Tube Pride..

Unless you have been hiding under a rock - you know that the crux of the argument for killing Terri Schiavo is because noone should need artifical life supports...

Folks - it's a tube - whether you taking something in (or in other cases, geting stuff out) of your body. Many people with disabilities use tubes, for feeding, suprapubic, or intermittent catheterization, bowel control, or to have antibiotic medication enter their bodies.

Including me. Yes, this webmaster has a suprapubic tube, I'm told it's the same basic deal as a feeding tube, and well, I am brain damaged (and thus have CP, which contributes to the need for my catheter.) My mom was told i was retarded, a vegetable, never going to amount to anytrhing, send him to an institution, blah, blah, blah...

We're Here, We're tubed, we demand that the myths about feeding tubes as a medical intervention disappear. Isnt a spoon and fork (or in my case, my microwave that i prepare my food in) a medical intervention??? Someone - please stop this madness. And for all you folks that think these people are like shut-ins or something, trust me - we're anything but.

Left- John Kelly uses a feeding tube - he also is a suprapubic catheter user. Right- The webmaster puts his recent surgery (Nov 12, 2004) upon display.

The NDY Press Release that got it all started

 

Thanks to carrie lucas, john kelly, diane, steve, mary, and whomever i am forgetting
created 3/26/05...more updates soon!