Showing posts with label oak leaf. Show all posts
Showing posts with label oak leaf. Show all posts
Saturday, May 12, 2012
Helping spread awareness
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Email...
After yesterday presentation I had a few people come up and talk to me and ask for contact information. I honestly thot that they were just 'being nice'. But this morning when i checked my emails I found this email in my inbox. It was a shock and I have to admit it brought me to tears.
Dennis and I are not sure where GOd is taking us on this journey now -- a shift to the right on the path or a continued direction that we are already going... but we will pray about this email and the offers that are in it and that were offered when I spoke to Becky after the presentation.
Thank you Becky for the email and for the thotful help and blessings you have mentioned.
Jodi,
I just wanted you to know that I thought you did a great job with your presentation today. As I mentioned I lost my oldest son almost 6 years ago in a home accident so I can sympathize with you in a way that many cannot. I have always said that I wish that he hadn't died even if he were brain damaged because at least I could still see him and hold him. Most people think that Im crazy to think that because in their opinion "Ethan" wouldn't be "Ethan" anymore. I think that you are amazing in your ability to see Sam as the same kid he always was. You do this in a non-delusional way, seeing the changes but doing everything in your power to treat him like any other 16 year old. I think makes you an amazing Mom. I too have the guilty feelings when it comes to the way I am with my other children and am a self admitted "helecopter" parent. In our life experience how could we not be? I am however concerned that you are going to burn out. As a fellow farm wife I understand the demands it puts on a family and it is for this reason that I want to help you and your cause. I would do anything to have my child back and since I can't I want a chance to help families who did get the second chance to get the resources and info needed as well as help other families from suffering the same fate. I find there is little help in Manitoba for any tragities involving children and felt very alone in grief and still do during my hard times.
I will understand if you feel this is a journey you need to make alone and will part by just congratulating you on a job well done. You have touched me in a way that I could never fully explain and I thank you for that.
Becky
Dennis and I are not sure where GOd is taking us on this journey now -- a shift to the right on the path or a continued direction that we are already going... but we will pray about this email and the offers that are in it and that were offered when I spoke to Becky after the presentation.
Thank you Becky for the email and for the thotful help and blessings you have mentioned.
Jodi,
I just wanted you to know that I thought you did a great job with your presentation today. As I mentioned I lost my oldest son almost 6 years ago in a home accident so I can sympathize with you in a way that many cannot. I have always said that I wish that he hadn't died even if he were brain damaged because at least I could still see him and hold him. Most people think that Im crazy to think that because in their opinion "Ethan" wouldn't be "Ethan" anymore. I think that you are amazing in your ability to see Sam as the same kid he always was. You do this in a non-delusional way, seeing the changes but doing everything in your power to treat him like any other 16 year old. I think makes you an amazing Mom. I too have the guilty feelings when it comes to the way I am with my other children and am a self admitted "helecopter" parent. In our life experience how could we not be? I am however concerned that you are going to burn out. As a fellow farm wife I understand the demands it puts on a family and it is for this reason that I want to help you and your cause. I would do anything to have my child back and since I can't I want a chance to help families who did get the second chance to get the resources and info needed as well as help other families from suffering the same fate. I find there is little help in Manitoba for any tragities involving children and felt very alone in grief and still do during my hard times.
I will understand if you feel this is a journey you need to make alone and will part by just congratulating you on a job well done. You have touched me in a way that I could never fully explain and I thank you for that.
Becky
Saturday, May 28, 2011
WOW!
The Facebook group that I created Canadians with Traumatic Brain Injuries just made the 100 members milestone!! I put a call out this week to get to this number and this morning when I was on FB I had a pleasant surprise! ONE HUNDRED members!! YAY! I am still encouraging please to join and invite friends since next month is Brain Injury Awareness month and we need to get more awareness and education out there about this! I keep thinking of that old Pert (I think it was Pert) shampoo commercial... She told 3 friends and they told 3 friends and they told 3 friends... So please look for it on FB, and ask to join. (not too impressed with the new version of groups on FB... I cannot invite ppl to join my group...)
