29.12.2006
THE VALUATION
THE VALUATION
I
I had turned up for a valuation of my dissability at Domus Medica in Reykjavík.
The doctor was an old, grey-haired, kind looking man.
In a fatherly manner he asks:
-And what is your problem young man?
At first I told him about my misfortune in Heimir ltd. and how happy I should be having what I had.
It could be a lot worse!
When he asked me about my health I answered in a thoughtless manner, the same way one does when he meets an acquaintance and doesn't want him to know about the sorrows really bothering him.
(Hi! How are you?
The acquaintance asks you.
-Hi yourself! I'm healthy as a lion, thank you, the other one returns the greeting even though nothing good can be said about his health, mentally or physically.) To the doctor I reply, that considering my swollen thigh my health was really ok and that I'd only agreed to go to a doctor just because of my life's instigation.
I didn't mention what really bothered me, e.g. constant pain in my left thigh which got worse in cold atmosphere, inside or outside, thus making my life quite unbearable and unable to walk.
Not mentioning either that when the thigh gets touched at spots it wakes up little devils that squeze and sting thus making me hurt.
I did in no way realize that my handicap is almost invincible normally and for that reason the doctor has to valuate my handicap by what I tell him myself.
He just put a tape-line around my thighs, comparing their circumference, concluding by saying:
-Yes you're right, he replies. Your left thigh's a lot thicker than the other one
And then he asks:
-And you're quite sure there is no pain, as he
knocks lightly on the swollen thigh.
Behaving like a true Icelander of course when I replied, obviously because the pain was tiny at the moment:
-Oh, it ain't so bad.
When I arrived home I met my fiancée where she was carrying a tub full of dirty clothes on her way into the washing-room.
I told her about my dealings with the doctor;
what I'd told him and that I was not very optimistic for a positive result.
-Didn't you inform him how your pain increases in cold weather?
-Oh, no! I just forgot, I replied shamefully.
My confidence just dissappeares, when I speak to these doctors.
-Then it want be of no use for you to cry at my shoulder, next time when you'll feel the pain. You were supposed to inform the doctor about it, she said with anger in her voice, opening the washing-room door and going to the washing-machine, which she'd already bought when we started our household ten years earlier.
In fact she had already bought almost all the household articles, but the only things that were mine, were my bed, a pillow, bed clothes, tiny towels and my stereo..
-I'm so sorry, I scolded myself to say, when I realized the reason for her being so angry.
Yet again I had managed to bungle our last real hope for enlargening our lodgings.
II
During the next thirtysomethingdays a kind of drowsiness lies over our home, because of my blunder.
We are almost certain that nothing positive will brighten our days from my failure valuation.
But like they say:
The sun always returns, though it might not be an appropriate saying in this case.
A month after the valuation of my crippleness, where I'd failed in everything that I was supposed to do, one day the phone rang in our appartment.
On the other end turned out to be the insurance-mediator.
While holding my breath I waited for what he had to inform me through the phone-line.
Feeling sure that he would inform me that my meeting with the doctor had not helped my case in any way.
-Olafur, I bring you mournful news, sorry to say. The doctor that had your case died before he could finish the value of your disablement.
-What is that you're saying! That grieves me too, I replied in a condolatory fashion.
-Yes and that means, that you'll have to go under another valuation, my dear Olafur.
-Well is that the case, I replied automatically and hadn't given any thought to my fortune in another man's misfortune.
-I'll inform you later when I will have found you another doctor, the mediator told me before he said good-bye.
-Wow, I shrieked aloud when I had put down the receiver, realizing how the old saying had proved itself, that anyone's death is another one's bread, or whatever.
What a coincidence, I sighed, suddenly becoming joyful because of this incredible participation of destiny in my life.
At the moment I might've believed anything, even that someone, perhaps Svenni Gunnars, my late friend was hold-ing his protecting-hand over me.
Even though I'd farted on everything supernatural ever since I was a young boy saying my paternoster every night.
I only hope that I won't fail my next valuation, I said to myself, not noticing the woman that has been by my side like a rock through all the pain, sorrow and happy moments over the years.
She was standing in the doorway to the kitchen.
-How true you are, Oli, she informed me when she had heard what the mediator had informed me. You must stop behaving like a fool. Trying to be someone else, but instead you must give the doctor right information, she concluded her case, in a motherly tone.
lll
The next month went by in a blended feeling of suspence and anxiety.
Each ring of the phone could be the one we were waiting for, with instructions about our next move in the long quest for justice.
A month and a day had passed, when something notable happened to be on the other end of the line.
I had just then arrived from yet another rushing ride around the Sudurnes on my Czech Skoda for the Development Society.
To make our low wages last longer I collected debts for this dreamchild of the industry in the area, besides that I compiled with great ardor new members into this remarkable society.
I had made remarkable progress in my campaign and had almost managed to double the number.
Among other firms I'd convinced big companies like The Icelandic Prime Contractors to become members.
The reason for my prosperity was perhaps because of some compassion for me or possibly just how pushful I was, for I don't believe that my speech was fluent, as drawling as I was.
Nobody was home and when I stuck the key into the lock I heard the sound of the ringing.
