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Being without a voice.
I've been without a voice, often unable to talk for weeks on end - so I know exactly how frustrating it can be.
Those of you who recall my clanger style whistled conversations down the phone will know exactly what I'm recalling.
When you can't speak, you get isolated from social groups, you feel endlessly frustrated at not being able to communicate the simplest ideas, and by the time you've written down a joke on a piece of paper, the moment has already passed.
Thus, I'm linking to the appeal to help buy Imogen May a communication device.
I've made a donation. I hope some of you will too.
Those of you who recall my clanger style whistled conversations down the phone will know exactly what I'm recalling.
When you can't speak, you get isolated from social groups, you feel endlessly frustrated at not being able to communicate the simplest ideas, and by the time you've written down a joke on a piece of paper, the moment has already passed.
Thus, I'm linking to the appeal to help buy Imogen May a communication device.
I've made a donation. I hope some of you will too.
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Hawkins's system is actually fairly old and cumbersome. The miracle of TV makes it appear better than it is.
Wikipedia says:
"In Hawking's many media appearances, he appears to speak fluently through his synthesizer, but in reality, it is a tedious drawn-out process. Hawking's setup uses a predictive text entry system, which requires only the first few characters in order to auto-complete the word, but as he is only able to use his cheek for data entry, constructing complete sentences takes time. His speeches are prepared in advance, but having a live conversation with him provides insight as to the complexity and work involved. During a Technology, Entertainment, & Design Conference talk, it took him seven minutes to answer a question.[30]"
I don't know whether he got it from the NHS.
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There are, if I understand the NHS setup correctly, rules about how much money can and even must be spent to gain a certain amount of better quality life (or some such). Since having a good voice thingy quite obviously may at one point be the only way she can stay alive (like when there is a medical emergency and she can't use her hands), I still think she should sue the B'Stard clones and claim that their own regulations mean that they have to give her this thing. I'm fairly sure that 7000 pounds is a lot less than the cost that's considered acceptable for an extra year of life. Medical emergencies mean that not having this could in fact cost her quite a few years of life.
But in whatever way it happens, I hope she soon gets a voice back.
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The NHS did offer her a middle of the range model, and she was able to use it, but found it difficult becasue she's dyslexic.
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Mind you, I'm not saying the NHS is any worse than any other decent health insurance. As long as what you need is normal everyday stuff or a recognized medical intervention, I'm sure they perform quite marvelously. But sometimes the rules and the people carrying out those rules are about as unimaginative as a tree and equally unwilling to budge. The NHS is not alone in this, but it never fails to make me angry.
I see the thermometer is showing a little more money in it this morning than it was yesterday. I hope it gets to the top soon. I'd put it in my LJ, but AFAIK everyone who reads mine is reading yours as well.
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