Thursday, September 27, 2012

Working in a crunch ! 25th Anniversary Gala

Hello again my friends...

The 25th Anniversary Gala for the CTA is coming up on Oct 27th in Calgary and like the National Transplant Games....I plan on being there.

But I can't help but be a bit nervous, this time I hope that nothing gets in the way like it did when we started to head out to the games. :-(

I must say that just this week we seemed to have just dodged a bullet, at least I hope we that we've dodged it.

You see, my grandson Max was suppose to start going to a day-home this past week but, couldn't start until he was done his new medication, this due to his 16th ear infection. Our poor boy has been fighting with these infections since he turned a year old. 

That being said, we did go to meet with the day home provider and he was suppose to start next Monday. Then last night my daughter got a call, from the lady that owns the day home, informing her that day-home had to be shutdown for at least a week due to an outbreak of Whoopingcough with the children that were under her care.......Like I said ...I hope that we dodged a bullet!

Now here I am sitting at the computer at 4 a.m. because I'm really starting to feel the crunch....so much to do and so little time to do it in. Knowing this and knowing how I am...I won't be able to rest now or get much sleep until I have everything in order for the Gala and the web-page etc.

p.s. I will be sharing information about the Gala with you asap and we are also hoping that our local paper and radio station will also be able to help, in someway, to promote this event. 

Take care - God bless and have a great day.

Wednesday, September 26, 2012

2 Projects - Page 2 answering the CALL to ACTION

Hello again :-)

Yup I'm still here and my mom just came in to ask for coffee....so I have to really head out this time......This will be page 2 of this introduciton to my community etc. Maria.

With these 2 projects
In the community of Peace River Alberta Canada we are helping to –

1.    bring awareness to the cause of organ and tissue donation
2.    address the subject of donation in Rural Canada

Project 1

The 2.5 kilometer Gift of Life Path and the Gift of Life Arboretum

This project will be a living tribute to and for the cause organ & tissue donation.
Ø  This is being created in thanks giving for those that make donation come to fruition and in memory of loved ones.


In this spot is a
composit sketch of

the Gift of Life Arboretum





Project # 2

The Parade of Banners, inviting fellow Canadians to answer the Call to Action.

The Longest Banner in the World, a Guinness World Record attempt is to show a united front by Canadians for the cause of organ & tissue donation.

In this area I have pictures of the first 2 banners that I have hand painted.

A CAll to ACTION

Well my friends I've been up since 5 a.m. and I've been working on a package of information to further introduce these projects into my community.

This information will be on the first page (I have tried to insert the pictures for you but it doesn't seem to want to work for me right now.
  [Well I have to get back to my home life now... it's going to be a busy few days with my  83 year old mom is here to visit and with also watching my soon to be 3, grandson Max  - things should get interesting...lol]

take care God bless and have a great day Maria-


INTRODUCTION –
September 26th, 2012

Answering a Call to Action in the community of Peace River AB

With two Projects –

1.   Gift of Life Arboretum
a.    The2.5 kilometer Gift of Life Path

[in this spot I have a composite sketch of the Gift of Life Arboretum]

2.    Parade of Banners – May 5th 2013
a.    A Guinness World Book attempt for the Longest Banner in the World – promoting the cause of organ & tissue donation

[Under this caption are 2 pictures of the first 2 banners that I hand painted]

National News –

UPDATE –
Organ & Tissue Donation – A Call to Action.

Our federal government asked the Canadian Blood Services to help address the subject of organ and tissue donation on a national level.

While they were addressing this issue I was asked to take part in the process.

 The report from Canadian Blood Services is now out and it is titled -- A Call to Action  

Page 42 – Introduction - In this report, is this mention of me as a donor mom working towards the cause of organ and tissue donation.

[ With this I have included what was written in the report that includes my picture...].
by the way....it's a good thing that I can laugh at myself because....when I look at the picture of myself that they put in this national report. --all I can think of is ....DARN...look at my hair...and geeezzz what the heck was i wearing ????  !!!!!]


Ms. Maria Stranaghan, whose child
donated both organs and tissues, was one
of many who participated in regional public
dialogues to help shape the future of OTDT Beside this notation is that picture they took of me..


