When the voices are not heard

The last few visits I have had with my sister Joanne were quite interesting. She has had her surgery for gallstones. When my Mother and I looked at her, we could tell instantly there was something wrong. Joanne was lethargic, and not acting as her usual self. She did manage to get me into a rather good headlock hug, but otherwise, we could tell she was in pain. The infirmary staff dismissed our concerns, once again, because Jo does not show pain the same way that we do. She does not cry, nor make a sound. Difficult to read her, but once you have spent anytime with her, you just know. Maybe it's the mother in me, but I know my sis, and can read the discomfort.

It was not until a regular staff member saw Jo, that they decided to do something. Off for an X-ray, and then they discovered that her hip was broken. The assumption now is that it broke during the surgery, while they were moving her. So, long story short, Joanne has been suffering for several weeks. When they called the Kingston hospital to advise them they were coming, the emergency room advised those caring for my sister to wait, because she would not be taken care of for several hours, or possibly days. Now, there is a battle to determine which hospital will serve her. Ottawa or Kingston, we will find out tomorrow. Neither one wants to do it. Another night of pain for Jo, all because of her handicap. Let me ask this! What would you do if you broke a bone? Would you accept hearing " Don't come today, we are busy"?

My sister's story, unfortunately, is a common one. Hard to believe in this day and age, that there is stigma, and biases against certain medical conditions. Take mental health as an example. Every single one of us has been affected by some sort of mental health issues. Depression, mania, schizophrenia, anxiety, and the list goes on and on. It is something that we all pity, or minimize. "Oh, chin up, you'll feel better in the morning!" Have you said that to someone, or even worse, have you heard it from the ones that you love?

Each and every day, we come across people that will affect us in some way. the vagrant on the street talking to himself, the drug addict who is simply trying to stop the noises in her head. Generally, we cross the street, don't we? Our child becomes aggressive, and we can't figure out why. When a love one commits suicide, we are left to figure out what went wrong. It makes no sense. WHY DIDN'T THEY GET HELP?

Let me tell you why? The help, it's not always there. We can fool ourselves into thinking that there are supports out there to meet the needs of everyone who is suffering, but the reality is, we fall short, very short, of having that be a reality.

Many people do not have a voice. Joanne cannot speak, therefore she relies on us to figure it out. Someone suffering form a mental illness, whether they know it or not, also needs someone to speak for them. Someone needs to care, to learn and understand who these people are, so that they can identify changes in behaviors, in attitudes.

The Royal Ottawa Hospital has come out with this incredible campaign to raise funds for their programs. Daniel Alfredson is the face to the campaign. his sister suffers from a mental illness. I strongly encourage all of you to check out the website:

http://www.youknowwhoiam.com/

Raise your voice for those who do not have one. Do not fear these people, try to understand and love them. No matter how hard it can be. As a christian I am supposed to love others, Just as Christ loves me. Our example, Jesus Christ, DIED For US! He did not come hear to teach a select few, he came to heal us all. We are all chosen by God, but those of us who accept him as our Savior have an extra responsibility to stand for those who cannot stand for themselves. We should not judge or fear.

Perhaps there is something that you can do in your community. Maybe, just Maybe, it's as simple as a smile to the stranger in front of you. Who knows, that smile may have just saved a life! Remember, they are all human beings, and most of them just want to be "normal". Living in pain, is not living. Being loved, for who they are, is abundance.

Jo's hip will be taken care of, let's make sure that others also get the care, love and support services they need. Let's face it, that person may very well be you. Do something.....

hehehehehe

Laughter, I don't think that there is anything more therapeutic, heart warming, or energizing.

Last night I laughed. I spent the evening with the people I love the most, and we laughed. My daughter has an incredible sense of humor. She can make me giggle with the simplest things. My grandchild made me laugh. He is stuck inside this little tiny belly, trying to move around, but limited in his mobility. I am sure he was kicking me, just because he wanted me to know that he was there - lol! Giggled to the point where I was close to tears!

There is nothing like a good belly laugh to make you feel so much better. Laughter seems to be able to lift your spirits in a way that nothing else can. Yes my spirits needed lifting too.

Hearing other people laugh is also amazing. I sat there last night, listening to John laugh, and it was just nice, to hear him laugh that way, to see him that relaxed, it's nice.

Monty, the son-in-law, has this laugh that is so genuine, that I smile every single time I hear it.

My son, was not hanging with us after dinner last night. He considers us silly, and let's face it, he's 15. but let me tell you something about him. He has this incredibly dry, sarcastic humor. Actually, he has my sense of humor. He makes me bust a gut. But there is nothing, and I mean nothing, greater than hearing him belly laugh.

I guess what I am trying to say, is just how lucky I am to have been able to spend an evening laughing. We were silly, goofy, and downright stupid at times, but I would not have changed a single thing. Today, my heart is filled with joy.

The fun, Perky, yummy Chantal

Good Morning World!

It's 8:51 am, and I am sitting here planning my day. So far, I have one concrete thing to do. My goal, what I want to achieve, more than anything else, is to remain positive. If I can do that, then I am going to have a wonderful day.

Some of you know that I have not been 100% well for several weeks now. Yes, there is more testing to come, and questions still need to be answered. Fair enough, this stuff takes time.
The difficult thing is, while all of this is occurring, I am still left with the pain to deal with, the lack of energy, and the inability to do things in the same capacity as I used to. It can be so bloody frustrating.

The very worst part, the thing that gets me the most, is the fact that I feel like I am constantly whining about it. It is such a focus of my attention. More often than not, I want to avoid people, simply because I know that right now I am not able to do certain things. I hate the idea that people will adapt their behaviors to accommodate me.

Sometimes, I feel that Chantal was lost. The Fun, Perky, freaky, yummy Chantal, is somewhere inside, dying to get out. She is facing a wall of crap, trying to climb it, but there are obstacles as she does. From a positive perspective, I can feel her wanting to come out again. Like a veil being lifted, she is there in the horizon, walking towards me. For those of you who remember that Chantal, Well, look out, she is close!!!!!!!!
Be afraid, be very afraid! lol!

As I get closer to finding out the solution to my physical issues, I need to be grateful, because throughout this last experience, I am realizing more and more, that I am feeling better emotionally. I am getting stronger with my thoughts, and attitudes. I can re-direct, re-evaluate, and I am even learning to let things go. ( Yeah I know, I've cried like a baby this week, but I am still better than I was - lol)

Perhaps the physical issues are occurring to show me that I still have so much to be thankful for.
All I know, is that throughout all of this crap, I'm still happier than I have been in a long time.