Women Behind Bars Tuesdays at 10p|9c

Karen Mullally


I have been medically unemployed since January 1995 due to injuries from a car accident I had while in route to the outside hospital to have surgery on my collarbone. I have had 17 major surgeries on my neck, back and hip from that accident. I also have arthritis in my hands and feet and a bad case of neuropathy in my legs. I was diagnosed with lupus 11 years ago and I contracted Hepatitis C through the dental care here. So medically I am not in very good shape. Because of my medical condition my activities are very limited and I am definitely no longer an asset to the facility. I used to work from 7 a.m. 'til 9 p.m., 7 days a week before the accident. I worked as a nurse’s aide, a porter painting the facility and I went to cosmetology, data processing and basic education classes. Now I spend my time reading, writing, listening to the radio, doing jigsaw and/or crossword puzzles. I am also writing a book about my case. Prison is a very lonely place. No one, and I mean no one, in prison is a friend. People only want to be around you if you have something they want or can benefit them. Everyone has a motive for whatever they do or say. I have been here 23 years and I have only met five real, true, honest, good people in all that time and that’s sad. I pretty much stay to myself now and don’t bother too much with anyone. The height of my day is taking a shower around 9 a.m. and another around 6:30 p.m. Can you imagine the only thing you are looking forward to is taking a shower twice a day? The tougher aspect for me is not being able to see my family. Sometimes I get so lonely I feel like I’m dying inside. The positive moments I experienced were when I was able to work, especially when I worked with the sick inmates in the hospital. I miss my family and can’t wait to take a bubble bath and to look in a real mirror to see what I really look like. We have no real mirrors here. My only regret is not being able to regain my freedom before my mom passed away and knowing there is no justice in the system. If I could leave here for one day I would want to go to a butterfly garden as I think they are so beautiful, and then I’d go to a Yankees baseball game. I love the Yankees and I never miss a game when they play, I listen to them on my radio. The first game this year is April 6; I can’t wait! Prison is no joke and no fun. If you can avoid it, please, I beg of you to do so, as it is a cold lonely place.