No rest for the wicked...

Well dear friends...

I remember hearing this saying when I was a little girl---
[There's no rest for the wicked!]

When I think of this I ask myself, 'How bad could I have been? ???'

Things still haven't settled down enough for me to spend time doing what I feel needs to be done with this project and I'm really beginning to feel pressed for time.

Now I sit here at the computer at 5 in the morning, I've been awake since 3, tossing and turning in bed and I finally had to get up. I just felt that I had to at least put up a post to let you know that I was still alive and kicking around.

We've been out of town and the drama over my eye infection isn't over yet, ....

What has happened 

My hubby had some holiday time, so we've been out of town helping my sister with some of her farm work and we also are taking this time to prepare for winter. Because we've been away so much of the time this summer, due to my injury, we are now way behind in getting the work done in the yard at the farm and we are trying to play catch-up with all of this.

Then, as far as my eyes go, one of the meds that they gave me was an ointment and using it caused my tear duct to plug up, This caused me to have another eye infection, so more trips to the specialist and more meds. That cleared up but now I'm dealing with a sinus infection

So now we are finally home....me stuffed up our grandson Max is sick it a chest infection and we have so much work to do before winter sets in that it makes me dizzy to think about it....man oh man ...sometimes you just have to laugh about your life and move on.

 .."No rest for the wicked."

Before I sign off and head back to bed to get a bit of rest before Max comes over for the day...........

I would like to share this post that one of my nieces put up on her face book page ... This post  really gave me a good laugh.

Women are Angels.

And when someone breaks 

our wings,

We simply continue to fly......

On a broomstick.

We're flexible like that. 

So now I'm off on my broom and heading back to bed.

Take care...God bless and have a great day.

Maria

Banners have arrived - Transplant Games etc.

 Dear freinds

I just wanted you to know that the banners and the money that was collect for the banners got back to me safe and sound. I was so delighted to see all the banners that I acted like a little girl at Christmas time - I was filled with glee and joy, this is an experience that I'm sure I'll never forget.

When I recieved the banners, there was an additional surprize, incluced were 2 Gold medals and a silver medal , a donation from the athlettes -

I'm trying to find out more infromation about  these medals. In the near future, I'll let you know what happens to the medals after they are given to me.

 

As for the banners, now that I have the banners, what I will be doing from this point is that - 

1. I'll be taking pictures of these banners that have been done by these individuals (I plan on adding these pictures to my face book page etc.)
2. After pictures are done - I'll be sewing these banners together
3. I'm hoping that after the banner attempt on May 5th - I can give them back to the CTA to help promote the 2014 National Transplant Games. 

For now still trying to get back on my feet after all that has happened this summer. One of the unexpected things that also happened this summer is that our other 2 grandsons (4 year old Hudsyn and 11 year old Riley) came for a 10 day visit. This made for some fun and interesting time when you add 2 year old Max to the mixture and it all left me a bit ragged but happy.

The older boys left for home on Friday and now I'm trying to play catch up with my emails and I'm also still working on setting up the web page for the banner etc.

 Hopefully things will be a bit quieter for a while so that I can get caught up, but I won't hold my breath on that one. (chuckle chuckle)

God bless, take care and have a great day.

Maria.

????? - Canadian Challenge

 Dear Readers...

As you know, Allen and I were looking to attending and volunteering at the games. Therefore it was disappointing, to miss out on this opportunity to be with everyone and taking part in, what has been for us, a life altering event.

Another thing that was upsetting about not being able to attend this event is that, I was looking forward to personally introducing and promoting the banner project on a national level.

One of the things that I was hoping to do, while attending the games, was to issue this challenge .

BANNER CHALLENGE

What I wanted to ask was-

If individuals, groups or teams would like to help Canada set a world record for the longest banner?

What they could do -

They could get sponsors - have special T shirts made etc. and start collecting banners from their area and have them sewn together.After banners are done -If possible, send someone or a team - to Peace River on the weekend of May 5th 2013 -

We could then add their collection of banners for - the longest banner attempt for a Guinness World Record -

After this event they (the team or individual) could take all their banners home to help promote in their community and or province.Using Banners to promote in communities - 2013 to 2014

Since we want the banner recycled and we are hoping it will be used--(as Art work, made into quilts or clothing or accessories)

We believe and hope that by doing this, it could also help with promotion and fundraising for the 2014 National Transplant Games

It would be fun to find out which team, school, community or province has the largest collection of banners by May of 2013.

