*Cough* I think I need a cigarette....heh ;) *NOTE: The 'gayish' comment is not mine. That would be the work of Perez Hilton.
Friday, October 27, 2006
Now THIS could be a fun party!
*Cough* I think I need a cigarette....heh ;) *NOTE: The 'gayish' comment is not mine. That would be the work of Perez Hilton.
Wednesday, October 25, 2006
A Need-to Read
Mom can't afford treatment to save her kids
The only hope Lori Keeping has for her 2 kids is stem-cell therapy
By THANE BURNETT
BRANTFORD -- Whatever is troubling you today, it's likely ludicrous and insignificant.
And the last blow-up you had with your child -- the clothes they were wearing, the volume of their music or even dropping out of college to work in a deli -- wasn't important.
Not in the world of Lori Keeping, who may never again hear the word "mom" spoken by her two youngest children.
Pity the parents who bravely cope with a single child who suffers a terminal disease. But spend a moment and try to fathom the crushing weight looming over 28-year-old Lori, and her partner Sheldon Huelin, 33, who have learned that both their 5-year-old daughter, Jamie, and their 2 -year-old son, Carson, both may have a short time to live.
And their only glimmer of hope is controversial: A series of stem cell procedures available -- for a price the two factory workers can't afford -- on the other side of the world.
The children suffer from Batten disease, an inherited disorder of the nervous system, which most often shows itself when children are very young. A hidden genetic poison in both Lori and Sheldon -- two Newfoundlanders who met and fell in love eight years ago -- combined to be fatal for their children. It was a one in a thousand clash of DNA.
They both thought they had been through the worst disaster, when their first baby together, a boy named Preston, died on New Years day in 2000, after living only a month with a medically broken heart.
But they were wrong in thinking life would go on.
Often -- as in the case of Jamie and Carson -- Batten babies are born without signs of trouble. They begin to grow on the outside, as inside, tortured brains fight unwinnable battles.
The disease can start with subtle signs, like personality and behaviou ral changes. The children become clumsy and stumble. It only gets worse. There is a mental breakdown, as seizures grow worse, sight dims and motor skills give way to the involuntary jerks of uncontrolled muscles.
After a great deal of tests and false hope, the parents were handed Jamie's diagnoses a year and a half ago.
As I sit with Lori at the kitchen table in a Brantford subdivision, Jamie -- green eyes which have been dulled by anti-seizure medication -- is twisted and contorted in a chair nearby. She rests against a Dora the Explorer blanket. But she likely doesn't know this. She is mentally adrift and may be blind. Unable to communicate any more, her family has no way of being sure of what she sees or thinks or feels.
After Jamie was diagnosed, the family waited until her younger brother was old enough to test. About a month ago, they were given an answer Lori was expecting. It was Sheldon who picked up the results from a hospital. He came home, let the family eat dinner in peace, then sat with Lori.
"I think I said, 'I just knew it,'" she recalls, as Carson darts around the room carrying a plastic toy train.
He bounces on his toes, rather than his full feet. He is a manic bundle of movement -- an early sign of the disease most people would take as boyhood energy. He rarely looks at grownups in the eyes. As he rushes about, he knocks against chairs and grazes the sides of walls.
Words don't tumble from his mouth. It's been some time since he really spoke. He can communicate with his parents with rudimentary hand signs -- liking the warm touch of his mom, to form his small hands into the required shapes.
Lori's world is a hectic and stressful place. She nervously cringes at the constant clack of Carson's battery operated train, abandoned under a bed in a far-off bedroom.
She can't remember what she had for supper last night.
It is rare she spends time with friends -- her 12-hour shift at a factory job her only chance for welcomed adult distraction.
As we talk, a friend drops off a little girl, Carson's age. The two mothers were pregnant at the same time. Lori can't help but look at other children and wonder why her own son and daughter couldn't be handed the same unwritten future.
Jamie's time, worries the young mom, is growing short. Carson's voyage to her altered state is only beginning.
