Free Book

This is a press release sent to me in an e-mail from Danielle's foundation. I thought the book looked interesting, even for families of kids with other disabilities besides cerebral palsy and brain injury.

Danielle’s Foundation Empowers Special Needs Families with Free Book

Growing non-profit devoted to helping families of children with cerebral palsy and brain injury commits to mission of informing and supporting parents

PHILADELPHIA—Danielle’s Foundation, a growing non-profit organization dedicated to helping parents of children with cerebral palsy and brain injury, announces the publication of its new book, Getting the Therapy, Benefits, and Resources Your Child Needs: A Guide for Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Brain Injury.

Authored by Richard P. Console Jr., one of the volunteers at Danielle’s Foundation, the book was written to help parents navigate the complexities and challenges associated with successfully raising children with brain injury and cerebral palsy.

The comprehensive, 176-page guide includes the following topics:

• Understanding your child’s diagnosis, and what it means for the future
• Funding your child’s care
• Securing effective and cutting-edge therapies
• Negotiating successfully with your insurance company
• Demystifying the often confusing world of government benefits
• Ensuring your child receives the education he or she deserves
• Estate planning for families of special needs children

“My reasons for writing this book are personal,” said Console, who helped found Danielle’s Foundation in memory of Danielle Vick, the daughter of a friend who passed away in 2008 from complications associated with anoxic brain damage at just 4 years old. “While Danielle’s life was short, it was incredibly inspirational, and though she is no longer with us, we take comfort in knowing that we can make her legacy live on forever”.

Console said the purpose of the book is to educate and empower families of children with brain injury and cerebral palsy, so they can effectively advocate for their children. While he admits that families of special needs children face difficult challenges, he feels that with knowledge and education comes hope. “Every parent wants the best for their child, but getting the benefits their child needs is not always easy, and a lot of parents don’t know where to turn for help and support. We want Danielle’s Foundation to be that guiding light to which families can turn.”

“Getting the Therapy, Benefits, and Resources Your Child Needs: A Guide for Parents of Children with Cerebral Palsy and Brain Injury” is FREE to parents who call Danielle’s Foundation today toll free at 1-800-208-3494.

Parents interested in learning more about Danielle’s Foundation, and the support and services it offers, may visit http://www.daniellesfoundation.org/ for more information.


About Danielle’s Foundation

Danielle’s Foundation is a non-profit resource that is committed to helping families of children with cerebral palsy and brain injury gain the knowledge to secure the therapy, benefits, and resources their children need. It was created by a team of grassroots volunteers whose mission is to help parents navigate through the challenges and complexities that arise while caring for their children. Their website, http://www.daniellesfoundation.org/, also offers hundreds of articles related to treatments and therapies, education, estate planning, and legal and financial issues. Join Danielle’s Foundation today to become a part of their support network, where parents can unite to share and exchange their knowledge to educate and empower each other via their online forum.

Jenni

Update

On Monday I went to the doctors to get more Botox injections in my neck and shoulders. It's so nice to have my muscles loose again. The downside is that in three months I will have to go back because it will wear off. I also got my H1N1 flu shot.

Yesterday I had my interpersonal communication class and we had a quiz on chapter 8 which was all about listening. I got 15/15! I guess that proves something, I know how to listen. I have a six page fiction paper rough draft due on the 14th for my online creative writing class. I'm looking forward to writing it. I got great reviews from my teacher on my creative nonfiction paper that I turned in about a week and a half ago.

This afternoon I got in the standing frame with my physical therapist, Nicole. Usually the nurses and PCA's just get me in but lately I haven't been able to get up to 90° before my blood pressure drops. Nicole wanted to try to figure out why I could only get up to about 60°. I had a feeling this would happen, but I ended up getting up to 90° in about 20 minutes. Half the time it takes me to get to 60° when I do it without her. We figured out that it was probably due to the fact that I do the standing frame in the morning because that's the time I have a PCA. Today I did it in the afternoon. I had been sitting up in my wheelchair all day versus just getting up from lying in bed all night long. That's partly why my blood pressure had been dropping.

Jenni

A Sudden Change

Today is the seven-year anniversary of my accident. I went to church this morning and they aired My Faith video that I made. It's very ironic that it just happens to be November 1; they didn't plan that on purpose. The pastor saved my video for last, and after showing it he read the first part of the about me section that I have on blog. It was very good and I think I made an impact on a lot of people. After the service, many people came up to me and said thank you for sharing my story. I posted the video below. I say basically everything in the video that I probably would have written in the post today talking about the anniversary of my accident.





