On June 19th, Esmin Green, a native of Jamaica who had been involuntarily brought to King County Hospital in Brooklyn due to 'agitation and psychosis', died on an emergency waiting room floor after waiting nearly 24 hours for a bed.
Security cameras show her falling off her chair and convulsing. At no time did staff respond to her distress. Then she went still. For nearly an hour she lay on the floor dead until finally someone came up and nudged the body with a foot and called for assistance.
By that time, it was far too late.
On top of that, staff falsified the records regarding the timeframe, making it seem like she was sitting quietly in her chair at the time she died.
Seven members of the staff have been fired or suspended: the chief of psychiatry, chief of security, a doctor, two nurses and two security guards. I don't think that's enough. The hospital has a history of problems, including a recent lawsuit alleging a poor standard of care and lack of basic sanitation.
Did this woman die because she was black, because she was mentally ill, or because she didn't have any money, or simply because of an environment of neglect and malpractice? I don't know. They're still investigating how she died, for that matter. But this mother of six who came to this country for better opportunities found precious little on a cold hospital floor.
Here is the LINK to the official story.
Sunday, July 06, 2008
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
TRAGEDY: ONE YEAR AFTER
The anniversary of the Virginia Tech shooting is tomorrow, Wednesday the 16th. It is a sad day, and I cannot help remembering about the young lives that were lost, and feel sympathy for the families that loved them. Families who were torn apart in an instant. The Washington Post has a web page devoted to this tragedy. There you can see victim profiles, time lines, and related news.
This must be a difficult time for the school, and for the victims' loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with them all.
One family who lost a son that day has grieved in seclusion, unable to reach out to other families--because their son, Seung Hui Cho, was the killer.
Think of how it felt for the Cho family on that day. Hearing about a maniac killer on campus with Seung. Frantic calls, text messages, and e-mails to see if Seung was all right. Worry turning into fear. Fear to panic. Then having your worst fears realized when FBI agents arrive to tell you that your child is dead.
Think of how it felt for Seung's sister, Sun Kyung, to translate the fateful words to her parents. To tell them that her beloved brother was dead.
How it felt for her to have to hear the next words, "There's more." How it felt for her to hear how her brother was the man who fatally shot 32 innocent people, and then killed himself.
Now think of how it felt for her to not only hear those words, but to have to be the one to tell her parents, Seung's parents, the awful truth.
Many people blamed them after the massacre, because there was no one else left to blame. Others offered sympathy to them, recognising that their lives, too, had been changed irrevocably. That they, also, lost a beloved child.
There is an article detailing the emotional and social struggle that this devastated family has gone through, and is continuing to go through.
This outpouring has, by all accounts, overwhelmed them. Let me add my sympathy to that stream of well-wishes. I hope they can eventually come back to the world, and learn to live again.
For all of the families who were devastated a year ago, please know that your loved ones are remembered. They are not forgotten. They are mourned. To all who have gone through this pain, I am humbled your strength and courage to go onward with your lives. I hope you find some measure of peace.
My thoughts and wishes are with you, now and always.
This must be a difficult time for the school, and for the victims' loved ones. My thoughts and prayers are with them all.
One family who lost a son that day has grieved in seclusion, unable to reach out to other families--because their son, Seung Hui Cho, was the killer.
Think of how it felt for the Cho family on that day. Hearing about a maniac killer on campus with Seung. Frantic calls, text messages, and e-mails to see if Seung was all right. Worry turning into fear. Fear to panic. Then having your worst fears realized when FBI agents arrive to tell you that your child is dead.
Think of how it felt for Seung's sister, Sun Kyung, to translate the fateful words to her parents. To tell them that her beloved brother was dead.
How it felt for her to have to hear the next words, "There's more." How it felt for her to hear how her brother was the man who fatally shot 32 innocent people, and then killed himself.
Now think of how it felt for her to not only hear those words, but to have to be the one to tell her parents, Seung's parents, the awful truth.
Many people blamed them after the massacre, because there was no one else left to blame. Others offered sympathy to them, recognising that their lives, too, had been changed irrevocably. That they, also, lost a beloved child.
There is an article detailing the emotional and social struggle that this devastated family has gone through, and is continuing to go through.
This outpouring has, by all accounts, overwhelmed them. Let me add my sympathy to that stream of well-wishes. I hope they can eventually come back to the world, and learn to live again.
For all of the families who were devastated a year ago, please know that your loved ones are remembered. They are not forgotten. They are mourned. To all who have gone through this pain, I am humbled your strength and courage to go onward with your lives. I hope you find some measure of peace.
