STOP DOMESTIC VIOLENCE

http://www.gov.on.ca/MBS/english/myontarioweb/abuse.html

http://www.drirene.com/index.asp

If you know of someone who is dealing with abuse, offer them support, & advice on things they can do in order to get help in dealing with what they are living with. Abuse happens much more than most people are aware of. It's something that happens in every walk of life, and to probably every age group out there. It is not restricted to just one certain type of person, or from a certain walk of life. It is open to every race, every person, every age, and every type of person. Often it happens bit by bit and a person has no idea what is really happening, or doesn't know what to do in order to escape from it. In many cases, there are threats of more abuse, threats to take children, and in some cases threats of death. Unless you've had to deal with it or know someone who has, I don't think most people understand the reality or severity of this problem.
There are many sites available to people on the internet if one has access to it. There are also many hotline numbers out there for those who do not have access to computers, and places where one can go for help.
Abuse is a crime. Don't let it keep happening!

Kidney Dialysis

Do you know anyone whose had kidney failure or is facing the frequent routine of kidney dialysis? I do...my father was faced with his kidney's failing on him a few years ago, and having to make a decision to go for dialysis or not. Yes, it was a choice he had to make. At first, the thoughts of all that was involved in it, left him reeling with indecisiveness and thinking it just wasn't worth it. The staff who provided us with information made sure he was aware that it was his choice to made, and made sure he was well informed about all the things that would happen no matter which choice he did made. Eventually he chose to go the route of having dialysis. This meant starting with a lot of blood work & tests, receiving injections that had to be given at home for awhile by myself, and having an access line put in to his chest surgically. On the same day they did this they started dialysis. When you first start off, you need to be at a main dialysis hospital where there are trained doctor's available all of the time to help when there are problems. This meant we had to drive for an hour in order to get to one of these places, and then while my father underwent treatment, I had 4 hours to fill in away from home. Thankfully it was close to a friends home, as well as some big shopping center's. We made that trip 3 days a week, back and forth for 3 long months. I wasn't crazy about the drive, but my father was finding the drive too much as he would be so exhausted after a treatment, and it bothered him to be on the road amongst all the traffic, bad weather, and road conditions as winter started, and meal times were also affected. For me, it meant having to make arrangements for my children, and my own schedule, and at times when my own health was bad, having to bother friends for help. Eventually, after he was stable in his treatment, he was moved to a local hospital only 5 minutes from home, and thus the journey continuted. He is still faced with making the choice of having his access line changed to the arm, but that too has it's good and bad points, so he hasn't decided on that one. On the days he has dialysis, his whole schedule is disrupted, he is exhausted, and often feeling chilled right thro' and unable to warm up. The rest of the day is often spent drifing in and out of sleep. With the dialysis there is always a risk of bleeding, dizzyness, pressure being affected, the possibility of stroke or coma....and I'm sure other symptoms of which I am not even aware of. It is an evasive proceedure that many face in order to give them some quality of life after their kidneys fail.
If you're interested in learning more about this, check out the following sites.

Here's just a few of the many sites that can be found on the internet.
http://www.kidneycircle.com/index.html or/
http://www.davita.com/index.shtml

Kidney dialysis happens when a person's kidney's quit functioning properly. If they aren't working the person's body begins to fill up with toxins which send poison's thro' the body, and will eventually end up destroying the rest of their organs, and eventually causing death. Dialysis treatments give people the opportunity to live longer, and to continue on with their lives.
Kidney dialysis is a life saving proceedure for many people, and a most necessary one. For most, dialysis means having to get to a place where they do dialysis treatments, and spending on the average of 4 hours, 3 days a week in dialysis. If you don't live near a place where dialysis can be done, many people are having to drive for several hours back and forth to places that do it...or in some cases, patients are forced to remain in places far from their homes in order to receive treatment. It is a very time consuming, and evasive thing to have to go thro' and after that time receiving it, most patients find the rest of their day a write off as it leaves them feeling totally drained & tired.
Before they receive dialysis, patients are shown some of the different proceedures & options available to them. There are also choices to be made in deciding how they want to receive treatments,getting onto a good diet to help you, finding the right vascular access area which is used to provide the dialysis treatment for the patient, and preparing for all of these things. It's not an easy thing for these patients to have to go thro'. Their are risks & side effects to all of this, and making a committment to being there to receive treatment. Often patients have to rely on others to provide transportation, and time to help them. For some, there is the option of home units, which definitely aren't for everyone, for others there is the hope of being put on a list for a kidney transplant. This too in not without risk, and problems, but for the younger patient, is a definite advantage over the frequent treks to the hospital for dialysis. It is something that requires a challenge to both patients, and their families, and also to the many doctor's & nurses who work in this field.
If you know someone in your family who is having to go thro' this process, then reach out and offer your help & support as they go thro' this. It's a challenge that these people have to contend with daily. If you can help in some way, why not do so?

