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Recovery, Part 9
By
Tom Quirk |
Scituate
- The event was unexpected and the procedure
frightening for both patient and family. The post-operative
recovery was stressful and difficult for everyone. At some
point, assuming a somewhat successful recovery, survivors
want and need to return to productive activity. They reach a
point where their neurologist or neurosurgeon has advised
them that they are ready to again become contributing
members of society. But are they?
What if there are physical deficits that preclude the
resumption of their prior employment? Perhaps their
cognitive functions are not what they were? Survivors may
appear as they were but often the employer’s expectations,
as well as the survivor’s, are unrealistic. Surely the
employee wants to succeed, but the more subtle cognitive
deficits (memory, organization of thought, concentration,
and processing skills) and fatigue may not permit that.
Failure can be devastating to a person’s self-confidence.
There are alternatives, such as responsibilities that may
draw upon your experience and expertise, but may not be
full-time and/or allow you to work from home. If family
finances permit, volunteer work may provide that renewed
self-confidence, intrapersonal interaction, and sense of
independence that we all need.
When 30,000 folks hemorrhage each year, and 15,000 die, the
financial ramifications for the family are overwhelming.
With an average family of four, well over 120,000 have had
their lives severely impacted. In situations where the
survivor is disabled and cannot work because of a physical
or mental condition that is expected to last at least a
year, they may be eligible for Social Security benefits.
Those with little income and few resources may also be
eligible for disability payments through the Supplemental
Security Income (SSI) program. These programs also allow for
return to work trials and offer vocational rehabilitation
assistance for individual special needs. Information is
available at the local Social Security office.
The post illness concept of work may be substantially
different than it might have been before. The reality is
that some things were possible before, but are not any
longer. You are still the person that you were and despite
certain differences, you still have goals and dreams.
However, you are not the same. |
ABOUT THE
AUTHOR
For more information you may contact Tom Quirk at (781)
545-2300, extension 628 or via email at tfquirk@aol.com. For
more detailed information about brain aneurysms, please
visit the Brain Aneurysm Foundation’s web site at
www.bafound.org.
The South Shore Brain Aneurysm Support
Group meetings are held the second Wednesday of every month,
from 7:30 - 9:00 p.m. at St. Mary's Parish Center, 2 Edward
Foster Road, Scituate.
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