Going Green for the cause - School wins Challenge

Well hello again my friends –

As you may recall, a few months ago, I made a promise to our local schools and this Thursday I had to keep my promise.

Because of this promise, I am now green and will stay green until the parade of banners on May 5^th.

Dare to Dream a local school Challenge:

 The school that in PR that has the most* banners made before Christmas break will be able to dye my hair green for Christmas. (My hair will stay green until the Parade of Banners on May 5^th 2013) – Green for the cause of Organ & Tissue Donation

 (*The winner was determined by the ratio of banners for number of students and staff in the school)

The winning school that had one hundred percent of teachers and students participating in the world’s longest banner for organ & tissue donation.

Therefore on the 20^th of December 2012 - The winner of this Challenge, TA Norris Middle School in Peace River AB, had the opportunity to dye my hair that was once dark brown hair into a bright green.

My hair has been this color for 59 years

Before the dye went into my hair I informed the student and teachers that this was not an easy thing for me to do, since I am one of those people that like to blend into the crowd. I also stated that I have no problem with others dying their hair but this just isn’t something that I would personally do.

I was very thankful that they had gone all out for the cause and it was time to keep the promise that I had made.

The steps the process that I had to go through was a bit intimidating since others kept warning me that my hair could all fall out etc. and that basically what I was doing was a crazy thing to do.

My response to them was, people shave their heads for cancer all the time….what I am doing is promoting the cause for organ & tissue donation…..Green is the color for life and new beginnings…therefore I am going green…if my hair falls out etc.  Then ….so be it!!!

 I must say for a process that I found to be so intimidating, it actually ended up being quite liberating and it felt good to let go of my fears.

The night before I went into the school I tried to bleach my hair.

I was shocked that after 2 hours of bleaching my hair turned out to be RED!

Then I had to bleach it again and this took another hour!

After this I'm beinging to ask myself .....

Is my hair going to fall out??!!!

Well now this is really a new look for me and I think of the saying...

Blonde's have more fun....hummmm...I wonder....but there is no stopping now!

I am now in front of the students and staff in TA Norris School and they cheer me on...

"Hey this is starting to feel o.k...I'm letting go of my fears !!"

I am now GREEN....and

 I think Blonde's might have more fun but I know that Green will do more good !!

Now I am ready for May 5th, 2013

Well my friends, I want to thank you for all your support and I wish you all a Christmas and a New year filled with many blessings.

Maria

Sometimes it seems to never end !!!

Hello again my friends,

Well it’s been a while since I last posted and of course I have been busy with trying to get ready for Christmas, so like most of you, I have had my hands full.

Another thing that has happened since I last posted is that, we have had 3 more funerals to go to.

I must say that, when I think of the pain and suffering that my family and friends have to go through and will go through, it seems to never end. At times this, it’s almost more than a heart can bear or a mind can cope with!

We have had, such sad times in our community this year, with so many losses of young lives and so many families and friends grieving and it is so heart breaking to see others go through this.

Then like so many out there, my heart breaks again for families such as those in the US where the lives of children and adults are taken in such a horrendous way

What I have to do when things like this happen, because this is the only thing I can do to keep from falling apart, is that I keep reminding myself that, no matter what happens in life, there are some really wonderful people in this world that are compassionate and loving and this gives me hope.

I also remind myself that the best thing I can do at times like this is to try and focus on the positive, to live the best life that I can and to be the best person that I can be and I do this for myself as well as others. 

My friends, for all of you that are suffering due to a loss of loved ones at this time, my heart and prayers go out to you and your loved ones.

 I pray that you will find peace in mind and heart; I also pray that you are blessed and filled with God’s love and strength.

Take care and wishing you the best.

Maria

Christmas season - busy times & sad time

Hello my friends,

I just want you to know that I haven't forgotten about you or my blog....it's just been a very busy time for us at home.

First, when I came back from the Gala, I started to make my rounds in our community with promoting the banner etc.

At this time I am also, for and in my community, I'm heading up a month long, Gift of Life - Scavenger Hunt to help raise some awareness and money for the Gift of Life memorial benches and the Gift of Life Arboretum.

My husband and I had to go away for a week because, we were giving my sister a hand with her booth at Spruce Meadows in Calgary.
  
When we came back, to help those wanting to make banners, I made up an information album and I also made up this album for a personal keepsake. Another reason that put together this album was so that participants could download it and if they want to that can have it for their own keepsake; they can then also add their story to ours.

