The struggle for health

KARL TAUSSIG SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH BULLETIN

Karl Taussig suffered a serious stroke last week. He is recuperating in hospital and is too weak to receive visitors. However, he wrote this article before falling ill and we run it here with the hope that he will soon be well enough to write for us again.

It has been more than a year since I was discharged from rehabilitation hospital, following recovery after quintuple by-pass surgery, repair to the mitral valve and a stroke. It is also about a year since the Bulletin ran an article reporting some of my and my wife Carol's comments on our experience in dealing with these events.

Many readers were concerned, even shocked, to learn of my setback and the problems with which we would have to learn to live, and they appreciated the firsthand insight offered on British Columbia's health-care system. Unfortunately there are many people who are confonted with similar situations. Therefore, it may be beneficial to provide more recent information on life with and after stroke.

G.F. Strong, the hospital in which I spent some two and a half months, has a solid reputation for therapeutic and restorative work for patients suffering from stroke and brain injury. My rehab schedule was intended to take care of my disabilities resulting from "left-side neglect," affecting primarily left arm, hand and leg movement, as well as, initially, swallowing and speech. Suitable daily therapy was set up and proved successful quite quickly.

However, before long, the pending employee contract negotiations started to affect aspects of service, resulting eventually in therapy sessions being cancelled with short- and no-notice "job action" by staff. This caused complete cancellations of scheduled daily activities and a reduction of routine patient care to the extent that Carol was expected to take care of me daily before bedtime, as well as routinely take care of my laundry needs.

I still shudder to recall the night I spent with one leg stuck through the side rail of my bed, unable to reach the call bell or extricate myself, waiting for night staff who never came. I finally thought to phone my wife on my bedside phone. She then phoned the nursing centre to alert them of my plight. Fortunately, I got through the night without need to use the toilet!

It became very evident that the hospital's priority was to make beds available to new occupants. "Care" had been reduced to the dispensing of medication; "therapy" to the preparation of a simple breakfast, under the supervision of a therapist, followed by making the bed.

In preparation for my return home, Carol had arranged for therapists from the hospital to inspect our apartment and recommend alterations that would be necessary for me to live there. This proved rather more expensive than anticipated; costs that were not recoverable from extended medical insurance.

Once discharged from the hospital, I needed a considerable string of appointments with specialists, clinics and doctors. Since my left-side deficiency had also resulted in my no longer being able to operate my car safely, I had to become used to the use of public transport, at the time when bus personnel were on strike and taxis and Handi Dart were in heavy demand.

To illustrate the chaos at that time, we remember the evening when Carol found me unconscious in my chair and her call for an ambulance went without response. Apparently, I had suffered a TIA (transient ischemic attack), which can be a warning sign of something more serious but luckily was not, for no ambulance came.

Carol and I had hoped that I would be able to continue scheduled therapy at a hospital as an out-patient, but this proved impossible. Even private centres were unable to meet my needs.

Fortunately, I knew from a close connection that professional programs for post-stroke patients, both gymnasium- and pool-based, were available at the Jewish Community Centre of Greater Vancouver (JCC). I was able to participate in them because of transportation that was generously provided by a number of JCC members who made themselves available for regular trips to and from the centre.

These and other friends in the community helped us in the truest sense of tikkun olam (repair of the world). Our heartfelt thanks are due to all involved and we want to extend our warmest appreciation and wishes for continued success to the JCC in its continuing and growing role in our community.

Karl Taussig is a member of Beth Israel Synagogue, a past president of the Jewish Community Centre and many other organizations. His hard work and dedication to the community is to be honored at the JCC Gala Sunday, June 9.

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