June 1 0 ,1992...The Portland O bserver-P age 5
Congratulations
Laronda Morrison
A Sickle Cell Patient Speaks Out
BY MARCIA TAYLOR
Executive Director, PSCAF
Laronda was accepted into medi
cal school at Creighton University,
Omaha Nebraska for their fall term.
She graduated with honors from
Spelman College, Atlanta Ga. in May
of 91 with a BA degree in Pre-Med &
Biology. She also took advantage of
summer programs for future doctors
• such as the Case Western Reserve Uni
versity in Cleveland, Ohio and the Post
• Baccalaureate program in Omaha, Ne
braska.
Laronda would like all the youth to
know that their grades are very impor
tant and they should try to study hard to
get A’s & B ’s. This counts a lot if you
plan to go to college and want a schol
arship.
Laronda is a member of Mallory
Ave. Church of Christ. She loves music
and either directing the choir or sing
ing.
She is the daughter of James and
Fannie Morrison and has one brother
Daryn K.
ONA Turns Back
Challenge
The Oregon Nurses Association
(ONA) decisively turned back a chal
lenge to its continue representation of
Registered Nurses at St. Charles Medi
cal Center in Bend by a vote of 184 to
111 on May 28. ONA, representing
over 9000 Registered Nurses in Or
egon, has represented the 381 nurse
bargaining unit for more than 12 years.
In March, AFSCME, and AFL-CIO
union representing various classifica
tions of public employees, filed a peti
tion with the National Labor Relations
Board attempting to replace ONA. “De
spite the large scale AFSCME effort,
which included bringing in out-of-state
■professional organizers, the RN bar
gaining unit saw through their empty
promises and inflated claims and chose
to reaffirm professionalism,” said Sue
Henry, RN bargaining unit chair. “Hon
est unions concentrate organizing the
uno rg an ized in th eir sp ecialties.
AFSCME was rejected because it sought
to replace an effective organization that
had superior expertise in representing
nurses,” said Kenneth M. Fitzsimon,
ONA Director of Labor Relations. ON A
now begins contract negotiations for a
successor agreement at St. Charles set
to expire July 1, 1992. “One aspect of
the raid was to postpone the start of
negotiations by two months,” Fitzsimon
explained.
Elder Abuse: Warning
Signs And Prevention.
In learning about various diseases,
we sometimes over look wisdom and
knowledge the patients have gained
through their suffering. This month I
have chosen to share an article written
by a Houston client by the name of J.
Hoxi Jones entitled “Personal Perspec
tive.
Some 32 years ago, suffering fi-Qm
intense pain and fever, my panic stricken
parents took me to the doctor who ad
mitted me to the hospital, a terrifying
place for a four year old. Alone in such
cold and unfamiliar surroundings, I
came to know what is referred to as a
“crisis,” an episode of excruciating pain
that occurs periodically. It was then that
I was diagnosed with Sickle Cell Ane
mia, an inherited blood disorder that
affects one in four hundred African-
Americans.
I was too young to understand my
ailment. I remember my playmate’s
parents speaking in hushed voices, say
ing that there was something wrong
with my heart. Not much was known
about the affects of Sickle Cell Anemia
back then, but I do remember not being
able to run as hard as other children; I
tired very easily. My mother, an R.N.,
always cautioned me aboutgoing swim
ming and getting a chill. I wasn’t very
athletic, and I always came in last for
the 600 yard dash. I never got the hang
of climbing ropes or even softball. I was
often picked last for team sports.
While Sickle Cell may have ham
pered my physical ability during my
formative years, I am pleased to report
that it had no affect on my capacity to
learn. My parents insisted that I study
and excel in the academic arena. Out
side the classroom, I took flute and
organ lessons, and joined the band and
orchestra. I had a voracious appetite for
books. I would stay up long hours into
the night with a flashlight under the
blanket, reading. I belonged to the
Brownies and later the Girl Scouts. I
was a cheerleader in high school. I
really didn’t see myself as being that
much different from normal children.
My parents expected the same
things of me as they did of my brother
and sister; there were no special consid
erations. Thankfully, they were not very
protective. I never felt pampered; I had
household chores. I received the same
discipline. Being allowed the freedom
and latitude to grow up normally, I
discovered my limits. I challenged
myself and learned just how far I could
go in essence, 1 became aware of my
physical limitations.
