Red Band Society

So, I recently watched the show Red Band Society. Its all about some high school children being treated in the hospital. I myself spent my grade 7 year in the Janeway Children's Hospital in St. John's Newfoundland. 

I had my 13th birthday in the hospital and I went to classes every day just like in the show. I can't relate to everything in the show but some parts really hit home for me. The title comes from the wrist bands the kids wear and I can completely relate to having a special attachment to your hospital band. The one I wore for that year was white and had my hospital number which I still remember 201-266. I had a hard time taking it off once I was released from the hospital and once I finally did, I couldn't part with it and to this day its at my mothers house in Newfoundland wedged in between two books.

Looking back on the whole experience I don't know how I got through it. Lately if I'm in the hospital even over night I just hate it. I guess as a child you are more resilient. 

The kids on the show have parties and hang out together which I can't relate to at all there wasn't a lot of fun to be had while I was there. I mostly remember spending time with my mom and dad. We would watch movies, make crafts and play games. Dad and I went through every Where's Waldo book ever made and I think mom and I were up to date on every soap opera going. 

Anyways my point is this is a very cute show and you should check it out. I bet a lot of my Hemophilia friends can relate to spending long periods of time in the hospital and the funny things we do to get through it.

Best Friend

So, over the past weekend my best friend in the whole wide world came out to visit. It was her and her husbands first visit to Alberta so Zane and I were really excited to show them around.
They were only here for a few days but we managed to have an amazing time.
We couldn't of asked for better house guests as they were pretty much cooking and cleaning and walking our dogs every time we turned around.
Half way through the visit my arm started to get really sore and I was so torn about what to do. Part of me wanted to just suck it up while part of me was trying to be responsible so I decided to take it as easy as I could for the weekend then I went in to get checked out on Monday.
Of course, my friends were so understanding about me not feeling well. That's the best part about having a best friend like her she is so supportive, understanding and sweet. I honestly don't know what I would do without her. I hope everyone eventually meets a best friend like her and I hope I am even a tiny bit as good a friend as she is to me.

University Talk

So, I spoke at the university of Calgary a few weeks ago. This is my forth year speaking and I must say every year the first year medical students manage to ask me new questions!

This year they asked how my husband copes with me having Hemophilia and how I told him. I explained to them that living in a small town Zane knew I had Hemophilia before he even met me. I also explained to them that Zane has been nothing but wonderful and kind and caring with regard to me and my Hemophilia. I also pointed Zane out since he took the morning off work just to hear be blab on about things he already knows about. As soon as they saw him they gave him a huge round of applause which I thought was so nice because he deserves so many things and a big round of applause every day. Overall I think the talk went really well and I was happy to be a part of it. 

On a side note, my arm has been bothering me since Friday. I began taking percocet for the pain and on Monday I went in for an ultrasound. The test came back clear so I can only assume its muscle pain. My only complaint is that I am still in pain and now I am recovering from the percocet. Narcotics are nasty things and even if you only take them for a few days they make you grumpy and hot and sweaty and just feeling pretty yucky overall. 

I guess I panicked when the pain started because I did have a chest bleed a few years back and it was just excruciating. 

Anyways, I will continue to rest and ice my arm and I am praying that it feels better by Sunday so I can return to work. 

 

Goodbye my friend

Last week i got the terrible news that my factor 5 friend in British Columbia passed away. I met her at a rare blood and bleeding disorder conference years ago in Vancouver. Her and her sister were there and I was so happy to meet them because it was the first time I had ever met another factor 5 face to face. I liked her as soon as I laid eyes on her because I knew she was one of the very few people in the whole world who knew exactly how I felt and what I had been through. We talked a lot at over the course of the weekend and I feel like I must of asked her a million questions.
Over the years we have kept in touch but I never did get to see her again. I don't know all the details of her death but I do know she suffered.
Her sister was right by her side the whole time she was hospitalized and I take comfort in knowing she was well taken care of in the end.