Abbey’s Injury and Fight for Life

In June of 2007, Abbey, her sisters and some friends went for a swim at a golf club’s pool. All of the children finished swimming and went to shower except Abbey. She was injured, but at the time of the incident no one knew how seriously. Hours later, doctors learned that Abbey had been disemboweled by an uncovered pool drain. The suction ripped out her small intestine.

Abbey shouldn’t have survived, but she did. She went through many surgeries and hospital stays, including triple-transplant surgery – a liver, small bowel and pancreas. While sick and weak, Abbey did the things she loved most – singing, riding a bicycle, attending parties, and most of all, spending time with her parents and her sisters. Sadly, after infections, kidney dialysis, cancer and her body rejecting her new organs, Abbey Taylor died on March 20, 2008, just nine months after the disembowelment.

Abbey’s Parents’ Promise and Abbey’s Hope

Because Abbey’s parents made a promise to her that this kind of injury wouldn’t happen again to anyone else, the Abbey’s Hope Foundation was formed.

One of the goals of Abbey’s Hope is to teach about pool safety. Here are the Four Steps to Safer Pools:

1. Avoid Dangerous Drains
2. Teach Swimming and Lifesaving Skills
3. Install Barriers
4. Be Vigilant

Abbey’s Hope has come up with a way to ensure that an adult is always supervising children when they are swimming, even when there is a lifeguard on duty. It’s the Water WatchDog program. Learn more about this take the pledge and receive a free Watchdog tag.

Learn about safe pool drain covers. The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (the “VGB Act”) was signed into law by President George Bush on December 19, 2007, and became effective on December 19, 2008. This law covers only public pools. Please be alert in checking each pool and spa cover to see if it is a dome-shaped, anti-entrapment cover. If in doubt, don’t swim or enter the pool or spa.

What You Can Do

1. Visit Abbey’s Hope and learn more.
2. Share this post.
3.  Make a donation.
4. Follow Abbey’s Hope on Twitter and Facebook.

I received no compensation for this post. The story of Abbey Taylor and her family inspired me to share their story and the information about Abbey’s Hope.

Guests can stroll through the softly lit trees of The Enchanted Forest while looking over our silent auction items. The auction features a wide variety of items donated by local business owners and private companies. Some of the items include: a Brunch Cruise by Gaspar’s Grotto, a 1 hour Horseback Riding package for two by Horsepower for Kids, and a 7 day vacation package for a family of four by Grand Incentives.  There will also be raffles and giveaways throughout the evening.

Enjoy a sumptuous dinner catered by El Unico Loco. Dance under the twinkling lights in the Celestial Swan Ballroom and indulge in cocktails in the Secret Garden. All proceeds from the event, auction and raffles will benefit the Warriors for Autism 2012 Programs.

Warriors For Autism welcomes donations for the silent auction including, product samples, autographed books and sports memorabilia, gift baskets, attraction tickets, consulting services and more. Please contact Deena@Warriorsforautism.com to make a donation or for any questions about the event.

Tickets are $40 pp for General Admission Seating
VIP Table Option $300 (seats 8-10) Reserved Seating
Each Ticket includes dinner, dancing, silent auction & open bar!

To learn more about Warriors For Autism, to purchase tickets, or to donate to our organization please visit www.warriorsforautism.com

Please help by attending the event, making a donation and sharing this post.

Instead of a generic picture on a card, your mom will see your smiling face. You talk and record your own greeting. Add music if you’d like. I bet your Mom will appreciate your effort. Plus she’ll get to see and hear you!

Skype’s Mom You Rock Charity Campaign

As a Skype Ambassador with Mom Central, I’ll be learning about the many different ways to use Skype and sharing that information with you. Right now, Skype is celebrating Mother’s Day by offering a free video greeting card through their Mom You Rock Campaign. For each card you make, Skype will donate $1 to the Save the Children’s Global Action Fund.

It’s easy to make a video card. You just need a web cam and the directions that pop up on the screen on the Say It with Skype app on Skype’s Facebook page. (Approve the app first.)

1. Find your mother or someone else who is like a mom to you by typing in their name. They need to be on Facebook.
2. You’ll have a choice of 3 songs to include on your video card.
3. Decide if you want to sing or rock along with the song.
4. Click on record and smile!
5. Personalize the message.
6. Choose when (right away, on Mother’s Day, or another date) and how to send it (via email, posted on their Facebook page).
7. Wait for a heartfelt thank you.