Neither is now likely to see an 11th birthday.
Their only hope, Lori and Sheldon believe, is stem cell procedures in China -- operations which the family can't get here. They are controversial -- both morally and medically -- and they cost a great deal.
But parents -- as well as adult Canadians looking to China and India for stem cell infusions to help with everything from spinal cord injuries to Parkinsons -- are willing to pay. A Hamilton family, whose child also suffers from Batten disease, apparently left for China just yesterday.
With the help of friends, Lori and Sheldon are trying to find a way to come up with as much as $100,000 to get the children overseas. They have set up a website (jamieandcarsonshope.com) which is under construction, as well as a toll-free telephone line (1-866-553-0770).
It is unclear whether it will all be in time -- especially for Jamie -- or what the introduction of millions of stem cells into their spinal cords and brains could mean in fighting what's slowly killing them both.
But it is all Lori and Sheldon can think to do and dare to believe in.
And it's not a miracle of total salvation Lori dreams of for their two youngest. It is what most parents take for granted.
"If I could just hear the word 'mom' from them," says Lori.
"I haven't heard it in months. And it's all I want to hear."
*I think this story just about broke my heart. After reading it on canoe.ca, I had to post it in my blog for the sheer fact that I hope people read it and give a shit. It also made a point to me today--that no matter how bad things can be for a person, they can always get worse. My thoughts are, and will remain, with this family. Here's hoping that a shimmer of luck shines down on them soon.
~T
The only hope Lori Keeping has for her 2 kids is stem-cell therapy
By THANE BURNETT
BRANTFORD -- Whatever is troubling you today, it's likely ludicrous and insignificant.
And the last blow-up you had with your child -- the clothes they were wearing, the volume of their music or even dropping out of college to work in a deli -- wasn't important.
Not in the world of Lori Keeping, who may never again hear the word "mom" spoken by her two youngest children.
Pity the parents who bravely cope with a single child who suffers a terminal disease. But spend a moment and try to fathom the crushing weight looming over 28-year-old Lori, and her partner Sheldon Huelin, 33, who have learned that both their 5-year-old daughter, Jamie, and their 2 -year-old son, Carson, both may have a short time to live.
And their only glimmer of hope is controversial: A series of stem cell procedures available -- for a price the two factory workers can't afford -- on the other side of the world.
The children suffer from Batten disease, an inherited disorder of the nervous system, which most often shows itself when children are very young. A hidden genetic poison in both Lori and Sheldon -- two Newfoundlanders who met and fell in love eight years ago -- combined to be fatal for their children. It was a one in a thousand clash of DNA.
They both thought they had been through the worst disaster, when their first baby together, a boy named Preston, died on New Years day in 2000, after living only a month with a medically broken heart.
But they were wrong in thinking life would go on.
Often -- as in the case of Jamie and Carson -- Batten babies are born without signs of trouble. They begin to grow on the outside, as inside, tortured brains fight unwinnable battles.
The disease can start with subtle signs, like personality and behaviou ral changes. The children become clumsy and stumble. It only gets worse. There is a mental breakdown, as seizures grow worse, sight dims and motor skills give way to the involuntary jerks of uncontrolled muscles.
After a great deal of tests and false hope, the parents were handed Jamie's diagnoses a year and a half ago.
As I sit with Lori at the kitchen table in a Brantford subdivision, Jamie -- green eyes which have been dulled by anti-seizure medication -- is twisted and contorted in a chair nearby. She rests against a Dora the Explorer blanket. But she likely doesn't know this. She is mentally adrift and may be blind. Unable to communicate any more, her family has no way of being sure of what she sees or thinks or feels.
After Jamie was diagnosed, the family waited until her younger brother was old enough to test. About a month ago, they were given an answer Lori was expecting. It was Sheldon who picked up the results from a hospital. He came home, let the family eat dinner in peace, then sat with Lori.
