the same, you can only get oxygen through your neck. Your trach and esophagus have been surgically separated. Not knowing the differance and putting oxygen can be very serrious and life threating to a laryngectomee. So long and short it is going forward, just might be slow at times. I have the time. This school was the first of 13 they have. If they understand what, and how to treat a laryngectomee, they will change how they teach. In just a few years this could change thousands of nurces and the medical field, to where we can feel safe when we need to be treated. Maybe they might offer an advanced course for existing nurses that is only a few days to update them. Wow, what a thought that is.
I will hust NGU and keep squeeking until i'm satified I have done all I can. Thank you all.
Bill Oct 2013 and still NED for 20 months.
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bill, good for you forwmc said:Just an update; 08.08.2015
I have learned one thing here that is very inportant. Never Give Up [NGU]
Sometimes the wheel has to squeek to get some attention to get fixed. So I have not heard back on helping the Nurseing college, so I decided to squeek. I went back for a follow up and was able to get the person I needed to. She was very pleased that I was willing to give my time to help and volenteer. She will be out of the office for a few days but said she will get with all the departments, RN,LVN, EMT, and pulmonary. Her first thought is have them all go to their auditorium and have me speat to all at once. Then I can do one on one so they can see up close just what a stoma is and how it is so much different that just a trach. A trach is a hole to help you breath, but is not permanent and you still can get oxygen through your mouth and nose. Where a Stoma might look the same, you can only get oxygen through your neck. Your trach and esophagus have been surgically separated. Not knowing the differance and putting oxygen can be very serrious and life threating to a laryngectomee. So long and short it is going forward, just might be slow at times. I have the time. This school was the first of 13 they have. If they understand what, and how to treat a laryngectomee, they will change how they teach. In just a few years this could change thousands of nurces and the medical field, to where we can feel safe when we need to be treated. Maybe they might offer an advanced course for existing nurses that is only a few days to update them. Wow, what a thought that is.
I will hust NGU and keep squeeking until i'm satified I have done all I can. Thank you all.
Bill Oct 2013 and still NED for 20 months.
bill, good for you for squeaking!!! squeaking can be nice. thank you for caring so much and doing so much for others!!
God bless you,
dj
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