Abstract This paper discusses how losing an arm or a leg is a great loss and how the simplest things that we take for granted become terribly difficult or impossible to do. It looks at some of the challenges facing amputees and paraplegics in their quest to lead a normal life and how the difficulties of rehabilitation can range from learning to use a prosthetic limb to fitting in with the rest of society.
From the Paper "The problem of loss of limbs has increased drastically with soldiers returning from Iraq and Afghanistan. Iraq is a different kind of war where homemade bombs and incendiary devices are exploding unexpectedly all the time. Blasts that would previously have killed them now inflict terrible injuries on the soldiers and frequently include loss of limbs (Aldhous, 2006; and Querna, Brink, et al, 2004). The problem is that amputees want to take up normal lives. In the words of an expression they use, they want to "scare the dog," that is, they want to live full and complete lives (Rader & Valenzano, 2005). The difficulties of rehabilitation range from learning to use a prosthetic limb to fitting in with the rest of society. Many people who are likely to see them as disabled, cripples, and pitiable, which doesn't help a person to feel normal."
Abstract In this paper the author examines the life of Kyle Maynard who was born a congenital amputee. The author looks at the courage that Maynard faced despite adversity at every stage. Maynard did not let the fact that he was different from other kids get in the way of his sporting achievements and he became a top wrestler. The author relates many aspects of Maynard's life as a definition of courage as he sees it. In particular he looks at how Maynard forced himself to play football as a child and wrestled despite the glaring differences to other children. The author clearly believes that Maynard is not a disabled man because disabled people have limitations that prevent them from completing routine functions, but Maynard does not fail to complete anything. He believes that Maynard is an innovator. A man that has found the courage to face fear, and develop new ways to accomplish the same challenges as any other person, with his own unique approach. The author concludes with his belief that Maynard is the epitome of what courage stands for.
From the Paper "Kyle is courageous, but not because he participated in football and wrestling. Thousands of people play sports every year. Certainly there is inherent pressure, but that alone does not make one courageous. What makes Kyle courageous is that he played both sports in the face of cynicism from outside forces. Despite his obvious and glaring physical shortcomings, he went out and performed at a high level. That despite the fact that he could not walk, run or throw, he played football, a sport that cherishes those very abilities. That in the face of a seventeen match losing streak, he found his way to the mat for that eighteenth match, and somewhere inside himself overcame his disability, to prove that in fact he had no disability."
Abstract The body of knowledge regarding phantom limb syndrome and the associated complications has been a topic of interest for over a century. Phantom limb syndrome occurs when a patient, who has had a part of their body amputated, still experiences vivid sensations of feeling from the missing part. Since this subject has been such a mysterious part of medical lore for over a century, the paper reviews the most current state of research regarding these phenomena, by utilizing a literature review of twelve contemporary articles on the subject.
Paper Outline:
Abstract
Introduction
Literature Review
Conclusion
References
From the Paper "Siddle (2004) concludes that the management of phantom limb pain is critical in a ensuring a patient's recovery from amputation. With this pain there could be adverse psychological implications for the patient, which could hinder their recovery. For this reason, when a patient is non-responsive to a traditional analgesic regimen, Siddle recommends the introduction of non-analgesic drugs, such as those that are typically used in epilepsy or depression."
A discussion whether Descartes was successful in showing "the existence of material things, and the real distinction between mind and body?" (Meditation VI)
Abstract An in-depth look at "Mediation VI", the work of Descartes, in which he argues that the philosopher himself is distinct from his body and can exist without his body and the idea of "thinking body" is simply self-contradictory and the interconnected nature of the relationship between the mind and the body.
From the Paper "This explains the false pains experienced by amputees and conditions like dropsy, where the afflicted continue to drink and, because they are misled by the symptoms of thirst or a need for their beverage of choice, and eventually die from the disease of over-drinking. (61) Thus, it may be said that Descartes systematically proves the mind/body split and the existence of material objects, but only in the narrow terms by which he sets his debate in the "Meditations." For a modern reader, the Christian and non-scientific (although mathematical) terms of "Meditation VI" will likely be unsatisfactory
The question of relationship between a mind and a body is critical to what Descartes means by a human being and the human condition within the framework of his philosophic, rationalist discourse. He asks the question of how can minds and bodies exist together, appear to be the same, yet operate in separate ways, and constitute separate material essences, in the sense that the body can err, but the mind is a product of God? "
Tags: stroke, amputees, dropsy, material, scientific, mathematics, God
