May 22nd, 2012
I awoke early in the morning to see guards standing around the prone body of a man. They just stood there as the man wearing only boxer shorts with "ADC" stencilled in orange on them lay motionless and appearing slightly bloated and pale. Not even the rise and fall of his chest.
Forty-five mintues later, I awoke again to see 3 paramedics each taking turns doing chest compressions on the down man, whose body hadn't been moved. I was shocked with how violent the compressions looked. The paramedics were clearly exhausted by their vigilant work. There was no doubt that they were intent on saving a life.
Hours later, awaking mid-morning, I was disgusted and upset - the man's body hadn't moved. Nor had he even been covered up. He was dead. His corpse left in the hallway alone. On display for around 160 prisoners on Barchy Unit. Not in an area we could tamper with (cover) the body and in unavoidable sight. The man lay there for hours until the coroner arrived, did her job and left with him in a body-bag.
He was a young man, with a woman and a child. Guards said he had over-dosed on drugs. Having been on Barchy Unit where drugs were a huge problem, I don't doubt his cause of death. Just as I also don't doubt another young man's O.D. death on Buckley Unit in March.
Seeing guys I know laying dead of their own addiction reminds me that that's not who I want to be, where I want to be or how I want to die. It also depresses me that they're gone and the way they were treated.
To all addicts: we can choose not to die alone, locked up, scared and hurting.
9 hours ago
7 comments:
Such a sad post, but really glad you're blogging again Shannon!
Shaun Attwood
hey Shannon, I just found out about your blog. Your VERy brave doing this, I admire you. So sorry to hear you are stuck in that terrible place. I cannot imagine what you must be going through.
I try and do my bit by researching and communicating about how the matrix we are all oppressed under--its roots. And I am VERY interested in psychedelic healing. Ie., this oppressive system wages a so-called 'war on drugs' which INCLUDE --what indigenous peoples of old have called, amongst other sacred names--Sacred Medicine. These are psychedelic vegeations which when taken with the UTMOST respect and love can help us HEAL our destructive habits and therefore our communities.
I hope you are soon out of there Shannon
Peace
Julian
Hey Man, stay strong, stay sane. Humanity has humility and kindness in some places.
A fellow countryman of Shaun's..
When is your release date? Keep your positive attitude, it's such a rarity, even on the outside, and it speaks volumes to your character!
As Shaun said, I too like your blogging, keep at it!!
AJ
Hey Shane, Glad to hear you are doing good. The shit you have to see and put up with always amazes me. It makes me really appreciate how much you will enjoy being free when you get out. Stay strong and keep writing.
~Big Jason
I just want to thank you for having the courage to write your blog. America has too many people in prison. It's become big business, and it's disgusting.
Did the guards attempt CPR on the prisoner that died? If not, why not? Untrained, uncaring or just malicious enough to murder? Let's face it, not assisting where a death occurs under government supervision is murder.
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