Hi everyone!!
I hope everyone has had a good week. For me, today is Friday as I took tomorrow off from work. One, I could use more than one day off about now just to rest, but I will hopefully be able to do that once my treatment is reality.
On Saturday, 8/28/10 in Prescott on Fair St., there will be a collaborative effort between an old friend I met here in AZ over 10 years ago when first moving here. She and her mom, and one other partner, hope to open a store in which the purpose is to "Re-Purpose," with proceeds to go to a local charity here in the area that helps disabled/mentally handicapped individuals become more independent. A good purpose all by itself. But, this weekend, they have agreed to place me as the "special project" with proceeds going to help defer the cost of my stem cell treatment!!! How wonderful is that? It is going to be a win/win situation for both of us. I help them launch their store, I reap rewards in donations, and the opportunity to educated the public not only on diabetes, but the prospects of stem cell treatment on my disease as well as many others. I will also be promoting the International Stem Cell Institute, whom I am going through to receive my treatment.
There have been many stories on the news this week that have really taken my frustrations to a whole new level. First, the judge that stopped stem cell research here in the US. COME ON PEOPLE..... let's get educated on the science before you go shooting your mouths off on the "rights and wrongs" of what you THINK is the issue. I guess that people who have never been touched by a devastating, chronic, degenerative disease such as diabetes, neuromuscular, Parkinson's and even heart disease, will never know what this scientific advance could do for society, they will never open their minds to the usage in the US. The second news story I saw this week was that the cost of name brand prescription medications has increased as much as 41.9% in the past year, in spite of the economy. Let's do the math here, and I know this for fact as I dealt with this issue when my mother was ill in that last 2 years of her life. The elderly live on fixed incomes (at lease a good portion of the country), some of these drugs run hundreds of dollars a month, and that is with the Medicare D portion of the so-called retirement "benefits." When a person spends $2800 out of pocket on medication they fall into what the government calls the "donut hole" in which you are basically .... for lack of a better term, shit out of luck, as your Part D benefits will no longer pay for your medications. In my mother's case, it was $1200 out of pocket for one medication, and a six week supply at that!!! That can be devastating to an elderly person/couple who have very little to work with and are already dishing out upwards of $350/month on medications alone. Add in your rent, utilities, food, gas, etc., and it leaves very little if anything at all for "extra." Pretty sad ..... given what the US is suppose to represent. Now, place that same sort of scenario on a young couple, with a child who may have had an accident, or God forbid, a diagnosis of cancer or any other debilitating disease, unemployed, no insurance, etc .... what are we to do if our own government doesn't want to see us surviving????? I do believe it is our government that has too much say, and their way of thinning out the population so that the rich get richer, and the poor .... middle class ..... well .... they go broke and die!!! ..... Sounds like my idea of the American Dream...... NOT!! !
I am going to be out this weekend in hopes of raising not only funds so that I can undergo this treatment and hopes of voicing my outcome .... LOUDLY, but to also make awareness of what is out there that our government seems to be holding back on. It is not right in today's society.
Please help if you can ..... If you live in the Tri-city area, come on by the Fair Street location across from the rodeo grounds and see what we have to offer. The account for donations is located at the Arizona State Credit Union, Chino Valley office. I will post address information next round, of I think .... it is still available on my FB page.
Wish us luck!!!
Have a wonderful and peaceful weekend!!!
Love and Light
et
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Monday, August 23, 2010
Wonderful things happened today!!
Hello and Happy Monday to all!!!
Just a quickie as I am tired, it's getting late, and tomorrow is another day.
Some really great opportunities came to me today in regard to fundraising efforts for my stem cell treatment. As many of you know, I had to remove myself from the date of 9/14 due to funding falling through on all levels. So ... was in contact with the CVNews contact, Salina, today. An update of status over the past 3-4 months will be published in the online CVNEWS on Weds. (available online most likely Tuesday night). The mall effort is in the works. I have email out to a couple of people that offered last round to do jewelry sales with part of proceeds to go to my treatment. AND ..... an old friend I met here in AZ 10+ years ago upon moving here has offered to work with me which will be a win/win situation for both of us, and perhaps the clinic too, and help her get her second hand store off and running with part of the profits from her store going to help with developmental individuals with work opportunities and training for independant living. This is a local charity and to get them launched I will be thier so called "needy case" for the month!! LOL .... on Saturday we will finaly gain our kitchen and washroom back by removing all the big items from the previous yard sale to sell with all those profits going toward my treatment costs. This is such a wonderful opportunity for me to educate the public in a couple of ways. My cause of course is the stem cell treatment and what it will not only do to benefit my health, but the potential to do for others with debilitating diseases.
I will try and do a more detailed post tomorrow night. For now, I must "rest grasshopper" as my cousin B relayed to me earlier. She makes me laugh!!! We share a very common sense of humor ... and I for one, LOVE IT!!!
