Our Moms Are Thrilled
Josephine and I want to say, thank you [for featuring us in “What Makes Us Happy,” December 2015]. Best thing, our moms are thrilled!
Randy Alexander
Tubby Creek Farm, Ashland, Mississippi

New Visitability Law
“Buying a First Home” [December 2015] was a great read. It underscores the need to bring visitability principles and related basic access issues into the home builders market. Even those of us who have accessible homes and have experienced modification hardships, financial challenges and related obstacles are still unable to visit our neighbors. I hope NEW MOBILITY will follow the new federal Eleanor Smith bill regarding home accessibility standards. This is a critical need as the population continues to age and more people are needing basic access within their homes.
JR Harding
Tallahassee, Florida

Caregiver Economics
There’s simply no way to get around the issue of “family income” [“The Great Caregiver Quest,” December 2015]. If a spouse is employed or the person with a disability is employed, there’s a whole chunk of money to be paid just, for example, to get your butt out of bed and maybe take a shower a couple of times a week. It’s worse in rural areas. I live 10 miles from a town of 15,000 and 25 miles from a city of 150,000. I’m forced to pay more simply to get the caregiver here.

Shall we talk about being an “employer?” Every caregiver is paid, and the best we can hope for is to dodge a bullet by saying they’re contract employees. Yeah, but did you report that expenditure? I never have. I’d need an accountant to figure out how. Being a crip is an expensive hobby.
Gary Presley
Via newmobility.com

New Info Helpful
This is a fantastic article by Bob Vogel [“Adaptive Outdoor Adventure Sports,” August 2015]. Over the years I have become more and more impressed with NEW MOBILITY and all it offers. As an adaptive recreation program coordinator, I was thrilled to see this article provide information on seven adventure activities beyond my expertise.
Marcy Marchello
Amherst, Massachusetts

Kudos: Doug Davis
I am a new subscriber and am writing to send some well-deserved compliments to all the writers in the two issues I’ve received thus far. The timely topics are presented clearly and concisely and could certainly be described by an extensive list of superlatives. A special pat on the back to Doug Davis for his extraordinary cover artwork, too [November 2015 Buyer’s Guide]. We often take that part of publications for granted. This is one of my favorite pieces of mail; I read it from cover to cover.
Dolores Carron
Newington, Connecticut

Bladder Control Poster Boy
I’m a male T4 para 32 years post-injury. I started using the Neosporin/saline irrigant while in rehab [“Bladder Irrigant Solutions for UTI Reduction,” December 2015]. I cath four to six times a day but am not especially “clean” with my technique. But I do use hand sanitizer or a benzalkonium chloride towelette when I’m in a public restroom. I even reuse my catheters for about a week, just rinsing and drying them after use. I’ve had about four UTIs in 32 years and two of those were a result of urological procedures done in the hospital. I use 30cc of G.U. irrigant [gentamycin] once a day and every other day do a flush with 60cc that I leave in for about two hours. My urologist says I should be the poster boy for SCI bladder control.
Chuck McAvoy
Via newmobility.com

Mycrocyn Flush Successful
I have been using Microcyn to flush my bladder for about four years, and it has been a life-changer for me. I’m now 23 years post-injury, and most of that time fighting chronic UTIs and bladder stones has left me Cipro-resistant. Flushing my bladder daily with Mycrocyn is keeping me nearly UTI-free. Although my urologist was unaware of this, after research, she endorses it.
Karen Miner
Roseville, California

UTIs Be Gone!
I’ve been a T12-L1 para since 1981 and have cathed four times a day for 35 years. The first 12 years I fought UTIs constantly and ended up in a study. The only participant who didn’t get a UTI through the year used Betadyne to keep his fingers and “other areas” swiped clean as he cathed. I copied that system and have had hardly any UTIs that require antibiotics in more than 20 years now. I use povidone iodine 10 percent solution and pour just enough on the corner of a wet rag to completely coat the tips of my fingers and those “other areas.” My last UTI that I took antibiotics for was about five years ago.
Perry Griffin
Maryville, Tennessee