Casting a Vote for a Sister in Christ

Great news! One of our blog sisters in Christ, Lisa, from The Preacher's Wife blog, has been nominated for "Best Religion Blog". Let's help her pass up atheist blogs which currently have the lead, and give God the Glory.

Please go by and visit Lisa's blog and read her post entitled "I'd Like to Thank the Academy" to hear what Lisa has to say about receiving this nomination. Then, all you need to do is follow the link to cast your vote in the Blogger's Choice Awards category of Best Religion Blog.

Can you join in spreading the news by adding a link on your own blog?

Hint: The site may require you to register in order to vote. I added "Grandma" in the first name spot. Most of the registration form is optional, so it isn't a biggie. :-)

Casting a Vote for a Sister in Christ

https://grandparents-life.blogspot.com/2007/04/casting-vote-for-sister-in-christ.html

God Bless My Dear Husband's Heart

Husband and Doctors

My sweet husband and I have been married almost 38 years and I love him dearly. He is one of those men who ab-so-lute-ly hates going to doctors and will tell you he is well or feeling great when he really isn't. Do you know someone like this? Oh my ... it is like pulling teeth to get him to the doctor. It wasn't until his younger brother suddenly needed a quadruple bypass in February that my DH became concerned and decided it was time to have his heart checked. His family has a strong history; both parents having passed away due to heart disease, his dad at the early age of 55.

First Test Scheduled

A cardiac stress test was scheduled for March 16. After the test, we met with the cardiologist who stated his heart 'appears' strong. We were so thankful to hear this great news and thought nothing further would be needed, however, his cardiologist felt differently. Due to his symptoms as well as family history, she felt a cardiac catheterization test was necessary to rule out Coronary Artery Disease. His symptoms included shortness of breath, some chest pain on exertion, along with sweating more than normal - all of which had been going on approximately three months. For these reasons, a Cardiac Caththeterization Test was scheduled March 23 the following week.

Cardiac Catheterization Testing

The day of the cardiac cath test the cardiologist prepared us by stating, if during the catheterization she found any blockage in the arteries, she would immediately change course and take the appropriate action to correct the problem. DH of course signed papers agreeing to whatever the cardiologist deemed necessary as we trust her opinion. We had both been praying about this and had a definite feeling of God's presence the entire time and felt at peace knowing God was in full control.

A Long Wait and Much Prayer

The nurse showed me to the waiting room and told me the Cardiologist would come there after finishing the test to let me know how it went. It was expected to last about one to one-and-a-half hours. I was praying and my faith was strong. I began reading an inspirational book I had brought and sat there praying and reading through the first hour, then two hours passed and I became concerned. I feel this is a normal reaction when the love of your life is having an extremely important health test. Still in my heart I felt totally aware of God's presence. I went into the nurses area and asked if they had heard anything from the doctor regarding my husband. One of the nurses proceeded to ask me if the doctor or her nurse had called me in the waiting room. I stated "no, I had not received any calls". The nurse then stated the only thing she could share was the doctor had found something during the testing, but that was all she knew presently ... and I would need to wait for the doctor to discuss the details. So... off I went to the waiting room again for more time in prayer. During this time I continued to feel strongly God was in complete control.

The Call Finally Came

About an hour later a nurse called the waiting room phone to ask me to come into the recovery area. There I saw my husband already awake, alert, and telling me he felt great. LOL I KNEW he would say that! This is coming from a man who hasn't taken a sick day from work since 2001. God bless him, he loves the work he does; considering it a ministry instead of work.

Doctor Report

Our Cardiologist came in and shared with us her findings. She stated there was an artery behind his heart which was 99% blocked. The blockage was found in the left anterior circumflex artery. She then used a stent procedure with balloon angioplasty. The procedure involves placing a mesh-like metal device into an artery at a site which is narrowed. The stent is mounted on a balloon-tipped catheter, threaded through an artery, and positioned at the point of blockage. The balloon is then inflated, opening the stent. The catheter and deflated balloon are then removed, leaving the stent in place. The opened stent keeps the vessel open and stops the artery from collapsing. His cardiologist used one of the newer stents which are medicated that help keep the artery from closing up again. These are called coated stents or drug-eluting stents. He was admitted to the hospital and was able to go home the following day which was a Saturday. We were so worn out we came home and slept until late that evening. On Sunday morning I wasn't sure he would feel up to church, however, he definitely wanted to go, and we did. He's sore from the cut in his groin and still a bit weak, but doing great otherwise.