"I think I said, 'I just knew it,'" she recalls, as Carson darts around the room carrying a plastic toy train.
He bounces on his toes, rather than his full feet. He is a manic bundle of movement -- an early sign of the disease most people would take as boyhood energy. He rarely looks at grownups in the eyes. As he rushes about, he knocks against chairs and grazes the sides of walls.
Words don't tumble from his mouth. It's been some time since he really spoke. He can communicate with his parents with rudimentary hand signs -- liking the warm touch of his mom, to form his small hands into the required shapes.
Lori's world is a hectic and stressful place. She nervously cringes at the constant clack of Carson's battery operated train, abandoned under a bed in a far-off bedroom.
She can't remember what she had for supper last night.
It is rare she spends time with friends -- her 12-hour shift at a factory job her only chance for welcomed adult distraction.
As we talk, a friend drops off a little girl, Carson's age. The two mothers were pregnant at the same time. Lori can't help but look at other children and wonder why her own son and daughter couldn't be handed the same unwritten future.
Jamie's time, worries the young mom, is growing short. Carson's voyage to her altered state is only beginning.
Neither is now likely to see an 11th birthday.
Their only hope, Lori and Sheldon believe, is stem cell procedures in China -- operations which the family can't get here. They are controversial -- both morally and medically -- and they cost a great deal.
But parents -- as well as adult Canadians looking to China and India for stem cell infusions to help with everything from spinal cord injuries to Parkinsons -- are willing to pay. A Hamilton family, whose child also suffers from Batten disease, apparently left for China just yesterday.
With the help of friends, Lori and Sheldon are trying to find a way to come up with as much as $100,000 to get the children overseas. They have set up a website (jamieandcarsonshope.com) which is under construction, as well as a toll-free telephone line (1-866-553-0770).
It is unclear whether it will all be in time -- especially for Jamie -- or what the introduction of millions of stem cells into their spinal cords and brains could mean in fighting what's slowly killing them both.
But it is all Lori and Sheldon can think to do and dare to believe in.
And it's not a miracle of total salvation Lori dreams of for their two youngest. It is what most parents take for granted.
"If I could just hear the word 'mom' from them," says Lori.
"I haven't heard it in months. And it's all I want to hear."
*I think this story just about broke my heart. After reading it on canoe.ca, I had to post it in my blog for the sheer fact that I hope people read it and give a shit. It also made a point to me today--that no matter how bad things can be for a person, they can always get worse. My thoughts are, and will remain, with this family. Here's hoping that a shimmer of luck shines down on them soon.
~T
Thursday, October 19, 2006
All the days of my life
Riiight..
So, there's these two boys sitting in the food court. I'm guessing, mmm, maybe 14 years old? They noticed two girls walking by and called out to them.
Prost-a-tot 1: Hi! I just discovered people are chicken shit.
Lil' Thug In Training: Whaddya mean?
Prost-a-tot 1: (Random name) and (Randon name) were supposed to meet me out back and they didn't show up! I was supposed to fight them. 5 of 'em!
Lil' Thug Wannabe (not to be mistaken with thug in training): *jumps up* Let's go! Girl fight!
Lil' Thug In Training: You were supposed to fight them? They didn't show up?
Prost-a-tot 2: 5 of 'em!
Prost-a-tot 1: They were fucking chicken shit! I waited and they didn't show up! I was going to fight them. All 5 of them!
....Yeah, imagine said conversation with a LOT more swearing and you'd have what I just witnessed. Can you believe that?
UPDATE!!
There's now 4 more Prost-a-tots standing with the lil' thugs...apparently they're looking for Prost-a-tot 1...I think Lisa is her name, from what I'm gathering.
Lil' Thug In Training: Are you the ones who were gonna beat up Lisa?
Prost-a-tot 3 (Whom I assume is the leader of the pack): Yeah, where is she? *looking all menacing with her hands on her toothpick 13-year-old hips*
Lil' Thug In Training: *laughing* I'm not going to tell you where she is. You want to beat her up.