 Now here is something that I always hope that I never have to share again.... yesterday morning we had some more sad news.

So this morning I am back and I have to tell you that, we have to deal with the loss of another member of our extended family.

Like our daughter, another young life, taking way too soon, so it's a heart breaking time again, for our family and our community.

As you know, like so many others, I have struggled to deal with our own loss.

Because of this, for now, I will be sharing with you a few things that I have written over the years. 

I hope that my words will somehow in some way be of help to you and those you may know that struggle and suffer with their own loss. 

Take care and may God bless you and yours each moment of the day.

Maria

Remembering Tasha - Beginning to End

My Second and My First - Remembering

October 20, 2008 by Maria Stranaghan

I remember when we decided to have you and

how excited we were to have you coming into this world.

I remember how we struggled as a family;

how I raged at you in my womb and wished you were never conceived.

I remember how I cursed at my faith, wishing I had never been taught,

that to now take your life, would be a sin.

I remember believing, to have you would be wrong,

how I wept for not wanting you, for feeling this way.

I remember the joy I felt, when you started to show life in my womb,

how you were a part of me and we were one.

I remember how excited we were, your dad, your brother and I;

how we could hardly wait until the day you were born, to see you for the first time.

I remember the day you were born, of the pain I felt, of those who helped to guide me,

to help you come into this world, of the joy we all felt when we found out you were a girl.

I remember what a quiet baby you were and how peacefully you slept and

how at times I would sleep with my hand on your heart, to make sure that you were still with us.

I remember the fear I felt, believing you would not be with us on this earth for very long,

how I would panic at these thoughts and I struggled with the guilt of my past feelings.

I remember how delighted your big brother was to hold you for the very first time,

of how your dad felt as though he’s heart would burst through his chest, for the love of you.

I remember how happy and proud you were when your little sisters were born;

of how you would love them and tease them and of how they loved you and

how you wanted them to remember your love.

I remember your first kiss, your gentle touch on my face and then of

how suddenly you seemed to grow and

how you shared the story, of your first kiss with a young man.

I remember how you needed to grow and to live to be your own person;

of how you struggled with the thought that one day you would have to leave us.

I remember how proud we were of you; how we loved that you were in our life,

the celebrations and the love we shared with family and friends.

I remember the stray animals you would bring home, then as you grew,

how you would want us to take others in, these children you knew and felt were lacking of love.

I remember our last Christmas and how you wanted to help others after your death,

of the legacy of love that you wanted to leave behind

I remember the sorrow and pain that we all felt, when you were taken from our lives,

but how happy we were to be able to fulfill your wish to help others.

I remember how shy I was, how I didn’t know, if I could do all you asked of me,

 then I would think of how you trusted me,

had faith in me and how this helped to guide me along.

I remember the joy I felt, when we knew of all the others that were helped,

because of you, and how your heart now beat in another,

and how your love, now continued to grow.

I remember all of these things, I also think of the others we have lost and

those that have since been born,

of the journey we shared,

of how life continues until I see you again.

I share these words in loving memory of you my dear daughter,

my second born and my first daughter of three

I remember that you were, one, we all loved and you will remain forever in our memory

Re- Gift Life - if you can!

Good morning my friends...

This is a copy of a picture that I painted, it's in memory of our daughters heart being donated to another.

With this picture I add this caption...

Life is a gift

from Creator to man

Re-Gift life ...if you can!

25th Anniversary Gala in Calgary Oct 27th- 2 stories

Hello again my friends...

It was a lot of work getting ready for the Gala in Calgary but we got there and back safe and sound. We managed to leave early enough to miss the freezing rain Calgary and arrived late enough to miss the snow storm that hit Peace River. What a great feeling that was. 

Well, for now here are a couple of stories that I would like to share with you.( I will add some pictures in a bit, as soon as I have them loaded onto my computer.)

 AT THE GALA

Claudette and I had the honor to share a table with

1. Bonnie Garbish and her son Darren (liver recipient from Medicine Hat)

2. Dave Smith (Kidney recipient from Edmonton and President of the CTA)

3.  Orest Saskiw,( heart recipient from Saskatchewan)

4. Lisa Horchower and Mark Woll (Lisa is in need of a double lung transplant and wrote a little of her story for me.

These are just 6 of the 13 individuals that were able to attend this event due to being sponsored by Claudette Lambert.