I have been busy this week not only working with Dennis and sorting and doing cattle stuff during the day but I have been trying to get out emails & phone calls to radio stations, tv stations (both local AND the biggies-- CBC and CTV) the newspapers and friends and family about next Junes new 'duty' to educate people about BI's. So far one local newspaper here is going to do 'something' for BI Awareness in June, the local access12 have invited me to do a coffee chat with Jim Cockburn about our family's story and mine as a caregiver (that is May 31) and that 1hour episode will run 3times in June. I am speaking on June 3 to some nursing students at Assiniboine Community College about our story (I have yet tho to find someone to be my run thru sounding board on my presentation and I am less than a week away!!!! eeeek!). On Wed. next week we are in Winnipeg for an appointment for Sam we will be stopping in Manitoba Brain Injury Association (MBIA) to show my idea for BI awareness 'pins'. ON their website there is an oak sapling and I am making small oak leaves to wear. (I had this idea last year and when the new daffodils for cancer came out this spring -- I thot-- WOW I was on to something!! I found a great paper punch that not only cuts out the leaf but embosses the veins of the leaf too! Dennis and I are willing to make them and put out the initial cost of them so that they can get circulating -- even if it is just in Neepawa and area. (hey I gotta start somewhere!) I want to see if MBIA will want me to put out a jar for donations to go to them or just give them away.
I had a bit of an epiphany this morning as I made some... I had a few different shades of green and my thot was... put out the different shades for a couple of reasons:
1. it will be easier to buy packs of paper in different shades (and more cost effective then buying individual pieces)
2. every BI is different... they are all BI's but all have a different story to tell! Soooo if there are 3-4 different colours it is in step with the survivors and caregivers!
Of course my hubby had to be the first to wear a leaf and is wearing it proudly...
I told him he grabbed one that I was going to throw out because I had 'knicked' the one part of the leaf... his response was "its ok, my brain is broken and so is the leaf". Yesterday A few friends that own businesses in town said they would most definitely put a box of leaves in their business to help... they offered I never asked!! I was shocked and felt very grateful for them! I will keep y'all posted on what happens with the MBIA! Please pray that they are as excited and open to my idea!
I have been busy this week not only working with Dennis and sorting and doing cattle stuff during the day but I have been trying to get out emails & phone calls to radio stations, tv stations (both local AND the biggies-- CBC and CTV) the newspapers and friends and family about next Junes new 'duty' to educate people about BI's. So far one local newspaper here is going to do 'something' for BI Awareness in June, the local access12 have invited me to do a coffee chat with Jim Cockburn about our family's story and mine as a caregiver (that is May 31) and that 1hour episode will run 3times in June. I am speaking on June 3 to some nursing students at Assiniboine Community College about our story (I have yet tho to find someone to be my run thru sounding board on my presentation and I am less than a week away!!!! eeeek!). On Wed. next week we are in Winnipeg for an appointment for Sam we will be stopping in Manitoba Brain Injury Association (MBIA) to show my idea for BI awareness 'pins'. ON their website there is an oak sapling and I am making small oak leaves to wear. (I had this idea last year and when the new daffodils for cancer came out this spring -- I thot-- WOW I was on to something!! I found a great paper punch that not only cuts out the leaf but embosses the veins of the leaf too! Dennis and I are willing to make them and put out the initial cost of them so that they can get circulating -- even if it is just in Neepawa and area. (hey I gotta start somewhere!) I want to see if MBIA will want me to put out a jar for donations to go to them or just give them away.
I had a bit of an epiphany this morning as I made some... I had a few different shades of green and my thot was... put out the different shades for a couple of reasons:
1. it will be easier to buy packs of paper in different shades (and more cost effective then buying individual pieces)
2. every BI is different... they are all BI's but all have a different story to tell! Soooo if there are 3-4 different colours it is in step with the survivors and caregivers!
Of course my hubby had to be the first to wear a leaf and is wearing it proudly...
I told him he grabbed one that I was going to throw out because I had 'knicked' the one part of the leaf... his response was "its ok, my brain is broken and so is the leaf". Yesterday A few friends that own businesses in town said they would most definitely put a box of leaves in their business to help... they offered I never asked!! I was shocked and felt very grateful for them! I will keep y'all posted on what happens with the MBIA! Please pray that they are as excited and open to my idea!
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