The Men

That was a bad shot,

or else he was impatient.

He must've aimed for my head,

but he got me in the back.

I was scared. I couldn't feel

anything from my waist down.

I thought I was dying.

It's funny.

It's very, very funny.

I was afraid I was gonna die.

Now I'm afraid I'm gonna live.

"Oh, you'll be walking again

in a couple of months,

Lieutenant Wilczek."

How many months?

I've lost count.

But let's keep it gay.

Soldier, repeat after me:

"The war's over now, and I'm

glad I'm still half alive.

I'm a lucky-"

- A fine way to treat a Silver Star.

- Turn the light out.

Good night.

You know how it is.

You read a lot of things.

You hear a lot of things.

You get a lot of misinformation

from people who oughta know better.

Okay, let's summarize

what we've learned.

Paraplegia is the result

of an injury to the spinal cord.

That break in the cord causes

immediate and lasting paralysis...

of motion and feeling

in the lower body.

In general, most paraplegic

patients will, at various times,

suffer all

of the following symptoms:

pain, muscular spasms,

bed sores,

paralysis of the bladder

and bowels.

However, all of these

may and can be controlled...

by medical therapy, surgery,

proper nutrition,

physical rehabilitation

and self-care.

Lastly, the question of walking.

In almost every case, the word

"walk" must be forgotten.

It no longer exists.

In short, most paraplegics...

must content themselves

with life in a wheelchair.

Make yourselves accept that.

It'll make it

a lot easier for them.

Well, I've talked a long time.

Perhaps there are some

questions you'd like to ask.

Doctor, my boy -

he's only 19.

I know.

But with proper care,

he may live to be 90.

Doctor-Brock, is it?

Well, this condition-

there must be some cure.

Paraplegia isn't

a death sentence any longer.

I'm happy to say

that in this hospital...

the mortality rate has been

less than three percent.

I didn't mean that.

I meant the spine injury.

Surely there must be

some way of healing it.

There must be

specialists somewhere.

Madam, there is no method

known to medical science...

for the regeneration

of spinal cord tissue.

None.

Doctor,

my husband and I,

we have a little girl.

We've always wanted

to have a large family,

but now if we could just have

at least one more for the child's sake.

Will it be possible?

Well, that's difficult to say.

In some cases, it is possible.

However, I can't discuss

your husband here.

I'll be happy to meet

with you whenever you say.

Dr. Brock, what about

the bladder and bowels?

How badly are they affected?

Most men find that they're capable

of retraining themselves...

and in time achieving

regularity in these functions.

Any more questions?

Dr. Brock.

We've been married nine years.

I thought my husband and I knew

each other as well as anyone could,

and I want to keep

our marriage going.

But... he's so changed.

He's different.

He isn't different.

He's the same man

with a spinal cord injury.

- But when I try...

- Oh, I know right now he's unhappy.

He's depressed.

He feels himself totally

dependent on others.

He says to himself,

"Im not a man any longer.

I can't make a woman happy."

ls it any wonder he finds it difficult

to adjust to the situation?

But... how long will it take?

Face it

It's going to take time.

It's going to take patience.

For you and for him.

But... will we have

anything in common now?

No more, no less

than you had before.

Dr. Brock,

if you were a woman,

would you marry a paraplegic?

Might as well just ask me

if I want to get married, period.

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