Question
MY NEPHEWWAS STABBED 9 TIMES IN A VIOLENT ACCDENT HE IS PARALYZED FROM THE SHOULDERS DOWN DRS SAID HIS SPINAL CORD WAS SEVERED. MIKE(MY NEPHEW)IS ONLY 21YRS OLD. MIKE IS NOW HOME AND HIS MOTHER IS HIS CARETAKER. ITS ALSO BEEN 6MOS SINCE THE ACCIDENT The 4 boyS and ! girl WERE IN A GANG AND MISTAKED MIKE FOR SOMEONE ELSE. THEY ARE ALL bEING HELD IN THE JUVINILE DETENTION (SO THEY SAY)MIKE AND HIS WHOLE FAMILY ARE HAVING A HARD TIME DEALING WITH THIS SITUATION. THERE IS ALOT OF TENSION IN THE HOUSEHOLD AND I KNOW THATS NOT GOOD FOR MIKE  WHICH BRINGS ME TO MY FIRST QUESTION.WHY DIDNT ANYONE AT THE HOSPITAL RECOMEND THERAPY FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO LEARN TO COPE WITH SUCH A TRAMATIC SITUATION. COULD YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHO I COULD FIND TO HELP MY SISTER ITS GETTING BAD  AT HER HOUSE EVERYBODYS ALWAYS FIGHTING. MY SECOND QUESTION IS WHY ISNT MIKE GETTING ANY PHYSICAL THERAPY. SOMEONE SHOULD COME EVERY DAY AND MOVE HIS LEGS,BODY,ARMS ECT.MY SISTER HAS NO INCOME COMMING IN. THEY WERE EVICTED FROM THERE HOME AND THE BISHOP IN MY AREA FOUND THEM A APT NEXT TO ME  I FEEL  THE HOSPITAL HAS PUSHED MIKE ASIDE BECAUSE THEY HAVE NO MONEY  THANK YOU  EDIE FERNANDEZ

Answer
Dear Edie,

I'm sorry that your family is faced with this situation. I was injured in 1973, at the C4-C5 level and moved home where I lived with my family (parents and siblings) for eight years; which was no picnic for any of us. So I can relate.

As far as help for your nephew, every state has MEDICAID; which helps pay for attendant/home health aides to come into the home to do your nephews cares. The first thing you should do is to contact your/his county's social services agency, they should be able to help with getting your nephew hooked up with a homecare agency. Another place to check out is Social Security Disability, there should be a Social Security office in the town your nephew lives in or at least in the county your nephew lives in.

I hope this helps and I hope things begin to get better for your whole family.

Sincerely,
      Ken