It's dollars we talk about, but you

know I
would think that as a
public
with a conscience,
we care more about the individuals who have
di sabi 1 i ti es that could have been
prevented
.
un andgangviolence have reached
anewlevel as gunshotwounds are
now the second biggest cause for
paralysis. More young men and women
are finding themselves in wheelchairs as
gang violence persists in Chicago. And
although medical costs to ueat gunshot
traumas is consistently being referenced
in the conversation surrounding Chica-
go's gun violence, the toll uken on victims
is even heavier and more unimaginable.
At the Loyola University Medical
Center in Malnvood, it has been esti-
mated that ttre average cost of ueating
a gunshot victim is around
$540,000.
Most of these victims are uninsured,
which means these costs are essen-
tially coming out of taxpayff wallets.
According to a study released by the
Urban Institute, ssst5
nmount
to ap-
proximately
$2,500
per household over
the course of a year. Although the med-
ical expense is an issue, the plight vic-
tims go through after being discharged
is a long journey of rehabilitation.
Dr. Michelle Gittler, a specialist in
physical medicine and rehabilirarion,
works with victims of gun violence at the
Schwab Rehabilitation Hospital located in
North Lawndale. The hospiul is known for
being the first fully licensed and accredit-
ed rehabilitation hospital in the Midwest.
It has an intensive inpatient program that
consists of at least tlree hours a day and
flve days aweekofrecuperative care, and
a list of outpatient services,
such as clinical assessments,
speech therapy and a focus
on accomplishing daily tasks
to promote independence and recovery.
"The patients I deal with have a disabil-
ity," Gittler said.
*The
very first thing is,
they have lived, so that's good, but then
they realize this isn't going away and
-Dr.
Micltelle Cutler
that realization comes with a struggle."
Gittler, like many others who see the ef-
fects ofgunviolence firsthand, is promot-
ing a different perspective on the issue.
Rather ttran taking heavier measures in
criminal justice and on the consequences
of gang and gun violence, Gittler endors-
es the route ofprevention and research.
"lt's
dollars we talk about, but you
know, I would think that as a public with
a conscience, we ca.re more about the
individuals who have disabilities that
could have been prevented," Gittler said.
Miles Turner V, one of many paralysis
survivors from gun violence, made head-
lines as he went from athlete to wheel-
chair-bound. The recent high school
graduate was shot flve times by gang mem-
bers near his home in October 2012 as
he attempted to help his cousin, who was
shot flrst. fu an offensive lineman at Leo
High School on the South Side, he was put
into a medically induced coma for three
months after being admined to North-
western Memorial Hospital.
In May 2013" he was
able to attend his senior
and his graduation. Al-
he survived the
heknowshislifehas
ever as he learns
of his wheelchair
through rehabil-
M*y non-
tions are taking
partnering up
Northwestern
currently works
lence, a national
that believes alterna-
like school-based
and intervention work-
can make more of a dif-
ence than tmditional laws.
Cure Violence, called CeaseFire until
2013,was established in 2000.
Northwestern Memorial Hospital
partnered with Cure Violence in 2011
through the organization's hospital-based
violence prevention program. When a
gunshot victim is admitted, the hospital
notifies the organization which then sends
"intemrpters"
to the hospiul and to the
neighborhood where the incident hap
pened.
They assist victims, families and com-
munities with the psychological and social
toll ofgun andgangviolence and also help
to prevent retaliation and repeat injuries.
Marie Crandall, atrauma surgeon from
Northwestern Memorial Hospital sees
ffauma as a teaching opportunity.
"These
patients have touched mortal-
ity, which helps them reflect. The inter-
rupters help them down a path of recov-
ery," Crandall said.
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