Neuro Note #4: SCI/Tumor/Autonomic Dysreflexia
Neuro Note #4: Mr. Roger's Neighborhood
In this video from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, he is seen chatting with a young boy named Jeff Erlanger. Mr. Rogers asked Jeff if he would come by because they had been talking about electric cars and other electric objects and felt like people needed to see Jeff's electric wheelchair. Mr. Rogers then asks if he could show how his wheelchair works, which has a switch and moves based off the switch Jeff hits. Mr. Rogers then asks Jeff to tell his story about his wheelchair and diagnosis. Jeff tells Mr. Rogers that he had a tumor when he was about 7 months old that in his words "broke the nerves that told my hands and legs what to do" Jeff then explains that his doctors tried to cut the tumor, but they couldn't get it, which resulted in him not being able to walk or use his arms by himself and him getting his wheelchair at 4 years old. Jeff then talks about how he recently had surgery due to autonomic dysreflexia, which in the surgery he had his sphincter cut that was holding in his urine. Mr. Roger's and Jeff then sing a song called It's You I Like (words to the song down below). Mr. Rogers then asked Jeff what he likes to do he asked him if he liked to read, play, or tell stories. And he told Jeff that whenever we feel sad we all need things to do that makes us feel better.
My Takeaways
We all know that Mr. Rogers was an angel who walked among us, but that is even further reiterated in this video. First, we see Mr. Rogers kneel down and get eye level with Jeff, he never looked down on him and only communicated to him in this manner, something we should all try and employ. Additionally, I appreciate the fact that he brought Jeff on the show to bring awareness to another form of mobility: the electric wheelchair. He mentioned that they had been talking about electric cars and felt that people should see another way individuals are mobile, normalizing something that isn't always normal in the public eye. I read more into Jeff's diagnosis and it turns out he became quadriplegic following spinal surgery that was meant to remove his tumor. Which in addition to this resulted in his autonomic dysreflexia. Despite all of this Jeff appears to be a well-adjusted young boy who makes the most out of the cards life dealt him. Mr. Rogers invited Jeff on his show because he wanted his viewers to gain empathy and understanding of what people with physical challenges do to simply adapt in their life. I have always thought this video was a beautiful representation of how we should all treat those who have a rougher go at doing little things we take for granted, and I am thankful that Mr. Roger's legacy allows younger generations to witness acts of kindness such as these.
Song Lyrics
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| Jeff and Mr. Rogers on set: 1981 |
In this video from Mr. Roger's Neighborhood, he is seen chatting with a young boy named Jeff Erlanger. Mr. Rogers asked Jeff if he would come by because they had been talking about electric cars and other electric objects and felt like people needed to see Jeff's electric wheelchair. Mr. Rogers then asks if he could show how his wheelchair works, which has a switch and moves based off the switch Jeff hits. Mr. Rogers then asks Jeff to tell his story about his wheelchair and diagnosis. Jeff tells Mr. Rogers that he had a tumor when he was about 7 months old that in his words "broke the nerves that told my hands and legs what to do" Jeff then explains that his doctors tried to cut the tumor, but they couldn't get it, which resulted in him not being able to walk or use his arms by himself and him getting his wheelchair at 4 years old. Jeff then talks about how he recently had surgery due to autonomic dysreflexia, which in the surgery he had his sphincter cut that was holding in his urine. Mr. Roger's and Jeff then sing a song called It's You I Like (words to the song down below). Mr. Rogers then asked Jeff what he likes to do he asked him if he liked to read, play, or tell stories. And he told Jeff that whenever we feel sad we all need things to do that makes us feel better.
My Takeaways
We all know that Mr. Rogers was an angel who walked among us, but that is even further reiterated in this video. First, we see Mr. Rogers kneel down and get eye level with Jeff, he never looked down on him and only communicated to him in this manner, something we should all try and employ. Additionally, I appreciate the fact that he brought Jeff on the show to bring awareness to another form of mobility: the electric wheelchair. He mentioned that they had been talking about electric cars and felt that people should see another way individuals are mobile, normalizing something that isn't always normal in the public eye. I read more into Jeff's diagnosis and it turns out he became quadriplegic following spinal surgery that was meant to remove his tumor. Which in addition to this resulted in his autonomic dysreflexia. Despite all of this Jeff appears to be a well-adjusted young boy who makes the most out of the cards life dealt him. Mr. Rogers invited Jeff on his show because he wanted his viewers to gain empathy and understanding of what people with physical challenges do to simply adapt in their life. I have always thought this video was a beautiful representation of how we should all treat those who have a rougher go at doing little things we take for granted, and I am thankful that Mr. Roger's legacy allows younger generations to witness acts of kindness such as these.
Song Lyrics
It's you I like,
It's not the things you wear,
It's not the way you do your hair
But it's you I like
The way you are right now,
The way down deep inside you
Not the things that hide you,
Not your toys
They're just beside you.
It's not the things you wear,
It's not the way you do your hair
But it's you I like
The way you are right now,
The way down deep inside you
Not the things that hide you,
Not your toys
They're just beside you.
But it's you I like
Every part of you.
Your skin, your eyes, your feelings
Whether old or new.
I hope that you'll remember
Even when you're feeling blue
That it's you I like,
It's you yourself
It's you.
It's you I like.
Every part of you.
Your skin, your eyes, your feelings
Whether old or new.
I hope that you'll remember
Even when you're feeling blue
That it's you I like,
It's you yourself
It's you.
It's you I like.
References:
Casey, A. (2013, January 31). Retrieved August 14, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5BZlyxS37Kk
Image: https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2018/07/09/mister-rogers-friend-from-wisconsin/
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