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.


Shaun Attwood

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Arpaio is being investigated by the feds!! :)

Angel

Jon said...

lets hope they take him down!

Anonymous said...

Hi Renee,
I hope that your medical issues are not too severe. Even if they are, I hope that you will have the determination to fight through them. I respect you for trying to better yourself in so many ways, even though you are imprisoned. Nobody can take away your self respect unless you allow them to. Sending good thoughts, hope, and prayers your way. Anxiously awaiting your next letter on Jon's Jail Journal.
- Azar