By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Spare Parts
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Technology > Medical Devices > Spare Parts
Medical Devices

Spare Parts

Regina Holliday
Last updated: July 23, 2012 11:11 am
Regina Holliday
Share
5 Min Read
Spare parts a jacket for Joleen Chambers
SHARE
When I was a young teen I went with my little sister Esther to get my ears pierced at Claire’s Boutique in the local Mall.  If you are not familiar with Claire’s Boutique it is a shop filled with hair accessories and very affordable earrings.  I remember the young shop girl who pierced our ears.  She held up a tool that looked like a pliers.  She explained that she would be placing “studs” in our ears.  These earrings were gold plated and would be locked in place for the next six weeks.  We would need to clean our ears regularly.  After six weeks our ears should heal and then we would be able to wear other earrings they carried.  She followed up saying sometimes certain clients did not respond well to metal in their ears. Those clients would need to stop wearing earrings or use gold earrings only.  After telling us all these things she stapled our ears.
 
My ears swelled and bled.  The next six weeks were very painful.  My ears were warm to the touch.  I was one of those clients who could only wear gold.  Gold earrings are quite expensive, so over the years I would try to wear the fashionable earring labeled “surgical steel.” Within minutes my ears when begin to swell and bleed.
 
I thought about this experience in the years I have been a medical advocate I have spoken to a great number of patients who have had medical devices implanted in their bodies.  A few of them have suffered a great deal.  They complain of a deep tissue itch, swelling and pain.  I asked them if any of their doctors explained potential allergic reaction as well as the shop girl did at Claire’s Boutique.  They all said no.  There had been no warning, no discussion. Now they suffer with little recourse. 
 
There is an patient champion who has made advocacy in this field her life’s work.  Joleen Chambers blogs under the title FIDA: Failed Implant Devices Alliance.  She became part of the patient advocacy community after spending years speaking for her brother as he suffered in anguish due to a failed implanted elbow.  He was placed on a long term maximum dose of pain medication.  Joleen began speaking out as she became aware of all of the patients who were suffering with failed implants who could not find surgeons to repair the damage done. 
 
A year ago Joleen joined the Walking Gallery when she attended the Patients 2.0 session day at Health 2.0 inSan Francisco.  I finished her jacket there at the event.  This is a jacket for Joleen Chambers, “Spare Parts.”
 

Spare parts a jacket  for Joleen Chambers

This jacket is framed by a scene from Doctor Who: a brilliant British science fiction television program that her family enjoys as much as mine. This image is based on the first scene in the first episode of the program.  This is a scene in a junk yard.  The classic blue police box is surrounded by so much junk and perhaps is considered junk itself.
 

The tardis

In of the darkness, patients seem to be scrounging through the bins and piles of derelict parts.  If you look closely at these patients you will see large wounds at the joints of their body.  Metal hip joints and shoulder joints are in bins.  The patients paw through the open bins in the hope that they can find a part that will replace the broken a failed part inside of them. 
 

The patients

I thought this a perfect image for Joleen.  I am sure there are many who look at this jacket and do not think it a serious image, just as many people don’t take failed implantable devices seriously.  Joleen has a hard long battle a head of her.  Recently she submitted an essay to Mayo Clinic for Social Media Scholarship Essay Contest.  She is asking all of us to like her essay or tweet it so she can be a finalist in the competition.

I urge you to do so.  She works very hard in field shrouded in darkness much like the scene of her jacket story.   There is very light in this painting, but light is comes from a smart phone and a person willing to tweet injustice.

Social Media tells the story

TAGGED:implants
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

Screen Shot 2015-07-12 at 4.00.51 PM
BusinessMedical DevicesMedical InnovationsSpecialties

Reducing Readmissions and Costs for Total Joint Replacement

July 14, 2015
Health ReformMedical DevicesMedical EducationMedical EthicsMedical Innovations

Here’s Why Plastic Surgery Shouldn’t Be Taboo Anymore

June 3, 2019
MIGS-devices-market
Medical DevicesMedical InnovationsTechnology

MIGS Device Approval Brings Hope For Glaucoma Patients

August 21, 2018

The 5 Biggest Challenges Healthcare Leaders are Facing in 2015

August 5, 2015
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?