Learning about a spinal cord injury (SCI) in class is important, but hearing personal testimonies helps facilitate an understanding of these situations. Jordan Bone, a popular Vlogger and YouTube figure, talks about her struggles after her complete SCI at the C6 level. First, Bone states how important knowing the associated issues that can arise from a SCI can be. For instance, she struggles with autonomic dysreflexia which can quickly turn into a deadly situation. Autonomic dysreflexia is characterized by hypertension, slowed heart rate, flushed skin and headache. If symptoms like this occur in someone with a SCI, it is important to elevate their head because the results could be deadly. Thankfully, Bone knows when she is experiencing these symptoms and can educate others on how to proceed, but she talks about how many people, even in the health profession, don't know about this serious condition. Another issue that Bone must pay attention to is her inability to regulate her own body temperature. If it is cold outside, her body temperature decreases and vice versa. Her body fluctuates with the environmental temperature which could result in serious issues if left unattended. Her lack of elbow extension also characterizes the level of her SCI where her main upper body function relies heavily on shoulder movements and elbow flexion. At night, she has to have carers turn her every two hours to prevent bed sores, limiting her sleep and privacy. Even though she is able to do incredible activities such as giving makeup tutorials, her life is dependent on the constant care of others.
Regardless, Bone has decided to make the best of her situation. In her videos, she talks about the importance of doing what you love to do. For her, it is makeup and connecting with people on the internet. In fact, Bone talks about how the internet really helped her cope with the realization she would never return to the life she once had. When this initial realization hit, Bone reveals the severe depression she fought. Everything would be different, and she would never be able to regain full independence. But, once again, her resilience kicked in and she began watching meditation videos, creating makeup strategies and networking on the internet. Following her dreams eventually lead to her freedom from antidepressants, a feat she talks about as being something she is most proud of herself for accomplishing. While Bone admits that she would never wish this situation on another human being, she also sees the positivity in being able to be a first-hand witness to the consequences of reckless driving. Bone has also found a passion in speaking to adolescents and young drivers especially about the importance of their lives and how serious it is to get behind the wheel.
For me, something I kept seeing in Bone's testimonial is how important doing occupation-based activities are for people leading to recovery and their future lives. Bone is incredible in the fact that she has learned how to hold her makeup and apply false eyelashes, but if she weren't able to adapt in such a way, there should definitely be a focused effort on finding new techniques and equipment to enable her to pursue her desired occupations. Even though she will not be able to walk again, she still is a human being with human rights to life. Something I think that often goes unnoticed in situations like these is how people who have injuries or disabilities still have the same emotions as others, perhaps on an even deeper level. Bone talks about how she doesn't like wearing tight clothes because she feels that she looks pregnant. Even though she is not overweight, her abdominal muscles are very weak and don't hold her midsection tightly resulting in a little "pooch." This is why Bone reverts to the more comfortable and loosely fitting tops. When she first said this, I thought about how fascinating it is that a woman who is dealing with tetraplegia worries about looking fat! However, at the end of the day, she is a woman and women definitely have these insecurities. It's interesting to me to see my own tendencies in assuming that people who have different physical struggles have different emotional ones as well, but the reality is that we all have our innate human insecurities that don't stop even if other functions do.
The one thing that keeps resonating with me from Bone's testimony is how important makeup has been for her. It has become her life, and she loves it. This is where the foundation of occupational therapy is seen most evidently. Occupational therapy centers around the ideals that people need to be able to engage in "meaningful activities," and those activities will vary based on the individual. For Bone, it's makeup, but for myself, who cannot even apply false eyelashes with fully functioning hands, makeup may not be the occupation I would want to invest in! Nevertheless, Bone has found a way to do what she loves, which is the goal of occupational therapy. I think so often we as health care providers just focus on getting people to the best functioning they can achieve, but it is so much more than that! After all, Bone is able to apply makeup even though her fingers are paralyzed. Because she loves to apply her mascara, she has found a way to do it. When talking about her accomplishment in applying false eyelashes, Bone states that her finger movement has not improved but her determination has. Sometimes, regaining functions cannot happen, but that doesn't mean that they cannot be adapted. The point of a goal in occupational therapy should always center on the desires of the client; the OT's job is simply to do whatever necessary to facilitate the client's ability to perform the goal.
