This will be the first year in many that I won't be down at Victory Square for Remembrance Day. I always think of my grandpa... his shiny shoes and box of poppies around his neck. I picture him standing in front of the Bank of Montreal wearing his medals, and then being in the parade in my hometown of London Ontario. We would always watch the parade from an upstairs window of the legion to get a good view of everything. My workshop down at The Yoga Conference doesn't begin until 11:30 so I will be sure to Commemorate Remembrance day in meditation at 11:11 and it will never be far from our minds the rest of the day. Remember to wear your poppy and pay tribute. We are the luckiest people in the world. There are many Remembrance Day services all over. You can find a list here
The AIDS crisis and the Montreal Massacre (Dec 6 '89) and I just can't help it.
And I believe its a good thing as neither one should ever be forgotten.
Its world AIDS Day and HIV/AIDS Awareness week in Canada.
I remember the years before this horrible disease was discovered and changed our lives forever. I was just reading that there are 34 million people in the world living with HIV and that 80% do not have access to treatment.Thats so tragic.The numbers of people here in Canada (and everywhere else) continues to rise.
Apparently most teens believe that there is a cure for HIV...and of course there is not. More reason to educate our children is that: According to the Canadian Foundation for AIDS Research (“CANFAR”): “A quarter of Canadians with HIV are not aware of their infection and young adults (aged 15-29) account for approximately 26 per cent of all people diagnosed with HIV in Canada."
"The Shanti Uganda Society improves infant and maternal health, provides safe women-centred care and supports the well-being of birthing mothers and women living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda." and helping is so easy and the ways are countless.
One last note is that ALL Vancouver Whole Foods locations will be donating 5% of their net sales today to Aids Vancouver Grocery! Click here for more info on that.
Have a FAB day friends and Happy December! Hard to believe its here already.
“All mothers and newborns should receive a visit from a public health nurse, if they want or need one." These visits are a godsend to new moms when they are at their most vulnerable. They help detect post-partum depression, jaundice, breast feeding issues and much more. These problems ...cut across socio-economic lines. Funding for this decades old program should not be cut!
On Friday November 25 at 11:30am, Parents for BC Babies will gather outside Premier Christy Clark's Vancouver office at 3615 W. 4th Ave to protest her government's decision to cut public health nurse visits to women who have just given birth.
Hope to see you there! Bring your stories of why/how much a nurses home visit mattered to you and your newborn and new family.
Here is the BC Nurses Union petition for you to share and sign.
Its a great way for those who might not be able to afford the regular $260 to pay what they can. Suggested donation is
$100 - $500 (but whatever amount you are able to donate is fine!) They recognize that each of you is making a real and important contribution to global maternal-child health. All contributions of $280 or more will receive a tax receipt from Shanti Uganda.
This is just such an amazing thing.
if you haven't been on Shanti's site lately I really can't encourage you enough to go and read up on the latest happenings. Get ready to be really, REALLY inspired. Click here for more info on Shanti Uganda and here for Dancing Star Birth and all they do! Namaste xo
Here are a few pics from The Cenotaph at Victory Square today. I was happy and amazed to see so many children this year! We must remember the men and women who have lost their lives and those who continue to serve around the world. They gave their lives and their futures so we could live in peace.
For more information on Remembrance Day or information on programs & services for Veterans click here for the Veterans Affairs Canada website. Namaste.
I'm proud beyond words to be representing The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada at the BC Cancer Agency on Saturday October 23! There will be presentations by Oncologists and other Healthcare Specialists. Networking, Support groups and more! Lunch is provided and it's FREE to patients, their caregivers and healthcare professionals. ♥.♥.♥.
Registration required- 1-800-265-5106 ext 231 or register online atwww.infodays.ca
Brain Cancer is an orphan cancer that needs loads of more press than it gets! Did you know that 55,000 Canadians are living with a brain tumour right now? Including babies and children :(
Approximately 10,000 more folks are diagnosed with a brain tumour every single year here in Canada. Brain tumours are the leading cause of solid cancer death in children under the age of 20 and are the third leading cause of solid cancer death in young adults as well between the ages of 20-39. Fact.
We don't like to think about this stuff but it's all true and real life for too many people. Lets bring brain cancer to the forefront!! We need funding.
Here are some more Canadian facts about Brain Tumours:
-Because brain tumours are located in the control centre for thought, emotion, and movement, they can dramatically affect an individual's physical and cognitive abilities and quality of life.