My thoughts and wishes are with you, now and always.
Sunday, April 13, 2008
WHAT'S GOING ON AROUND HERE?
Ive been keeping an eye on the Samantha Taylor case in Chandler Arizona.
Did you see the video from a Chandler, Arizona school bus? Kids on the bus were out of control, and the bus driver pulled over to ask some students to behave in an orderly fashion.
A fight between the bus driver, Kim Sullivan, and Samantha followed.
It seems lately that many kids are getting more and more out of control. The question is: what are we going to do about it?
Are we going to continue to live in denial, or are we going to help these kids? Are we going to sit back and blame the school system, or are we going to step up and work to change it?
Something needs to be done. Schools are not daycare institutions. They never were intended to be. School systems, teachers, and other educational figures including bus drivers, need to work together for the betterment of children and our communities.
Did you know that for every $1 invested in high quality early care and education, $17 is saved in welfare, crime, special education and unemployment? This figure is quoted by the United Way from High Scope / Perry Preschool Study.
Education not only impacts the children in school and their families, but all of us and our families as well.
Did you see the video from a Chandler, Arizona school bus? Kids on the bus were out of control, and the bus driver pulled over to ask some students to behave in an orderly fashion.
A fight between the bus driver, Kim Sullivan, and Samantha followed.
It seems lately that many kids are getting more and more out of control. The question is: what are we going to do about it?
Are we going to continue to live in denial, or are we going to help these kids? Are we going to sit back and blame the school system, or are we going to step up and work to change it?
Something needs to be done. Schools are not daycare institutions. They never were intended to be. School systems, teachers, and other educational figures including bus drivers, need to work together for the betterment of children and our communities.
Did you know that for every $1 invested in high quality early care and education, $17 is saved in welfare, crime, special education and unemployment? This figure is quoted by the United Way from High Scope / Perry Preschool Study.
Education not only impacts the children in school and their families, but all of us and our families as well.
Tuesday, April 08, 2008
FACTOIDS AND FAITH
Interesting factoid: Over 50% of NASA employees are dyslexic. They are deliberately sought after because they have superb problem solving skills and excellent 3D and spatial awareness.
The first dyslexic jokes that I can remember hearing are:
A dyslexic walks into a bra...
and
Dyslexics of the World UNTIE!
Why is it that some groups can laugh at their own problems while others can't? Someone with cerebral palsy is probably some sort of comedian. Dyslexic? Sure. Vision problems? Maybe a few.
Why is that? Why do some groups have a better sense of humor about it?
Everyone has something that they need to overcome. If you can laugh at it, it is a challenge. If you can't laugh, then you make it into a problem, not a challenge. I would rather have a challenge than a problem.
Interesting factoid: A higher percentage of cancer survivors are ones who kept a sense of humor. They kept faith that they could overcome their challenge.
Betty Cea, a lymphoma patient, wrote: "My hair left, my dysfunctional family whom I love very much stayed, and the cancer has come back. I might as well laugh while I fight . . . cancer hates a sense of humor . . ."
Research shows that patients with cancer who continue to laugh have lower stress levels, and a higher ratio of survivors.
Cancer folks. Cancer. There is not much worse out there. Patients who have this dread disease can laugh at it, and survive. What excuse is there for all of us, who want to survive and overcome the obstacles we have, for not having laughter in our lives?
The first dyslexic jokes that I can remember hearing are:
A dyslexic walks into a bra...
and
Dyslexics of the World UNTIE!
Why is it that some groups can laugh at their own problems while others can't? Someone with cerebral palsy is probably some sort of comedian. Dyslexic? Sure. Vision problems? Maybe a few.
Why is that? Why do some groups have a better sense of humor about it?
Everyone has something that they need to overcome. If you can laugh at it, it is a challenge. If you can't laugh, then you make it into a problem, not a challenge. I would rather have a challenge than a problem.
Interesting factoid: A higher percentage of cancer survivors are ones who kept a sense of humor. They kept faith that they could overcome their challenge.
Betty Cea, a lymphoma patient, wrote: "My hair left, my dysfunctional family whom I love very much stayed, and the cancer has come back. I might as well laugh while I fight . . . cancer hates a sense of humor . . ."
Research shows that patients with cancer who continue to laugh have lower stress levels, and a higher ratio of survivors.
Cancer folks. Cancer. There is not much worse out there. Patients who have this dread disease can laugh at it, and survive. What excuse is there for all of us, who want to survive and overcome the obstacles we have, for not having laughter in our lives?
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