This is an Email from, Bonnie Garbish about her son’s liver transplant.  Bonnie and her son were 2 of the approximately 112 individuals that attended the CTA – (Canadian Transplant Associations) 25^th Anniversary Gala in Calgary.

From: bonniejean67@hotmail.com

To: stranaghan2@gmail.com

Subject: a little about Darren

Date: Tue, 30 Oct 2012 00:15:51 -0700

Hello Maria, 

     I really enjoyed the gala, and I think Darren did also.

   Darren work up 1 morning and complained of sore eyes, upon looking at him they were yellow. This was the end of Dec 2009.

Bonnie and Darren’s Story.

Liver recipient - Darren at the CTA 25th Anniversary in Calgary

(Bonnie is a single mom from Medicine Hat and is trying to save up money to be able to travel to Peace River for the Parade of banners and Longest Banner attempt)

Upon a 6 hour stay in children’s emergency in Winnipeg, Manitoba I was told my son was jaundice and had hepatitis. I was baffled I didn’t know much about hepatitis, only that sex and needles were 2 major causes and Darren was only 7 1/2.

 We saw a doctor and were told they didn’t know what was wrong. In Feb. of 2010 the did a biopsy of Darren’s liver and after 5 hours in the operating room they told me his liver was gritty and full of scar tissue and didn’t know why.  They sent us to sick kids in Toronto in July, as by that time Darren was yellow from head to toe. We would joke he was my banana.  They put a stent in his bile ducts and told me my son had p.s.c (primary sclerosing cholangitis). I looked it up and started to cry... You will look it up and see why.  In Aug. we lost our liver doctor and things fell apart at home. I relocated to bow island Alberta and became a single parent with a sick child. End of Aug. 2010 Darren was admitted into Medicine Hat hospital as we had a very bloated tummy and was in pain. They couldn’t do much there except fly us to Alberta children’s in Calgary.  Upon examination it was discovered that the stent was plugged and had to be removed. He had developed acities and a drainage tube was inserted in the tummy area. We stayed in Calgary for a couple of weeks and got to go home end of Sept.  The first week of Oct. bang back in again with more medical issues. We travelled between Calgary and Medicine Hat until the middle of Dec. then we were home for a while. in Jan of 2011 we went to Edmonton for a pre transplant assessment. Darren was not too bad at this time. They didn’t want to list him, but Dr. Jason yap went to bat for us and by Jan. 20 we were on the list.  End of Feb 2011 back in hospital again this time would be the longest stay ever. He had developed varcies and was in terrible pain, the tummy was swelling again with fluid.  He went downhill fast. Darren’s b-day is may6th his wish was for a new liver and bang may 16 just 10 days after his birthday day we went into surgery in Edmonton. During his 12 hour surgery, there were problems. 4 hours into the surgery i got a call from the surgeon he wanted to see me. I knew they were not done and was scared. He told me they had Darren open on the operating table and they found a tumor growing throughout the liver and around his main portal duct. From an 80% chance of survival we were down to around 35 %. He wanted to know what I wanted to do.  My tears fell and my body said STOP, but I couldn’t do that we had a liver and needed it now... I prayed so hard. 12 hours later I saw my son in picture and knew he would be ok.  I found out he died on the operating table and came back, I know he is very strong. We have a few medical issues still, like alcetive colitis it comes with the liver disease he had. There is still a piece of tumor around the portal duct as they could not remove it all. His psc could come back, but I believe he will be ok in the end and he now wants to be a nurse.  I love him with all my heart.

This is the story that Lisa typed into my notes program on my phone. Lisa and Mark sat at our table....

When I first walked into the hall and I first saw Lisa, I thought what a beautiful young woman, and I wondered why she was on oxygen....what could be wrong with her lungs, how long has she been on oxygen, etc.

Then when we were all asked to sit at our tables for supper, Lisa and Mark came to sit with us.

As we sat there, even with the noise due to the excitement of the evening, I could hear the machine pumping oxygen into her lungs. After supper I asked Lisa to tell me her story and as she spoke, as the oxygen continued to pump into her lungs, all I could think of was , she will die without a transplant, her son will be without a mother! All of this made me so sad and I had to fight to hold back my tears.

Lisa's Story

Lisa Horchower and Mark Woll - 11 year old son, Joshua.