Bone, J. (2017, January 26). FIND OUT ABOUT MY INJURY | QUADRIPLEGIA | Jordan Bone. [Video File]. Retrieved April 29, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtZbaFfsRBo&list=PLxEkB8fTY1JP-0Xul-g8zyC5nlWu9_fwZ&index=7
Regardless, Bone has decided to make the best of her situation. In her videos, she talks about the importance of doing what you love to do. For her, it is makeup and connecting with people on the internet. In fact, Bone talks about how the internet really helped her cope with the realization she would never return to the life she once had. When this initial realization hit, Bone reveals the severe depression she fought. Everything would be different, and she would never be able to regain full independence. But, once again, her resilience kicked in and she began watching meditation videos, creating makeup strategies and networking on the internet. Following her dreams eventually lead to her freedom from antidepressants, a feat she talks about as being something she is most proud of herself for accomplishing. While Bone admits that she would never wish this situation on another human being, she also sees the positivity in being able to be a first-hand witness to the consequences of reckless driving. Bone has also found a passion in speaking to adolescents and young drivers especially about the importance of their lives and how serious it is to get behind the wheel.
For me, something I kept seeing in Bone's testimonial is how important doing occupation-based activities are for people leading to recovery and their future lives. Bone is incredible in the fact that she has learned how to hold her makeup and apply false eyelashes, but if she weren't able to adapt in such a way, there should definitely be a focused effort on finding new techniques and equipment to enable her to pursue her desired occupations. Even though she will not be able to walk again, she still is a human being with human rights to life. Something I think that often goes unnoticed in situations like these is how people who have injuries or disabilities still have the same emotions as others, perhaps on an even deeper level. Bone talks about how she doesn't like wearing tight clothes because she feels that she looks pregnant. Even though she is not overweight, her abdominal muscles are very weak and don't hold her midsection tightly resulting in a little "pooch." This is why Bone reverts to the more comfortable and loosely fitting tops. When she first said this, I thought about how fascinating it is that a woman who is dealing with tetraplegia worries about looking fat! However, at the end of the day, she is a woman and women definitely have these insecurities. It's interesting to me to see my own tendencies in assuming that people who have different physical struggles have different emotional ones as well, but the reality is that we all have our innate human insecurities that don't stop even if other functions do.
The one thing that keeps resonating with me from Bone's testimony is how important makeup has been for her. It has become her life, and she loves it. This is where the foundation of occupational therapy is seen most evidently. Occupational therapy centers around the ideals that people need to be able to engage in "meaningful activities," and those activities will vary based on the individual. For Bone, it's makeup, but for myself, who cannot even apply false eyelashes with fully functioning hands, makeup may not be the occupation I would want to invest in! Nevertheless, Bone has found a way to do what she loves, which is the goal of occupational therapy. I think so often we as health care providers just focus on getting people to the best functioning they can achieve, but it is so much more than that! After all, Bone is able to apply makeup even though her fingers are paralyzed. Because she loves to apply her mascara, she has found a way to do it. When talking about her accomplishment in applying false eyelashes, Bone states that her finger movement has not improved but her determination has. Sometimes, regaining functions cannot happen, but that doesn't mean that they cannot be adapted. The point of a goal in occupational therapy should always center on the desires of the client; the OT's job is simply to do whatever necessary to facilitate the client's ability to perform the goal.
Bone, J. (2017, January 26). FIND OUT ABOUT MY INJURY | QUADRIPLEGIA | Jordan Bone. [Video File]. Retrieved April 29, 2017, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dtZbaFfsRBo&list=PLxEkB8fTY1JP-0Xul-g8zyC5nlWu9_fwZ&index=7
Fantastic post! Jordan is definitely an inspiration.
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