Why Video Greetings Rock

As a mom, I’d be tickled to get a video greeting. It’s unique and I know that it takes creativity to create one. I can save it on Facebook or with my video files, so I’ll have it for a long time. No gifts are needed with this type of greeting! I’ve never made a video greeting until today, but now that I see how entertaining it is, I’ll give them a try again. There’s a birthday card, so watch out everyone! If you don’t live close to your mother, a video greeting card will make her feel like you’re right there with her. Then hop onto Skype and do a live chat with your mom.

“I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Skype. I received Skype credits to facilitate my review and a promotional item to thank me for participating.”

What is a Hemispherectomy?

A Hemispherectomy is a “surgical procedure in which half of the brain is removed or disconnected”. Because this surgery is severe, it is done often as a last resort – when drugs can’t control seizure disorders coming from one side of the brain, if a lesion is found in one hemisphere of the brain, for severe viral or bacterial infections that have damaged the brain, for tumors and for children with tuberous sclerosis. There are other neurological disorders that can affect one side of the brain and may lead to the need for a hemispherectomy. You can learn about the surgery and the need for it from the Facts page on the Hemispherectomy Foundation website.

When this surgery is done on children up to the age of 14, they have a better chance than older children and adults of gaining back the functions lost from the side of the brain that is removed. There is some paralysis on one side of the body and the risk other health problems. But, many children go on to live long lives and achieve remarkable things.

Support for Families

The Hemispherectomy Foundation provides an online support group and volunteers by phone so families can connect with one another before, during and after surgery. Information about specialists in your area and an up to date newsletter are also provided to members. There is no charge for any of these services. You do have to register since the group communicates about delicate and private matters.

Scholarships

One of the missions of the foundation is to help families financially. What better way to do that then with scholarships? The Winner’s Circle proudly promotes winners of their yearly $1000 scholarship recipients. This gives parents hope for their young children and encourages children who have undergone the surgery as well.

How to Help

Monetary donations are accepted and are tax deductible. Donations of small items, like stuffed animals, coloring books and gift cards are welcomed for care packages and for families in need. You can also volunteer to raise awareness, to help with fundraising or form a local support group.

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Thanks to Dwan, from MommaDJane.com, whose daughter Gabby had a hemispherectomy in  2007. Dwan  lead me to the foundation’s website. Gabby received a care package when she was in the hospital for a related surgery. This post is dedicated to Gabby.

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings

Where I Gave Away Books

My plan to give away books to a local nonprofit for children was thwarted when I learned that they had too many books and had actually donated a bunch to the public library.  So I needed another plan. I decided to go to the shopping center near me instead and find people in the parking lot. I also went to a Nursing Home to give books to the staff.

Awkwardness of World Book Night

The awkward part about World Book Night was giving away a free book to complete strangers. It’s funny how some people think you’re trying to sell them something and avoid all eye contact with you. There’s also fear involved. And I don’t blame them one bit. I’d probably do the same thing. I took it in stride and ended up having fun.

The Reaction of People who Received the Book

Once people understood that they were receiving a book, and which book it was, they were pleased. Some were excited and told me that they were going to pass the book along to someone else when they were finished reading it. One person knew of the author but never read this particular book and jumped up an down after she had the book in her hand. Not one person turned down this opportunity.

Why I Chose this Book

I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings takes on serious issues from the victim’s point of view; incest, neglectful parenting, rape, the racial divide between blacks and whites and the inequality that black people endured, and poor choices. Beautifully written with richly descriptive language, this book also inspires you to endure and to better yourself. It’s a book that will you want to read again. When you do, you’ll gain more insight into the plight of Marguerite Johnson and about yourself.

This blog uses affiliate links.

1. Earthbound Farm – Now through May 31^st, for every new member who joins, a tree will be planted in conjunction with American Forests.
2. Envirosearch.org – Like them on Facebook and they will plant 5 trees, up to 50,000.
3. State of the Environment Photo Project – Take and share photos of Earth Day. Take a photo any time during the twenty-four hour period of April 22 where you are, then upload it to your Flickr account to share it with the State of the Environment group. This is open for global participation, but EPA will be highlighting one photo from each U.S. state or territory and featuring the state with the most participation!
4. A Billion Acts of Green – Register your Earth Day event, pledge to take part in an environmentally friendly action, make a donation and learn about campaigns by Earth Day Network.
5. Club Penguin – Now through April 25^th players can dress up as endangered species like Rockhopper Penguins and Snow Leopards and learn through role play about these animals. During Club Penguin’s Coins for Change program, an annual event on www.clubpenguin.com the company matches the virtual coins players donate to real world causes, players voted to give 37% of a $2M donation to support environment and conservation projects.

