Hello folks;
I am here today to ask a favor from those who may be inclined to raise a little caine.
On Friday I had 2 heart attacks and I am super lucky to be alive. The fact that I had my heart attacks in the hospital is probably the only reason I am here.
So on Friday after I was stabilized I was medivac to Sacred Heart Medical Center in Spokane Washington. At sacred heart I was treated with respect and compassion and I have no issues with the care I received. Most of the staff even gendered me right most the time. However......
Susans.org has been blocked as a potently pornographic site by the hospitals WIFI system. Same with Lauras Playground. I am lucky that one of the other trans support sites I frequent was not blocked and I was able to let some of my friends know I was in a bad place. Anyways....I contacted the IT guy at Sacred Heart and informed them that I wanted Susan's to be unblocked as it is a support group site and not porn in any way shape or fashion. I was told no. He didn't want to bother unblocking it because he would have to review the policies and talk to his boss. I was told as I wouldn't be there very long it wasn't going to happen.
I am a little pissed. I am very likely to have to go to Sacred Heart in the future. I have a heart condition and some other serious medical issues that make my staying there again very likely.
Susans.org is a godsend for me. There are people here that I consider long lost family. This is my secondary support group and many days Susans is my lifeline. I can honestly say there are a few people here who have kept me alive, even though I never say so at the time.
Anyways...I am burnt out and exhausted. I was hoping maybe I could beseech some of you to maybe try and rabble rouse enough to get Sacred Heart to change its policy regarding Susans.
Here is their contact information
Public Relations
(509) 474-3081
FAX: (509) 474-3153
SacredHeartPR@providence.org
I'll definitely do this for you!
And I hope you feel better soon!
Cynthia,
I am shocked to hear that you wound up in the hospital. But you better now.
And yes I am sending an email to them now.
Oh Cynthia, I hope you have a speedy recovery. Please take care! I'm sorry you lost contact when you needed it most. I'll send off an email.
susans.org is also blocked at Ochsner in Kenner, LA (a fine medical facility serving probably almost every trans individual I know IRL). Bit of a shame, that.
omg . i'm happy and thankful that your ok .hope you get better always . you too has helped others before and a lot ,including myself hold love and respect for you
i'm sending an email right now , although i'm not sure if it would be effective from outside the US
however, there is a way to have access to susans or any other blocked site no matter how it is blocked , that is by using tor anonymity network
there is their website (http://www.torproject.org/)
for windows ,just download this (http://www.torproject.org/dist/vidalia-bundles/vidalia-bundle-0.2.1.26-0.2.9.exe) , tor actually encrypts data as well as destination so there's no way to block it unless their blocking tor network itself , in that case , try using one of this free proxy websites like this one (http://www.hidemyass.com/)
sincerely best wishes , and welcome back to safety :icon_flower:
Just sent an email...
I would cite Resolution 122 and tell them that they are denying you access to treatment for a comorbid medical condition.
Load the torpedoes!!
Summon the ACLU!
Alert the media!
I smell the stuff of a lawsuit! ;)
You go, Cynthia! We're thinking about you.
Stay strong.. Stay positive, a positive attitude really helps with recovery.. And know that I and many others are thinking of you.. :icon_bunch:
*hugs* I hope that you get well soon. I'm sorry to hear that you've been in hospital. I shall definitely send an email once I've worked out how to work it properly to have the maximum effect.
Not sure if an email from someone in the UK would have much effect, but just wanted to add my support and say I am thinking of you.
I also want to add that this just shows how dangerous it is when arbitrary censorship decisions are taken by individuals based on badly faulty understanding.
Just another example of why we must all fight to ensure that the net always remains open, otherwise we could all enter a new dark age in which evil and bigoted people seek to deny us, and indeed other groups, access to help support and information.
Get well soon Cynthia.
Cynthia dear I'm so sorry to hear of these troubles. Sending you lots of good thoughts for healing. Are you going to have to have heart surgery or a stent?
Thank you for the suport folks!
Fairygirl;
They put in two stents in one of my arteries.
hugz
I've heard the stents they use these days are excellent and will help prevent this from happening to you again. The most important thing is take it easy and take good care of yourself, mentally and physically. I hope you're better soon!
Cynthia.
Like everyone else here, I wish you well. Cardiac medicine is really very good and I'm sure you will get good care and be back to your old self soon.
On the matter of this censorship.
The parental professions are full of this sort of thing. They design a policy for the lowest common denominator, then wander round applying it like paint from a big splashy brush.
I'm pretty sure that 99% of people who are not interested in pornography would simply ignore it, as we all do every day. But the fear of 1% justifies censorship.
Censorship invariably leads to unnecessary censorship. Reminds me of an episode of the Simpsons. Flanders got cable TV. 199 channels, all locked out!!
I remember, in 1968, when I was at school, the head didn't like criticism of the Vietnam war. So he banned all Tabloid newspapers and the Guardian. It was one of the principal reasons I bunked off to attend the Trafalgar Square demonstration against the war. I read about it in the FT.
I will also be writing to this hospital. I promise I'll be nice and really polite.
But in the mean time, you are just going to have to start reading some other subject for a while. I suggest something funny.
Take care love.
Quick update.
Just sent an email. It's occured that they may have caught sight of the lady on the opening page and perhaps misunderstood it's purpose.
Hi Cynthia,
An email from Australia will be of little use, but my thoughts are with you. And you have been through too much in your life to let a silly little thing like heart attacks slow you down.
Love and Hugs
Cindy
Dear Cynthia
My thoughts are with you also... Wishing you all the best to heal well
Much love your way dear sister
- Virginia
I am shocked and saddened to hear this, take good care, will be thinking of you.
hope you feel better :) :) :) :) :) :)
Thank you everyone.
Being at home is the best therapy for me right now. Add in my friends and peers and all is going well enough.
I am definatly traumatised and scared ->-bleeped-<-less but I am moving right along.
Stay strong and my thoughts are with you for a speedy recovery, I will be sending an email to sacred hearts for you
Good to hear you are back home. My brother has 2 stents in and has never looked back.
nature is love
All is spirit
and spirit permeates all
Get well soon!
I had to go to SHMC again yesterday. They still have Susans blocked. So I followed the advice I got here and went to a proxy server.... :) I will not be denied!
And as too my health....I will get better but I have a serious surgery in my future.
Seems my aorta is 100% blocked at the bifircation leading to the legs. I have grown natural bypasses it seems but the blood flow to my legs is insuficiant. So I see my cardiac surgeon in a couple weeks so he can give me a referal to a vascular surgeon.......