Gloves for Everyone

By Kelly Rouba

All too often people without mobility restrictions take for granted the ease in which they are able to manage their personal care—from brushing their hair to bathing to putting on clothes. It is mundane tasks like these that can prove to be the most frustrating for those of us who struggle to accomplish them or simply cannot do them at all.

As someone who has difficulty with activities like putting on socks or styling my hair due to severe arthritis, I know that it can be embarrassing or bothersome to have to ask for help from others. In the past, there have been days when I simply couldn’t bring myself to ask or no one was around to help. In some cases, I just forego doing certain things all together, like putting on a hat or wearing gloves. Because of the limited range of motion in my shoulders, I cannot put on a hat. And whereas gloves are concerned, my fingers have so many contractures that I can only wear mittens, which I find to be restrictive and juvenile (sorry to those who like wearing them!).

However, from time to time, a stroke of luck comes my way and I happen upon an adaptive device or unusual product that allows me to accomplish things that I could never do or struggled with doing before. In fact, this very thing happened just a couple weeks ago when Christy Gibney, a darling woman I have collaborated with on work-related projects, made my coworkers fingerless gloves, so to speak. Although Christy made me a scarf, she quickly got to work on a pair of gloves for me after seeing how easy it was for me to put them on due to their design and that I could still maintain the function in my fingers.

Within a few days, my very own pair of blue gloves arrived at my home. My mother actually cried when she saw them because it has been years since I’ve worn anything to keep my hands warm when outside. It always pained her to watch me go out of the home in the cold. That evening, I proudly wore my gloves when we went out to eat and the warmth they provided to my fingers was an amazing feeling.

It is my belief that this type of glove would be beneficial for many people with disabilities and even those without. According to my coworkers, they are able to do so much more—from caring for their children to operating their cars—with these gloves than they could in regular ones and none of them have a disability.

Christy informed me that the pattern for fingerless gloves is available online; she also told me there are a number of knitting groups that donate items they knit. Those who can’t knit or don’t know anyone who does may want to search for these groups online in order to submit a request.

I am very grateful for Christy’s generosity and for eliminating one of my lifelong struggles. It’s a great feeling, and I hope readers of this blog find the gloves just as helpful.

Haiti Crisis and its Impact on People with Chronic Illnesses

By Kelly Rouba

Oftentimes, people take for granted the basic necessities in life, like water, food, and even shelter. Once these items are taken away, only then do people realize how vital they are to sustainability.

A perfect example of this can be viewed daily on the news as Haitians forcefully push their way to the front of distribution lines–desperate for anything they can get. It’s unnerving to watch their desperation and to see the tearful, panicked look on their faces. I am both concerned for their welfare and horrified at how food, water, and other items are tossed out of helicopters to these folks as if they are animals.

What also worries me is that while there is a tremendous need for food and water, the need for medicine and medical supplies is even more dire. So far, I have heard reports of agonizing medical procedures being performed with little or no anesthesia, which horrifies me and should never have to happen.

Moreover, as someone with severe rheumatoid arthritis, I know that missing even one dose of my medication will leave me in extreme pain and unable to function. Unfortunately, I missed a dose of my prednisone a few months back and was not even able to get out of the chair I was sitting in because my arthritis had flared so quickly. I simply cannot imagine having to go days without it and having to bear such excruciating pain again. My heart is aching for those in Haiti who are now in this situation and have to deal with restricted function and pain.

With this in mind, I encourage everyone to donate to relief efforts, like those initiated by the American Red Cross, and to contact health-related foundations to see if and how they are helping. Perhaps they can unite, just as Portlight Strategies is doing, to send over much needed medical supplies. Let’s come together for the good of man-kind!