"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!