Hi Wendy,
How stinky!! Well, first, I would a) hope for the closer internship. Why worry until you know for sure?? Worrying just causes more stress, which leads to more seizures.
B) So, if you end up with the farther internship, what to do? I understand the extra effort!! What will you be doing during the internship and how many days is it? Can you do any of it from home (via remote access)?
No, you are not being too picky, you are trying to be responsible!! I drive, but my seizures aren't as bad as yours.
What would happen if they came back and said you couldn't do the internship? Or the internship wouldn't carry the insurance for you (i some request that)? Can you get into another one?
I think your advisor saying you'd make your school look bad is utter nonsense!! I'd talk to the internship coordinator again.
elizabeth
----- Original Message -----
From: wendy d
To: epilepsy@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Sunday, November 07, 2010 2:25 PM
Subject: [epilepsy] Internship - again
Hello everyone,
A month or so ago, I asked you all for advice about disclosing information to my
graduate program. Once I went ahead and talked to my advisor about it (and I'm
glad I did), I ran into some unexpected problems (she expressed concern that I
would be a liability/make the school look bad if I were to have a big seizure at
my internship), but I have since discussed the issue with the internship
coordinator and disability services, and am figuring out the best way to go
about things. I have simple partial seizures with RARE tonic clonics, and
luckily the matter seems to have been forgotten and swept under the rug for the
time being.
Anyway, I recently received the assignments for two hospitals where I will
interview for the internship, and one of them is over an hour drive away by car
(or two hours by foot, train, bus, bus, foot) and even in another state. When
they asked earlier in the process, I told them that I had a car, since they said
that not having one would limit my options. However, I have clusters of simple
partials multiple times a week that can last anywhere from a minute to two hours
(which happened yesterday). Even though I am able to continue driving and all
other normal activities, when I am having these intense cluster seizures, I am
not usually comfortable driving for long distances. It just takes extra effort
to be safe. I'm also not quite yet used to driving in snow and icy weather, and
the commute just doesn't seem feasible for me.
The assignments were given out last week, and I told the coordinator that I was
thankful and excited to go on my interviews. Now, however, I am keeping my
fingers crossed that I will be chosen for the second internship which is in the
city where I live. I don't know what I will do if I am selected for the other
one. I'm not sure how to handle the situation - whether to tell them I will not
be able to drive to the further site everyday - whether to make up an excuse
(car problems, other responsibilities, etc). - whether to tell them my true
concerns (which would be hard since I made so much effort to stress that it
wasn't an issue - or just to leave it alone and accept which ever assignment I
get. If I did talk to her about it, she would probably have to scramble to find
another site where I can interview. Am I being too picky? I have had a long
commute by car before, and to be honest I have more seizures behind the wheel,
perhaps because of everything flying by.
Anyone have any thoughts?? I feel like I keep digging myself a deeper hole.
Thank you!
Wendy
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