MDF Magazine Issue 53 August 2017

More documents

Recommendations

Info

Sandra’s thoughts on… “there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so” Sandra Bredell (MSW) Yes, this is the famous saying of Hamlet in the well-known play Hamlet by William Shakespeare. Shakespeare was a very clever man – not only did he manage to write well and was talented in theatre work, but he seemed to have a clever way of getting people to think. I mean, how many people do not know of his work? To this day, 400 hundred years later, people are still reading and studying his work. If you think that I am going to share some ideas on English literature and how to understand Shakespeare’s work, you are definitely mis-sing the mark. This is all about what and how we think about certain experiences in our life. In philosophy a typical question would be, “How should I live?” But, as so appropriately pointed out by Prof. Bernard Williams of Princeton University, people rather focus on asking “What is my duty?” (Mace, 2015). We are all faced with different situations in life and each one of us perceives and experiences these situations differently. This is embedded in our spiritual and moral beliefs and is further influenced by preconceived ideas and the society’s standards. These internal values and the way we understand and process information lead and guide us in making decisions. Therefore, when we make decisions, we might focus on what is expected of us rather than how we should live according to our set of beliefs (CareerRide.com, 2014). I would like to share a story with you that I read on the internet the other day (Falland, ©2009–2013). The story is about a young man who had been in an accident in which his motor bike was damaged and he had ended up in hospital. Immediately people started to respond by sharing the terrible news among his family and friends by focusing on the fact that he had recently bought the bike and how unlucky he was. On the other hand, the young man held the belief that everything in life happens for a reason. While he was recovering in hospital, his house had been vandalised and burnt to the ground. Now people responded by saying that he was so lucky to still have been in hospital, otherwise he could have been killed in the fire, and by posing questions like, “How can people do that?” But the young man stuck to his belief that things happen for a reason. Fully recovered from the accident, the young man stood in front of the ruins that once had been his house, when a man in a suit walked up to him. It turned out that he was working for a property development company and that they were interested in buying this property. A joint project for the property was discussed and they sealed the deal. Townhouses were built and the young man made a good profit from this business deal. The response from the family and friends was that if his house had not burnt down he would not have had this business opportunity. The young man’s reply was that this might be true, but everything happens for a reason. What does this say about you and me? What would your thoughts have been and how would you have responded if you had been in the young man’s situation? In our country, we have experienced flooding, drought, water restriction and very recently the devastating Knysna fires. People think differently about these experiences as well. What stood out for me when all of this was happening in Knysna was the caring behaviour of the people of South Africa. Volunteers joined the firefighters, other volunteers cared for the firefighters, nationally people donated goods and money towards people in need, churches offered help and accommodation, holiday property owners assisted with accommodation, volunteers cared for animals, school stationery was provided for scholars, and trauma counselling was provided to the people of Knysna. Terrible circumstances like this, could easily influence people’s perceptions and experiences and make them think negatively about them, but they could also easily do the opposite. Does this make you think about your own beliefs and thoughts and how they influence the decisions you make, especially concerning the question “How should I live my life?” You can change the way you think about things, but this remains your choice. References CareerRide.com. 2014. Good or bad – your thinking makes it so. http://www.careerride.com/view/good-orbad-your-thinking-makes-it-so-1<strong>53</strong>57.aspx Falland, C. ©2009-2013. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so. Blog – Conversations to inspire, no date. http://candeecefalland.com/mindset/there-is-nothing-either-good-or-bad-but-thinkingmakes-it-so/ Mace, W.L. 2015. There is nothing either good or bad but thinking makes it so: The case against moralism. Blog – Campus confidential: Coping with college, January 08. Psychology Today. https://www.psychologytoday. com/blog/campus-confidential-coping-college/201501/ there-is-nothing-either-good-or-bad-thinking-makes-it 30