Jenni

"Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending"
-Maria Robinson

"It takes a lot of courage to release the familiar and seemingly secure, to embrace the new. But there is no real security in what is no longer meaningful. There is more security in the adventurous and exciting, for in movement there is life, and in change there is power."
-Alan Cohen

"There came a time when the risk to remain tight in the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
-Anais Nin

Happy Halloween!

The picture above is of my cat Ty showing off his best Halloween pose.

The link below is to an e-card that my sister sent me for Halloween. She used pictures of my dad, his dog, herself, me and Arnold Schwarzenegger to make up the characters. I tried to get the video on my blog but it wouldn't work, so you have to click on the link to view the video.

http://sendables.jibjab.com/view/dDjRtp813MVAl9ie

Jenni

Things To Think About

I found these to be quite funny. Check them out for yourself and let me know what you think:

If at first you don't succeed, skydiving probably isn't for you.

Before you criticize someone, you should walk a mile in their shoes. That way, when you criticize them, you are a mile away from them, and you have their shoes.

Under-Achievers Anonymous has an 11-step program.

Why do people park on a driveway and drive on a parkway?

Why is it that when we send something by car we call it SHIPment, but when we send something by ship we call it CARgo?

Why isn't there a mouse-flavored cat food?

Warning: dates on calendar are closer than they appear.

Make it idiot proof and someone will make a better idiot.

No sense being pessimistic; it probably won't work anyway.

I thought about joining the Optimists, but then I had my doubts.

Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

Funny, I don't remember being absent minded.

If quitters never win, and winners never quit, what fool came up with, "Quit while you`re ahead?"

Always remember you're unique, just like everyone else.

If marriage were outlawed, only outlaws would have in-laws.

Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.

There are 3 kinds of people in the world: those who can count and those who can't.

Why is "abbreviation" such a long word?

Why isn't phonetic spelled the way it is pronounced?

Of course I believe in free will. Do we have a choice?

I'd give my right arm to be ambidextrous.

I wonder how much deeper the ocean would be without sponges.

A journey of a thousand miles begins with a cash advance.

I went to a restaurant that had a sign, "Breakfast Anytime". So I ordered scrambled eggs during the Renaissance.

Never raise your hands to your kids. It leaves your groin unprotected.

I'm not into working out. My philosophy: No pain, no pain.

A baby-sitter is a teenager acting like an adult while the adults are out acting like teenagers.

Any married man should forget his mistakes. There's no use in two people remembering the same thing.

Don't take life so seriously...it's not permanent.

Don't worry about the world ending today...It's already tomorrow in Australia.

Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach him to use the Net and he won't bother you for weeks.

I drive way too fast to worry about cholesterol.

Suburbia: Where they tear out the trees and then name streets after them.

The really nice thing about not planning is that failure comes as a complete surprise and is not preceded by a period of worry and depression.

99 percent of lawyers give the rest a bad name.

Why is lemon juice made with artificial flavors, but dishwashing liquid made from real lemons?

OK, so what's the speed of dark?

Depression is merely anger without enthusiasm.

Hard work pays off in the future. Laziness pays off now.

Many people quit looking for work when they find a job.

Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

24 hours in a day ... 24 beers in a case...coincidence?

Experience is something you don't get until just after you need it.

Monday is an awful way to spend 1/7th of your life.

Half the people you know are below average.

Light travels faster than sound. That's why some people appear bright until you hear them speak.

I just got lost in thought. It was unfamiliar territory.

It is hard to understand how a cemetery raised its burial cost and blamed it on the cost of living.

A fine is a tax for doing wrong. A tax is a fine for doing well.

I'd kill for a Nobel Peace Prize.

Borrow money from pessimists - they don't expect it back.All those who believe in telekinesis, raise my hand.

The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.

Axe me about eubonics

Jenni

The Month for Birthdays

Happy birthday mom! I want to thank you for everything you do for me. You're the best mom anyone could ever have. I appreciate you so much and love you.

Jenni

Did You Know?

I get autonomic dysreflexia.

According to SCI-info pages, "Autonomic dysreflexia, also known as hyperreflexia, means an over-activity of the Autonomic Nervous System causing an abrupt onset of excessively high blood pressure. Persons at risk for this problem generally have injury levels above T-5. Autonomic dysreflexia can develop suddenly and is potentially life threatening and is considered a medical emergency. If not treated promptly and correctly, it may lead to seizures, stroke, and even death.

AD occurs when an irritating stimulus is introduced to the body below the level of spinal cord injury, such as an overfull bladder. The stimulus sends nerve impulses to the spinal cord, where they travel upward until they are blocked by the lesion at the level of injury. Since the impulses cannot reach the brain, a reflex is activated that increases activity of the sympathetic portion of autonomic nervous system. This results in spasms and a narrowing of the blood vessels, which causes a rise in the blood pressure."

