Eastern Railroad Discussion > I'm darned lucky to live in Ohio

Been a whle since I was here.

Hard to work up much of an urge to look at a railfan site when you can't railfan.

Last time I was out and shot a photo was August.

However, last week, I regained driving privileges.  I hadn't been behind the wheel without a designated supervisor since last September.  But, Ohio allows stroke victims to get behind the wheel again.

My best friend lives in California, had a stroke ten years ago.  California banned him from driving for life.  

My native Ontario also bans stroke victims from driving for life.

So, I'm not only lucky to be alive, I'm lucky I live here iin Ohio.

For now, I'm told I should only take short trips and avoid freeways and night driving.  I still wobble a bit, like a new driver.  I imagine I'll be seeing plenty of Sharonville Yard and Glendale in the months ahead.

BobE

 

Good to have you back. I wish you the best in your recovery.
John

Curious, do they ban for a TIA stroke, or does it apply only to a full stroke, and how do they determine your level of ability, do they do a work or activity tolerance test? My wish is for your continued health. === === = === JLH

BobE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Been a whle since I was here.
>
> Hard to work up much of an urge to look at a
> railfan site when you can't railfan.
>
> Last time I was out and shot a photo was August.
>
> However, last week, I regained driving privileges.
>  I hadn't been behind the wheel without a
> designated supervisor since last September.  But,
> Ohio allows stroke victims to get behind the wheel
> again.
>
> My best friend lives in California, had a stroke
> ten years ago.  California banned him from
> driving for life.  
>
> My native Ontario also bans stroke victims from
> driving for life.
>
> So, I'm not only lucky to be alive, I'm lucky I
> live here iin Ohio.
>
> For now, I'm told I should only take short trips
> and avoid freeways and night driving.  I still
> wobble a bit, like a new driver.  I imagine I'll
> be seeing plenty of Sharonville Yard and Glendale
> in the months ahead.
>
> BobE
>

if California's gonna be Richards about it, have you friend use your address for an Ohio license ... screw'em ...

Keep marching down the road to recovery, BobE. It's good to have you back.

Welcome back BobE.  Hoping for better times ahead for you.

Bob, glad you are making progress. Keep at it!

BobE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Been a whle since I was here.
>
> Hard to work up much of an urge to look at a
> railfan site when you can't railfan.
>
> Last time I was out and shot a photo was August.
>
> However, last week, I regained driving privileges.
>  I hadn't been behind the wheel without a
> designated supervisor since last September.  But,
> Ohio allows stroke victims to get behind the wheel
> again.
>
> My best friend lives in California, had a stroke
> ten years ago.  California banned him from
> driving for life.  
>
> My native Ontario also bans stroke victims from
> driving for life.
>
> So, I'm not only lucky to be alive, I'm lucky I
> live here iin Ohio.
>
> For now, I'm told I should only take short trips
> and avoid freeways and night driving.  I still
> wobble a bit, like a new driver.  I imagine I'll
> be seeing plenty of Sharonville Yard and Glendale
> in the months ahead.
>
> BobE
>

if California's gonna be Richards about it, have you friend use your address for an Ohio license ... screw'em ...

oh and good luck Bob



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 11/24/15 16:34 by Out_Of_Service.

Great job BobE! Keep up the good work and you'll keep surprising yourself and everyone else with how much you'll be able to do again!

My mom had a stroke in 2001 and she lost her driving privileges as well. It took around six years for her to feel better, plus she changed neurologists and reduced her medications. In May 2009 I came back from a weekend fantrip on a Flyer trolleybus in Boston on the Lake Shore Limited and came to Dayton on Greyhound. The highlight of the whole trip was pulling into the Dayton Greyhound station to see my mom parked in one of the unused bus stalls waiting to pick me up. She told me "Well no one told me to leave." I never thought I would see her drive again after the stroke, at first I was even worried about seeing her do much of anything again. She'll be cooking Thanksgiving on Thursday.

Have Fun!

Jim

Excellent to see you back BobE!!!

Bob,
I've often thought about how your recovery might be going. I am pleased to read your progress.   It's great to have you back on TO.  Your financial related insight has educated me over the years.  Continue...your recovery, and have a truly blessed holiday season.
RichS
 

Welcome back, Bob.  Glad to see your tag in these threads again.
--billio

I actully don't know about TIA''s and Ontario.  Both times I learned to drive were in the US.  However, I am friends with one of our members who's had TIAs, lives in Ontario, and drives.  There must be a cutoff point where renewing your license isn't possible.

I had to go through rehab training.....and I hear there's only one place in town that does stroke rehab...and the instructor had to write to my doctor to have privileges restored.

Believe  me, after a year-plus of not getting behind the wheel, I'm looking forward to getting out and foaming!

BobE

No offense personally, but California (and other states) are correct in restricting or banning people from driving after a major stroke.  There are many victims who died as pedestrians because drivers forget which pedal is the gas and which is the brake.  There have been buildings where drivers actually drove into the front of an establishment and injured or killed people.  Sometimes people need restrictions on driving and frankly, that's why we have public transportation and reduced fares for seniors and handicapped people. Good luck to you.   

Cliffs619 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> No offense personally, but California (and other
> states) are correct in restricting or banning
> people from driving after a major stroke.  There
> are many victims who died as pedestrians because
> drivers forget which pedal is the gas and which is
> the brake.  There have been buildings where
> drivers actually drove into the front of an
> establishment and injured or killed people.
>  Sometimes people need restrictions on driving
> and frankly, that's why we have public
> transportation and reduced fares for seniors and
> handicapped people. Good luck to you.


If Ohio were to do adopt a revocation policy, it'd be forced to devote a lot more resources to public transportation than it does today. In a lot of this state, if you can't drive and have no one to drive you, you might as well seal up your doors and wait for death.

 

Even testing older drivers after an accident is a thorny political problem.  You get into the vast range of differences between people who are alert, sharp and better than many others drivers, versus folks who have issues with vision, depth perception, etc. And, as Mr Toledopatch notes, the issues of independence and self reliance.

If push came to shove, I could see requiring all drivers to pass a basic vision, depth perception, and rules of the road test every five years.

Welcome back......

My mom's first stroke happened in 2010. It caused her to have seizures. Under PA law, it had to be reported. She lost her license for 6 months. She fortunately didn't have any more seizures as she recovered and got her license back.

Her second stroke on Sept. 30, 2015 didn't cause any seizures and she was awake for this one.

Good news Bob-nice to hear your doing great!
Have a good time driving-just stay out of those underpasses!!!

Mike Bannon
St Catharines, ON

BobE Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> So, I'm not only lucky to be alive, I'm lucky I
> live here in Ohio.

And here I thought it had something to do with LBJ, Delly or the Red Rifle...

Then again, I have heard that Ohio is the greatest railfan state in the union, so a little wobbliness will net you some good stuff.

Good to see you gettin' yer wheels back under you BillyBob, you need a diversion from all those Stars games!

Best wishes,
JG