Author: Elain Myrie-Richards M.D.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY Why am I qualified to write this book? This book is non-fiction, in that it records episodes actually experienced by health care providers in the United States and other countries. It may have been written by anyone who conceived the idea, made the effort to collect the stories, edit them, and place them in an orderly fashion for publishing. Although this might appear easy, my experience proved that for every 8 to 10 providers contacted, only one story was forthcoming. So unless one is able to take rejection and move on; unless one is willing to call, and send reminders and faxes; unless one realizes that many people are not imaginative and are just not inclined to help; this book would not be published. Elaine Myrie-Richards is a retired physician who lives in Winter Springs, Florida. She obtained her medical degree from the University College of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. She completed her residencies in Rehab Medicine in New York, and Internal Medicine in Toronto. After relocating to Florida, she worked with the Veterans’ Affairs for twenty years. (There she was in charge of working with the VIST program, the ex POW program, the Spinal Cord Injury team, and the Rheumatology Clinic. She also was the Medical Director of the Women’s Clinic for five years prior to retiring.) She now spends her time volunteering, enjoying traveling, and gardening. She is a Master Gardener. This book is her first. The section in parenthesis is optional. However, my being the physician for the Spinal Cord injured veterans for 7 years, gives me an audience with the PVA. (Paralyzed Veterans of America) The ex POW’s also have groups which meet in their various states, and the female veterans now comprise a significant number of veterans.