So proud to be a Kappa for 25 years! Thank you to KKG Toronto Alum for featuring my story in their newsletter.
Charity Profile
ALS Society of Canada https://www.als.ca/get-involved/volunteer/ambassadors/
Ottawa Hike for ALS on September 29th, this is the link
The Enduring Bonds of Sisterhood
I was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on September 19, 2013, at 41 years old.
The day of diagnosis I went in for an EMG and walked out with 2 to 5 years left to live. It is a day that those of us living with ALS will never forget. It is an unwanted anniversary, a marker of shock and fear, a countdown of the years, months, days, minutes that we have left.
I woke up that day without a clue as to how my life would change. I went through the dreaded needle in the muscle test and the neurologist kept saying, "I'm afraid to say this is quite serious". My husband Travis and I were trying to focus on what the doc was telling us…no tumours...no blockages...sound back...sound brain...nerves going to muscles...motor nerves not affecting sensation...degenerative condition...motor neuron disease...Lou Gehrig's disease…no known reason….ALS...progressive...no treatment…no cure... shortened life...2-3 years…
I must admit, before that day, my awareness of ALS was limited, so of course, we did what the doctor told us not to do after that appointment, we went home and Googled ALS. At that moment, our spirits were crushed.
Of course, this is a devastating tragedy for my family and myself. We had to sell our home to move into an accessible rental. I am losing my body, in a way that is terrifying as day by day there are activities of daily living that I can no longer accomplish on my own. I have lost my career as an art therapist facilitating groups for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. I am losing control (which is particularly difficult for someone who is known to have control issues!), and we have lost our future dreams. ALS is an illness that is at the forefront of our thoughts 100% of the time.
In 2015 as well as 2017, I was asked to be the lead walker for the Ottawa Walk for ALS. My Kappa Sisters throughout Canada and the US (even China!) rallied to help me raise funds for ALS and although I haven’t seen many of them since University they helped me to acquire over $17,000 for the ALS Society of Canada. My best friend, maid of honor and Kappa sister Heather Smith Nuñez attends the Hudson Valley Walk to Defeat ALS every year, travels to attend ALS fundraisers with me in Canada, and has been a champion on my behalf. Annemarie Brissenden, an active Kappa alumnae travels to attend ALS walks with me as often as she can. The bonds of sisterhood are impenetrable. Delta Delta chapter at McGill University has fundraised for ALS on my behalf, hosting a “Keep Calm and Kick ALS” dinner as well as a dance-a-thon, raising over $2000 for ALS as well as much needed awareness. Without even having met me.
I would like to personally thank all of my Kappa sisters for supporting me by participating in fundraisers to help defeat ALS. I am so proud to be a Kappa and value the power of sisterhood. Kappa lifts me up and gives me hope, where I once had none.
I feel so privileged to be an advocate on behalf of ALS Canada. Due to my illness, I was forced to quit my job immediately upon diagnosis. At that time I was trying to focus on my family, and myself, though something felt missing. It was extremely difficult to leave behind a job that brought so many fulfillments to my life. I was proud of the work I did in giving back to others, and being an advocate for ALS has replaced for me what I have lost in my career. It brings back purpose and meaning to my life. Through advocacy, I found a way back to myself and who I am as a person. Please visit my blog at www.livelovelaughwithcarol.com
In the past five years of living with ALS, my husband and I have come to realize that we are blessed. Our friends and family surround us with love, we have made it a priority to travel while I still am able, and we have been trying to seize the opportunity to make moments matter by appreciating what is really important in life. I have had a chance to reflect on my life and be proud of my accomplishments of giving back and making a difference in this precious world.
-Carol Sharman Skinner
Delta Delta Chapter
Meet Jordana Easterbrook!
