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Happy New Year!

12/31/2015

3 Comments

 
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What an appropriate quote from the last day of my Mark Twain Desk Calendar!
Happy New Year to all of you beautiful people!

I am sitting here this New Year's Eve with my favourite scent of Christmas Tree in the background, looking forward to Travis getting home from work (late, but before midnight) to share a bottle of Veuve.  Okay, lets be honest, most of the bottle is for me!  As I reflect back on my year, which is easy to do thanks to my share everything-diary-of-a-blog, the theme for me is definitely gratitude.


Thanks to my good friend Marie-France, I was able to participate in the Canadian Mental Health Association's annual Client Christmas Party.  I'm not gonna lie, I was extremely self-conscious to show up in front of people I hadn't seen in awhile in my walker/wheelchair.  I notice my limited strength and mobility and wonder how much others notice it.  I am supposed to be the strong one for my clients, but as per usual, they inspire me probably more than I ever have them.  I was rewarded by nothing but hugs & kisses and shouts of "you changed my life!".  I was also able to sit down with many staff who I hadn't had the chance to catch up with in awhile.  Such a special event.

I had a wonderful warm (17 degrees warm!) Christmas with mom & dad who were mostly well behaved, although we have created a Canasta fiend out of my dad who threw way too many black threes my way.  Al & Jeannie took us to see the Tran-Siberian Orchestra for a Christmas themed rock opera.  They spent Christmas Eve with us while Travis was napping in preparation for his Christmas overnight turkey marathon, cooking over 200 in total for two days!

I am super grateful to Sue & Wayne for forgoing their usual Christmas cards and Christmas extras this year to instead contribute and raise money for ALS.  Whenever they had any engagements, they let it be known that they were collecting cash on my behalf.  At the Ryder's Eve house party the donation box circled and everyone from unemployed students, first time jobs, etc. all donated.  One friend took the donation box to the after-hockey game party and collected funds.  This Christmas they raised $1500 for the ALS Society of Canada.  Amazing!  

I feel extremely honoured to be featured in the Ottawa Citizen's Christmas Editorial entitled "This Christmas We Remember the Stories of the People who Make us Want to be Better".  If you would like to read the article, click on the link below.

Gratitude.  The word seems underwhelming for what is in my heart.  Thank you to all of you who have supported and continue to support myself and my family in so many ways.  We live (I say we as it really is a family disease) with what could have been an extremely lonely illness.  But you unrelenting beautiful people refuse to allow me to feel alone and you refuse to allow me to give up.  I will continue to survive to the best of my ability so that I can share as many precious moments with you as possible.

Link to Article
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The Fading Symphony

12/12/2015

2 Comments

 
This is a campaign by MND (motor neuron disease) Australia.  What a beautiful and brilliant idea.  Brought me to tears.  To hear the whole song, you donate to MND Australia.  Love it.  Check out their website by clicking the link below.
The Fading Symphony Website
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'Tis the Season!

12/8/2015

6 Comments

 
My Christmas Card to You!
I hope all of your holiday shopping is done!  Travis & I have been busy getting ready for Christmas.  We went to the Cedar Hill Christmas Tree Farm to cut down our own tree, we do it every year and is our way of embracing December and getting into the spirit.  Travis offered to let me stay and drink hot chocolate inside while he went to get the tree, but being aware of how precious my time is and knowing that everything could be "my last", I wanted to go out with him.  The ground was frozen mud and too uneven and difficult to use the wheelchair and/or walker.  So hand in hand with Travis I set out into the trees, where my leg got stuck on the uneven ground and buckled beneath me.  Travis was carrying two saws in his other hand and in what felt like slow-motion, I hit the ground and ended up with a giant purple and yellow goose egg bump & bruise on my thigh.  The price I pay for my stubbornness.  He did let me choose the tree after that though and it is perfect!  And I did get my hot chocolate, and was comforted by the cutest bunny that Travis wouldn't let me take home!

It is really difficult between finding the balance of living life and being safe.  I am still at a point, where I choose a bruise over not participating!  That being said, I have given in to using my walker inside.  Now that we are on our own again in the apartment, I need to choose safety so Travis can go to work without worrying about me.  I've also begun receiving home care with a personal support worker through the "VHA" program.  This is very difficult for me as I like to be independent, but what I'm telling myself is that this will allow me to keep my independence.  Travis doesn't believe me but I find it hard asking (telling) people what to do.  So this is going to take some getting used to!

I had my 3 month ALS Clinic visit and my breathing, swallowing and talking is still within the normal ranges.  The doctors said that I am doing really well.  They had many patients this year who were diagnosed and died within 2015.  My heart goes out to them and their families and I will do my best to appreciate life while enduring this difficult disease.

​Still feeling the love and never-ending support from awesome people I'm connected to.  I have to share with you an email I received from my Sorority Sisters of Kappa Kappa Gamma at McGill University in Montreal;

My name is Alex and I am the current philanthropy chair at Delta Delta.  I wanted to reach out and let you know that the women here at Delta Delta are still thinking about you! 
We want you to know that you are always in our hearts and we are here to support you in any way that we can. Being a Kappa, to us, means always being there for your sisters, no matter what.
In that light, I am writing to you to let you know that our Fall Philanthropy event this year was again organized in support of the ALS Society of Quebec. We held a dance-a-thon where we had teams performing routines, a dance lesson, and dance battles throughout the afternoon. It was a lot of fun and a very successful event in both fundraising for the society and for raising awareness of the terrible disease that effects too many people. 
In the end we raised just over $1200 for the society and we wanted to let you know this as you inspire our chapter every day and this event was created with you very much in  mind. We wish you all the best and if you have anything you'd like me to read out to the chapter, we always love hearing from our wonderful alumni!
L & L 
Alex 


How Awesome is that?  Check out their photos below.  I will never feel that I deserve this outpouring of support from so many people in my life, but I am sure going to savour every moment of it!

I know there is a lot of sadness in the world lately, but I will never stray from my belief that people are generally kind, loving and good.  Many may be misguided, suffering and lost, but generosity, compassion and love, are what will win over hatred and violence in this world.

Peace Out,
C
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Tractor Ride at the Christmas Tree Farm
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Buddy would love a new playmate!
A Little Shuffle for ALS
Kappa Kappa Gamma
Dance-a-Thon
6 Comments

    Author

    Carol Jean Skinner (née Sharman)
    born October 19
    lives in Ottawa, Canada

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carol skinner  - rolyskinner@gmail.com
travis skinner - skinnertravis@gmail.com