Prost-a-tot 3: *flips hair and storms off*
Prost-a-tot 4: CRYSTAL! GET BACK HERE!
I've said this a million times since I started working here. If I have children and they EVER turn out the way I've seen sooo many little nose picking teenagers, I will lock them in their room until they are 30. There's a difference between acting your age and being a complete and utter tit.
MY mother taught me better than that...so why didn't everyone else's?
Damn, I just realized something. I'm a bitch.
Hah!
So, there's these two boys sitting in the food court. I'm guessing, mmm, maybe 14 years old? They noticed two girls walking by and called out to them.
Prost-a-tot 1: Hi! I just discovered people are chicken shit.
Lil' Thug In Training: Whaddya mean?
Prost-a-tot 1: (Random name) and (Randon name) were supposed to meet me out back and they didn't show up! I was supposed to fight them. 5 of 'em!
Lil' Thug Wannabe (not to be mistaken with thug in training): *jumps up* Let's go! Girl fight!
Lil' Thug In Training: You were supposed to fight them? They didn't show up?
Prost-a-tot 2: 5 of 'em!
Prost-a-tot 1: They were fucking chicken shit! I waited and they didn't show up! I was going to fight them. All 5 of them!
....Yeah, imagine said conversation with a LOT more swearing and you'd have what I just witnessed. Can you believe that?
UPDATE!!
There's now 4 more Prost-a-tots standing with the lil' thugs...apparently they're looking for Prost-a-tot 1...I think Lisa is her name, from what I'm gathering.
Lil' Thug In Training: Are you the ones who were gonna beat up Lisa?
Prost-a-tot 3 (Whom I assume is the leader of the pack): Yeah, where is she? *looking all menacing with her hands on her toothpick 13-year-old hips*
Lil' Thug In Training: *laughing* I'm not going to tell you where she is. You want to beat her up.
Prost-a-tot 3: *flips hair and storms off*
Prost-a-tot 4: CRYSTAL! GET BACK HERE!
I've said this a million times since I started working here. If I have children and they EVER turn out the way I've seen sooo many little nose picking teenagers, I will lock them in their room until they are 30. There's a difference between acting your age and being a complete and utter tit.
MY mother taught me better than that...so why didn't everyone else's?
Damn, I just realized something. I'm a bitch.
Hah!
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Yeah, so...that sucked
For whatever reason, I can't sign into my blog.
Then how, you're asking, am I writing this? Well, I had to start ANOTHER one! I had so much fun on saturday, writing posts and whatnot, and now they're lost. I'm going to try and copy and paste them over here, but since some of them had links, I'm not sure how well that'll work.
Ooh...he's cute...
Um, yeah..a little off topic, but when someone walks by my store that's nice and cute, I look. Simple as that.
Anyway, so this will be my blog from now on. No biggie.
So anyhoo, had an interesting last few days. I went with Abby to see Choxx Burlington on Thursday. I wasn't GOING to go, cause I'm was tired as hell from working but in the end, she pouted and did the puppy eyes and...haha, kidding, that's MY thing..but needless to say, she convinced me to go and I had a pretty good time, in the end. Afterwards, we went back to 212 and hung out some more and then I headed home like a good girl. After all, I did work again the next day. Yeeah...good girl, my ass.
Let's see...Friday I worked and came home. Ah, the life I lead. Interesting, is it not? Seriously, I think people should be jealous of such a life. No, really. Ha.
Saturday, I had to work till 9 *boourns* and then, thanks to the lovely Ann who picked me up, headed home with beer in hand and some food so, you know, I wouldn't be puking later, and I was good to go. Ann didn't come out with us *again, boourns* cause she was celebrating a friend of her's birthday, so it was just Tara and Abby that night. A little T&A action, so we've been told *muah haha* and frankly, we had a great time. Originally the plan had been to check out VU but after seeing the rediculous lineup, we agreed to go somewhere else. Hunter's, it was! Truth be told, we both probably enjoy that bar the most...but when there's no one there, it's not nearly as fun. Thankfully, there was a crowd and so we stayed there and ended up meeting up with the boys. Always fun.