Celebrate Earth Day 2012

Do you know of any other online events for Earth Day that help us do good?

The Partners of the Bake Sale

Bloggers without Borders are partnering with Share Our Strength’s Great American Bake Sale & Gaby Dalkin on this year’s Food Blogger Bake Sale. The statistics about childhood hunger are staggering: nearly 1 in 5 kids in America struggling with hunger (16 million), less than half of eligible children get free or reduced school breakfast, over 20 million children get a free or reduced-price school lunch on an average school day, and 18.6 million children benefit from SNAP (food stamps). Now is the time to help! For the last two years, this blogging community has shown its support for Share Our Strength, always raising more money than the year before.

With just $1 connecting a child to 10 meals, you can help Share Our Strength ensure that the more than 16 million kids facing hunger today never go hungry again.

How to Help the Bake Sale

Here’s a list of bake sales that are already taking place. If you’re interested in participating in a bake sale, please reach out to the host. If there isn’t a bake sale taking place in your area, maybe you’d like to host one. I hope you do. Here’s how:

1. Register at www.GreatAmericanBakeSale.org/signup. Registering will get you access to online fundraising tools. Additional tools and resources can be found in The Bake Sale Resources Center. Don’t forget to check out the top 10 tips for your bake sale, flyers, stickers, pricing tips and much more.
2. Send an e-mail to Gaby Dalkin (whatsgabycooking@gmail.com) & Sarah Peppel (sarah@peppel.com) – on behalf of Share Our Strength) with the following information:

Name
City/State
Blog
Preferred Email address

Questions about the Bake Sale?

General questions about Food Bloggers Bake Sale can be answered through the FAQs section of Share Our Strength.

Happy Baking and eating!

The Children’s Heart Project is a branch of Samaritan’s Purse, and provides heart surgery for children who live in areas of the world where surgery is not available for various reasons. And without the surgery, these children will die. Airfare, a translator and a host family in the United States are all provided for the children and their mothers.

About Three Hearts Movie

Three Hearts introduces us to Cissie Graham Lynch, the granddaughter of Billy Graham, who begins working as an intern with The Children’s Heart Project. Her job is to oversee the arrival and surgeries of three children showcased in this documentary styled movie.

You’ll meet Otga, a 16 year-old boy whose heart defect causes him to be short of breath. Uugna is an 18 years old boy who is tired all the time because of his cardiac problem His father died, so it’s just him and his mother trying to survive. Toogie is only 4 years old and isn’t expected to live until the age of 6.

Toggie and Her Mother

A Texas family, whose son has gone through heart surgery in the US, makes the long trek to Mongolia to meet these three children and travel with them to the back to Texas along with a doctor in case of any medical problems during the long, 30 hour flights.

Review of Three Hearts

This true story is emotional and informative. I learned a great deal about the work that goes on within The Children’s Heart Project, with the workers and volunteers. It felt like I knew each child, mother and host family especially as the children went into their surgeries.  This is a journey of what life brings upon so many families, but focused on three children, and all of the emotions they go through.  This is a life changing movie that is for families, especially tween and teens and groups, such as Sunday school.

View the Trailer

Learn more about the Children’s Heart Project

Stay updated about children who are going through surgery, on the waiting list for surgery and recovering by liking the Children’s Heart Project Facebook page. Learn how you can help, volunteer and donate on the Children’s Heart Project website.

But Three Hearts DVD

Three Hearts is available on Amazon.com for $19.99. (Not an affiliate link)

Giveaway

Five winners will win a copy of Three Hearts DVD. Please enter to win through Rafflecoper below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Thank you to Samaritan’s Purse and The Children’s Heart Project for a copy of Three Hearts for review. All opinions are my own.

Girls in the US care. They are educated about global issues – poverty, lack of education, poor or non-existent health care, hunger, and suffering. They know that girls their age deserve better. Girl Up provides the information and resources to make a difference. The work that they do today will impact disadvantaged girls now and in the future. History can be changed and that is part of the meaning of International Women’s Day – ordinary women making history!

