September 2018

My month of September has been interesting. I stopped taking my liquid drugs the entire month because my blood levels were down. I was off of these drugs for five weeks - August 29, 2018, to October 5, 2018. In addition to my low blood levels, I also had very thin blood. For two weeks I stopped taking my daily blood thinner needles - September 6, 2018, to September 20, 2018. On September 21, 2018, I went back to my blood thinning process. I hope that as I move forward I will be able to stay on my drugs on a regular basis.

Throughout September 2018, I was very concerned about my parents. After dad's first hospital stay September 8-12, I spent as much time as I could at their home to help them with all the health issues they were dealing with. Sadly, on Monday, September 24, another ambulance was called to drive dad back to the hospital. He developed an infection as a result of the antibiotics he received during his first hospital stay, and had to be on isolation for a few weeks. He continues to be in the hospital, is off isolation now, and has been transferred to Rehab where he is getting physiotherapy to help him get stronger. My sister Bev is an amazing nurse. She is giving both mom and dad significant help on a daily basis. Her love and help is so much appreciated.

In 2006, when I was Vice-Principal at St. John's High School, I started a grandmother support group for grandmothers who were raising their grandchildren. Throughout the school year we met once a month and continually had more grandmothers attending.  Every month we shared a meal and participated in a variety of activities. After a number of years a few grandmothers suggested that we start raising money for grandmothers in Africa who were also raising their grandchildren. As a result, I started a registered charity called Grannies Gone Global so that we could support people who wanted to donate money. Grannies Gone Global now supports grandmothers raising grandchildren here in Winnipeg and in Uganda. Sadly, my two brain cancer surgeries this past year has caused me to step aside from being the president for Grannies Gone Global. On September 1, 2018, Laura Perrella and Michelle Procter became the Grannies Gone Global presidents. I am thrilled that these two women are excited about stepping in and making a difference in this world for grandmothers raising grandchildren.


 

Laura Perrella and Michelle Procter are the new presidents

for the charity called Grannies Gone Global.

 

September 24, 2018, was the second time this month that

dad was taken to the Steinbach hospital by ambulance.

We soon found out that dad had received an infection causing

visitors to wear gowns and gloves. My mom and my sister Bev

were able to go into his room wearing a gown and gloves.

                  

Mom and I put on our gowns. I could only visit dad from
the doorway as I had to be careful with my blood level.

Iris worked with the St. John's grandmothers this
past year. Her help was greatly appreciated.

My dear Ari has started studying at the
University of Manitoba in the Faculty of Law.


My husband and I went for lunch with Karen and Gary.
We got to know them when we had a cottage at Lake St. George.
 

I had a lovely dinner with the Interlake School Division

receptionist and finance workers...



...we laughed and had a lot of fun!

 



My husband and I cycled to visit my father-in-law.







Jim and Carmen Kental came to see my husband

and I for five days. They are from Kelowna, BC.

We had a lot of fun!

 



 Carmen and I went for walks.

 

My father-in-law Bill and my sister-in-law April visited

my husband and I at our cottage. It was wonderful having

 them there. Despite cooler weather they stayed for night.

 

 I always am so impressed when I see

beautiful sunsets.