My personal Challenge - I've already personally bought enough material for the first kilometre and I am hoping to have a Kilometre done by May 5th

I would love it if someone could meet or beat my challenge !!

God bless and have a great day.

Maria 

Donor mom 

May 7th 1993

Lifes ups and downs -

Trials and Tribulations....

Dear Friends,

As I've stated in the past - I've had to make some revisions when it comes to the banner project.

I've meant to clarify things sooner but due to all that has gone on in my life I have been unable to do so.

Here is a slight update on what's been going on recently.

During this past year, I've been doing my best to work on the banner project whenever time has allowed -

But the there are times when life has gotten in the way of my best intentions.

   

A short view of my life -

I take care of my grandson 2 1/2 year old Max (40 to 50 hours per week) and I have been doing this since he was a year old.

(Isn't he a sweetheart?)

Max has suffered 15 ear infections since he's a year old (now this Sept. he has to see a specialist due to damage it has caused)

He also has suffered from seizures due to the high fevers and then he recently had the infection in his eyes and suffered the eye injury. (poor child, I'm beginning to think that he takes after his grandma!)

Then there is my mother in law, she is hospitalized (off and on) due to lung problems (yup the lady stops breathing) when this happens she needs our support and we very often have to spend more then a few hours at the hospital with her.

Then since May one of my cousins lost her 26 year old Son in a collision. (Almost same date as we lost Tasha)  Not long after this happened, a dear lady that I know lost her baby. (All of this, as you know can be very heartbreaking and in many ways, at times, stops me short in my tracks.

Yes like I said- at times life does get a bit in the way, speaking of being stopped in my tracks....... like when I first started this project last spring.  

This is the first thing that happened to me in 2011  -

 I broke my leg and shattered my ankle - to put me back together,  it took ( 5 screws - 2 plates - 12 pins and 36 staples) I was in a wheelchair for 2 1/2 months and in a caste for 3 months.

The doctors did such a wonderful job that, 2 weeks after having the caste taken off, I did a 2 k walk, then 2 months later I did a 5K walk for the Kidney Foundation.

Isn't life grand ! 

  

But then, just as I was getting back on my feet,

A short while after this happened, within a month - one of my uncles - one of my cousins and my dad all died of cancer. Oh, then as if that wasn't enough, 2 of our dogs also died of cancer and all I could do is shake my head in wonder.

Due to these events, some people asked if I would start devoting my time towards the cancer society. I had to reply that my time will continue to be devoted to the cause of organ and tissue donation, a cause that is very dear to my heart.

Now as for today and the cause of donation,

Today, I went to the hospital to visit a very nice lady that I used to work with, when I arrived I was told that she had passed away. This lady had been on the waiting list for a transplant, but unfortunately like so many others, it did not happen. (My heart goes out to her family and so many others like them)

 For those that want to take part and help out, I would like to thank them for asking me to clarify things and bringing all of this to my attention.

And I do apologize to all of you that are patently waiting for the web page with instructions but I want you to know that I will continue to do my best to get things done ASAP

To conclude for today...Life may get in the way....but God willing ...I will prevail.

God bless and have a great day.

Maria 

Prayers were sent my way...for healing.

Picture of my eyes on the mend -

The swelling is down and I can now open my eyes fully.

On Monday Allen and I were suppose to be in Calgary for volunteer training instead I was seeing a specialist about my eyes.

I was told that prayers were sent my way and I was very thankful for them, prayers are a wonderful thing, I truly believe in them.

How I was injured

On July 5th - my grandson Max who was suffering with an eye injury and infection had reached up to grab me and ended touching both my eyes and giving me a scratch in my right eye.

Medical attention

On the 10th, I had been to emerg to see a doctor and he had put me on antibiotics, but my eyes weren't getting better, so I went back on the 14th and the doctors stated that I had to see a specialist.