Motorised Wheelchair Maintenance A wheelchair should be maintained so that it will last and work properly. When wheelchairs break down, it becomes a problem to move around independently and get involved socially. There are many things that a wheelchair user, caregiver or family member can do to maximise the chair’s lifetime and usefulness. When purchasing a wheelchair, read the supplier’s manual on preventive maintenance. This contains specifics of caring for the particular make of wheelchair. Keep the manual for future reference after you have read it. Take proper care of your wheelchair. By Pieter Joubert Guide to regular maintenance for a wheelchair Give the chair a thorough cleaning on a regular basis with a soft, damp cloth and keep dirt out of the mechanisms. Cleanliness is important so that dirt does not get into the gears, motors, or other parts. Check tyre pressure and ensure that the wheel locks are still tightly attached to the frame and that they are easy to activate. Look at the axle housing and clean away any dirt. Examine the front casters to check for looseness, misalignment, or wobbling. Check that removable parts, like the leg rests or back rests, are comfortable. They can be easily removed and put back on. Some routine maintenance and inspection procedures may not be possible. Contact the supplier and make an appointment to have the wheelchair serviced. Do not allow people who are not trained to do repairs and tamper with your wheelchair; rather have a service provider look at it. Check the battery and connections regularly. Charge the battery when the charge level is half. The battery will last longer if you charge it after usage. Check joystick controls to make sure they are operating properly. Do not switch on or tamper with the joystick whilst charging. Do not pick up a charger on its wires as they will become loose and you will not be able to charge your wheelchair. A well-maintained wheelchair can last for many years. Do not allow people to play or tamper with your wheelchair. A wheelchair is a necessity for you to be able to move around independently. Article online at: http://mdfgauteng.org/motorised-wheelchair-maintenance/ Suppliers of Medical Equipment CE Mobility Phone: 0860 236624 Johannesburg, Cape Town, Durban, Port Elizabeth, Pretoria & Rivonia Website: www.cemobility.co.za Impact Medical Supplies Phone: 011 469-1750 E-mail:impactmed@worldonline. co.za Website: www.impactmedical.co.za Clinical Emergencies Phone: 011 443-9093 E-mail: clinical@icon.co.za Website: www.clinicalemergencies. co.za Solutions Medical Phone: 021 592-3370 Website: www.wheelchairs.co.za Medmedical Phone: 011 640-5262 Website: www.medmedical.co.za Medop cc Phone: 011 827-5893/4/5 Website: www.medop.co.za Wheelchairs on the Run (Pty) Ltd Phone: 011 955-7007 Website: www.wheelchairs-ontherun. co.za Radical Mobility Phone: 011 664-6069 E-mail: www.radicalmobility.com Hands on Lifts (Pty) Ltd Phone: 011 918-7060/1 E-mail: lynn@handsonlifts.co.za Website: www.handsonlifts.co.za Chairman Industries Phone: 011 624-1222 Website: www.chairmanind.co.za Flybrother SA Phone: 011 425-4300 Cell phone: 084 777 5105 Website: www.flybrothersa.co.za Jessen Dakile (Pty) Ltd Phone: 011 793-6260 Website: www.jessendakile.co.za Sheer Mobility Phone: 021 552-5563 Cell phone: 082 926 5414 Website: www.sheermobility.co.za Shonaquip Phone: Cape Town 021 797-8239 Phone: Pretoria 012 665-1211 Phone: Port Elizabeth 079 524-4350 E-mail: nina@shonaquip.co.za Website: www.shonaquip.co.za 31
Page 1 and 2: Spring Issue 53 August 2017 R25.00
Page 3 and 4: DF Magazine 05 MDF notice board 06
Page 5 and 6: Subscription and contributions to t
Page 7 and 8: National Institute of Neurological
Page 9 and 10: MD Individuals with CMT1 typically
Page 11 and 12: EMERGENCY ALERT CARDS Muscular Dyst
Page 13 and 14: Health Limb-girdle muscular dystrop
Page 15 and 16: In the White Paper on the Rights of
Page 17 and 18: Events Day 1. JHB to Klerksdorp to
Page 19 and 20: Events A special day for a special
Page 21 and 22: Molly, my life-changing dog People
Page 23 and 24: People ‘She wins all the races’
Page 25 and 26: People My Story Marinus Mans I have
Page 27 and 28: Research Congenital myotonic dystro
Page 29: Prof Amanda Krause, MBBCh, PhD MB B
Page 33 and 34: Craft Day for Children with Duchenn
Page 35 and 36: Gauteng Branch Welcome Beauty Matim
Page 37 and 38: KZN Thank You to Westville Boys Hig

MDF Magazine Issue 53 August 2017

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

Delete template?

Save as template?