The account that was set up to accept donations is also still there with approximately $200.00 remaining from the last efforts. My mother use to tell me it was not right to pray for $$, and I do believe that all things happen for a reason, I am just/still wondering how long I must wait, what lessons have I not learned, what must I give, teach, etc ..... I want to prove that the US is behind at this point, that I am deserving of this treatment or die trying I guess.
Until tomorrow ...... sleep well my friends!!
Peace and Light
et
Just a quickie as I am tired, it's getting late, and tomorrow is another day.
Some really great opportunities came to me today in regard to fundraising efforts for my stem cell treatment. As many of you know, I had to remove myself from the date of 9/14 due to funding falling through on all levels. So ... was in contact with the CVNews contact, Salina, today. An update of status over the past 3-4 months will be published in the online CVNEWS on Weds. (available online most likely Tuesday night). The mall effort is in the works. I have email out to a couple of people that offered last round to do jewelry sales with part of proceeds to go to my treatment. AND ..... an old friend I met here in AZ 10+ years ago upon moving here has offered to work with me which will be a win/win situation for both of us, and perhaps the clinic too, and help her get her second hand store off and running with part of the profits from her store going to help with developmental individuals with work opportunities and training for independant living. This is a local charity and to get them launched I will be thier so called "needy case" for the month!! LOL .... on Saturday we will finaly gain our kitchen and washroom back by removing all the big items from the previous yard sale to sell with all those profits going toward my treatment costs. This is such a wonderful opportunity for me to educate the public in a couple of ways. My cause of course is the stem cell treatment and what it will not only do to benefit my health, but the potential to do for others with debilitating diseases.
I will try and do a more detailed post tomorrow night. For now, I must "rest grasshopper" as my cousin B relayed to me earlier. She makes me laugh!!! We share a very common sense of humor ... and I for one, LOVE IT!!!
The account that was set up to accept donations is also still there with approximately $200.00 remaining from the last efforts. My mother use to tell me it was not right to pray for $$, and I do believe that all things happen for a reason, I am just/still wondering how long I must wait, what lessons have I not learned, what must I give, teach, etc ..... I want to prove that the US is behind at this point, that I am deserving of this treatment or die trying I guess.
Until tomorrow ...... sleep well my friends!!
Peace and Light
et
Saturday, August 21, 2010
My fight is growing tired ....
Hi everyone ....
Well ... yet another speed bump!!
I have been bumped from the schedule for 9/14 due to my financing falling through. I am, yet again, deeply and heavy hearted with disappointment. I want this so bad I can taste it and in my deepest of beliefs, this is where I am going to see a reprive in my health status. However, I am growing increasingly more down, and exceptionally exhausted, emotionally and physically.
My blood sugars have continued to yo-yo with all this stress of trying to secure my spot for the stem cell treatment, on top of my job status, which has been totally chaotic now for almost two months. I am one person, doing two peoples jobs, with what seems like added tasks and responsibilities every day. There is only so much of me, and I can only do so much. I do not want to be that important in the job force. I enjoy my job tremendously, I think I am good at it. Not a day goes by I don't learn something new in regard to the operations of the US healthcare system, which of course drives my personal fight as I am not a huge fan of some of the rules and regs involved in the who's, what's and how come's. That being said, I put a good portion of my real focus and energy into my work day. Upon coming home, I have been dealing with what appears to be drug-induced neighbors making my life a complete hell and inability to relax in my own home. I have had nightly blood sugar drops for no apparent reason other than the stressors I have been trying to cope with. I was actually up this past week at some point during the night with a blood sugar of 38!!! I had people asking me via my facebook account "how do you wake up in the night from a 38?!" Well ... honestly, I can only say, I am having a more and more difficult time realizing what is going on when alone. Maggie (my beautiful yellow laborador) has been exceptional in somehow learning to detect the difference between a low BG and a hot flash!!! LOL .... she licks me to the point of irritation to where I must get up and search the kitchen. The other night, as an example, I know she followed me into the kitchen, and hte last thing I truely recollect is that I was out of juice!! I don't have a clue what I did next, other than when I awoke to the alarm for work, my BG had rebounded to 499!! These swings are killing me .... in more ways than one. What people don't seem to get, is that these lows could very well kill me in my sleep, more so now, due to my unawareness and fast drops to critical levels. I also believe that this is in part the problem with my losing my fight response. I really just want to be left alone for a few days, to sleep, not have to think about anyone or anything and just regroup, catch up on my physical rest so that my emotional and mental function can come back a bit to continue my fight for this treatment.