Getting involved with Girl Up starts with Give a High Five, where girls take part in five steps to learn, share, ask others to take part, donate and host a fundraiser. With the help of parents, educators, and other helpful adults, girls can take it even further and start a Girl Up Club to join together with other girls and make a bigger difference by working with others to achieve goals. They receive assistance through the UN in the form of a newsletter, webcasts, a specific person assigned to their team and much more.

Thank you to Mom Bloggers for Social Good, who provided the information about Girl Up and inspired me to write this post. A suggested tweet to help share about Girl Up is -

Guess what? It’s Intl’ Women’s Month! Tweet @GirlUp & send them a pic of the woman you look up 2.#girlsinspire #IWD #socialgoodmoms

How are you celebrating International Women’s Day?

About Autism Spectrum Disorder

About one in 100 children is challenged by ASD, and the numbers are growing at a staggering rate which is increasing the need for these service dogs that are specifically trained to mitigate the growing number of challenges these special children and their families face.

For children challenged by Autism and their families, a simple outing to a shopping mall, an excursion to the grocery store, or an afternoon errand is often a sheer impossibility. When attempted, these seemingly normal family activities often result in behavioral meltdowns, tantrums, wandering, and a multitude of dangerous behaviors which could easily endanger the entire family while in busy parking lots, in public places, and in crowds.

Further challenges are experienced in public when the individual challenged with Autism is unfairly ridiculed, and judged, often along with the parents and siblings, by uninformed or ignorant passers-by who mistakenly judge the child as misbehaving, undisciplined, or being raised by “bad parents.”

Things are not much better at home for these same families. Often these young people affected by Autism Spectrum Disorders escape during the night, damage property by head banging, kicking, or throwing objects or even themselves. Sometimes they eat unacceptable items from the home and yard. Many of them engage in repetitious behaviors both at home and in their educational environments.

When things are at their worst, parents and siblings are in a constant state of stress, duress, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation. Marriages fall apart, siblings endure physical and emotional consequences, and the families, as a whole, are taxed physically, emotionally, and financially.

How Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions Helps with ASD

Recently, hundreds of families dealing with ASD have found peace of mind, reprieve, safety, security, and a new sense of freedom and normalcy due to the relatively new existence of Autism Service Dogs. These highly trained service dogs not only help to keep a child from wandering, can find a child in a crowd, can help halt repetitive behaviors, can calm meltdowns and prevent them, but they serve as a reminder and educational tool of awareness to the public that the child has a disability and needs compassion and empathy rather than judgment and ridicule.

Several organizations are beginning to fill this growing niche and serve families struggling with Autism’s unique challenges. Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions is one such non-profit organization whose mission is to train and partner healthy, reliable, exclusively bred, highly-trained service dogs with individuals of all ages challenged by Autism Spectrum Disorders and other developmental disabilities.

An organization’s cost to raise, train, and place an Autism Service Dog isn’t cheap, running between $20,000-30,000 per dog. Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions are overcoming the cost barrier by providing these highly-trained dogs to their families with little or no cost to the recipient families by cooperative fund raising efforts, scholarships, grants, and donations.

In addition to the wonderful support and safety measures they offer, an Autism Service Dog often becomes a friend that the child may speak to when they won’t speak to adults.

About Autism Service Dogs

These dogs are also frequently fitted with two leashes — one for the child to hold or be tethered to and another one for the parent/handler/caregiver to hold. The dog will accept commands from the parent/handler/caregiver, thus providing a new sense of freedom and safety for the child and the parents. Some children have even been known to give verbal commands to the dog even when they won’t speak to anyone else.

Best of all, service dogs help people challenged by Autism to communicate with the world around them. Being with a service dog often helps lengthen attention spans and improves the ability to focus longer on people and tasks. Service dogs help increase the willingness of those with Autism to communicate with others and to make improved eye contact. All of this can happen when a child’s life is enriched with an Autism Service Dog.

How To Help Pawsitive Dog Solutions

Besides making tax deductible donations, you can volunteer to become a Puppy Raiser. It takes four to ten months to open your home and donate your time to raise and teach a puppy to become an Autism Service Dog. You can also spread the word and learn more about Pawsitive Dog Solutions from their website and their Facebook page.

About the author:
Carmel L. Mooney is Executive Director of Pawsitive Service Dog Solutions, dedicated to training and partnering highly skilled service dogs with individuals of all ages challenged by Autism Spectrum Disorder. www.pawsitivesolutions.org