Matching the Patient's Determination
Today marks the 10-year anniversary of the tragic massacre at Columbine High School in Littleton, CO. Before taking their own lives, two students went on a shooting rampage, killing 12 students and a teacher and wounding more than 20 others.
One of the wounded students, Patrick Ireland, came to be known as "the boy in the window." Ireland was shot twice in the head and once in the leg and lost consciousness. Ireland awoke some time later to partial paralysis but managed to crawl more than 50 feet toward an open window. After members of the media captured images of him in the window, he dropped safely into the arms of rescuers. This act of courage and determination took about three hours but he refused to give up.
Ireland's determination continued as he endured surgeries and many hours of physical therapy to regain the use of his legs. He had to relearn how to read, write and talk. But it has been reported that during Ireland's recovery, he was told he would never walk again.
I cannot help but wonder if the words "never" and "can't" should be used when setting patient goals. Does the use of these words limit patient progress or simply prepare these individuals for reality?