I opened the door in a hurry and ran on my muddy shoes over the recently cleaned carpet in the telephone-room.
I took up the receiver and introduced myself:
- Hallo, this is Oli
-I bring you sorrow news, informed me the voice in the phone. I'm the son of the mediator who was working for you, but he's sorry to say passed away.
-What's that you say! You have my symphathy, I sighed thinking that now everything had been in vain. Nothing seems to go right for me, were my thoughts, before the son carried on his speech.
-But because my father had some cases unfinished, when he died I was thinking of concluding them, yours amongst them, he told me with an encouraging voice.
-Noo, I replied feeling pleased that we had not lost the war yet.
-And because I'm working here at the State Social Security Institude I've asked a co-worker, a doctor to valuate your handicap. Is next Monday conveniant for you.
Reykjavik, September 26 1987
Jonas Hallgrimsson, MD
Tjarnarflot 2,
Gardabaer
Handicap valuation for: Mr. Eiriksson, Olafur Thor
Olafur was injured on the 29. of June 1984 while working at the fish-factory Heimir ltd.
A fork-lift hit him while backing and then going
over his left leg.
Olafur was transported to the Keflavik physicians' district's Hospital as is described in the Head doctor's Kristjan Sigurdsson valuation, date: 10.24. 1984
CERTIFICATION
of
Kristjan hospital's head doctor Sigurdsson
on mr. Eiriksson's disable valuation.
The above mentioned patient was brought here to the Hospital in Keflavik on June 29. 1984 approximately at 11 o'clock.
He was busy in Heimir ltd. cleaning the floor with a powerful water-hose, when a forklift backed on him and actually went over the whole extent of his left ambulatory limb, all the way up to his groin.
Complained much about pain in his ambulatory limb, actually in the whole of it but primarily in his instep.
The examination revealed that the left ambulatory limb had a great contusion, especially the thigh which was all blue and scratched on the inner site of the ambulatory limb both above and beneath the knee.
He also was very swollen on the outer site of the ancle and a cut running almost across the heel, 7-8 cm.long.
The Achilles' tendon was undamaged.
He was also aching and swollen on top on the instep.
X-rays were made of the ambulatory limb, but no fracture was noticable on long bones, but fractures were on the other hand on II. and IV. instep-bone of the left foot.
The wound on the heel was cleaned and sewed under anaesthetic.
He was checked in here on this hospital, but checked out on July 3rd.
He was re-inchecked on July 19 because of massive serosa, a consequence of the contusion on the left thigh and remained here under control until July 27.
He has since been here ambulant, latest on Sept. 19 and had then healed and become fairly good in the thigh and also good in his foot, could even walk without a limp.
Nevertheless there was somewhat a swelling in the thigh.
It's more than likely that he'll have full recovery after this
accident.
There is yet another certificate from Dr. Sigurdsson dated on June 3 1987, where says:
The above mentioned patient was brought to Hospital in Keflavik 06.29. 84 at 11 o'clock.
He was at his job at Heimir ltd. power-washing the floor when a fork-lift backed on him so he fell down and simultanously the vehicle went up and practically over the whole lenght of his left ambulatory limb up to the groin.
He complained of much pain in the whole limb and later also in the left instep.
During inspection it appeared that the left ambulatory limb was much bruised, especially the thigh which was all blue and scratching on the inside of the limb both above and below the knee.
He was also very swollen on the outside of the ancle and a cut was across the heel 7-8 cm. in length.
The Achilles' tendon wasn't damaged.
He was also sore and swollen on top of the instep.
X-rays were made of the ambulatory limb but no fracture was seen on the long bone.
The wound on the heel was cleaned up and sewed together under anaesthesia and then the foot was plaster-casted because of the fractured bones in the instep.
He was checked out from the hospital on 07.03.84.
A few days later he revisited the hospital when he came to Dr.orthopaedic Sigurjon Sigurdsson on the day-ward who comes hereto once a week.
The patient had tore all the plaster off of himself because of a ticklish feeling and gigantic bruising sero had formed on the left thigh, an aftermath from the contusion, and thus I had to stick a needle in and suck out 700 ml. of a blood-colored serus liquid and then the thigh was bandaged.
The seams on the heel-wound were then removed because it was fully healed.
An X-ray taken of the instep revealed that the situs hadn't changed.
He was checked in on the hospital in Keflavik on 07.19.84 right after aquick visit to the City-Hospital, whereto he had been sent by ambulance.
The story was like this:
The patient had high fever lying in his bed at home, 39 degrees Celsius and was feeling very bad.
He was recommended to come straight away to the hospital, but he didn't feel up to it because of his critical condition.
Then he was recommended to contact the family physician Ottar Gudmundsson who visited the patient and sent him to the City-Hospital on the double.
There a needle had to be stuck in the thigh and approximately one litre of a blood-colored seros liquid was removed and a drain put in the wound.
At his arrival here on the evening 07.19.84 the patient was feeling fairly well, a little bit pale and had a fever of 39,5. He got a treatment in bed with Antibitcia and recovered fairly soon.