Praises to God

There is a Christian song entitled "I Sing Praises to Your Name". The words express our feelings completely. We are filled with so much thankfulness and praises to our Lord. He is always there for us - not only when we have mountaintop experiences but also in the valleys or uncertainties of life. I have to say though, neither of us felt we were experiencing a valley of uncertainty. We felt God's presence so strongly it was awesome. God is so good, and greatly to be praised!

We would enjoy hearing from you through comments, and I'll be sure to share all prayers and good wishes to my husband for his continued good health. Thank you for your time and concern. May God bless YOUR life today with HIS eternal love!

Dear Lord, We give you ALL glory and praise for your constant love, peace, comfort, and joy, not only through this experience, but throughout our daily lives. For YOUR name IS great and greatly to be praised! In Jesus' blessed name, Amen!

Please visit the American Heart Association site to take a simple risk assessment test.

God Bless My Dear Husband's Heart

https://grandparents-life.blogspot.com/2007/03/my-husband-gave-me-big-scare.html

March is DVT Awareness MonthDeep Vein ThrombosisPulmonary Embolism

Why am I blogging on DVD and Pulmonary Embolism?
Not only is March DVT Awareness Month, it is also a medical condition which is personal to me due to my own frightening experiences with DVTs and pumonary embolism. I've experienced it at least three times in a two year period. The first time it almost killed me as it made its way to my lungs. The doctors thought it was asthma, however, breathing treatments did me NO good! Finally I was diagnosed, but it almost killed me waiting. The doctors then stated I had peripheral pulmonary embolism which adds up to multiple blood clots in both lungs.

During my last hospitalization with blood clots, the doctor placed a Greenfield Vena Cava Filter. I call it my little umbrella. Check out the picture. It's a cool little device and it is saving my life. In addition, I will be taking 1 mg of Coumadin/Warfarin once a day the rest of my life to keep my blood flowing through the filter so that it does not clog.

Statistics
* Did you know complications from DVT blood clots kill up to 200,000 people in the U.S. each year?
* According to the American Heart Association, DVT occurs in about 2 million Americans every year.
* More people suffer from DVT annually than heart attack and stroke.
* Up to 600,000 patients are hospitalized each year for DVT.
* Pulmonary embolism causes more deaths annually in the United States than breast cancer, AIDS and highway fatalities (combined).
* Fatal PE may be the most common preventable cause of hospital death in the United States.
* Only one-third of hospitalized patients with risk factors for blood clots received preventive treatment, according to a U.S. multicenter study.
* Without preventive treatment, up to 60 percent of patients who undergo total hip replacement surgery may develop DVT.
* Cancer patients undergoing surgical procedures have at least twice the risk of postoperative DVT and more than three times the risk of fatal PE than non-cancer patients undergoing similar procedures.
* In the elderly, DVT is associated with a 21 percent one-year mortality rate, and PE is associated with a 39 percent one-year mortality rate.
* PE is the leading cause of maternal death associated with childbirth. A woman's risk of developing Venous Thromboembolism (VTE) is six times greater when she is pregnant.

What is DVT?
Deep Vein Thrombosis, or DVT, is a blood clot which can form in your legs and sometimes move to your lungs, where it could be fatal. In fact, complications from DVT blood clots contribute to more deaths each year than AIDS and breast cancer combined. And cancer and certain heart or respiratory diseases increase the risk. But the good news is, in most cases, DVT blood clots can be prevented.

For more information on symptoms of DVT please click here.



DVT (Deep Vein Thrombosis) Awareness Month by Marie B. Walker, Editor of Clot Care

Below you will find information on some activities going on in support of deep vein thrombosis awareness. If you are hosting or know of a DVT Awareness activity that is not listed, please email the Webmaster at Clot Care using this email link to let them know so they can add it.

Tell a Friend About DVT
You can help spread awareness of deep vein thrombosis by sending an email to your friends, family, and colleagues. Clot Care has created an email form to help you spread the word. Click here to complete the email form to start spreading the word about deep vein thrombosis.

