Live Love Laugh with Carol
Contact Carol
  • Home
  • Love Story
  • ALS
  • Blog
  • Tips & Tricks
  • Gallery
  • Travel
  • Media
  • Calendar
  • DONATE

Fruit Babies, Fundraising & Family

5/21/2016

4 Comments

 
Just when I was feeling better...my back went out!  Luckily, before that happened I was able to attend the Pearl Jam concert, which was AAAH-MAZING (Thank you for dinner Sean & Brittany, and thank you for driving Danny & Katie)!  Eddy's voice & passion hasn't changed since the '90s.  As well, I was able to co-host Brittany's baby shower which was a lot of fun.  I couldn't have done it without Travis who even made an adorable fruit baby for our travel inspired theme.  His reward was to go on a microbrewery tour with Sean during the shower!
Picture
Thanks to Lepine our rental company for our box seats to Pearl Jam!
Picture
Adorable Fruit Baby, Travis still has his Cordon Bleu carving skills!
I am currently fundraising for the 2016 Ottawa Walk for ALS, please click on the button below to help me reach my goal!  For those who are able to join my team (please let me know), you are invited to both a cocktail party at my place the evening before, as well as lunch at Lowertown Brewery in the Byward Market after the walk.
Sponsor Me!
At the Walk kick-off party Co-Directors of the Centre for Neuromuscular Disease at the University of Ottawa - Dr. Jodi Warman and Dr. Robin Parks - spoke of the proposed Neuromuscular Clinical Research Center at the Ottawa Hospital.  The hope is that the new Centre of Excellence will have an expert ALS neurologist at the helm as well as opportunities for ALS clients to participate in clinical trials locally.  I can't tell you how much this means to me and I really hope to be alive to see it to fruition!  I very much wanted to participate in a clinical trial but had to turn it down as it was in Montreal and was too difficult for me to travel for the study every few weeks.  It is too late for me to participate in clinical trials now as they want people to begin a trial in their first two years living with ALS.  The reason?  Because people diagnosed with ALS have 3 to 5 years to live and they don't want to waste efforts and resources on participants who die during the trial.  Nevertheless, I am thrilled that others in my community will have the chance to participate and further the cause for a cure.  Watch the video to learn more about what it takes to go through a clinical trial, and why fundraising is so important.
Travis and I paid another visit to the ALS Clinic for a follow-up.  The good news is that my breathing is still functioning well.  Unfortunately, I have noticed my speech is beginning to slur.  It happens more when I am tired and it is the weirdest thing, my brain knows exactly what I am trying to say, but something completely different comes out of my mouth.  I am currently looking into Voice Banking.  This would allow the use of my voice on a Speech Generating Device.  It is a bit of a complicated procedure, but we are figuring it out.  My handwriting is also deteriorating, but it is still neater than Travis's teehee!  

My back is now feeling better after spending another week in bed recovering.  I am looking forward to my parents visiting next week, and then we head to Newburgh for a few days to visit with Heather and Andy.  After that, Women's World Cup Soccer Canada vs. Brazil, and then a visit with my fellow teacher Bethy, who it feels like we saw a year or two ago, but we left St. Maarten in 2007!  Can you believe it?  9 years ago.  How time flies, so MAKE IT COUNT!
Picture

I've spent time scanning all of Don's pictures that we brought from St. Maarten.  He was such a good looking guy, his outside reflecting his beautiful inside.  I couldn't resist sharing the pic of my big brothers helping me unwrap my Christmas gift!  Mom, how long did it take you to wrap that thing??
Picture
Picture
4 Comments
Heather
5/28/2016 09:47:01 am

Voice Banking, yes please.

Love the hula hoop wrapping - nicely done Santa Mom!

And: so so so so so excited to see you both this weekend! xxoo

PS - wow Chef - you may have found a new calling: fruit art installations!

Reply
Kate
6/8/2016 04:56:37 pm

You two are just so smart and talented. Lots of love.

Reply
Brittany
6/29/2016 07:27:07 pm

Love the pics of Don. Handsome guy indeed!

I need to thank you again for co-hosting the most perfect shower a girl could ask for! Although ALS has taken some things away from you, there are some things that remained unchanged: your loyalty to your friends, your creativity, your organization skills, and your ability to be the hostess with the mostest!

And to your amazing hubby- thank you so much for that incredible fruit baby complete with plane and hot air balloon!! You are so talented and I'm so touched by all the hard work that went into that masterpiece!

Reply
Kaleb S link
1/12/2021 08:12:16 am

Great blog yyou have here

Reply



Leave a Reply.

    Author

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

    Archives

    September 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013

    RSS Feed

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