It took me a while to accept the fact
that I would not be remembered for my
athletic prowess, but it never slopped
my from trying. I discovered I could do
just about anything within reason—I
even attempted know skiing.:
It also took me a while to stop
denying Sickle Cell pain. 1 used to
attribute the pain to sleeping on your
arm wrong, banging my leg against a
piece of furniture, or even arthritis,
which I don’t have. I wanted .o be
normal, so denying that SickleGelJ was
a factor in the pain, worked neatly.
Hospitalizations became less fre
quent as I grew older. The last lime was
in college, 1975, the year I graduated.
Fortunately for me, I was afH ow ard
University where there is a major Sickle
Cell Center. During that time, a portion
of my lung was irreparable damaged.
Joining a support group alter mov
ing to Houston, realized some pretty
basic th ings: I was not alone in how felt
and there were common experiences
among us. I was able to define more
clearly what was happening to me. I
found that some of the aches 1 had, they
had. I had the misconception that a
crisis usually manifested itself in the
joints. I l was a relief to find out that the
paralyzing pain I felt in my stomach
was experienced by others. We openly
discussed our fears about blood transfu
sions, a common treatment during hos
pitalization. Gratification came from
sharing helpful techniques like getting
a hot bath and taking pain relievers at
the first sign of crisis, lying very still
beneath a m ound of covers, and
drinking plenty of fluids. Sharing was
therapeutic, acceptance was uncondi
tional, and lasting friendships were
formed.
' .
1 have made some though personal
decisions as a result of having Sickle
Cell that have affected the course of my
life: I have decided not to have chil
dren; because 1) I am scared of
pregnancy and the complications; and
2) I don’t want to have children with
Sickle Cell Trait. I am engaged now,
but for a very long time I didn’t enter
tain the idea of marriage. I didn’t want
to be burden. I questioned how long I
would live and the quality of lifc;.but as
the adagegocs, tomorrow is promised
to no one.
At the moment, I am fine. Aside
from lung damage and the possibility of
going blind due to a crisis in the eye, 1
am all right. I truly feel the mind power
plays a significant role in the manage
ment of disease. I try to adhere to a
healthy diet (although it doesn’t always
work), and I exercise. These arc things
I can control, and I know I have a better
chance if I am in optimum condition. I
am fortunate, too, have a supportive
family, friends, and co-workers.
My doctors and I have an under
standing; we’re partners and we teach
each other. I believe in preventative
medicine; I take care of myself. 1 am
acutely aware of the telltale warning
signs of crisis-thc twinge in the joint,
the pain in the back, the lethargic feel
ing in my legs. There have been time
when I have awakening in the morning
to go to work and have been rendered
helpless by crisis pain washing over me
in waves. All I can do is try and hold on
to my sanity. The medication only dulls
the debilitating pain; it never ceases
completely. It is like being right on the
edge, trying to maintain a balance.
Wherever it strikes-in my back, stom
ach, legs or chest, the pain has to be
handled with kid gloves, no sudden
movement or jarring motion. Sleep is
escape, so I try to sleep. Drinking fluids
becomes critical; I don’t want to be
come dehydrated. I will try everything
in an effort to stay out the hospital, but
there are times when a trip to the emer
gency room is inevitable. In houston it
is not bad, but I have heard horror
stories of friends going to hospitals
where no one has ever heard of Sickle
Cell.
I didn’t die at 2 0 .1 have learned to
not take every thing my doctors say as
gospel, and I refuse to let Sickle Cell Set
arbitrary boundaries for me. I love to
travel, so I do, but 1 consult with my
doctors prior to departure. I have gotten
sick a couple of times, but I am not
deterred.
The future is full.of hope,. Sickle
Cell centers and support groups exist in
many cities. There are poster children
and fund raising events. Worldwide
research goes on daily and there will
be a breakthrough, but in the meantime,
I am not putting anything on hold. I am
very vocal about Sickle Cell, I have
41. I am a survivor and in spite of
everything, I am looking forward to the
rest of my life!
