Volume 62, No. 4
Published in Braille, Large Print, audio CD, Email (bc-subscribe@ccbnet.org), and Online in readable and downloadable text and audio media.
Judy Wilkinson, President 1550 Bancroft Avenue #113, San Leandro, CA 94577-5264 Cell: 510-388-5079 president@ccbnet.org
Executive Office California Council of the Blind 2143 Hurley Way Suite 250, Sacramento, CA 95825 916-441-2100 voice; 916-441-2188 fax Email: ccotb@ccbnet.org Website: www.ccbnet.org
Jeff Thom, Director Governmental Affairs Committee 800-221-6359 toll free; 916-995-3967 cell governmentalaffairs@ccbnet.org
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Mike Keithley, Editor 191 East El Camino Real #150 Mountain View, CA 94040 650-386-6286 editor@ccbnet.org
Susan Glass, Associate Editor 408-257-1034 editor@ccbnet.org
The CALIFORNIA CONNECTION is a weekly news service provided: By phone: in English and Spanish at 800-221-6359 Monday through Friday after 5 PM and all day on weekends and holidays. By email subscription: send a blank message to connection-subscribe@ccbnet.org; Or on the web at www.ccbnet.org. Submissions for the California Connection can be emailed to ca.connection@ccbnet.org.
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Table of Contents
Editor’s Page
Editor’s Page
By Mike Keithley
Welcome to the fall issue of The Blind Californian. I’m sure you lived an adventurous summer, with trips to and from the ACB conference and convention with its myriad events, and interesting happenings at home. So now comes the BC with more things to share.
Will President Wilkinson make it through the chaos of the moment? Find out here! And we have a great story of how a member of the Contra Costa chapter successfully lost weight, plus the account of Robo-Brailler crashing the Braille Challenge at the Washington State school. And as promised, we have more memorials to Ken Metz.
Enjoy!
Staying Relentlessly Positive, Judy Wilkinson
Our BC editor had been gently reminding me for over a week to get my article to him, but this was one of those times when I felt beleaguered and believed there was nothing I could write about that I could speak about publicly. As it happened, this morning I was speaking with Louis Fawcett, our partner in CCB’s major gifts campaign, who pointed out to me that donors can sense negativity, strife, and discord; he warned me we would hear many “no’s,” and in that light, the key is to remain “relentlessly positive.” For me that remark came at a pivotal moment.
No sooner had he and I hung up and I was taking a breath in preparation for a call on a legal matter CCB is pursuing, when Paul Shane phoned to alert me that our office had been robbed last night. Luckily in Paul’s capable hands (thank goodness for his law enforcement background), we are dealing with the aftermath literally as I write this. Also thank goodness for insurance.
But the day had already been going badly! At around 6 AM our time, I learned that in preparing our mailing to some 2,250 donors in the Sacramento area, we discovered the address hadn’t been changed on our license to use special postal services for nonprofits; an honest mistake since after all, we have the license and never realized the address problem. Hopefully we can resolve this matter in time to include a return card in our mailer, though Louis assures me most people respond these days via email or phone.
Moving on to other hurdles, at the end of July, Peter Pardini and I went to the office to meet our incoming treasurer Lisa Thomas so we could manage bank signatures. Whenever such a major transition occurs, there are challenges: Lisa has put in many long hours and will put in many more, bringing our financial records into a manageable state. This has necessitated hours of my time as well. The board will be considering some of her preliminary findings and recommendations, and we will be looking at some hard choices over the next few weeks. The board will meet in several executive sessions, but rest assured, we will give plenty of notice about public meetings where we will discuss possible actions.
It’s hard to believe that Paul Shane has been our CEO for two years, and the board is currently discussing contract matters, which also has its stressful components.
Oh and did I mention that our website was down this week because we forgot when replacing a compromised credit card to change automatic payments? And speaking of that card, let me mention the hours I spent dealing with B of A personnel on this problem.
I understand that in most religions, belief in the positive is axiomatic, but speaking personally, I need to dig deep to manufacture it! Well remember that CCB advocacy call I mentioned? We have medical recipients who need materials in accessible formats! In his article elsewhere in this issue, Jeff reminds us of goals accomplished and challenges for next year concerning our legislative agenda.
