Patients from the Adult Spinal Cord Injury Clinic at the Santos Dumont Institute (LMA/ISD) met this Thursday, the 24th, to celebrate Carnival and discuss integration strategies for 2022. The group, made up of men and women aged 18 and over, receives care at the clinics of the Specialized Rehabilitation Center (CER ISD), in the rural area of Macaíba. During the meeting, the first collective meeting this year, they shared goals to be achieved by December and deposited letters with details of them in an urn that will be opened at the end of the year.

According to multidisciplinary psychologist Miliana Galvão, the meeting aimed to exchange experiences among the clinic’s users. “These are people in similar situations, and they identify with each other. This is very beneficial and ends up becoming a support network, helping with their overall well-being. It’s nice to talk to people who understand and experience what the other person is going through,” she explains.

Patients were encouraged to write, draw or report goals for the year 2022, inspired by various images displayed in the form of photographs. They had time to think and write down what they hope to do in the coming months. The most common ideals, shared in a discussion group, were: losing weight, getting back into sports, improving their technique handbike and go to the beach.

“I want to go back to doing physical activities five times a week; dedicate myself to studying and passing the Enem exam for Theology; travel and tell my story of overcoming and the love of Jesus,” said Genival Neves Correia Neto, 22 years old. He has been receiving care at the ISD for four years, since suffering a spinal cord injury.

All the goals written by the patients were deposited in a time capsule, which will be reopened at the end-of-year celebration so that an assessment can be made of those achieved and/or frustrated. “We want to know a little about what they want the Clinic to offer and how they can contribute to this planning. Another goal is for them to reflect on what they want for themselves in terms of quality of life and health. It is to awaken them to think about the future, what I wanted and what I did to achieve it”, highlights Miliana Galvão, who was accompanied by residents of the IV Class of the Multiprofessional Residency in Health Care for People with Disabilities (RESPCD): Andrezza Viana and Érika Giovanna, physical therapists; Rafaelly Alves and Leislei Maquiri, social workers; Érica Juliana Bezerra and Sarah Lima, psychologists.

“Working at the Spinal Cord Injury Clinic as a resident physiotherapist has provided me with a very enriching experience, as I have been in contact with different patients and with diverse clinical conditions, from the initial assessment to discharge. I am improving and deepening my knowledge of neurorehabilitation through practice. By having the opportunity to participate in group activities, I realize how interaction between peers and sharing experiences increases their motivation and engagement in therapies. Furthermore, being able to work with a multidisciplinary team broadens the perspective regarding health, adds a lot of knowledge (both through interprofessional care and case discussions) and ensures that the care offered is much more complete and effective for each user,” says resident physiotherapist Andrezza Viana.