-There are over 120 different types of brain tumours, making effective treatment very complicated.
-Brain tumours in children are different from those in adults and are often treated differently. Although as many as 60% of children with brain tumours will survive, they are often left with long-term side effects.
-Metastatic brain tumours are the leading cause of solid cancer death in children under the age of 20, now surpassing acute lymphoblastic leukemia. They are the third leading cause of solid cancer death in young adults ages 20-39.
-The most common type of primary brain tumour, glioblastoma multiforme, is also the most malignant. Average survival, even with aggressive treatment, is less than one year.
-Primary brain tumours (originating in the brain) occur in 8 out of 100,000 people.This number rises to approximately 32 per 100,000 when metastatic tumours (cancer originating in other areas of the body that has spread to the brain) are included.
-Metastatic brain tumours occur at some point in 20-40% of people with cancer
-Enhancing the quality of life for people with brain tumours requires access to quality special care, clinical trials, follow-up care and rehabilitative services.
-Currently, the Canadian medical system does not track statistics on primary brain tumours. Complete and accurate data is needed to facilitate the research that will lead to a better understanding of this disease and improved diagnosis and treatment.
For more information, resources, programs, and support and ideas on ways to help contact The Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada. You can click here for more info :)
Yesterday a friend told me that the bank of Montreal stopped recognizing holidays.
Many other organizations and businesses have done the same as we know, and some I even might agree with. Some things just aren't "in" or politically correct in the eyes of some these days.
I was told specifically that"allegedly" they stopped recognizing Remembrance day and I certainly hope that is not true. If it is true it deeply saddens me. I really hope my friend is wrong .
Without getting too deeply into things here I would like to share an article I saw this morning in the Washington Post on brain injuries, war and Afghanastan. It is an American article but it really illustrates how difficult living with a brain injury can be and just how truly awful and absolutely devastating some can be.
My friends and loved ones who know me well know that I have a few causes that I have a real soft spot for and one of them is Veterans, and more specifically PTSD.
This article doesn't speak of PTSD, but Post Traumatic Stress Disorder is a brain injury as well, and you don't have to be serving overseas to have it. The walking wounded are all around us. Some diagnosed and many not, and we are in this world together.
Brain injuries aren't always obvious but can be a real challenge for the person (s) having them and their loved ones on a daily basis (and thats an understatement). It is important to remember that trauma changes the brain as well. There are the obvious brain injuries from shrapnel and explosions(as in the article), car accidents, falls, and brain tumours and surgeries, but trauma changes the brain as well. I just wanted to share this article in light of Remembrance Day coming up next month. I know it's difficult to read (I have a box of kleenex in front of me as I type), but it's real life.
Lets all be very kind to each other whenever possible. And I really hope to see you at the Cenotaph next month on Remembrance Day. I know I'll be there again.
A doula is an assistant who provides non-medical and non-midwifery support (physical and emotional) in childbirth. Depending on training and experience she may offer prenatal support, childbirth (birth doula) and/or postpartum. A labor doula may attend a home birth or during labor at home and in transport to a hospital or a birth center. A postpartum doula provides home care for the first six weeks (or longer in cases of postpartum depression) including cooking, breastfeeding support, newborn care assistance, errands and light housekeeping.
The Wikipedia definition sort of implies that a Doula only attends home births which is completely untrue. (at least here in Canada) Thank goodness! I have attended a great many wonderful hospital births as a Doula in the past right along with every other Birth Doula in this city. Doulas are welcome with open arms in hospitals (at least I always was).
Most people do deliver in hospital in fact. Sadly some people have a great fear about delivering in hospital, but I can assure you that you have a great many birth choices in hospital (it's your birth after all, and you aren't ill you're having a baby)! And in hospital you can do a lot to set the mood for your birth as well ♥.
*You really can. It is your birth experience and nobody elses.
This isn't a commercial for hospital births but you may wind up birthing in a hospital whether you plan to or not.
When I speak like this in a room full of pregnant women there is the occasional look of terror. But everything is ok. It really is. Remember what Buddha said. Non attachment. Non attachment is the best thing to practice when making a birth plan/thinking about your birth plan etc. (I highly recommend making a birth-plan even if it is only for yourself)
Because it requires you to research and think about decisions that may come up.
