(not so) Wordless Wednesday

The poem was written by a Canadian — Lieutenant Colonel John McCrae, a doctor and teacher, who served in both the South African War and the First World War.

Looking ahead

Last year at this time I was suffering from taper madness with two back to back half marathons on the calendar.

The Canada Army Run, is this Sunday and is held in downtown Ottawa. The race supports our military troops and recognizes not only their sacrifices but those of their families as well. It is an emotional race, you run with members of our military who are both healthy and those who have been injured in the line of duty keeping our country free from terrorism.

This year will be no different as Master Corporal Jody Mitic will be running his first half marathon as a double amputee. Jody lost both of his legs while leading an elite sniper team for the Royal Canadian Regiment in Afghanistan. (in the photo with Jody is Phil Marsh, eastern regional director of the Running Room).

Also running, Rick Ball will be attempting a world record for a single leg amputee (Rick did not lose his leg in a military skirmish, but due to a motorcycle accident in 1986).

Best wishes and good luck gentlemen, you are true inspirations and role model's to not only the running community but to every single person in Canada and around the free world.

I would like to take this opportunity to say Thank You to our military troops for your never ending courage in serving our country!!

Life's fun if you don't weaken,

Lily

A New Heart!

Last year at this time, a very good friend of mine called to tell me her teenager was really suffering from a bad cold and had been to the doctor's. All they could come up with was she had bronchitis and that with the proper medication she'd be back on her feet in no time.

Bronchitis was then diagnosed as pneumonia and that with the proper medication she would be back on her feet in no time.

Throughout the summer the young lady would get better but then fall into a bout of wheezing, coughing and sudden extreme tiredness, the doctor's were now starting to take things a little more seriously, things were just not right.....her heart was being affected and they didn't know why.

Turns out that she had contracted one of the "new" virus's that are entering into North America and it had attacked her heart. By late summer the Ottawa Heart Institute was now involved and the talk turned to surgery with the installment of a pace maker. Know as a LVAD.

We all thought that this was just a temporary measure until the Saturday before Christmas when all hell broke loose...

My friends daughter was sent by ambulance to the Heart Institute where she was put into a drug induced coma for months....while everything about this situation was being assessed.

By February, small steps were being made and as we most affectionately call her "Rebel" was slowly brought back to consciousness....it has been a very long, arduous journey.

To make a long story short(er), it was determined at that time that Rebel would require a heart transplant.

Today is Rebel's 20th Birthday,

Today, they found a Heart.....please pray that this is the perfect match...

Please pray for the donor's family. The gift they have given in the midst of their tragedy is so very beautiful and amazing. Please pray for the surgeons and the care givers as they minister to our Rebel girl, giving her new life.

Take today to sign your donor cards, give thanks for your health, your family and friends....Take today to reflect how fragile life truly is and that we are truly blessed to enjoy this day.

Life's fun if you don't weaken!

Lily

*************************************************************************************
UPDATE:

(from her Mother)

"The perfusionist came with the charge nurse from the Ward around 7 AM to tell us that she was `going like a pony!`

At this moment she is still in the O.R. as they are waiting to ensure all the bleeding subsides and that all continues to go well.

So we now want to ensure that that her body does not reject the heart. All seems to be going very well."

Please continue your prayers for our Rebel.....

and the family of the donor in their time of grief.

Lily