Six-Word Memoirs

 So, I found this awesome book, Not Quite What I Was Planning, Revised and Expanded Deluxe Edition: Six-Word Memoirs by Writers Famous and Obscure
It challenges you to write six words that describe your whole life!

Here's mine
Lived Laughed Bled Cried Almost Died.

What's yours?

Greetings from India!

So, as I have mentioned before I have met lots of Hemophiliac friends from India! They are wonderful friends and we have been talking a lot about how we can improve the quality of life those living with Hemophilia. The following is from the Youth Group in India! If you would like to help out please let me know!

When you are young, you have lots of ideas and a free spirit and loads of enthusiasm to change the world. You not only understand the problems around you but you have innovative and new solutions for most of them. Someone just needs to guide you and nurture you to be the MAN/WOMAN you want to be.


National Hemophilia Youth Forum of India (NHYFI), a youth wing of Hemophilia Federation of India (HFI), was formed in 2004 as a platform for young haemophilic voices in India to be heard. HFI powered NHYFI with an organizational structure, manual, roadmap and a constitution to function. NHYFI now serves as a playground for the young budding leaders to get involved. Hundreds of youth across India today meet to help improve the quality of living for those living with Haemophilia.

NHYFI is built across a shared vision, value system and culture that bind the Haemophiliac youth with friendship and the feeling of belonging.

The broad goals of NHYFI are:

• Create Education and Employment opportunities for the youth across India.

• Create a self sustaining support chain for the youth.

• Build next generation leaders of the HFI.

The founding belief of NHYFI is that by empowering and guiding the Hemophilia youth today we are building a stronger and self sustainable Hemophilia community for tomorrow. HFI in sync with NHYFI arranges many activities to address youth issues such as education, marriage counselling and hemophilia care in general. In the last six years many young men and women of India have been benefited from these efforts. Many more shall be reached soon. We have a lot of obstacles in front of us but our spirit to win them over is greater.

Mall at the Hall

So, I have been on a committee to plan an event called Mall at the Hall. The event is to raise money for Hemophilia! I am really looking forward to it and want to get as many people out as possible!
The following is an article all about Mall at the Hall!

When Jenny Rucklic’s little boy Carter started getting unexplained bruises she was shocked.


It wasn’t long until Carter was diagnosed with Severe Factor 8 Hemophilia, a genetic disorder that doesn’t allow his blood to clot properly. This diagnosis through the entire family for a loop.

“Hemophilia has turned our lives upside down,” said Rucklic.

But Jenny isn’t the type of mom who takes things lying down. She immediately jumped into action and has been doing everything in her power to help improve the quality of life for her little boy.

“I want to raise awareness and helps others living with Hemophilia as much as I can,” she said.

Hemophilia causes Carter to bleed into his joints and muscles. These bleeds are very painful and are treated with replacement factor. The factor is administered with a needle and takes about one hour to infuse.

There is no cure for Hemophilia. It is estimated that 1 in 5,000 people has a bleeding disorder.

Jenny is currently the secretary of the Calgary Chapter of the Canadian Hemophilia Society and has recently started her own charity, Carter’s Quest for a Cure.

Her first event is Mall in the Hall. A neighbourhood hall filled with vendors such as Stella and Dot, Arbonne, Discovery toys, Scentsy and many more. There will also be a bake sale and raffle prizes. The raffle prizes include meals, movie tickets, spa gift certificates, Calaway park tickets, tickets to the Calgary Zoo and sports tickets. All the proceeds will go to helping people living with Hemophilia.

There will also be a kids section so parents can shop. Coffee, tea and soft drinks will be available.

Mall at the Hall takes place on April 9th, Saturday 2011 at Glenbrook Community Hall 3524 - 45 Street SW from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more information, contact Jenny Rucklic at





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Chicken Soup for the Hemophiliac Soul!

So, today I was getting a little stir crazy sitting around the house and I think I started to feel a little bit sorry for myself because the house is messy and I've been eating toast for every meal since Friday! Anyways, I was feeling a bit sad but I was so blessed to have two little visitors today! My friend Ange came and cleaned up my kitchen for me! she is so sweet! And my friend Dan dropped of a delicious pot of chicken noodle soup for me! I know to them these things were not that significant but it was so wonderful for me I must say. There's only so many movies you can watch Life as We Know It and booksLittle Bee: A Novel you can read.
I'm actually so excited to get back to work. I'm aiming to head back on Tuesday so I am praying my ankle doesn't cause me anymore pain.
I remember when I was a little girl and I would have terrible pain in my ankles from bleeds I would get my sister to sit on my feet! I don't know why but the pressure would make it feel better.
Ankle bleeds were always my target joints for years and years. I remember when I would sleep over to my grandmothers house I would be up in the night crying and crying in pain and she would get a hot water bottle for me and put it on my ankles. When I look back on it I hate that I had to suffer so much and it must of been so hard for my family to watch me in such pain but I wasn't followed by a proper Hemophilia clinic and we just did the best we could! Home remedies got me this far in life so I guess there is something to being around friends and a good cup of chicken noodle soup!