Those interested in the Poster Child
events and Support Group meetings
should contact the Portland Sickle Cell
Anemia Foundation at 249-1366.
C ity C o m m issioner G retchen
Kafoury will join Rey Ramsey, Director
of Oregon Housing and Community
Services, and representatives from U.S.
Bank on the Mayor’s Forum, Wednes
day, June 10th at 8:30 a.m. to announce
the completion of a financing package
for the Dominion Capital properties.
The financing arrangements, a first for a
community de velopment project in Port
land, will consist of a partnership be
tween the City of Portland, the State of
Oregon and U.S. Bank. A state-tax credit
will be combined with a private line of
credit totalling S12.5 million from U.S.
Bank. The City will provide a five-year
guarantee of the loan using it Commu
nity Development Block Grant re
sources. This package will allow Port
land Community Reinvestment Initia
tives, Inc. (PCRI), the non-profit that is
assuming the Dominion Capital inven
tory, to acquire and rehabilitate 352
properties in North and Northeast Port
land. This public-private partnership will
replace the federal funding that the city
had previously arranged for the project.
“I’m very excited that this has all come
together,” Commissioner Kafoury said.
“Along with having a tremendous im
pact on Northeast Portland, this financ
ing arrangement could be a model for
future community development projects.
The families who invested in their com
munities will keep their homes, and the
rental properties will be rehabilitated
and run by a responsible community-
based company. Best of all, we will be
using all private money to do it.” The
Mayor’s Forum is held every Wednes
day in the Council Chambers on the
second floor of City Hall at 8:30 a.m.
“ Free Mammogram Screenings’
On June 1,1992 the Breast Cancer
Task Force announce 200 no cost
screening mammograms will be made
available to women age 40 and over
living in North and Northeast Portland,
since the announcement was first made
a few weeks ago, only 30 women have
responded. A mammogram is an x-ray
of the breast. Through mammography
abnormalities such as a lump, or other
tissue changes, can be identified before
they can be felt by a woman or her
physician. In fact, mammography can
detect breast cancer when it is in its
earliest, most treatable stage-two years
before a lump can be felt. Very often
mammograms are not covered by in
surance companies, for those with no
insurance they can cost between $60-
$130.
Who is eligible: Women age 40
and over, residents of North and North
east Portland, and low income and
have no insurance. Exclusions: Women
with no previous breast surgery (im
plants, biopsies, breast reductions,
lumpectomy for breast cancer) will be
accepted. Women with no dominant
breast mass (lump) or bloody nipple
discharge will be accepted. Women
who have not had a mammogram within
11 months of May 1st are eligible.
Pregnant or nursing women will not be
accepted. Eligible women should call
the American Cancer Society (ACS) at
295-6422 and ask for the Cancer Re
sponse Operator to be scheduled for
this very important diagnostic test.
TERRY’S PHARMACY
S e rv in g
Y ou
S in c e
1 9 8 0
New or Transfer Prescriptions
I
I
Portland Observer encourages our readers to write
letterato the editor in response to any. articles
we publish.
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SAFEWAY
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1 7 1 9
N E
1 6 th
A v e n u e
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S a y you saw it in the Portland Observer
it Better for Less
Elder abuse can occur when frus
tration and resentment build. But help
and information arc available. Join us
for a free seminar: Elder Abuse, Warn
ing Signs And Prevention. The seminar
features Dr Holly Ramsey-Klawsnik, a
specialist in the field of elder abuse and
a panel of community resource special
ist. Tuesday, June 16,8:30 a.m. to noon
at Providence Medical Center, 4805
NE Glisan, Amphitheater, lower level
B. Call to register or for special needs
796-5269 or TDD 796-5393.
The Multnomah County Citizen
Involvement Committee will host a
press conference on Monday, June 8th,
at 10:00 a.m. at 2115 SE Morrison
(Multnomah County’s Morrison Street
Building), first floor conference room.
Citizens who initiated the Citizens
Convention, which was adopted on the
May 19th ballot, will discuss the pre
liminary steps for establishing the Con
vention Steering Committee.
Citizens who participate in the Citi
zens Convention will have a direct roll
in shaping the function and structure ol
government in Multnomah County.
Kafoury Announces
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