FYI
Joined: 15 Feb 2003
Posts: 72
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2003 5:52 am Post subject: Frank Brown died last night
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Frank Brown died last night. He was one of the original fighters in patient care for all dialysis patients.His intelligence and mastery on this field of medicine was amazing. He truly knew the enemy and fought daily for fair treatment and respect due to him as a fellow human being. <
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>He never made it out of the hospital and finally his body gave out. He just wanted to have a family,go to college and live without pain.He wanted fairness and basically to have treatments that would give him a qualitiy of life. These were never acheived. He did however leave his survivor skills and fought for years for patient rights. He was actually my very first advocacy. We became friends in this war for rights.<
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>Frank is now with our other's that tried to hang on to life to see changes for all patients across the United States.He wanted only that for his gift for being here on I will personally miss my friend and will always be better person for having known him.<
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>Frank, you will be met in the far right hand corner of heaven with all of those who have patiently worked for rights of patients. Now is your time to not have pain and sorrow,you are in a much kinder place. One free of greed and lack of ethics.One that is peaceful and loving.<
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>This seems like so little to write for a person that was so concerned about happiness and fairness.<
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>We will miss you and not ever forget your contributions.<
>
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Franks Friend
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2003 6:31 am Post subject: good bye
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When I first started comming to the net searching for answers on why there was no ethics in my dilayis unit and what to do about it, there was one person that stuck out like a sore thumb, because he had the courage to expose the Industry..that was Frank. Not only did he expose them, but he had a strong mind and a masterful writing ability..a beautiful thing to behold. I felt so priviledged to be able to come to know someone as unique as Frank. Frank relieved my mind by telling me the truth about what goes on in Dialysisland. He was one of the few people on dilayis who had too much sensitivity and dignity to close his eyes to the abuses and care so little about his fellow patients so as to keep his mouth shut. No, he was an absolute Champion for patients' rights. Frank told this willing student the truth, and I told him the truth on a different level. I benefitted so greatly from the truth he told me..I hope he beniftted as much from the truth I told him and is in that place where there is joy for evermore.
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Old email
Joined: 28 Feb 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2003 8:43 am Post subject: Advice from Frank
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On Getting Along<
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>By Howard Zinn<
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>You ask how I manage to stay involved and remain seemingly happy and adjusted <
>to this awful world where the efforts of caring people pale in comparison to <
>those who have power?<
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>It's easy. First, don't let "those who have power" intimidate you. No matter <
>how much power they have they cannot prevent you from living your life, <
>speaking your mind, thinking independently, having relationships with people <
>as you like. Read Emma Goldman's autobiography LIVING MY LIFE. Harassed, even <
>imprisoned by authority, she insisted on living her life, speaking out, <
>however she felt like.<
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>Second, find people to be with who have your values, your commitments, but <
>who also have a sense of humor. That combination is a necessity! <
><
>Third (notice how precise is my advice that I can confidently number it, the <
>way scientists number things), understand that the major media will not tell <
>you of all the acts of resistance taking place every day in the society, the <
>strikes, the protests, the individual acts of courage in the face of <
>authority. Look around (and you will certainly find it) for the evidence of <
>these unreported acts. And for the little you find, extrapolate from that and <
>assume there must be a thousand times as much as what you've found.<
><
>Fourth. Note that throughout history people have felt powerless before <
>authority, but that at certain times these powerless people, by organizing, <
>acting, risking, persisting, have created enough power to change the world <
>around them, even if a little. That is the history of the labor movement, of <
>the women's movement, of the anti-Vietnam war movement, the disabled persons <
>movement, the gay and lesbian movement, the movement of black people in the <
>South.<
><
>Fifth: Remember, that those who have power, and who seem invulnerable are in <
>fact quite vulnerable, that their power depends on the obedience of others, <
>and when those others begin withholding that obedience, begin defying <
>authority, that power at the top turns out to be very fragile. Generals <
>become powerless when their soldiers refuse to fight, industrialists become <
>powerless when their workers leave the jobs or occupy the factories. <
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>Sixth: When we forget the fragility of that power in top we become astounded <
>when it crumbles in the face of rebellion. We have had many such surprises in <
>our time, both in the United States and in other countries. <
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>Seventh: Don't look for a moment of total triumph. See it as an ongoing <
>struggle, with victories and defeats, but in the long run the consciousness <
>of people growing. So you need patience, persistence, and need to understand <
>that even when you don't "win," there is fun and fulfillment in the fact that <
>you have been involved, with other good people, in something worthwhile.<
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>Okay, seven pieces of profound advice should be enough. <
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>***<
> <
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> <
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>
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brenda
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 103
Posted: Fri Feb 28, 2003 10:23 am Post subject: Rest in peace
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my friend. Frank had the knowledge, the courage, and the strength to speak his mind when the situation arose. He wasn't afraid of the threats, nor the retaliations that were set against him. Your work on earth is thru, time for no pain and worry. You and the many others that have gone on before, will watch us win the battle you have all fought so hard for.