Lisa had a rare condition of Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension. A condition that causes the arteries in the lungs to scar closed, which also cause enlargement of the right side of the heart, a disease that can be life threatening with no cure.

A double lung transplant is the only solution when medication can no longer provide help to the patient.

I was diagnosed in October of 2009 with Idiopathic Pulmonary Hypertension. Since them, my life changed forever. I've been placed on very expensive life saving drugs since then. I have yet to be placed on the lung transplant list. At this point to be placed on the list, you must have less than two years of life. Organ donation awareness is imperative for those many people who die waiting for a life saving organ

Well my friends ...

All I can say is that, like so many others, my heart and prayers go out to those waiting for a transplants.

My heart and prayers also goes out to those families that will suffer a loss and have to make the decision to donate or not to donate. 

God bless and take care.

Maria

Why gold fabric paint on edges of the banners??

 Hello and good afternoon my freinds,

I'm hoping that this message will reach those that have already done banners.

Our banners are
green for the cause of organ & tissue donation

The reason that we are asking for the edges to be painted is to prevent the fraying of the fabric.

The reason for the gold edges (with fabric paint) on your banners is because, we would like for the World's Longest Banner to have a unified look.

Another reason for the GOLD edges

Now ---- some of you may think that this is corny, but

I was raised with this saying that –

A child is worth it's wieght in gold.

Therefore reason for the gold is that

the Gift of Life is worth its weight in gold

(Ya, I know – it’s corny!)

But what do you expect from a country bumpkin. lol

 NOW ---

For those of you that have already done banners and those banners have been handed in to me.

An Example of

Some of the banners that have been completed and handed in, Banners,

• That have been handed in by Jennifer. that were done at special events in Edmonton.
• Those banners that have been done at the National Games and/or were handed in at the games.

I want you to know that I am painting the edges/border with gold fabric paint and I will sew those banners together.

Thank you again for all your help and I apologize for all the confusion that this has caused.

p.s.

The reason that I had to make the change in the instructions i.e. gold paint for edges instead of glue.

This is due to the fact that using glue clogs the sewing machines.

This is a lesson that I had to learn the hard way, after the glue ended up causeing damage to one of my sewing machines.


Thank you again for your patience and understanding.

And, please make sure to paint the edges of your banners gold.

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

Maria

Lots of editing and cutting - but almost ready

Good evening everyone,

Well my friends...it's finally all coming together and we are almost ready to meet with our town council on the 22.

And we are also almost ready to attend the 25th anniversary Gala in Calgary for the CTA .

Saying Thanks

- having these documents done so that we can be ready for these events, would not be possible, if it wasn't for all the help that our volunteer editor has been giving me. 

This lady has asked me to keep her name confidencial and I must tell you that she has her hands full with other projects that are on the go.

But I would like to say that

Man oh man - has she ever done a lot of work! - What can I say, but thank you so much - you are a life saver and I'm truly greatful for all you are doing to help this cause.
I have to also say that, I'd be lost, if it wasn't for all the help and support that I've been getting from another very wonderful lady and I'm proud to say that she is a great friend of mine (Claudette)

So now, most of the documents are done and there are 80 sections of banner material ready to bring to the Gala on the 27th...Woot, woot!

There is still a report about donaton in rural communities to do and still work to be done on a sponsorship page. But I think that we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

At this point, I am now sending infromation to the schools so that we can get going on the baner challenge and it will be nice to see which school gets to dye my hair green before Christmas. (this should be fun!)

Well it's almost time for bed so I'd better get going for now.

Take care - God bless and have a great night.

Maria

Memorial Benches for Gift of Life Path

Hi again,

Well my dear friends, it's been an eventful day again and I'm thankful to have more information to share with you.

I have worked on a map with information about the memorial benches.

If you would like to view these benches you can check out the web site for the Town of Peace River.
 
Now since I don't know how to transfer a word document into my blog - I will now just cut and paste some of the information that I put on to the map. :-) and I will add it to this message.

God bless and have a great day.

Maria

Gift of Life Path and

Arboretum Project, Peace River, AB.

By the flowing waters of the Mighty Peace River

Gift of Life 2.5 kilometers of walking path in Peace River

(Along this path, benches are to be dedicated – in memory etc.)

