Three Men

If you ever wonder about what's wrong with this place, two men's stories this week will answer that. If you want to know about change, there's a third.

Ziggy, a guy I've written about before, has diabetes. He has significant pain and is prescribed Naprosin. Naprosin is not a narcotic. The doctor here prescribed three doses daily. A few weeks ago, they changed his dosage--twice daily and lower doses (and, every time the prescription expires he goes almost a week waiting on the renewal). So, Ziggy goes to medical to see the doctor--only the nurses won't let him discuss it with the physician (talk about gatekeepers!). The nurses say, "we know what's best and you only need Naprosin twice daily." Ziggy's a big fellow--kind of looks like Baloo the bear in "Jungle Book." He says, "you aren't my doctor--you clearly aren't my ortho; I want to see the Doctor." What happens that afternoon? Ziggy is called out to the investigators for a "routine" urine test and he's asked if he has a drug problem. Funny but there isn't anything "routine" about an investigator call (I know from my own experience with the blog) and they don't "piss test" midday. That's just their way of saying, "we decide medical."

Then there's K--his jacket says he's a gangbanger (because his brother was affiliated). He isn't and the investigators know it. They tell him "we'll get around to fixing it...soon." But, soon isn't anytime "soon." Meanwhile, he goes home in 6 more months. No one wants that label on them, especially when they aren't involved. But, that's how it goes in here--they take their time doing things and then wonder why no one respects "the system." The system is corrupt, badly mismanaged and isn't doing what the taxpayers think--it isn't cost effective, it doesn't rehabilitate people, and it wastes money.

That's a hell of a trifecta!

Then there's the good story--Mr. Rodriguez. He's a thirty-year-old El Salvadorian. At 12 he joined MS 13; at 14 he was arrested as part of a homicide; he ended up at Sussex at 16; he had a 5th grade education and had never read a book. That "lost refuse" is now a reader and completed my computer class. He is a changed man... not because of this place but because he used his time productively. I reread Viktor Frankl's book, Man's Search for Meaning, the other week--and it is clear: you can overcome anything (even the idiocy of the VA DOC system) if you have hope and believe.

It took Mr. Rodriguez a while to figure that out--life in the projects wasn't easy and he did some bad things, but he is a survivor and he is becoming a better man, in spite of this place.

Three men, three stories; unfortunately these stories play out everyday in here with the system dragging its feet and few overcoming.