Spring has arrived!

Yesterday we experienced a winter storm & snowfall. It wasn't so great having to drive thro' it, but once it stopped it was actually quite pretty. The snow was thick packing snow. After church ended those who are young or young at heart ventured out into the snow and had some fun running around and throwing snowballs at one another. A few of the drivers decided to try out their experience in driving and stopping in the parking lot. I think if I was in better shape I would have got ride in the middle of it all, or gone out and made a snowman. That's what I used to look forward to in the winter when my children were younger. Watching for the perfect snowy day when the snow was good for packing and rolling into snowballs. This winter has been such a long, cold winter and while I'm sure there were a few days, I don't really remember many where the snow was just right for making snowmen. I wonder if people have strayed away from the art of making snowmen? I don't remember seeing any on people's front lawns or anywhere around the.
Now that winter is almost over, I can think about the beauties of winter. Have you ever stopped to look out over a field, or a forest area after a fresh, new snowfall. It can leave a breathtaking view as you look out over a blanket of pure white, glistening snow. Barren trees, with their leaves all shed are sprinkled & filled with a coating of white on their branches. Even the streets remain snow covered until the first cars start down it and leave their tire tread tracks. As things get busier, the snow is pushed to the sides, and turned into a slippery slush, splashing everything. Children & adults alike venture out into the snow each with their own idea's in mind. Playing, making snowmen, throwing a snowball or fort, shovelling and piling it up, tromping thro'.
After the snow we had yesterday, the ground was completly covered. Everything was still white when I got up today. It was a lovely sunny day out. The temperature has risen above freezing, and I watched in wonder as the snow slowly disappeared, a little stream of it flowing into a puddle at the end of the drive. Patches of brown/yellow grass are sticking up thro' the snow, and there seems to be a few more birds singing in the tree's. As the daylight ends, over half the snow has disappeared. I wonder if this is the end of it all? Today gave us promise of the arrival of spring. Amazingly, today is officially the first day of Spring.
Come on Spring!!

Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Do you know anything about Fibromyalgia, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? More than one million patients, barely any research, no known cause, and no cure. Fibromyalgia is a chronic widespread pain with at least 11 tender points, often with Chronic Fatigue symptoms. Chronic fatigue syndrome is persistent fatigue, chronic pain, sleep disturbances, with neurologic, autonomic, and immune dysfunction (a.k.a.) Myalgic Encephalomyelitis.
If you want to learn more, check out FM-CFS Canada ~ Compassion in action.
www.fm-cfs.ca



Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) is often called the "invisible disease," because outwardly, we may look perfectly healthy. Inside though, we may have intense pain throughout our bodies, we may be constantly fatigued and weak, we may be dizzy, confused, lacking sleep, suffering digestive disorders, and generally living a poor quality of life. There is no known cure for Fibromyalgia, but there are ways to treat the symptoms, to improve that quality of life.

FMS is a type of neurotransmitter disorder, in which the pain-signals that our brains receive are intensified, and our muscles do not get the healing nutrients they need. The current diagnosis is usually made by a Rheumatologist who will find 11, or more, "tender points" on your body.

This site is enormous when it comes to the accumulation of information and knowledge, but is small and cozy when it comes to the personal contact with new friends that suffer the same effects of Fibromyalgia, like you. Come here for gentle hugs, tough love, self-help information, and lifelong friendships. Relax and enjoy ~~ http://www.fibrohugs.com/

http://www.truehues.com/index.php A new Canadian site just starting!