Canadian Western Agribition -- Canada's Premier International Agricultural Show and Marketplace featuring over 4,000 head of livestock, over 450 commercial trade show exhibits, the CCA Finals Rodeo, and western entertainment, is taking place in Regina this week.
Isabel has chosen not to attend the event with other residents from Wascana, however is watching as much of the show as she can on the tellie. The smells won't be quite the same but the views are excellent.
Isabel was amused to discover a photo of herself and her good friend, Nelle, in this year's show booklet. Mum, your many years of attending Agribition have gone down on record!
Wednesday, November 26, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
"A Plus to All This"
"Getting to know every one is the plus to all this."
So writes Isabel's new friend and co-star of "After the Bite", Don Bell of Dubuc. Don is also a West Nile Neurological Syndrome Survivor. He and Isabel were featured in the Globe & Mail article and video by Wendy Stueck and Co. Don and his wife Glenda, and Isabel now stay connected through e-mail and visits at Wascana.
For Don and Isabel, there are several new friends as the result of surviving the bites of the summer of 2007.
Don also writes:
"Drs. think I will plateau but I won't hear of it because they really don't know about us and this West Nile. And Isabel -- we have to prove them wrong for the next victims -- to give them hope and encouragement. I think we can come out of this even if some of us are at different degrees. Strong willpower goes a long ways. I am doing things and not sitting so I think it helps. People tell me 'you shouldn't be doing this or that', but it's not my nature."
We all take courage from attitudes such as Don's. We are grateful for the day-in-day-out support of friends and creative therapists who are determined that Isabel will gain as much strength and movement as possible in her contractured limbs.
Here's to you, Don and Glenda, and your own determination and spirit and the hope that you share with others!
So writes Isabel's new friend and co-star of "After the Bite", Don Bell of Dubuc. Don is also a West Nile Neurological Syndrome Survivor. He and Isabel were featured in the Globe & Mail article and video by Wendy Stueck and Co. Don and his wife Glenda, and Isabel now stay connected through e-mail and visits at Wascana.
For Don and Isabel, there are several new friends as the result of surviving the bites of the summer of 2007.
Don also writes:
"Drs. think I will plateau but I won't hear of it because they really don't know about us and this West Nile. And Isabel -- we have to prove them wrong for the next victims -- to give them hope and encouragement. I think we can come out of this even if some of us are at different degrees. Strong willpower goes a long ways. I am doing things and not sitting so I think it helps. People tell me 'you shouldn't be doing this or that', but it's not my nature."
We all take courage from attitudes such as Don's. We are grateful for the day-in-day-out support of friends and creative therapists who are determined that Isabel will gain as much strength and movement as possible in her contractured limbs.
Here's to you, Don and Glenda, and your own determination and spirit and the hope that you share with others!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
A Rainbow of Binders
Every teacher loves the versatility of three ring binders and Isabel has 6 of them to keep her reading life organized.
Several of you have written letters with a PS that says something such as: "I hope someone can read this to you" or "how are your eyes? can you read?"
Isabel's eyes are fine and she reads a lot, although her eyes tire fairly easily. (The nurses say it is because of the smoke coming off her letterboard when she is in high-gear!)
Isabel has use of a few fingers of her left hand. It is not easy to turn pages that lay on a wheelchair table so we have devised a coloured three ring binder system for her various materials. A binder can sit on Isabel's angled reading board for easy turning. The various colours make it easier for Isabel to communicate with staff about which binder she wants on her angled reading board.
Her red binders are the favourites. We three hole punch each letter, news article, etc. that comes from you (and sometimes greeting cards as well before they go up on her card ledge). The contents of each red binder changes weekly, and is read daily by Isabel. The housekeeper on the south end of 2-6 opens Isabel's mail for her early each morning.
The dark blue binder is for The Seniors' Newspaper. Thanks to an Aber friend's generosity with this gift subscription.
The orange binder is for farm newspapers.
The green one is for magazines. This week's is a Scottish one. Thanks to all of you who have brought a variety of magazines.
The purple one tells the story of Isabel's teaching career and is a well used one as she and former students have frequently looked through it.
We still have the pink, purple, and yellow ones to fill.
Now if we could just get our desks (and staff!) organized as well as Isabel has hers!
Today is November 11, and Isabel will be watching programming from "the Hill" in Ottawa. Together, we remember........
Several of you have written letters with a PS that says something such as: "I hope someone can read this to you" or "how are your eyes? can you read?"
Isabel's eyes are fine and she reads a lot, although her eyes tire fairly easily. (The nurses say it is because of the smoke coming off her letterboard when she is in high-gear!)
Isabel has use of a few fingers of her left hand. It is not easy to turn pages that lay on a wheelchair table so we have devised a coloured three ring binder system for her various materials. A binder can sit on Isabel's angled reading board for easy turning. The various colours make it easier for Isabel to communicate with staff about which binder she wants on her angled reading board.
Her red binders are the favourites. We three hole punch each letter, news article, etc. that comes from you (and sometimes greeting cards as well before they go up on her card ledge). The contents of each red binder changes weekly, and is read daily by Isabel. The housekeeper on the south end of 2-6 opens Isabel's mail for her early each morning.
The dark blue binder is for The Seniors' Newspaper. Thanks to an Aber friend's generosity with this gift subscription.
The orange binder is for farm newspapers.
The green one is for magazines. This week's is a Scottish one. Thanks to all of you who have brought a variety of magazines.
The purple one tells the story of Isabel's teaching career and is a well used one as she and former students have frequently looked through it.
We still have the pink, purple, and yellow ones to fill.
Now if we could just get our desks (and staff!) organized as well as Isabel has hers!
Today is November 11, and Isabel will be watching programming from "the Hill" in Ottawa. Together, we remember........
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Contacting Isabel
Several of you have inquired how to contact Isabel.....
By leaving a phone message in her room: 306-545-5994.
By sending a letter:
Unit 2-6
Wascana Rehab Centre
2180-23rd Ave.
Regina, SK
S4S 0A5
Thank you!
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