Jordana is the Beta Psi Chapter Adviser, Advisory Board President and an ex-Officio member of the Beta Psi House Board. She has been working with the chapter since 2013 when she graduated from Delta Delta chapter (McGill University). The Advisory Board currently consists of 12 wonderful advisers dedicated to supporting and guiding the chapter and Jordana is very proud to have the opportunity to serve as their president. As the Chapter Adviser, Jordana works closely with the active women to support them in navigating Fraternity requirements and resources, in addition to serving as a helpful voice for chapter decision-making. Her favourite part of working with the chapter is having the opportunity to mentor young women, during and after their university experience, and she especially enjoys the friendships she has built with these amazing women.
In her personal life, Jordana works in marketing for Deloitte Canada. She is the (mostly) proud owner of two wiener dogs and lives with her husband in the Beaches area of Toronto. She looks forward to many more years of Kappa volunteering and is always happy to chat if anyone is interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer!
Click Here to Pay Dues Now
Paid Members List (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019)
- Is your name missing from the list below? It’s not too late to pay your dues and support the work of the Association and the Fraternity! For payment information click here.
- Join our Facebook Group for member updates!
- To pay your association dues online: send an e-transfer to toronto.kappa@gmail.com
- To pay your association dues by cheque: make a cheque payable to "Toronto Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association" and mail it to:
KKG Toronto Alumnae Association
138 North Carson St.
Toronto, ON M8W 4C8
Copyright © 2018 KKG Toronto Alumnae Association, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you told us that you would like to stay in touch with KKG.
Our mailing address is:
KKG Toronto Alumnae Association
138 North Carson St.
Toronto, ON M8W 4C8
Canada
ALS Society of Canada https://www.als.ca/get-involved/volunteer/ambassadors/
Ottawa Hike for ALS on September 29th, this is the link
The Enduring Bonds of Sisterhood
I was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) on September 19, 2013, at 41 years old.
The day of diagnosis I went in for an EMG and walked out with 2 to 5 years left to live. It is a day that those of us living with ALS will never forget. It is an unwanted anniversary, a marker of shock and fear, a countdown of the years, months, days, minutes that we have left.
I woke up that day without a clue as to how my life would change. I went through the dreaded needle in the muscle test and the neurologist kept saying, "I'm afraid to say this is quite serious". My husband Travis and I were trying to focus on what the doc was telling us…no tumours...no blockages...sound back...sound brain...nerves going to muscles...motor nerves not affecting sensation...degenerative condition...motor neuron disease...Lou Gehrig's disease…no known reason….ALS...progressive...no treatment…no cure... shortened life...2-3 years…
I must admit, before that day, my awareness of ALS was limited, so of course, we did what the doctor told us not to do after that appointment, we went home and Googled ALS. At that moment, our spirits were crushed.
Of course, this is a devastating tragedy for my family and myself. We had to sell our home to move into an accessible rental. I am losing my body, in a way that is terrifying as day by day there are activities of daily living that I can no longer accomplish on my own. I have lost my career as an art therapist facilitating groups for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. I am losing control (which is particularly difficult for someone who is known to have control issues!), and we have lost our future dreams. ALS is an illness that is at the forefront of our thoughts 100% of the time.
In 2015 as well as 2017, I was asked to be the lead walker for the Ottawa Walk for ALS. My Kappa Sisters throughout Canada and the US (even China!) rallied to help me raise funds for ALS and although I haven’t seen many of them since University they helped me to acquire over $17,000 for the ALS Society of Canada. My best friend, maid of honor and Kappa sister Heather Smith Nuñez attends the Hudson Valley Walk to Defeat ALS every year, travels to attend ALS fundraisers with me in Canada, and has been a champion on my behalf. Annemarie Brissenden, an active Kappa alumnae travels to attend ALS walks with me as often as she can. The bonds of sisterhood are impenetrable. Delta Delta chapter at McGill University has fundraised for ALS on my behalf, hosting a “Keep Calm and Kick ALS” dinner as well as a dance-a-thon, raising over $2000 for ALS as well as much needed awareness. Without even having met me.