CCB has milestones to celebrate in our Case For Support| — Enactment of the white Cane law in 1935. — 1980’s CCB sues BART to get detectable warning strips on platforms. — 1990’s to present: Structured negotiations in a number of areas ranging from accessible banking services, point-of-sale machines, pharmacy chains for prescription information, and the list goes on.
We have four projects we are asking donors to fund:
— Senior Solutions: addresses the unique needs of the blind and low vision aging population.
— Achieving Access: tackles the needs that blind and low vision people face to navigate the 21st century world at home and in their communities through transportation and technology.
— Equality Without Compromise Advocacy: is dedicated to making long term sustainable positive changes in the lives of people who are blind and low vision.
— New Beginnings: for those facing change in their vision status or life circumstances.
The significance of the above milestones and the number who will benefit from our four proposed projects and our belief that they can be accomplished create the incentive which sustains all of us.
Which brings me to the most monumental milestone of all: next year we will be celebrating CCB’s 85th anniversary, including special activities at our upcoming conference and convention, whose theme will be “CCB: Survive And Thrive at 85!”
What a testament to staying relentlessly positive.
HALF THE PERSON, TWICE THE LIFE, MAILE GEORGE
Half the Person, Twice the Life!
By Maile George, based on a dialog with Laurie Van Allen
In late 2016, with our Guide Dogs snoozing at our feet, Laurie Van Allen and I chatted over lunch at a local diner known for its gigantic portions. It was during this conversation that Laurie told me she was considering weight loss surgery. I tried to be as supportive and enthusiastic as I possibly could, but I was also admittedly somewhat skeptical because Laurie had mentioned to me many times in the past that she couldn’t remember a day in her life when she was not overweight. Still, at the age of 53, weighing in at 346 pounds, Laurie knew she needed to do something different to stop her steady weight gain. Please read on to get to know Laurie as she responds to my questions about her weight loss journey.
M – What finally convinced you to go through with weight loss surgery? L – Mostly, it was my declining health! I was diagnosed with sleep apnea, Type II diabetes, high blood pressure, pinched nerves in my back, anemia, and had to get regular B12 shots. I was unsteady on my feet, found myself getting out of breath after just walking a short distance and suffered from severe cramps in my feet and calves, not to mention the inconvenience of having to shop at plus-size clothing stores, and the embarrassment of having to ask for seatbelt extenders on airplanes, and taking up extra space in cars and on public transportation.
M – How did you choose your surgeon? L – My regular medical doctor referred me to a bariatric surgery specialist. I felt comfortable with her from the first moment I met her! She recommended what’s known as gastric sleeve surgery. The purpose of this type of surgery is to decrease the size of the stomach, so it becomes physically impossible to overeat.
M – Did Medicare pay for your procedure? L – Yes; most of it was covered by Medicare, including lab tests, GI tract tests, the surgery, the hospital stay, pain meds, and the follow-up visits.
M – Were there any costs you didn’t anticipate? L – Yes; there were a few. I had to pay for the mandatory psychological evaluation myself, and for the special food I needed for about six weeks post-surgery, which were, surprisingly delicious but expensive! I started with a liquid diet, and then I was able to move on to soft foods, all of which I ordered from www.bariatricchoice.com
M – How did you manage all the paperwork that must have been involved? L – There were lots and lots of forms, and I don’t think any of them were available in an accessible format. Fortunately, my attendant, who’s now also a good friend, was willing to sort through the stacks and stacks of paperwork. She was a constant source of encouragement as we went through form after form after form! My pre-op nurse was also helpful with the legal forms I had to sign immediately before the surgery.
M – How long was it after your surgery before you could eat regular food, walk, resume your daily activities, and start working Lego, your Guide Dog? L – After the surgery, I had to stay in the hospital for three days, and when they allowed me to go home, it took about three or four weeks before I could move around halfway normally. Then, after about four weeks, Lego finally came home. As far as the food, all I could eat at first was half a Popsicle, but then I gradually added more variety, starting with shakes, puddings, soups, and meal replacement and protein bars. It’s still trial and error, as I add other foods like eggs, small amounts of chicken, fruit and cooked vegetables.