Speaking with one voice
Call to Action has been prepared by Canadian Blood Services in
close collaboration with a long list of OTDT experts, health care
organizations, patients, donors and concerned members of the public.
During the planning process, the authors came to identify the range of
stakeholders as members of either the organ donation and transplantation
(ODT) community or the tissue donation and transplantation (TDT)
community. In expressing the aspirations and expectations of these
communities, Call to Action works to faithfully articulate their common
needs, insights and ambitions. The ‘we’ that readers will encounter
throughout the plan refers not to Canadian Blood Services, but to all
OTDT.

Monday, September 24, 2012

Parade of Banners from accross Canada

Canadians working together to set a - 
Guinness World Record for the Longest Banner in the World 2013
Inviting fellow Canadians to the
PARADE of BANNERS
on May 5th, 2013
In Peace River AB –
For those attending this event –
1.    Teams from school and or groups and individuals are invited to wear colors representing their province.
2.    The banners that have been made for the Guinness World Book attempt will be added to those made by the community of Peace River.
3.    After event teams will take their banners back home to promote the cause of donation in their community and province.


A Call to Action - a National Report

UPDATE – Organ & Tissue Donation – A Call to Action.

Our federal government asked the Canadian Blood Services to help address the subject of organ and tissue donation on a national level. While they were addressing this issue I was ask to take part in the process.

 The report from Canadian Blood Services is now out and it is titled -- A Call to Action  

A personal note - On page 42 - In this report, they have included a picture and a mention of me as a donor mom working towards this call.

Answering the call---in the community of Peace River AB

With these 2 projects we are answering this call and asking others to join us on May 5th 2013 to answer this Call to Action.

Project # 1

The Gift of Life Path and Arboretum [This project, is a living tribute to and for the cause of donation, created in thanks giving for those that make donation come to fruition and in memory of loved ones.]

Project # 2

The Longest Banner in the World, a Guinness World Record attempt is to show a united front by Canadians for the cause of organ & tissue donation.

Maria Stranaghan (Donor mom Peace River AB)

On the go again....

Dear Friends....

It seems like it's been forever since I've been able to give you an update of what has been going on.

As I have mentioned previous posts, I've been the caregiver of my grandson Max, since he turned a year old, therefore during these past2 years my free time is somewhat limited.

But non the less, at the beginning of this month,my feet hit the ground running and I started to make my rounds in the community of Peace River.

In September, what has happened to date - 

I have been going around my community and given personal updates to some of the principles in our local schools. I've also had meetings with representatives from our native community and I have spoken to our town mayor. To add to this, I also started to make my rounds to speak with some of our project partners along. I have also been working on new partnerships with some of our local businesses. 

Then just as things started get on a roll,  my grandson got sick again and managed to pass his germs onto grandma, what can I say, the child loves to share everything...lol

Due to this, during this past week or so,  I was limited as to what I could do in the community, but I have managed to accomplish a few things. 
While I  have been recuperating from a lung infection, I have been putting some final touches on this project and trying to create  a vision of what will transpire on May 5, 2013.

In these next few posts I will be giving you some updates on some things that have transpired and I will share this vision with you.

Take care, God bless and have a great day.

Maria

Monday, September 3, 2012

Raising more awareness.....

Bone Marrow Donation
Well my friends...

It's been a busy summer and I'm finally back home. Now I'm able to get back to my computer and move on with this banner project.
But first I would like to tell you a little about something that happened this past weekend.
My husband Allen and I just attended the 4th Annual Stranaghan Golf Tournament (hosted by my husband’s cousins) This year, this event was held on Sept. 1st at the Swan Hill Golf course in AB.   I am thrilled to let you know that, at this one event, this family helped to raise over $60,000 for the Stollery Hospital in Edmonton. (I must say that, you can't help but to be proud of a family like that)

How it all started ---

One of the Stranaghan children suffered from Leukemia and was helped through treatment. We, along with so many others, participated in this golf turnement, due to the gratitude of a life being saved and because we saw a further need.

Wanting to donate - Surprise !!??

When planning to go to the event, this year, my husband and I wanted to surprise the family by announcing that we were registered as bone marrow donors... Therefore in the future, if necessary, we would be available to help out.

The problem..

When we went to register, the surprise was on us when we found out that we were now too old to be on the list.

What I believe is that, even though I can't donate, I can still help to make a difference. 
Take care …God bless and have a great day.
Maria