A Special Cafe

Return to Florida: Donna Lee

I would like to begin with a new years blessing.

It is going to be a Fantastic year, I can feel it!  As was this summer.

As you all know, my brother received my bone marrow, and as of today, his latest biopsy shows 91% of it being his own. Thank you God. The month of September I spent with my 14 month-old grandson, helping him to adjust to daycare and spending as much time as possible bonding with him. He rode his first choo choo train with "safta" (grandma in Hebrew). I was very privileged to have had that time with him.

Presently I am back in Naples, Florida and my first visit, after mom, was to Riley and his family. Riley had a tough summer, involving seizures and coughs, increasing his muscle tone, tightening them, as well as his tendons and ligaments. After not seeing him for 4 months, I noticed how much he has grown, especially taller. He seemed to have enjoyed the massage, because, as I pointed out in a previous blog, he vocalizes and sings to me.

I started out wishing us all a wonderful new year, or Shana Tova (Hebrew), filled with good health, happiness and productivity. This week I will resume my volunteer work at Naple's Equestrian Challenge, become a more active participant in Freedom Waters Foundation organization, continue dancing with my buddies from the Federation For Developmentally Disabled, at Fred's Diner, every Tuesday evening, and of course, visit Riley on a weekly basis. Being part of these activities, gives me the energy of life and fills my soul with true abundance. Thank you God.

Donna Lee
Nameste v'Shalom

New digital Parenting Specialneeds Magazine is out today.

Shared by Debby Frenkel:

Freedom Waters Foundation Friends: 

FWF Made the News in Naples tonight!  Thank you to Paul Gessler who did a great job on the story at ABC!

Enjoy and please forward and share with all your friends ----

Here's the link to the story: http://www.abc-7.com/global/story.asp?s=15637085

Here's to what we do!  Thank you all who Make it Happen! 

Debby

Today's discovery for my international readers: European Disability Forum

MIXIT TV

Remember today is International Coastal Cleanup Day!  Get to a cleanup site near you if possible this morning, you may need a shower afterward but you will feel great for being part of it.  Unfortunately, Riley's cold persists so we will have to clean up on our own another day... I promise.
 

Produced by and for people with disabilities.

New television program in England.

Raising RSV Awareness

Riley and I had the pleasure of being interviewed yesterday by Stacey Deffenbaugh!  Stacey anchors NBC-2 News at Noon and The Healthcast report at 5:30pm.  She also contributes court stories from state and federal court.

We discussed raising awareness of Respiratory syncytial (sin-SISH-uhl) virus, or RSV.

Ms. Deffenbaugh and her cameraman, John, were a pleasure to have in our home and share Riley's story as well as his cause of protecting vulnerable children against respiratory illness.  Fortunately, Ms. Deffenbaugh was incredibly patient with my random thought pattern and our slightly chaotic lifestyle.  This experience certainly shows me that I need to polish my speaking skills and reign in my focus.  I suspect however that she will have no problem working around us as she prepares to get the word out.

RSV

 

www.rsvprotection.com

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, is a common, easily spread virus that almost all children catch at least once by the time they turn 2.

RSV disease usually causes moderate-to-severe cold symptoms.  However, for some babies, complications from RSV disease can lead to serious lung infection.

Babies at most risk for developing severe RSV disease are premature babies - those born before 36 weeks gestation.

Premature babies have underdeveloped lungs and fewer of the vital antibodies needed to stave off infections, so they are not so well-equipped to fight RSV as full-term babies.  Other risk factors for RSV include: low-birth weight (under 5.5 pounds), certain lung and heart diseases, and situational risk factors such as attending day care, having preschool or school-age siblings, or exposure to tobacco smoke.

It is recommended that you call your baby's doctor if your baby has any of these problems:

Coughing or wheezing that doesn't stop

Fast wheezing or gasping for breath

Spread out nostrils and/or caved in chest when trying to breathe

A bluish color around the mouth or fingernails

A fever (in infants under 3 months of age, a fever greater than 100.4 degrees rectal)

Prevention

• Cover coughs and sneezes
• Wash hands frequently and correctly with soap and water for 15–20 seconds
• Avoid sharing their cups with others
• Refrain from kissing others