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plugger
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 258
Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2003 7:33 am Post subject: You will be missed
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Mr. Brown?s story and words have been inspiration to me. I think the best thing we can do is make sure he didn?t suffer and fight in vain. I think he is probably catching up on things with Brent and friends right now. (Maybe they will whisper in our ears when we need a little advice and help) But it seems we have more than enough friends on the other side, I hope we can continue to work to keep more friends here.
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jfwag
Joined: 11 Jan 2003
Posts: 140
Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2003 7:39 am Post subject: Frank...
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...and Lois and all the others are having one grand time up where ever it is...at least they are'nt on dialysis.
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brenda
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 103
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 12:43 am Post subject: If they
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all whisper to us at night we will never get any sleep. All of them, Frank, Lois and Brent, as well as the others that I didn't know, all had the fight, determination, and the spirit needed to speak out trying to accomplish the best for the patients. They weren't afraid to take the chance to be heard. I know there are others out there that have done the same and I just don't know their names. We will just have to keep banding together to continue their mission.
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bahai57
Joined: 02 Mar 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2003 9:06 am Post subject: Frank and myself
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I just read Frank's story and I am so sorry he seemed to have so many problems with life as a person with ESRD and needing dialysis. Let me assure anybody who is interested that this is not the experience of everyone who chooses dialysis.<
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> My name is Bruce. I have been on hemodialysis (HD), 31 years, 15 years at home and the last 16 years in-center. I have had my problems too with "the system" but nothing like what poor Frank went through (RIP). <
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> I have been able to do alot with my life in the 31 years I have been on HD. I was 13 when I started HD at home. I went through Jr. High, High School, College and eventaully got a Master's in Psychology. Until recently I worked full or part-time as a counselor. Before that I was a respiratory therapist in a hospital or SNF for 17 years. <
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> It has been only the last 2 years where I have been unable to work due to the compounding of health problems caused by long term dialysis and kidney failure. <
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> I wish all who knew Frank personally, peace and healing and to all of us on dialysis and/or with kidney disease have as fulfilling a life as they can create for themselves. Bruce..still fulfilled.
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it would be nice
Joined: 03 Mar 2003
Posts: 1
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2003 7:27 pm Post subject: if those patients who have it so good
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and who are able to make something out of their lives, would have some compassion for those who don't have the same advantage, and get behind them, and support them. But sadly, the majority of patients in the good units, could care less about those who are suffering in the hell hole units. The first thing they will say is, "Well why don't you transfer to another unit?". Never mind that the disadvantaged patients often have no family support, no transportaion, no health in order to
ing in an income, and are in fear for their lives should they speak up at their units as there are no other units in their cities. I'm thankful for the small handful of advantaged patients who defend the disadvantaged patients. You know who you are and you are in my prayers that you will each be richly blessed. I think Frank was a man of REAL accomplishment, consdering the odds he was up against.
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Lin
Joined: 28 Oct 2002
Posts: 337
Posted: Tue Mar 04, 2003 1:12 am Post subject: I do!
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I do have it good and I know it; I also know that I'm lucky, and that a lot of pts. aren't. In addition I'm able to help those people by posting, letter writing, whatever it takes to make things better for others less fortunate.<
>A lot of pts. that are in good units aren't all that healthy; they have other problems, and are old and weak in spite of good care. They can't be expected to help out. Of course, those who can should.<
>We need everyone and anyone who can help to pitch in!<
>In the end though the staff and families of pts. in the bad units will be the strongest voices because they have seen first hand the indignity; pts. are often labeled as whiners, as I all too well know! Lin.
