sOcial buTterfly

I decided to create “Pick a Stick” because it incorporates energy conservation ideas, facilitates meaningful conversation about who and what is most important to the client, and mimics some of the client’s desired occupations—all while improving fine motor skills. Fine motor skills would be used in many of Jane's typical daily activities such as, documenting at work, inserting needles, bandaging wounds, tying her scrub pants, cooking a meal, pulling weeds, making pottery, and so many more. "Pick a Stick" helps the client plan, prioritize, and pace important tasks throughout the week and encourages social participation to help ward off feelings of depression and isolation. Jane reported having many close friends in her area, making that particular aspect of this intervention possible. The task can be performed in various settings (such as the hospital, an in-patient facility, or the client’s home), and is very inexpensive. It could also be performed either sitting at a ta...

For my final Neuro Note assignment, I chose to dive deeper into Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS) by watching the testimony of Andrew Franek. Andrew battled GBS for nearly one year. Before his diagnosis, Andrew enjoyed hunting, going to the gym, playing guitar, boating, and being a firefighter. After becoming sick with a high fever, weakness, and severe rash, Andrew was diagnosed with strep. However, in the weeks that followed, Andrew would become paralyzed below the neck, spend days on a ventilator, and require a tracheostomy and peg tube for basic life support. While the illness (GBS) progressed rapidly, recovery did not—a team approach to therapy and Andrew’s grit helped him to overcome the illness after ten  long  months of fighting. I chose to learn more about Andrew’s experience to help me design an intervention for a young woman with GBS as a part of my upcoming media project. I recommend Andrew’s testimonial video to others who would like a closer look at GBS and the rehab...

For my  fourth Neuro Note assignment, I dove deeper into the topic of multiple sclerosis (MS) by watching a TedTalk by Stephanie Buxhoeveden. I chose to watch this talk in hopes of improving my understanding of such a complex disease. Stephanie was diagnosed with MS when she was only 25 years old, a young nurse working her way through a highly selective nurse anesthetist graduate program. Stephanie was planning a wedding and lifted weights in her small amount of free time. Upon receiving her diagnosis, Stephanie was at a crossroads: she could deny her diagnosis, cope with it, or thrive in spite of it. I recommend her TedTalk to anyone hoping to better understand MS and to those suffering from a neurological disorder who are in need of a little inspiration. Stephanie's symptoms of MS first emerged as a tingling sensation in her foot during a routine workout. Like any young, healthy person would, she chalked this feeling up to a pinched nerve or other sports-related injury. However, ...