To sponsor a memorial bench along this segment of the walking path in Peace River AB,

Please NOTE

Bench cost is $2, 22.85

Delivery of bench takes 10 to 14 weeks

The Gift of Life Project –

Ø 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.

 For - MEMORIAL BENCHES

Along the Gift OF LIFE path

For more information go to Town of Peace River Web-Site (www.peaceriver.net)

Or contact Town of Peace River Community Services Department (1-780-624-1000)

Ask for Brian Wollis Recreation Facilities Coordinator Community Services Peace River

View benches at Web Site, Community Services Memorial Bench Sponsorship Program

View information about benches, sponsorship, plaques & application Form.

Banner material sent to Ontario Gala

Hello again my friends,

Well how quickly things can change.

Yesterday I was a bit down because I really couldn't afford to mail out the banner material for the CTA's 25th anniversary Gala in Ontario.

But when I informed (CTA member) Sandra of this, she sent me a quick email stating that they would help by paying for shipping. What a relief that was.

Then last night, I remembered the girl from the post office saying that part of the cost was due to the size of the package.

Therefore this morning I decided to take that sucker apart and I squished it down as much as possible and then I did the Red Green thing and duct taped that baby tight!

Now the package is in the mail and there will be banner material available for the guests that are attending the Gala.

And guess what?

All that squishing worked....and instead of costing $45.00 to send the package, it only cost $32.70. ----

Geeeee this old dog, can learn new tricks :-)

God bless, take care and have a great day.

Maria

A very special place - for me

Good morning my friends,

I've been at my computer since 2:30 this morning and I've been working on this diagram to show the area  for the Gift of Life path and Gift of Life Arboretum in Peace River.

Now, since I don't have a clue on how to post this from my word program, I took a picture of it on my computer and I'm posting it this way.

I know again that, this is a hillbilly way to do things but -

"Ya do. what's ya got ta do."

God bless, take care and have a great day.

Maria

p.s. - I just found out that, if you click on the picture it will give you a close up.



A Pledge to my Community

Responding to a Call for Action – A Three-in-One Challenge & Pledge

By Maria Stranaghan

Dare to Dream Challenge:

1.    I will distribute 1 kilometer of banner material to local and regional schools wishing to participate in the Parade of Banners & the Guinness World Book attempt for the longest banner in the world.

2.    The school that in PR that has the most* banners made before Christmas break will be able to dye my hair green for Christmas. (My hair will stay green until the Parade of Banners on May 5^th 2013) – Green for the cause of Organ & Tissue Donation

The dye is waiting & I'm ready to go !!

a.    (*The winner will be determined by the ratio of banners for number of students and staff in the school)

3.    . For Love and Marrow Challenge (for the Community of Peace River AB)

a.    To have, by May 5, 2013, 365 community members sign up with Canadian Blood Services as bone marrow donors.

b.    If our community meets this challenge – someone in the community can shave my head for the cause and then autograph it (with signatures or messages, such as “Peace River Rocks!)

4.    Banner challenge participants  may also autograph my head at this time:

a.    The school, team, community members for the Parade of Banners, that provide the most banners, come the furthest distance and

b.      The team and/or individual from outside of our community, with the most banners from his or her province etc. This individual or team will also take home the first hand-painted banner which I made for the NOTDAW Dare to Dream launch.

 On A Personal Note-

Recently I was asked this this question – “Are you CRAZY?!”

My response is, “Sometimes getting crazy is what it takes to bring about a positive change, I don’t expect others to get crazy with me, but they are welcome to do so.”

During the Christmas season in 1992 - I made a promise to my eldest daughter Tasha that I would help to educate on the subject of organ and tissue donation. After her death in 1993, I made a vow to myself and to God, that I would do everything in my power to fulfill that wish.

The Love and Marrow Challenge grew from having both a family member and a family friend that suffer from Leukemia

Important Note –

No one else is expected to dye their hair green and or shave their head, but I will surely appreciate the support of everyone else while I do these things in order to draw attention to the need for organ and tissue donation in our country.

Maria Stranaghan

Donor Mom, 1993

Box 6091 Peace River AB

T8S 1S1

Phone 780- 624 4337

Email stranaghan2@gmail.com

For more information:

World’s Longest Banner for Organ & Tissue Donation on Face book,

World’s Longest Banner, my story on BlogSpot

 Twitter at longestbanner20 –

www.worldslongestbanner.org  – (will be up and running asap).