M – How many pounds have you lost, and how much time has it taken? L – It’s been a little over a year, and I now weigh 205; I’m down 141 pounds from my starting weight of 346! My goal weight is 170 to 180, which, according to my doctor, is about right for a woman of my height and build.
M – What factors contributed to your success? L – I honestly would have been lost if it hadn’t been for the ongoing support of my family and friends. The members of the Contra Costa CCB chapter really cheered me up and cheered me on! About a week after I got home, I was surprised when a box of the special soft food I needed was delivered! It was nice to know my friends from the Contra Costa chapter were thinking of me. In fact, the psychologist continually emphasized how critical support was to a person’s success. (Note: Though Laurie never attended a support group, the psychologist told her about many in the area. If Laurie hadn’t had such a strong support network of her own, she said she definitely would have taken advantage of the opportunity to go.)
M – How will you know when to stop losing weight? L- My doctor assured me she’ll tell me when it’s time to start thinking about following a maintenance program; don’t worry! I won’t ever become anorexic! I like my food too much!
M – In what way has your life changed since you had the surgery? L – In so many ways! I have no more sleep apnea, so I don’t use my CPAP machine, I don’t take the diabetes medication, Metformin, or the vitamin B12 shots and my dose of blood pressure medication has been cut in half! My iron levels are normal, I have more energy, and I don’t get out of breath as easily! I also don’t experience the painful foot and calf cramps I used to get when I was so much heavier. I’m also really happy that I can now shop at a variety of regular clothing and shoe stores! My balance and nerve pain from the pinched nerves in my L3 and L4 are still bad, but I’m hopeful that over time, as my body adjusts, and with water therapy and perhaps traction, I’ll get some additional relief.
M – What have you learned about yourself after going through this? L – I’ve learned that I don’t need to use food as a crutch; I used to overeat when I was feeling sad, frustrated, depressed, or even when I was happy! I don’t do that anymore! What hasn’t changed is that I still like my sweets! I just have to watch the amount. A couple of spoons of ice cream, and I’m done! I remember when we used to go out; I’d eat a full meal, and then order a piece of apple pie for dessert. Now I go to the same restaurant and I order a piece of the sugar-free apple pie, eat a few bites and take the rest home. That leftover pie takes me another three days to eat, but I enjoy every single bite of it!
M – What’s the best part about having gone through the weight loss surgery? What’s the worst? L – The worst part of it is that my mother isn’t here to see me so happy and healthy! Also, while my stomach incisions were healing, I missed Lego terribly- he’s my wonderful, devoted and silly Guide Dog! Oh, and one more thing: As I continue to lose, my clothes start to hang on me, so I have to replace my larger sized clothing with smaller sizes, which gets expensive. Fortunately, I have a great friend who’s a flight attendant and a pretty snazzy dresser who comes over to help do what we call “closet purgings” and I’ve given away 17 bags of clothing! The best things far outweigh the worst! I just feel so much better about myself, both mentally and physically! In fact, people who haven’t seen me for a while don’t recognize me! I can honestly say that I’m now happier and healthier than I’ve been for a really long time. It’s the best decision I’ve made in my whole life!
M – Would you recommend weight loss surgery to others? L – Yes; I would recommend it to anyone sitting on the fence about doing it!
M – What’s next for you? L – One thing I haven’t mentioned yet is that because I’ve lost so much weight, I have about ten to fifteen pounds of extra skin. I was recently evaluated by a plastic surgeon and I’m just waiting to hear if the skin removal procedure will be covered by Medicare. After that, who knows? I hope to join the workforce again, but even if I don’t, I’m now looking forward to a healthy, long and happy life!
Note: In August,2018, Medicare paid for Laurie to have seven pounds of excess skin removed from her lower abdomen.
Laurie’s recommended Resources: www.bariatricchoice.com Bariatric Surgery Diet Foods and Vitamins for a Gastric Bypass Diet; call 1-800-993-1143.
From Amazon Digital Services: TLC’s My 600-LB Life TLC’s Skin Tight