Medical Issues (Part 12 by Lifer Renee)

Renee – Only a teenager, she received a 60-year sentence. Sixteen years later, Renee is writing from Perryville prison in Goodyear, Arizona, providing a rare and unique insight into a women's prison.

Around 1pm, I was called back to Medical, where officer G gave me the story, “I have to write the disciplinary ticket because if I don’t write you up I have to let others off.”

I just ignored him.

I was weighed and had my blood pressure taken.  I waited, thoroughly frustrated.

Finally, I entered the cramped doctor’s office.

“Well, we have your MRI results. C1 vertebrae…”  He continued in medical jargon I couldn’t understand all the way down to C7.

I looked at him, “Can you give it to me in layman’s terms?”

The doctor turned and looked me dead in the eyes, “Your neck is fucked up!”

My jaw dropped. “Really. What’s wrong?”

“You have bone spurs growing on your spine and two permeated disks.  I need to send you for a surgery consult to see what your options are, but for the pain you’re having down your arm and the thinning of your nerves, I want to make sure there’s no nerve damage.”

I signed a release form and again waited for another medical appointment.

The next day the disciplinary officer came into work and gave me a verbal warning for my ticket.  Thank goodness there were no sanctions.

Clickhere for Medical Issues Part 11 

Shaun Attwood