Post DVT Awareness Month Fliers
Please help spread awareness by posting fliers about Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT) Awareness Month on your blogs, websites, and in your communities. Please only post these fliers in places where you have permission or authority to do so. The flier includes important facts about DVT and Clot Care's Web address so that interested individuals know where to get more information. Click here to download the flier. Note that the flier is a pdf document. If you have any trouble with the download, please let the Webmaster at Clot Care know by using the email link here.

Please click here for Deep Vein Thrombosis Helpful Links.

The Vitamin K Registry lists foods and beverages which are high in Vitamin K. For anyone on anticoagulants such as Coumadin or Warfarin, this list is invaluable!

March is DVT Awareness Month
Deep Vein Thrombosis
Pulmonary Embolism

https://grandparents-life.blogspot.com/2007/03/march-is-dvt-awareness-month-deep-vein.html

Random Acts of Kindness - Pay it Forward

Have you ever been the recipient of "Random Acts of Kindness" or are you the person who frequently practices helping others anonymously? It's such an awesome experience to give something to someone anonymously, expecting nothing in return. It may be something as small as sending a card to someone who has been ill signing it "someone who cares", or leaving a bag of groceries on the porch of a family in need. These acts of helping others are no small act in the eyes of the person who receives them.

If you have seen the movie Pay It Forward starring Kevin Spacey, Helen Hunt, and Haley Joel Osment, then you know something about this pay it forward idea.

Synopsis of the movie:

Eleven-year old Trevor McKinney (played by Haley Joel Osment) lives in the working class section of Los Angeles with his mother, Arlene. Arlene (played by Helen Hunt) wants to be a good mother to Trevor, and works two jobs trying to give him a better life.

When Trevor's social studies teacher Eugene Simonet (played by Kevin Spacey) gives him an assignment - think of a way to change our world and put it into action - it stirs something in Trevor. He comes up with "pay it forward" where each person does something for three people that helps them turn their life around. As Trevor struggles with his plan, ripples begin to be felt by others in his life, and unbeknownst to him, "pay it forward" actually begins to work.

There are many ways we can "Pay it Forward" or do a "Random Act of Kindness" for someone. Here are just a few ideas:

1. Mow the yard of an elderly or ill neighbor.
2. Shovel snow for someone.
3. Pay for the coffee of the next person in line.
4. Prepare a nutritious sack lunch to give to a homeless person.
5. If you see someone having a bad day, stop to listen to them - hand them a flower - anything - to make a difference in their day.
6. Run or walk a race, or walk for the cure to help fund research for an incurable disease. An example would be the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Walk for the Cure held nationwide each year.
7. Volunteer at a hospital, nursing home, hospice, or non-profit agency.
8. Volunteer at your child or grandchild's school.
9. Babysit for free for a mom who needs a day to herself.
10. Offer to drive elderly or disabled people to appointments or the grocery store.
11. Send money anonymously to someone experiencing financial difficulty.
12. Pay a highway toll for the person behind you.
13. Buy a movie pass for two and give it to friends who can use a night out.
14. Leave your newspaper behind for the next person to read.
15. Donate a bag of food to your local community or church food pantry.
16. Crochet or knit baby hats and blankets to donate to a local hospital nursery.
17. Donate to a non-profit organization to help individuals or families in need.
18. Teach your children or grandchildren the act of giving. When you do this, you will have taught another generation the self-less act of helping others or of giving from their heart without expecting a return.

There are so many ways to make someones day, both large and small. These little anonymous acts of kindness can be done on your own or with the help of a few websites who provide smile cards or pre-printed notes to leave behind - in addition to organizations who invite you to give even a small amount to help someone in need.

Here are just a few sites you might wish to visit - which exist to make a difference in lives:

Modest Needs - Read about a unique challenge on Modest Needs Blog written by Dr. Keith Taylor regarding John - a man who searched the Internet with keywords "pay it forward" and came across Modest Needs website. He then wrote a letter to the organization sharing a challenge presented by his pastor. The challenge was made not only to John, but to all members of the church he attended in Osage Beach, Missouri. In addition to reading John's challenge, if you take a few extra minutes to read some of the testimonials from individuals who have been helped by Modest Needs, you will see why I believe John chose "Modest Needs" to accomplish his challenge.

Pay it Forward Foundation - began by Catherine Ryan Hyde, who is the author who wrote the book "Pay It Forward".