I was speaking with LeiMomi, a wonderful woman I have been communicating with at the ISCIm and has been remarkable with doing what she can to help me secure funding, keeping me on the schedule as long as possible, encouragement, etc. She was telling me that they had their first Alzheimer's patient undergo the Adipose treatment on 7/30. This gentleman apparently had not communicated in the normal sense to his wife in almost 2 years. Upon receiving his adipose treatment, it was almost an immediate response as he was talking to his wife, coherently, for the first time in 2 years!! LeiMomi told me that this woman cried uncontrollably the entire trip back to Brownsville from the clinic in Mexico!! How inspiring is something like that to witness, nevermind live!!! I want that too ... for me, and for so many others that could benefit. The US needs to get off its ass and pull it's political head out from up its ass!! This country is no longer the leader in healthcare. It has become a political/lobbiest nation looking for nothing more than to make a buck off the sick and dying!!! ENOUGH!!! and I am going to shout loudly from any platform that will allow me to stand on it for not only myself ... but perhaps for others that may benefit as well.
I must get ready to head out for a "girls afternoon" at the movies. A couple of girlfriends from work and I are going to take in a chick-flick and then hit the mall for info on setting up some fundraising dates before the holidays so that perhaps I can come up with the funding to have my treatment done before November, when the cost will increase. Go figure ..... am hoping my Irish Luck .... keeps me from getting bashed again in that department as I am really unsure of how much longer I can continue to fight at this height and be effective.
Thanks to all ... for continued support and prayers. If anyone knows or has ideas of how to get some $$ flowing .... let me know, either via the blog or my Facebook account. The account for donations is still open from the San Francisco trip, however, there is only about 200.00 dollars left in it from that trip (which was a tad costly to say the least). I know all things happen for a reason, and I know now, that the CA trips didn't work for a reason, several that I have become aware of and am happy for. That does not in any way deter from the positive response of all those who have undergone the islet transplants, many doing very well.
Be Well ... and enjoy your weekend!!!
Peace and Light
et
Well ... yet another speed bump!!
I have been bumped from the schedule for 9/14 due to my financing falling through. I am, yet again, deeply and heavy hearted with disappointment. I want this so bad I can taste it and in my deepest of beliefs, this is where I am going to see a reprive in my health status. However, I am growing increasingly more down, and exceptionally exhausted, emotionally and physically.
My blood sugars have continued to yo-yo with all this stress of trying to secure my spot for the stem cell treatment, on top of my job status, which has been totally chaotic now for almost two months. I am one person, doing two peoples jobs, with what seems like added tasks and responsibilities every day. There is only so much of me, and I can only do so much. I do not want to be that important in the job force. I enjoy my job tremendously, I think I am good at it. Not a day goes by I don't learn something new in regard to the operations of the US healthcare system, which of course drives my personal fight as I am not a huge fan of some of the rules and regs involved in the who's, what's and how come's. That being said, I put a good portion of my real focus and energy into my work day. Upon coming home, I have been dealing with what appears to be drug-induced neighbors making my life a complete hell and inability to relax in my own home. I have had nightly blood sugar drops for no apparent reason other than the stressors I have been trying to cope with. I was actually up this past week at some point during the night with a blood sugar of 38!!! I had people asking me via my facebook account "how do you wake up in the night from a 38?!" Well ... honestly, I can only say, I am having a more and more difficult time realizing what is going on when alone. Maggie (my beautiful yellow laborador) has been exceptional in somehow learning to detect the difference between a low BG and a hot flash!!! LOL .... she licks me to the point of irritation to where I must get up and search the kitchen. The other night, as an example, I know she followed me into the kitchen, and hte last thing I truely recollect is that I was out of juice!! I don't have a clue what I did next, other than when I awoke to the alarm for work, my BG had rebounded to 499!! These swings are killing me .... in more ways than one. What people don't seem to get, is that these lows could very well kill me in my sleep, more so now, due to my unawareness and fast drops to critical levels. I also believe that this is in part the problem with my losing my fight response. I really just want to be left alone for a few days, to sleep, not have to think about anyone or anything and just regroup, catch up on my physical rest so that my emotional and mental function can come back a bit to continue my fight for this treatment.
I was speaking with LeiMomi, a wonderful woman I have been communicating with at the ISCIm and has been remarkable with doing what she can to help me secure funding, keeping me on the schedule as long as possible, encouragement, etc. She was telling me that they had their first Alzheimer's patient undergo the Adipose treatment on 7/30. This gentleman apparently had not communicated in the normal sense to his wife in almost 2 years. Upon receiving his adipose treatment, it was almost an immediate response as he was talking to his wife, coherently, for the first time in 2 years!! LeiMomi told me that this woman cried uncontrollably the entire trip back to Brownsville from the clinic in Mexico!! How inspiring is something like that to witness, nevermind live!!! I want that too ... for me, and for so many others that could benefit. The US needs to get off its ass and pull it's political head out from up its ass!! This country is no longer the leader in healthcare. It has become a political/lobbiest nation looking for nothing more than to make a buck off the sick and dying!!! ENOUGH!!! and I am going to shout loudly from any platform that will allow me to stand on it for not only myself ... but perhaps for others that may benefit as well.
