Product Description

Among Giants presents clinical hypothesis and psychological models that demand that the healthcare industry respect a greater diversity within the population of size in both physiologic and spiritual perspectives. It offers a series of fictional depictions created to articulate life lessons to a world often blinded by negative views of people of size. Never before has a complex health and social issue been so relevant for such a unique patient population. The subject is a front-page story: An evolving healthcare industry is scrambling to meet the needs of the fastest-growing patient population in history. Amazingly frank and positive, Among Giants expresses the humor and spirit demonstrated by so many patients of size. Among Giants offers profound insights into the lives of those who battle obesity. It is a must-read for clinicians, professionals, care-givers, students and patients.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #726587 in Books
• Published on: 2006-10
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .67" h x 6.00" w x 9.00" l, .97 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 300 pages

From the Back Cover
How can we best help patients of size?

Among Giants offers much more than practical help for those who care for patients of size. It offers profound insights into the lives of those who battle obesity. It is a must-read for clinicians, professionals, care-givers, students and patients.

Michael Dionne, founder of BariatricRehab.com and Choice Physical Therapy, Inc., located in Gainesville, GA, specializes in the care of dependent patients of size. Mr. Dionne has consulted throughout North America, and in Europe. To date, he has worked with clients up to 1000 pounds and holds the record for manual non-weight bearing dependent transfer of patients up to 600 pounds. He was awarded the Mary Pat Murray Award for "Clinical Excellence." He was a finalist for the Health-Care Heroes Award in Atlanta in May 2000. He is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, National Association of Bariatric Nurses and has numerous professional publications and international presentations including the National Association of Bariatric Nurses and American Society for Bariatric Surgery to his credit. In 2002, he was awarded Marquette University's "Physical Therapist Alumnus of the Year" for his distinguished work in the care of the patient of significant size. He has been an invited speaker for the American Physical Therapy Association's National Conferences in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2005. In 2006, Mr. Dionne presented to the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

There is hope and help for the patient of size.

About the Author
Michael Dionne, founder of BariatricRehab.com and Choice Physical Therapy, Inc., located in Gainesville, Ga., specializes in the care of dependent patient of size. Having written and contributed to over 35 articles related to the specialized care of the patient of size, Mr. Dionne has consulted throughout North America, and in Europe. To date, he has worked with some of the largest patients in the country and holds the record for non-weight bearing dependent manual transfer of patients up to 600 pounds. Author of the book entitled: Among Giants and the Bariatric Safety Kit. He was awarded the Mary Pat Murray Award for “Clinical Excellence”. He was a finalist for the Health-Care Heroes Award in Atlanta in May of 2000. He is an active member of the American Physical Therapy Association, National Association of Bariatric Nurses and has numerous professional publications and international presentations including the National Association of Bariatric Nurses and American Society for Bariatric Surgery to his credit. In 2002 he was awarded Marquette University’s “Physical Therapist Alumnus of the Year” for his distinguished work in care of the patient of significant size. He has been an invited speaker for the American Physical Therapy Association’s National Conferences in 1998, 1999, 2000, and 2005. In 2006 he was invited to speak to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD.

Excerpted from Among Giants; Courageous Stories of Those Who Are Obese and Those Who Care for Them by Michael Dionne. Copyright © 2006. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
In 1980, Andrew weighed 350 pounds. He ate well, liked food, and especially liked family dinners; no one thought he was overeating. His family simply believed that he was a big man, so he needed to eat more food than most people. His mother had always said he was just big-boned.

As a child, his larger-than-life frame brought him attention. Andrew liked that. In time, the people around him just saw him as big, rather than fat. Bullies were no match for Andrew, and he reveled in defending their targets. Andrew felt empowered by his size, not impeded by it.

When he was a young man, he was encouraged to bulk up for football. The coach had never seen a big guy as flexible, powerful and agile as Andrew. He called Andrew “the most fit big man” he had ever seen. Andrew could run a mile in under eight point five minutes. That was certainly not fast by track and field standards; but, for a person Andrew’s size, it was amazing.

Like any successful businessperson, Andrew used humor to build a rapport with his clientele. He would say, “If folks like you, they will never forget you." And who could forget Andrew? “I can pick up a Chevy,” he would tell customers. He would go out to the parking lot and do it, lifting a 440 cubic inch engine block and front wheels off the ground. Perhaps one of Andrew’s more famous antics was to wait until his friend would disappear into his shop. Andrew would have one of his employees call his friend and Andrew would slowly move his friend’s car onto the curb and against the front door of his neighbor’s shop. Then Andrew would sit on the bench in front of his cleaners and call his friend to the door. With Andrew, power was everything.