HelpOthers.org - Volunteer run website who publishes weekly kindness newsletters and ships "smile cards" all over the world for free. Check their site to find out about "smile cards" and how they are used. Also, please take the time to read a few of the "Kindness Stories" from people who already take part in the "random act of kindness" or "pay it forward" concept.

Random Acts of Kindness Foundation - inspires people to practice kindness and to “pass it on” to others. Provides free educational and community ideas, guidance, and other resources to kindness participants through their website. Picture used on this blog post courtesy of this foundation.

Dream Weaver's Foundation - a non-profit organization that engages in acts of kindness to people in need or to individuals who have a wish, fulfilling those needs or wishes anonymously.

GivingGame.org - created in response to the events of 9/11. It is a positive expression of energy that is focused on expanding the spirit of giving and kindness in an effort to create stronger, healthier communities.

Make a Difference Day - America's largest day of doing good happens annually the 4th Saturday of October sponsored by USA Weekend. Visit the site for information on getting your family, friends, and community involved.

Random Acts of Kindness - Pay it Forward

https://grandparents-life.blogspot.com/2007/02/random-acts-of-kindness.html

Have you heard of Product (RED) ?

Want this badge?

BONO AND BOBBY SHRIVER LAUNCH (RED)TM IN THE U.S.

Product (RED) is a global initiative whose primary objective is to engage the private sector in the fight against AIDS in Africa by channeling funds from the sale of Product (RED) products directly to the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Companies whose products take on the Product (RED) mark contribute a portion of profits from the sale of that product to Global Fund-financed programs in Africa. Current partners where you can obtain or purchase Product (RED) items are American Express, Apple (Red) ipod Nano, Apple Product (Red) gift card, Converse Shoes, Gap, Giorgio Armani, and Motorola.

This is the first time that the world's leading companies have made a joint commitment to channel a percentage of profits to assist in the fight against the HIV/AIDS pandemic, which kills three million people every year.

The Global Fund warmly welcomes this important new initiative from the private sector. Through (Product) RED and other initiatives, The Global Fund hopes to increase the private sector share of Global Fund income from less than one percent currently to ten percent or more in the long term.

If you would like a (BLOG)Red graphic or corner ribbon for your blog or website, go to Word of Blog for the html code and follow directions there.

For more information and links regarding Product (RED) and to read the Frequently Asked Questions concerning this initiative, please visit the Product (RED) website or follow the links to the businesses where Product (RED) is sold.

Have you heard of Product (RED) ?

https://grandparents-life.blogspot.com/2007/02/have-you-heard-of-product-red.html

Loss of our Child - Recommended Grief Books and other Resources

One of our children as well as our parents, grandparents, aunts, and uncles have all passed away which is a sad feeling if we stop and think of all the losses in our life. Our faith and trust in Jesus Christ and serving Him ... as well as knowing without a doubt that we will see our daughter and other family one day in Heaven is what lifts us up and keeps our hearts filled with joy.

We can personally recommend the book entitled "Confessions of a Grieving Christian" by Zig Ziglar. It helped us greatly during our grieving process. It is one of those books you can't put down after beginning to read.

Confessions of a Grieving Christian

Losing a loved one is never easy. Our daughter, Brandi, was in her twenties when she passed due to complications of Type 1 Juvenile Diabetes. She had two young elementary age girls.

To help children through the grief process, we recommend the book "Tear Soup" by Pat Schweibert. You will find more information on the book by clicking the book cover link below.


Tear Soup

In addition to our church and our faith in Christ, we list two places below which helped each of us; adults and children through grief. I pray this information will help you as well if you are experiencing grief and the loss of loved ones in your life. May God bless you and may you feel His comfort, love, and peace.

• GriefShare.org - grief classes available in your local area to help adults and teens dealing with grief. In addition to resources in your local area, they also offer a grief help e-mail which comes to your inbox every single day for one year only. There is no spam involved and no costs, plus they do not contact you otherwise. You will only receive the one short email on dealing with grief. I especially recommend taking this step as I always looked forward to those e-mails. You can always unsubscribe if you do not enjoy them.
  
  
• Camp Good Grief - for children grieving the loss of a parent, grandparent, or other significant person.

"Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning." Psalm 30:5

Loss of our Child - Recommended Grief Books
and other Resources

https://grandparents-life.blogspot.com/2007/02/our-best-friend.html