I would like to personally thank all of my Kappa sisters for supporting me by participating in fundraisers to help defeat ALS. I am so proud to be a Kappa and value the power of sisterhood. Kappa lifts me up and gives me hope, where I once had none.
I feel so privileged to be an advocate on behalf of ALS Canada. Due to my illness, I was forced to quit my job immediately upon diagnosis. At that time I was trying to focus on my family, and myself, though something felt missing. It was extremely difficult to leave behind a job that brought so many fulfillments to my life. I was proud of the work I did in giving back to others, and being an advocate for ALS has replaced for me what I have lost in my career. It brings back purpose and meaning to my life. Through advocacy, I found a way back to myself and who I am as a person. Please visit my blog at www.livelovelaughwithcarol.com
In the past five years of living with ALS, my husband and I have come to realize that we are blessed. Our friends and family surround us with love, we have made it a priority to travel while I still am able, and we have been trying to seize the opportunity to make moments matter by appreciating what is really important in life. I have had a chance to reflect on my life and be proud of my accomplishments of giving back and making a difference in this precious world.
-Carol Sharman Skinner
Delta Delta Chapter
Meet Jordana Easterbrook!
Jordana is the Beta Psi Chapter Adviser, Advisory Board President and an ex-Officio member of the Beta Psi House Board. She has been working with the chapter since 2013 when she graduated from Delta Delta chapter (McGill University). The Advisory Board currently consists of 12 wonderful advisers dedicated to supporting and guiding the chapter and Jordana is very proud to have the opportunity to serve as their president. As the Chapter Adviser, Jordana works closely with the active women to support them in navigating Fraternity requirements and resources, in addition to serving as a helpful voice for chapter decision-making. Her favourite part of working with the chapter is having the opportunity to mentor young women, during and after their university experience, and she especially enjoys the friendships she has built with these amazing women.
In her personal life, Jordana works in marketing for Deloitte Canada. She is the (mostly) proud owner of two wiener dogs and lives with her husband in the Beaches area of Toronto. She looks forward to many more years of Kappa volunteering and is always happy to chat if anyone is interested in learning more about becoming a volunteer!
Click Here to Pay Dues Now
Paid Members List (July 1, 2018 - June 30, 2019)
- Is your name missing from the list below? It’s not too late to pay your dues and support the work of the Association and the Fraternity! For payment information click here.
- Join our Facebook Group for member updates!
- To pay your association dues online: send an e-transfer to toronto.kappa@gmail.com
- To pay your association dues by cheque: make a cheque payable to "Toronto Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumnae Association" and mail it to:
KKG Toronto Alumnae Association
138 North Carson St.
Toronto, ON M8W 4C8
- Merle Bezoff
- Martha Jo Breithaupt
- Annemarie Brissenden
- Julia Bryan
- Wendy Campbell
- Denise Cargill
- Barbara Dunbar Carroll
- Ann Chisholm
- Sue Comish
- Jordana Easterbrook
- Mary Legakis Engel
- Nancy Farrell
- Heather Fuller
- Joyce Hisey
- Marisa Hoculik
- Selene Hur
- Maria-Christina Imirtziadis
- Kristel Lee-Hon-Siong
- Nancy Logan
- Carolyn Love
- Raquel Marques
- Hon. Barbara McDougall
- Hayley McGlone
- Stefanie Meligrana
- Lisa Miettinen
- Patricia Ootes
- Jane Palmer
- Catherine Ross
- Lisa Rubini-Laforest
- Margaret Shiner
- Carol Skinner
- Abbey Smith
- Louise Smith
- Lucrezia Spagnolo
- Marilyn Steinkopf
- Nicole Storeshaw
- Joanne Taylor
- Lynn Tuer
- Twila Capstick Turenne
- Lori Vaudry
- Suzanne Welch
- Liz Wong
Copyright © 2018 KKG Toronto Alumnae Association, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this email because you told us that you would like to stay in touch with KKG.
Our mailing address is:
KKG Toronto Alumnae Association
138 North Carson St.
Toronto, ON M8W 4C8
Canada
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