Medical Terminology for Health Professions 7th Edition by Carol Schroeder,Ann Ehrlich

Exercise 47

The following story and questions are designed to stimulate critical thinking through class discussion or as a brief essay response. There are no right or wrong answers to these questions.
Calle Washington read the information Dr. Thakker gave her with numb disbelief. "Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurological disorder characterized by demyelination of nerve fibers in the brain and spinal column. This disease may be progressively debilitating with symptoms that could include numbness, paralysis, ataxia, pain, and blindness. Some patients do experience lifethreatening complications. This disease attacks young adults. It affects more women than men."
"Well, I sure fit the profile," thought Calle bitterly. She took a deep breath, trying to quiet the fluttering in her stomach. How could this happen now? Everything was so perfect. Her wedding gown was getting its last alterations, and the tickets for their honeymoon in Jamaica were in the desk drawer. Gabe was putting the final touches on the house where they planned on raising their family. She couldn't expect Gabe to waste his future caring for someone in a wheelchair, could she? Suddenly, her fairy tale life was turning into a nightmare.
Calle occasionally feels off balance. If she lost her balance suddenly, would this put the children she worked with at the day care center at risk? What would happen once her fellow teachers at the day care center noticed that? She would not risk hurting one of the children, but if she lost her job she would lose her health insurance. Dr. Thakker had said there were new drugs for MS, but he had also mentioned that they were very expensive. And what about the children that she and Gabe both wanted? Could she still have a baby and take care of it?
"Maybe I should take out an ad that says '25-year-old female seeks cure for deadly disease before marrying Prince Charming,' " she thought, trying to laugh through her tears …
Calle is an excellent teacher and the children love her. In the past, her coworkers have commented, "I wish I could learn to be as good at this as you are." Even with multiple sclerosis, could Calle have a future in training other teachers? What other positive steps might she contemplate taking?