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Hi Guys and gals:
I want to report about a new program my Rehab Hospt has began(Texas
Rehabilitation and Research Institute here in Houston).
It's called TIRR PEERS. Its purpose is to locate new and return patients in
the hospital that suffer spinal cord injury and link them up with a former
patient just to talk about anything, form remodeling, to bowel and bladder
problems and recreation from the stand point of one that has "been there and
done that".
I made my first contact with a patient this weekend, and I must say that that
was the most rewarding event I had had since being confined in this danged
chair. We talked about the bowel and bladder issues as well as recreation-
fishing-in particular, and how can I_the patient) work if he is in a
wheelchair. He is a T5-6 para, four months post from an accident. I'll be
seeing him along with his wife next time. Sexual issues were also important
to him.
BOY !!!!!!!!!!!!! i wish I had someone like that to talk to when I was
facing
the same dilemmas he is now.
If you EVER get the chance to volunteer like that, I strongly recommend it.
Makes a person feel like they did some good for that day.
As of now, we have about 20 volunteers who have offered their time to do
this.
We try to match the TIRR PEER with the patient that have similar levels of
injury and have similar back grounds and interests.
We have future plans in this group to extend the PEER contact to former
patients of TIRR and establish a 1-800 hot line for them as well as others
not
former patients
I am sure you all can remember the quandary you were in and what a list of
questions you had at initial onset.
I will try to keep yo posted on this program as it develops, and hopefully
grows.
There are similar programs at other facilities in the country, and we
eventually hope to set up a mutual referral system for "victims" that are
located elsewhere outside this area.
If you get the chance, VOLUNTEER.
Bob from Houston
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Hi Bob,
The TIRR PEER program sounds like a winner.Volunteering for such a program
provides support and information for the patient and a lot of satisfaction for
the volunteer in being afforded the opportunity to help others. I'm affiliated
with several organizations that do this and I enjoy the time I spend visiting
hospital patients.Their
gratitude and smiles mean a lot to me.
Phil