I must get ready to head out for a "girls afternoon" at the movies. A couple of girlfriends from work and I are going to take in a chick-flick and then hit the mall for info on setting up some fundraising dates before the holidays so that perhaps I can come up with the funding to have my treatment done before November, when the cost will increase. Go figure ..... am hoping my Irish Luck .... keeps me from getting bashed again in that department as I am really unsure of how much longer I can continue to fight at this height and be effective.
Thanks to all ... for continued support and prayers. If anyone knows or has ideas of how to get some $$ flowing .... let me know, either via the blog or my Facebook account. The account for donations is still open from the San Francisco trip, however, there is only about 200.00 dollars left in it from that trip (which was a tad costly to say the least). I know all things happen for a reason, and I know now, that the CA trips didn't work for a reason, several that I have become aware of and am happy for. That does not in any way deter from the positive response of all those who have undergone the islet transplants, many doing very well.
Be Well ... and enjoy your weekend!!!
Peace and Light
et
Wednesday, August 4, 2010
Opppss ..... forgot the link :D
Here it is:
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6711905n
Link to the 60 Minutes expose on growing new body parts with stem cells.
Enjoy!!!
et
http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=6711905n
Link to the 60 Minutes expose on growing new body parts with stem cells.
Enjoy!!!
et
Things are moving along
Hi Everyone!!
Thank you again for all the well-wishes, love and support.
This has been a very stressful, rather nerve-racking few days.
I have my dates, I will leave for Brownsville on September 12 or 13, tentitive still. I will undergo all my orientation and such, on the night of the 13th, my treatment scheduled for the 14th beginning at 8:00AM. I can come home on Wednesday ....anytime I book my flight out. I'm shooting for late afternoon, arriving back in Phoenix to stay with friends overnight, check in with my endocrinologist in Phoenix prior to making the treck up the mountain for home (only a 2 hour ride).
My funding is still up in the air as of this afternoon, but I am VERY hopeful, that the friend working on the "quick" funding will be able to do his magic. How totally blessed I have been to have people in my life with the ability to help in ways I could never .... and to think so much of me, that they would!! I AM TOTALLY BLESSED IN THAT RESPECT!!! By tomorrow afternoon, I hope to have the funding secured, fundraising will get back on track to try and help defer some of the costs. I can't, it just isn't in me to allow it all to be carried by others. I will be ever so greatful for the help and support in this aspect, as I am just not in the position to pull this off. I spend more than 12K a year just to keep myself alive, to ask for this much funding to extend and better my existing life span is a gift beyond explaination, or words to describe. It (the entire gamat of emotions) is overwhelming at best. Tomorrow will be the tell tale all of what happens.
I will post again tomorrow to update on the finalization of this last-ditch effort.
In the meantime; for those of you I didn't email the following link, watch the video from the 60 Minutes expose on stem cell medicine ... This is facinating stuff, and everyone should watch and be open to this sort of science. It is, in my belief, where our "cures" will come from.
Until next time.....
Light and Love
et
Thank you again for all the well-wishes, love and support.
This has been a very stressful, rather nerve-racking few days.
I have my dates, I will leave for Brownsville on September 12 or 13, tentitive still. I will undergo all my orientation and such, on the night of the 13th, my treatment scheduled for the 14th beginning at 8:00AM. I can come home on Wednesday ....anytime I book my flight out. I'm shooting for late afternoon, arriving back in Phoenix to stay with friends overnight, check in with my endocrinologist in Phoenix prior to making the treck up the mountain for home (only a 2 hour ride).
My funding is still up in the air as of this afternoon, but I am VERY hopeful, that the friend working on the "quick" funding will be able to do his magic. How totally blessed I have been to have people in my life with the ability to help in ways I could never .... and to think so much of me, that they would!! I AM TOTALLY BLESSED IN THAT RESPECT!!! By tomorrow afternoon, I hope to have the funding secured, fundraising will get back on track to try and help defer some of the costs. I can't, it just isn't in me to allow it all to be carried by others. I will be ever so greatful for the help and support in this aspect, as I am just not in the position to pull this off. I spend more than 12K a year just to keep myself alive, to ask for this much funding to extend and better my existing life span is a gift beyond explaination, or words to describe. It (the entire gamat of emotions) is overwhelming at best. Tomorrow will be the tell tale all of what happens.
I will post again tomorrow to update on the finalization of this last-ditch effort.
In the meantime; for those of you I didn't email the following link, watch the video from the 60 Minutes expose on stem cell medicine ... This is facinating stuff, and everyone should watch and be open to this sort of science. It is, in my belief, where our "cures" will come from.
Until next time.....
Light and Love
et
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