“Life’s choices are wild and free, but sustaining and elevating, or destructive and debilitating. It’s up to us to choose.”
Mark O’Brian
1949-1999
Mark O’Brian was an American journalist and poet. He contracted Polio at the age of 10, spent most of his life in an isolating iron lung, and passed away at age 50. He was an advocate for the disabled all of his life.
The famous pilot and adventurer Major General Charles “Chuck” Yeager, sustained many broken bones and burns following his many accidents; both in aircraft and his adventures in nature; Currently living in California, in the foothills of his beloved Sierra Nevada Mountains, and still maintaining his positive attitude and health at his current age of 93.
Colonel Dwight Sullivan, injured when his aircraft was shot down over North Vietnam, survived the horrific treatment as a prisoner of war for 7 years, currently residing in Arizona, and maintains a positive and healthy attitude.
Hellen Keller, a person with deafness and blindness, was an American author; political activist, and lecturer.
She was the first person with blindness and deafness in the United States to earn a Bachelor’s Degree and spent her life as an advocate for persons with disabilities. She passed away at age 88.
These individuals serve as testament to the resiliency of the human spirit.
We very often hear stories and tales about the famous people who have overcome their plight of having a debilitating condition or disease, yet we need not look far from home to know or meet someone who is a person with a disability. Theirs, as those who are famous, serve as beacons…advocates for persons with disabilities because of their endurance and attitudes toward their conditions.
That Middle East War veteran with para or Quadra pelage, that Veteran who suffers day to day with his Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, that neighbor who suffers from a spinal cord injury sustained in an automobile accident, that person you know who suffers from life threatening Cancer, the person who must trust their seeing eye dog to help them get around, the person with a chronic mental illness, etc., etc.
They not only have the physical pain and discomfort of their condition, but must also have to deal continuously with the psychological pain, anguish, and stigma associated.
Just how do people deal with the psychological pain, Stress, anguish and social stigma associated with their condition? Fortunately, most seem to be doing quite well, but many have difficulties accepting or dealing with their condition. For General Yeager, as he has so often stated, it was a “Press On” attitude no matter what his life’s condition.
And I would most likely make the case for all of those who have managed to care for their condition in healthy manners. But they not only must have a most positive attitude, they have learned about their condition and how to take care of it; have a foundation of hope and faith for their future, and have a trust relationship with others who have helped them along the way.
I am a firm believer in people learning from others stories concerning their disabilities, and I often have imparted my Cancer story to others. In the 19 years I have had Cancer, having undergone radiation treatment, many rounds of Chemotherapy, and multiple surgeries; I continue to “Press On” with my life, out of my choice to do so. I, as with many individuals in my same condition, have a faith system giving me guidance, loving family and friends who are supportive, and hope for the future.
Without faith and hope the struggle would have been difficult, if not impossible. I am a totally disabled American Veteran, but I refuse to accept the “Dis” part of that…I turn it into “Abled” instead, even with my day-to-day struggles with the disease and all of its side-effects I manage to cope. I have learned from my medical treatment team how to take care of myself, I receive added help from my family and friends, and I have a belief system based on faith in a higher power and hope for the future.
Although unable to do many physical things, my spending this wonderful time with family and friends, writing my column articles for the Star, advocating for persons with disabilities, being on the Texas State Independent Living Council, and many other activities…provide meaning to my life; keeping me psychologically, physically, socially, and spiritually healthy.
Persons with disabilities, such as mine, must remain active despite their condition to keep all of their “selves” healthy. We have learned that it is imperative to do so, even during our roughest times. The only thing that a person with a disability has no control over is the stigma and stereotypes assigned to his/her disorder, yet through their own experience and advocacy work that can eventually be overcome as well; such is the case of Cancer which has lost almost the entire stigma attached to the disease over the past 50 years.
People stereotype and stigmatize something because they are unlearned, ignorant of the disability. That is where advocating and education come into play. When people learn about a disability and what it is like for the person who has it, then stigma is reduced. Persons with disabilities do not need to be patronized or sympathized, they just need empathetic understanding and support as requested and needed.
Words and labels do not describe or define the person. Every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect, regardless. As Martin Luther King said, “a person should be defined by their character…” We should always remember to focus on the person, not the label. Until next time, Stay Healthy my Friends!