On Sunday the 15th (due to the swelling in my eye) the cornea was torn away from my eye.

When I went to see the specialist on the 15th, she informed me that I did have a scratch down the middle of my right eye and the cornea was also torn, She was able to reset my torn cornea and informed me that I had a viral and bacterial infection in both of my eyes.  She then put me on a regime of antibiotics. 

On Monday she put on Vigamox drops  and I had to put them in every hour. Then I had Tobradex ointment for bedtime.

She also put me on an oral antibiotic doxycycline that I had to take for the 2 weeks.

Day 2 - i stoped the Vagamox start the Tobradex with Tobramycin and I had to put those in every 2 hours.

She also put me on Tramadol/ACET for pain and Advil for inflammation.

And to help me see a bit better until it healed she has me on Isopto Atropine - which made my pupils really big but at least i was able to see.

Four days later - My husband ( Allen) took me to see her again ...she said that I was healing nicely, then whan I saw her on the 23rd, she stated that I was completely healed, although I still had some swelling, She also stated that I had to continue the eye drops for an additional 2 weeks.

Eyes are healed

So the breakdown of all of this is that, after seeing the specialist I was healed within one week.

Speaking to others

As we sometimes do .....

Since my injury I've spoken to a few people about injuries such as mine and I've been told by others who have suffered similar injuries that it's taken months for theirs to heal.

We also have a family member that is now blind in an eye that suffered a scratch.

So I know that I have been blessed and I'm truly thankful for the prayers that were sent for my healing.

God bless and have a great day.

Maria

This is a picture of

 

My grandson (2 1/2 year old)

Max  

Max's eye has also healed nicely.

No Games for us and a Vow

Well my friends,

Things didn't turn out as we had planned and it saddened me to have to send this message to the games committee via.

Jennifer  Holman  

Physical Therapy Clinical Coordinator

Transplant Services

University of Alberta Hospital

1F2.22 Walter C. McKenzie Centre

8440-112 Street

Edmonton, AB T6G 2B7

Dear Jennifer,

Hooked on Games and
A Vow 

When Allen and I attended the 2006 Transplant Games in Edmonton we didn't realize that we had become hooked on the action and the vitality for life that the athletes and their families had to share.It was during these games that we truly realized the true impact that our eldest daughter (Tasha) had made on others by asking to help save lives through the gift of organ & tissue donation.

At the 2006 games we were to witness, true champions and true heroes, these individuals happened to be the athletes and their families.

We didn't truly realize what an impact these games had on us and especially Allen, until the 2008 transplant games, when we flew to Ontario to once more volunteer for the games and we did this despite Allen's near phobia of flying.

Then in 2010 when we were distressed and dejected to not be able to attend these games due to other health issues.

It was at this time we made a vow to each other, the vow was, that we would never miss another opportunity to help at the games or be a part of the games.

During these past two years Allen and I planed to once more volunteer at the games and we were so excited that they were being held in Calgary.

We were looking forward to staying one more time in the Athletes Village with all of out new found friends and we had so many plans.

This time we were going to the games, come hell or high water, we would be there.

Then suddenly on July 5th I sustained an eye injury and contracted a viral eye infection and a bacterial eye infection.

Due to this, I was put on a regime of antibiotics to try and get things under control.

Then on Sunday as we planed to drive out and still attend these games -

the doctor in our emergency health facility  informed us that I was highly contagious and would therefore put the games athletes at a very great risk of infection.

These words and only these words, prevented us from attending.

I was then sent to see a specialist and she repaired my cornea and she then put me on additional antibiotics and other medication to help with the healing process.

I was given strict instructions to rest my eyes and sleep lots so that my eyes could heal properly.

When I was told that I couldn't attend the games I reminded Allen of the vow that we had made to each other that , no matter what happens, at least one of us would attend the games ! !!

But to my added distress, Allen refused to leave my side.

We truly have missed everyone at these past games and you have been in our hearts all week long.

And we hope, God willing, we will be able to be with you again at future games.

We also hope and pray that one and all have a safe and happy trips home.

Yours truly - forever in our minds and hearts.

Maria and Allen Stranaghan
Donor Family
Peace River AB 1993
Sent from my iPhone