Page Eight—THE GRYPHON—Thursday, September 30, 1976 Learning Goes On In Hospital How does a rising Senior react when injured indefinitely from a serious automobile accident three months before his last year in high school begins? Can he bear the immobility necessary if his injuries are to heal? Can he complete his studies and graduate when confined to a hospital bed? Mike Lewis can answer. “1 didn't know where 1 was” said senior Mike Lewis when questioned about his arrival at Nash General Hospital. On June 20, Father’s Day, Mike was driving to work in a heavy rainstorm. He lost control of the car because of slippery road conditions and collided into a tree. The car was literally wrapped around the tree, and it was more than 30 minutes before the Stony Creek Rescue Squad could remove Mike from the mangled car. Mike’s collar bone was broken, his gums deeply cut, his teeth loosened, and his right leg extensively damaged. During the more than 12 weeks he has stayed at Nash General he has undergone two operations. He has had two cast*, previously removed and he just recently HOME BOUND Mike Lewis continues to receive his education in the hospital despite his tragic accident. [photo by B. Hatchisson] had a screw extracted that had been placed through his ankle. His bed is surrounded by something that can easily be compared to a “jungle gym.” There are a series of pulleys, metal rods and ropes which suspends Mike’s leg in traction approximately nine inches above his bed. One of the most noticeable things about Mike’s leg was a metal pin that was placed through his right knee. Halls Are Crowded Rocky Mount Senior High has a traffic problem, not only in the parking lot, but also, in the hall. Several times a day, hall traffic jams the intersection of the 100 hall outside room 107. When the traffic converges on the 100 hall, people are shoved and pushed the wrong ways, and inevitably, someone’s spiral composition book will rip every sweater around. Ripped sweat ers are not the only casualties. Ink pens attack white pants and shirts and leave their mark indeliably. What can be done to solve the problem? Richard Shaw, a junior gasped between pushes and shoves, “We need a stop light!” A stop light might help unclog the intersection, but lAlmand’s! what would happen to traffic violators? Would a right turn on red be legal? Mrs. Carol Carpenter, an English teacher, was directing traffic one day before lunch. She didn’t have a whistle, but she made herself heard. Later she said, “Some teachers suggest we set up a platform at the 100 hall and put Coach Harris in it to direct traffic. Telephone 442-2159 * * * * * * * 06C0UNT DRUGS Downtown West End Pkrza Oakwood Shopping Center * * * * * * * * Dry Cleaning 571 North Raleigh St. t ROCKY MOUNT £ ^ L-O-W-E-S-T 5 ^ Discount Prices ^ ^ In Town ^ * -ON- » * ‘HEALTH AID * * BEAUTY AIDS * * •PRESCRIPTIONS ♦ * PHOTOGRAPHIC 2 * ‘PHOTOGRAPHIC ? 2 NEEDS J ^ — also — ^ ^ ‘STROBE LIGHTS ^ ^ ‘BLACK LIGHTS # * ‘PATCHES # * ‘MUCH MORE ♦ * * Gryphons Leaders So Are We n The purpose of this pin was to hold the bone in place. On September 17, this pin was removed by a drill. The leg was bandaged, and a body cast which extends from his waist down to both legs was put on. Between his knees there is a rod that hold his legs apart at a specified distance. Mike will stay in this cast until the bone is completely healed. During this time he will not be able to move the lower half of his body, and he will have to remain immobile and flat on his back. His collar bone, gums, and teeth have all healed. Mike is in a program known as “Homeward Bound” direct ed by Mr. Tommy Ezzel. This program is designed to assist students who have become disabled to keep up with their academics. Mr. Ezzel has 17 other students. Mike is his only student who will eventually be able to return to school. On every Friday Mr. Ezzel goes to the hospital and tutors Mike for three hours. During these three hours he teaches Mike in six different subjects. When asked how he liked the one to one teacher-student ratio, Mike replied, “It’s a lot easier, but I still wish I was back at school. I miss the fun in the classroom.” Each week when Mr. Ezzel comes he leaves Mike with a week’s assignment. Assignments are required to be completed when Mr. Ezzel returns the following week. In addition to the “Homeward Bound” program, Mr. Elizabeth Hardy, an English teacher at Senior High, tutors Mike in English in her own spare time. One or twice a week Mrs. Hardy goes to the hospital and helps Mike with his studies. Through visits and phone calls his friends help him to keep informed on the activities at school. He follows the Gryphon football games by listening to the radio. His room has accumulated many presents from his relatives, friends, and church. When asked what he would most like to do when he gets out of the hospital, Mike’s response was “I want to be out in a field deer hunting.” Gonzales Prepares Gosta Rican Meal A Costa Rican meal was prepared by Elisa Gonzales, the American Field Service Foreign Exchange student from Costa Rica for the students from Mrs. Sue Hayworth’s Spanish 4x class. The group met at Mrs. Hayworth’s home on Wednes day, Sept. 15 for the dinner. Elisa served the guests a type of fruit juice, doritos and a tampico dip before dinner. The main course consisted of empanadas fried meat pies made of tortillas, ground beef, chopped potatoes, and onion salad that featured grated cabbage, carrots, pickles, and relishes. Elisa served apple pie “a la moda.” In Costa Rica apple pie is considered a delicacy because apples are very scarce and must be imported from the United States. Usually apples are eaten only during the Christmas season in Costa Rica. A special guest was Suzanne Cobb, American “sister” of Elisa. Other students who attended the meal were Denise Alston, Sherri Bynum, Bill Hudson, Missy Roberts, and Elizabeth Wilson. AHENTION PARTIAL MILLIONAIRES! YES YOU! AS A HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE, YOU WILL PROBABLY EARN IN WAGES AT LEAST $300,000.00 DURING YOUR LIFETIME AND BY COMPLETING COLLEGE YOU MAY ADD AN EXTRA $200,000.00 TO THAT SUM. GET PREPARED NOW TO WISELY INVEST AND DISBURSE THESE FUTURE FUNDS BY ADDING “MONEY” AND “FINANCIAL SERVICES” TO YOUR LIST OF SUBJECTS TO LEARN THIS YEAR. WE WILL CORDIALLY COUNSEL YOU IN BANKING AND ITS SERVICES — WE HAVE AN INTEREST IN YOUR FUTURE. ^ Wachovia Bank&Trust 2401 Sunset Avenue Member F.D.I.C. Rocky Mount, N.C.