The 80's - 90's
12
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Tammy’s first year of college was very significant as according to the Hebrew University Admission Rules, she could be drafted to the army upon return to Israel & have to do admittance tests thereafter since she did not attend enough Hebrew studies while away. The other option was to complete one year of college & then continue without tests upon returning. She was certain all along that this is what she will do. Tammy was very involved & knowledgeable about Israeli “stuff” thanks to correspondence, visits, Na’ale camps, & coursework she chose in
her first year of college. Professors in the Political Science classes she took
presented the topics from different perspectives which she appreciated.
Who would have thought what will happen almost at the beginning of the
first year of college, which changed her plans & even worse?
Tammy always dreamt of being an independent person & had rented an
apartment with friends, not too far from her place of work at the supermarket.
This symbol of independence turned into a place where she felt more than anywhere the chronic pain in her joints, which she did not tell us about.
When her friends at work saw her condition in front of them, they brought her to a local physician who did not know her previously; he demanded contact with parents & directed us to the NYU hospital for a thorough check up.
In the end of 1984 & beginning of 1985, Tammy coped with pain, hospitalizations & negative forecasts.
There was no way that Tammy could ignore these, the bad experience of pain & physical weakness or limitations. She quietly worried about what is happening to her & what could she be doing about it. This was heavier than what she allowed herself to show.
A subtle but serious change overwhelmed her which was impossible to ignore &/or deny. For a while it looked as if she would have to give up, to change short-term & even long term plans. Not all changes were immediate, & with her will power & the independence she presented in the past, Tammy continued her studies & started to be curious about the world of Medicine. Despite the frequency of fatigue spells Tammy took paramedic & sign language courses so she could help those in need. Tammy completed her finals but being sick she was denied permission to work in an ambulance. She complained & won, but it was too late.
As the meds became more effective in controlling the frequency of the attacks & hospitalizations, Tammy started to work different jobs. She worked night shifts in an office or restaurant, etc., butmost importantly-she became a Physical Education teacher in an after school program run by the Parents’ Association of Public School 3 (PS3), which after a year turned into her Day Time job.
Tammy continued with her job & studies, & gradually became more interested in education & children.