Crutching along!

So, I was doing my good deed for the day by letting my friends dog out for her while she was at an appointment. On my way to her house I slipped ion her yard, I caught myself but I guess I must of hyper extended my foot because by Friday I was almost in tears because of the pain. I was really upset because I had to call in sick today for work and it's only my first week! But I was just in too much pain to go through a full day of work!
I met one of my favourite Hematologist at the Peter Lougheed Centre and she examined me for signs of a bleed. I also got an X ray to ensure it was not a bleed. The test revealed that a pulled a muscle in my ankle and am now on crutches!
And if you have been reading my blog you'll remember that Zane is also on crutches so we've been crutching along around the house.
We've been eating only take out and the house is a bit of a mess but in a few days this will just be a memory!
In the meantime we are watching movies and listening to music! Like Adele which I love! 21.
If you are in the mood you are more than welcome to come and clean our house our cook for us!!

New Job!

So, I had an interview today! I thought it went really well I must say and my suspicions were confirmed when I got a call today around 6 p.m. saying I got the job! I was so excited when he called. I accepted of course and I start tomorrow morning at 9 a.m.
The job is a marketing assistant of a jewellery company. The office is absolutely beautiful and there is something so exciting about walking into a room filled with beautiful diamonds and jewels.
The other people who work there seem really nice and it is only a 15 minute drive from my house which in Calgary is a huge benefit.
Zane is still laid up but he is getting better day by day, bit by bit.
I am also gearing up for our Chapters Volunteer Appreciation night which is this Friday! I'm really looking forward to it as we have great food, great wine and great people! I must say it's a good day for me thank god!
Right now I am off to bed as I have an early morning. I am really looking forward to this job and I am praying I have a happy and healthy new career ahead!

When the shoes on the other foot...

So, last week Zane tore a muscle in his calf! He has been in so much pain and has to use crutches to get around.
I must say if I had the choice I would much rather be sick than him! It seems like when I am the sick one things run much more smoothly. For example, I've been driving around with the hood up for the last few days with the block heater cord hanging out, also I went to take the garbage out (which Zane normally does) and ended up locking myself out for like ten minutes!
Also, it's hard to watch someone you love in pain.

With that being said I did have a great birthday! I had a few friends over and celebrated with some food and wine. Zane celebrated with us and you would never know there was anything wrong with him. I am always amazed at how people can still have a smile on their face despite huge obstacles. I've noticed this especially in the friends I have met from India. They do not have free medical care and sometimes have major complications because of their lack of access treatment. Yet, every time I talk to them they are always kind and pleasant no matter what, even when they are having a bleed. It is very inspiring and encouraging!

Poppy!

So, today is my Poppy's Birthday! He is 88 today! We are 60 years and one day a part! I absolutely adore my poppy. I think all of us grand children do. He is everything a grandfather should be, kind, sweet, caring and funny. My poppy worked as a cook so he always had to most delicious cakes and cookies around and make the best Sunday dinners ever.
When I think of my poppy I think of the time I was in the hospital in Stephenville as a child. I can't even remember what I was in for, a bleed somewhere. I was in for about a week or so and I really missed seeing their dog Puppy! (yes the dog was named puppy.)
So my grandfather went home, got the dog, drove up to my hospital window and held the dog up so I could reach out and pet him.
My grandfather is also a beautiful artist. He is a self taught artist. He uses oil paints. When I was a kid and I was home sick from school with a bleed he would let me use his paints and teach me how to paint flowers. I currently have a painting that we did together hanging in my house and to this day it is one of my most prized possessions!

Rahul

So, lately I have been talking to a lot of new friends I have made on Facebook! One such friend includes Rahul. He is a kind and thoughtful person and has been struggling with Hemophilia all of his life. Please read his story. I am hoping that it will inspire you donate to his cause by clicking the donate button!

Hello my name is Rahul I am a severe factor 8 from India. I have a family history of Hemophilia and throughout my life it has caused me many problems.
The medicine used to treat a bleeding episode is very expensive and hard to get. The Hemophilia Treatment Centre is far away and is hard for me to get to.
I would love to improve my quality of life and would like to do so by opening my own business. The idea is to open a gift shop that sells fancy stationary and specialty items. Once I open my store I plan on employing other Hemophiliacs as well. Opening my own business would give me my independence and help me and my family with our medical expenses. Please donate to my cause and help us start a new life!

Thank you to Rahul for sharing your story and I am hoping that will encourage us to get involved and help out where we can!