Commen warning signs for autonomic dysreflexia include a fast, major increase in blood pressure, pounding headache, flushed or reddened skin, goosebumps, heavy sweating, blurry vision or seeing spots, anxiety or jitters, a stuffy nose, and tightness in chest or flutters in your heart or chest. When I get autonomic dysreflexia, the first thing that happens is my blood pressure increases. If it goes on for longer, I get goosebumps, a headache, and my skin becomes red and blotchy. I have never experienced any of the other warning signs listed above, but people with lower injury levels tend to get them.

If any of these warning signs appear, there are a few steps that have to be taken. Proper treatment of autonomic dysreflexia includes determination and removal of the triggering stimuli. First, sit up or raise head to 90°. This will bring the blood pressure down. Second, loosen or take off anything tight. Third, check bladder for drainage. Fourth, call your health care professional.

Causes of autonomic dysreflexia according to SCI-info pages:

"There can be many stimuli that cause autonomic dysreflexia. Anything that would have been painful, uncomfortable, or physically irritating before the injury may cause autonomic dysreflexia after the injury.

The most common cause seems to be overfilling of the bladder. This could be due to a blockage in the urinary drainage device, bladder infection (cystitis), inadequate bladder emptying, bladder spasms, or possibly stones in the bladder.

The second most common cause is a bowel that is full of stool or gas. Any stimulus to the rectum, such as digital stimulation, can trigger a reaction, leading to autonomic dysreflexia.

Other causes include skin irritations, wounds, pressure sores, burns, broken bones, pregnancy, ingrown toenails, appendicitis, and other medical complications."

The most common reason why I get autonomic dysreflexia is if my bladder is full. All I have to do is cath and it goes away. The next most common reason is if I am laying on a wrinkle or somethings too tight on my body. If there is any pressure inside or outside of my body, I will get dysreflexia. My blood pressure has never gotten to dangerous levels, and I have never actually called my doctor because of getting dysreflexia. I'm lucky that I can detect it soon enough and do something about it before it gets bad.

Jenni

Faith Story

Yesterday I went to my church and they videotaped me sharing my faith story. It will take about a week for them to edit it. They are going to show the video at all three services next weekend. I'm excited for people to hear my story. In the video I talk about my God and who He is to me and how He is my life. I also talk a little bit about the accident and what happened to me. I will be posting the video on my blog when they finish editing it for people to view if they please.

Jenni

"If you have faith you have hope and if you have hope you have everything."
-Anonymous

Today's Lesson

I received this in an e-mail and thought it was worth sharing:

One day a farmer's donkey fell down into a well. The animal cried
piteously for hours as the farmer tried to figure out what to do.

Finally, he decided the animal was old, and the well needed to be
covered up anyway; it just wasn't worth it to retrieve the donkey.

He invited all his neighbors to come over and help him. They all
grabbed a shovel and began to shovel dirt into the well.

At first, the donkey realized what was happening and cried horribly. Then, to everyone's amazement he quieted down.

A few shovel loads later, the farmer finally looked down the well. He
was astonished at what he saw.

With each shovel of dirt that hit his back, the donkey was doing something amazing. He would shake it off and take a step up.

As the farmer's neighbors continued to shovel dirt on top of the
animal, he would shake it off and take a step up.

Pretty soon, everyone was amazed as the donkey stepped up over the
edge of the well and happily trotted off!

Life is going to shovel dirt on you, all kinds of dirt. The trick to
getting out of the well is to shake it off and take a step up.

Each of our troubles is a steppingstone. We can get out of the deepest wells just by not stopping, never giving up! Shake it off and take a step up.

Remember the five simple rules to be happy:

Free your heart from hatred - Forgive.
Free your mind from worries - Most never happen.
Live simply and appreciate what you have.
Give more.
Expect less

NOW .......

Enough of that crap. The donkey later came back, and bit the farmer
who had tried to bury him.

The gash from the bite got infected and the farmer eventually died in
agony from septic shock.

MORAL FROM TODAY'S LESSON:

When you do something wrong, and try to cover your ass, it always comes back to bite you.

Jenni

Pictures from My Birthday

Above are some pictures from my birthday yesterday when my mom, sister and I went to Benihana restaurant for lunch. I had so much fun! I hadn't been there for about five years or so. I had chicken and it comes with rice, zucchini, onions, and mushrooms. The chef cooked everything in front of us.

The first picture is of me when we first got there. The second one is our chef Aaron. The third picture is a chicken he made out of egg and the fourth is a heart he made out of rice. The last picture is of some of the waitresses singing happy birthday to me in Japanese.

Jenni