THE LIGHTER SIDE OF BEING PARALYZED FOR LIFE CARTOONIST JOHN CALLAHAN HIGHLIGHTS SOME OF HIS EX PERIENCES AS A QUADRIPLEGIC IN THEAMBULANCE, THEATTENDANT ANSWERED ALL MY QUESTIONS... ONE EVENING IN 1972, A FRIEND AND I DECIDED TO GO OUT FOR AN EVENING OF FUN... WE ENDED THE EVENING BY DRIVING HIS VOLKSWAGEN INTO A BILLBOARD AT 90 MILESAN HOUR. (LOOKING BACK O N IT, I KIND OF WISH WE HADNT DONE THIS.) IN THE INTENSIVE CARE UNIT TOO, THE DOCTOR WAS TACTFUL IN GIVING ME THE PROGNOSIS. AT THE REHABILITATION CENTER, THERAPISTS SUPPLIED ME WITH THE LATEST IN ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT. I EX PERIENCED THE TYPICAL DEPRESSION AND LONGED FOR THE DAYS BEFORE MY INJURY WHEN I WAS A USEFUL CONTRIBUTOR TO SOCIETY. DURING REHABILITATION, I LEARNED MANY USEFUL THINGS LIKEHOWTO MOVEFROM MY WHEELCHAIR INTO BED AND VICE VERSA... ONE DAY, INA MOMENT OF DESPERATION, I SNEAKED OUT AND WENT TO A FAITH HEALER... FINALLY, THE DAY CAME WHEN I WAS RELEASED FROM THEREHAB. CENTER, AND I WAS INTRODUCED TO THE HIGHLY- TRAINED ATTENDANT WITH WHOM I WOULD SHARE AN APARTMENT... THE LIVE-IN ATTENDANT AND I SPENT MANY PRODUCTIVE HOURS TOGETHER IN OUR APARTMENT IN LOS ANGELES. AFTER A FEW MONTHS OF SLOWLY REBUILDING MY SELF-CONFIDENCE, I TENTATIVELY RESUMED MY SOCIAL LIFE... Clinton St. Quarterly
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy NTc4NTAz