Hospitals aren't the bad and nasty places they have sometimes been made out to be. In my opinion anyways. I'm sure glad they are there! (I've been in the trauma unit fighting for my life before so maybe I am biased) Know your choices. Be informed. Take the tour. Ask questions. How your birth is going to unfold may not be up to you, but so many other things are. It is up to you who you have there with you supporting you. In Canada we can choose our own caregiver...we are so lucky. But the big thing is being informed.
There truly is no such thing a a dumb question when you are expecting.
I have been to some very magical births in hospital (all births are). Beautiful wonderful empowering births, difficult and challenging and complicated births...what can you say about childbirth really? Each one is different. Different and unpredictable. Every single one. But one thing is certain... every single one is just such a honour to be at. Such a magical incredible otherworldly, highest energy experience imaginable. On the one hand biological and on the other it's...well there just aren't even words really.
But home births, hospital births, water births, even c-section "births" (they are still births)! are just truly so miraculous, I will never get over it. I was seriously choked up yesterday at my first Roundhouse Baby & Me yoga class of the summer as the room was packed full of mom's who previously were in my prenatal class. Meeting their babies for the first time, and looking at them and watching them, witnessing their mothering... Just watching their whole transition to motherhood really (gulp) gets me every time, and for as long as I do this I know it will. They are soooo beautiful.
Anyways, I could go on about this forever!! (but I won't! I've gotta fly!)
I just wanted to a pass this clip along that a girlfriend Tara sent me yesterday. It's short, but it took me on a trip down memory lane remembering my days as a Doula, and I wanted to put the Doula bug in your ear!
If you are expecting, do yourself (and your partner) a HUGE favour and have a Doula. People who have had Doulas would not again give birth without one. This city is crawling with them. Ask for recommendations from your friends, your Midwife/Caregiver and meet a few of them. You WILL find the right Doula for you.
And remember that a Doula supports "you" and "your birth experience." You and your partner. Totally.
It is all about you baby! And you have lot's of choices! *remember that*!
Oh, and many Doulas's are very affordable. As well, there are many Doulas who are just starting out looking for births to attend. And they're free!! (I attended lot's of free births and so does everybody else)
Get informed, practice yoga and have a Doula at your birth and you'll be laughing!
Well, I'm outta here for now!
It's another scorcher, enjoy, keep cool & hydrated and have fun!
Did you know that there are currently 55,000 Canadians living with a brain tumour right now in Canada? And another 10,000 will be diagnosed this year?
Thats a lot of people.
I know it sounds shocking (and believe me when someone you love is out of the blue diagnosed with a brain tumour?) it can send you reeling...
Take it from me. Someone I love very much is a brain tumour fighter/survivor.
My niece. She is the strongest, coolest, wisest, most intelligent and bravest human I have ever known.
Some things we just can't explain in this life. There are simply no answers for certain events, but thankfully there IS HOPE.
There is always hope.
And thanks to the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada there is more than hope.
There is support, research, education and information available to everyone affected by a brain tumour. But they need our help. www.braintumour.ca
Sadly there are certain types of cancers that people don't like to speak about and this is one of them. I suppose the mere thought is so frightening to many of us we choose to not even go there in our minds, but the truth is...we can not ignore it.
We need to at least raise awareness and support those affected by a brain tumour. There are many different types of brain tumours but they are all very dangerous. Sometimes babies are born with brain tumours. :(
No one knows why.
We need more research and more treatment options. Sadly brain cancer is considered one of those 'orphan cancers' (meaning that it doesn't get a lot of press or funding compared to some other cancers). But thats not to say that it is any less. A brain tumour diagnosis is absolutely devastating.
We want to eradicate every cancer out there one day thats for sure.
Wouldn't you love to say to your children one day that "There used to be this thing called cancer"?
I know I sure would.
Anyways, the Spring Sprint is coming up and it is SUPER fun!!!
You can walk, run or sprint in support of those affected by a brain tumour and it really is...amazingly fun! You can raise money or awareness or both.
Or just come out and enjoy the festivities and show your support!
It takes place Saturday May 29 at Burnaby Lake East at the Rowing Pavillion and check in is 10:00am. Its a 5 km walk/run, and the scenery is spectacular. It is a guaranteed amazing experience.
Come on down and join us!
Here is a link for the Spring Sprint to find out all about it www.springsprint.ca