On the City-Hospital samples from this liquid were taken for cultivationand the patient was dismissed from the hospital in Keflavik 07.27.84.
When results from the cultivation were ready the patient received the appropriate treatment.
He got an ambulant-treatment after that, thus removing each time the extra-liquid that had assembled in the thigh quite frequently;
60-80 ml. each time, but it became less every time.
08.20.84 there was a small amount of liquid in the knee, but in my opinion not enough to make a function, but the thigh was tremendously swollen and he received behaviour-instructions and was told to return for control in a months time.
He returns 09.19.84 and was by then quite good.
His limping had fairly dissappeared and he had no discomfort in his feet.
He came next on 10.31. 84 and then he complained of some discomfort in the thigh, mainly above the knee.
There much swelling was detected and the thigh a lot thicker than the right one.
The force seemed fair in the muscles and he wasn't limping, and apparantly he hadn't much discomfort in the instep.
He visited the undersigned the last time on 11.20.85 and then was still considerable swelling in the lower part of the left thigh and mainly in the front and considerably thicker than the right one, a difference of 4-5 cm.
Therefore it was decided to send him to a physiotherapist.
The patient hasn't visited to the undersigned since.
Dr. Sigurdsson, Kristjan
Olafur came to visit undersigned on 09.24.1987.
He says he has been unable to work almost until the end of 1984, but in the beginning of next year he had gotten a job at the library, where he worked for two hours per day five days of the week, until the beginning of July 1986,when he became an employee in a new job where he assists disabled persons on Sudurnes to find fitting jobs.
Prior to the accident Olafur was a teacher at the elementary school in Keflavik, but had quit that job and for the time being he worked as a laborer in a fish factory in the summer of 1984.
In Olafs opinion he hasn't stamina for more work, than he has had in previous months because of discomfort from his left ambulatory limb.
The situation has been status quo the whole period.
To begin with he received thigh-massage at the Throskahjalp in Keflavik in the beginning of 1985, but he didn't get any better and hasn't had another treament since then.
In the spring of 1987 he started biking and has gained some strength by that.
He uses every opportunity he gets for riding his bike in his job and doesn't use his car unless when surely necessary.
He gets pain and fatigue in his left thigh from biking and also after all other strain, like walking.
He starts limping when he gets tired noticed by other people, but it surprises him each time they tell him so, because he himself doesn't notice that he limps.
When the thigh is under strain or when the weather gets colder it swells, thus making him feel pain and needle-like stings in it, along with pressure.
In his opinion Olafur says that the left thigh has considerably less strength than the right one.
Olafur doesn't have much pain from his left foot, where bones got fractured, other than that sometimes shoes hurt him on top of the instep.
My examination show that the left thigh is 2.5. cm. thicker, than the right one 15 cm. above the top of the kneecap.
He has very muscular thighs and powerful, but obviously the muscle is reduced around and behind on the left thigh, in spite of it being thicker.
Without much doubt this thickness is caused by a formation of tissue, but not because of a muscle-build-up.
Scars are on the outside and under most on the left leg caused by operation.
When examining the left instep only a little more bulky can be seen compared to the right one.
The movements in the knee and ancle are normal.
Olafur transmits that he had a terrible auto-accident back in 1975.
In the accident he had contusion on his neuracranium and was essentially paralized.
Then he had recently graduated from a junior-college.
With great difficulty and concentration he managed to rehabilitate himself physically and mentally, but he says that most of what he'd learned before had practically been erased in the accident.
After the accident he was thought to be spastical and he had very little strength.
Then he went to the Teachers' College and finished the studies in a normal time.
He says that he's constantly been learning and rehabilitating since the year of '75.
The accident in the summer of '84 was a great backlash in his life.
Because of his former restrictions after the accident in 1975, which Olafur had managed to overcome mostly it took him more time, than otherwise to regain his former strength after the second accident in '84.
He has been rehabilitating in a similar way, supposedly getting a job that might conciliate the employment-distribution, which is both his job and a matter of interest.
There he is thinking of bill-collecting or something else that he could do collateral.
Never the less he hasn't yet regained his former stamina.
CONCLUSION:
Olafur has received some durable disablement from the accident in June '84.
When valuating his handicap now one must take into consideration his very special circumstances, but he had with much drive managed to overcome most of his great disablement that he had received in the earlier accident.
One must predict that he had gotten almost his full ability to work, when the later accident happened in '84, but on the other hand his position for rehabilitation was worse after the accident in '84.
The undersigned seems clear, that Olafur will never regain his former stamina and thus he will have to live with durable disablement after the accident in'84.
The disablement of Olafur because of the accident 06.29.'84 will be:
6 months after the accident 100%
The next 18 months 50%
Permanent disablement 20% Jonas Hallgrimsson (sign)
In the succession of this valuation of my disablement my case received a relatively quick dispatch in the system, thus making it possible for us to move into a larger lodging by fall, where my two sons, Sveinn Sigurdur and Eirikur Unnar were able to get their own bedroom each.
Two years later our third beautiful son was born, Daniel Hrafn who was also able to get his own bedroom.
Once again I can thank my fiancée greatly for her perseverance and prudence.