It is now Wednesday. I'm at work and it's raining out. I'm not sure if that means it'll be busy or not...and I'm torn. Busy means the night goes by waaay faster, but it also means that the stress level jumps up. People do not enjoy waiting when it comes to technology. Now, if it's slow, that means I can relax and just..hang out. However, it also means boredom. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
K, I'm out. This isn't nearly as entertaining as it could have been but evs, baby.
Evs.
Then how, you're asking, am I writing this? Well, I had to start ANOTHER one! I had so much fun on saturday, writing posts and whatnot, and now they're lost. I'm going to try and copy and paste them over here, but since some of them had links, I'm not sure how well that'll work.
Ooh...he's cute...
Um, yeah..a little off topic, but when someone walks by my store that's nice and cute, I look. Simple as that.
Anyway, so this will be my blog from now on. No biggie.
So anyhoo, had an interesting last few days. I went with Abby to see Choxx Burlington on Thursday. I wasn't GOING to go, cause I'm was tired as hell from working but in the end, she pouted and did the puppy eyes and...haha, kidding, that's MY thing..but needless to say, she convinced me to go and I had a pretty good time, in the end. Afterwards, we went back to 212 and hung out some more and then I headed home like a good girl. After all, I did work again the next day. Yeeah...good girl, my ass.
Let's see...Friday I worked and came home. Ah, the life I lead. Interesting, is it not? Seriously, I think people should be jealous of such a life. No, really. Ha.
Saturday, I had to work till 9 *boourns* and then, thanks to the lovely Ann who picked me up, headed home with beer in hand and some food so, you know, I wouldn't be puking later, and I was good to go. Ann didn't come out with us *again, boourns* cause she was celebrating a friend of her's birthday, so it was just Tara and Abby that night. A little T&A action, so we've been told *muah haha* and frankly, we had a great time. Originally the plan had been to check out VU but after seeing the rediculous lineup, we agreed to go somewhere else. Hunter's, it was! Truth be told, we both probably enjoy that bar the most...but when there's no one there, it's not nearly as fun. Thankfully, there was a crowd and so we stayed there and ended up meeting up with the boys. Always fun.
It is now Wednesday. I'm at work and it's raining out. I'm not sure if that means it'll be busy or not...and I'm torn. Busy means the night goes by waaay faster, but it also means that the stress level jumps up. People do not enjoy waiting when it comes to technology. Now, if it's slow, that means I can relax and just..hang out. However, it also means boredom. Damned if you do, damned if you don't.
K, I'm out. This isn't nearly as entertaining as it could have been but evs, baby.
Evs.
Friday, October 13, 2006
And thus, I return
Right on.
So, I'm sitting here at work and I'm thinking to myself.
"Self?"
"Yes?"
"You need something to do while at work. It's far to boring, sitting here staring at the walls. I say this only because I love you."
"Well...if you love me.."
"I really do. Please, take my advice."
...and well, here I am!
Now, don't get me wrong. I AM working. It's not as though I'm sitting here doing absolutely nothing. As soon as someone walks in, I'm totally theres. Until then? well hell, I think I just saw a tumbleweed drift on by.
Right...so onward and upward.
So, I'm sitting here at work and I'm thinking to myself.
"Self?"
"Yes?"
"You need something to do while at work. It's far to boring, sitting here staring at the walls. I say this only because I love you."
"Well...if you love me.."
"I really do. Please, take my advice."
...and well, here I am!
Now, don't get me wrong. I AM working. It's not as though I'm sitting here doing absolutely nothing. As soon as someone walks in, I'm totally theres. Until then? well hell, I think I just saw a tumbleweed drift on by.
Right...so onward and upward.
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