Friday, May 28, 2010
Deidre just got home about 15 minutes ago. My daughter is 18. When she turned 18 she received $200 of my gwl insurance cheque. In a way I do not mind as it is spending money that is provided and I do not have to take it from my already tight budget. Sometimes I ask myself whether she is merely having fun as a youth or is she devveloping into an alcoholic? I hope that her priorities will move in a safer direction as her dad is a non recovering alcoholic. She is very concerned about her dad whose hep c has gotten much worse and he waited until just now to push for treatment. So much damage has been done-who knows. The dr. in Nova scotia could very well think of him as a non- compliant patient. He wants Dee to go there in July and basically look after him. I recommended that Dee spend a small vacation time with him and then return here. It is way too much responsibility for her and very traumatizing and depressing and her dad is quite difficult to be around. On the good side he did apologize to me for spreading the hep c to me very likely through the shared use of a razor.
Saturday, May 8, 2010
the following article was published in the Lifestyle 55 newspaper May 2010, Winnipeg Manitoba
How volunteering brought teacher back to art and creativity "The rehab patients are suffering from a variety of illnesses. When I do the presentations, they. learn that there is hope. There is an 80 per cent chance now of clearing the hepatitis virus."
he idea of volunteering was far from my mind when I left my teaching position in Garden Hill, near Island Lake in northeastern Manitoba. I couldn't have suspected it would before the end of the decade play a major role in my life. In 2006 I came south to Winnipeg, facing a serious medical condition and challenging treatment agenda. I missed my former job as a senior high art teacher and being part of something bigger than myself But by the spring of2007 something else was beginning to fill the void in my life. I had joined a hepatitis C support group. We met everyTuesday at 7 p.m. The chairman and group members were a lively lot and we had much to share in talking about how we fought for normalcy in our lives, and how we coped with the treatment and the inevitable money problems. One day the chairman asked me if I would consider doing a presentation on hepatitis C to groups in Winnipeg. A female was needed to visit rehab centres. At first I was reluctant. But my first visit went over extremely well and then I was booked ahead for a year to do a monthly presentation at one centre. I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed having the clients add their own comments. I felt honoured by the enthusiasm these people showed for what they were hearing, and looked forward to the next session.
Message of hope
I've been asked to do other presentations as well. I have also attended conferences in Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg concerning the effect of the hepatitis virus
Nora Fraser
on people. I was able to meet care givers, medical staff and my peers who had experiences similar to my own. I found out that the hep C virus touches people in all walks of life .. One in 12 people globally have been diagnosed with either the hep B or C virus. A huge number more do not know they have the virus, and that their liver is being scarred and inflamed, leading to a diagnosis of cirrhosis.
The rehab clients have suffered from a variety of illnesses. When I do the educational awareness presentations, they are very moved by what they are hearing, and learn that there is hope. So I believe my volunteer work has been very helpful. There is an 80 per cent chance now of clearing the hepatitis virus. A patient can move forward with renewed energy if the liver has not been hugely damaged.
I feel happier. Perhaps I look better. Although I still have fatigue and sometimes lack concentration, I do not dwell on these things. The northern classroom still calls to me but I am answering the call here in the city in a different way.
There were more positive developments last summer. I was helping with a table at Central Park, promoting hep C awareness, and came across a pamphlet about a workshop at St. John's library on writing and drawing. So I went to that and met
an outstanding instructor, who invited me and my granddaughter Kylie to Art City on Broadway Avenue (a srorefront art centre for inner city youth founded by Winnipeg artist Wanda Koop). I enjoyed the workshop. We produced works on canvas re the seven sacred teachings of the Aboriginal people, and I decided to take my granddaughter to some more sessions free of charge. Art City is a great place for youth to gather and be creative. I found out there was a clay class downstairs and that I could attend a free adult class there once a week. After a few ~eeks I inquired about volunteering at the children's class. I wanted, with my time and skills, to return something back to Art City and I was accepted. So every Thursday I volunteer with the children's pottery and clay class. Quite often Kylie and my younger granddaughter Kira come, too.
Amidst all the clay We, the volunteers, help the kids but we strongly keep in mind that their work is theirs and we give them a lot of freedom to make choices about subject matter, size, shape and the rest. The kids have wonderful ideas.
When I offered myself as a volunteer at Art City, the leadership accepted me right away. So my prior experience gave me that extra push, and of course art has always been my field of interest. What could be more exciting than being surrounded by artists on staff and very creative volunteers, and of course the youth?
So I am in the middle of all this day being shaped and cut and pressed and wedged and patterned by kids from age 3 to about age 14, and I'm gradually increasing my own portfolio of new works. Every week, I am enthusiastic as I head toward the art class on Broadway. The experience has added to my life in a very positive way .
How volunteering brought teacher back to art and creativity "The rehab patients are suffering from a variety of illnesses. When I do the presentations, they. learn that there is hope. There is an 80 per cent chance now of clearing the hepatitis virus."
he idea of volunteering was far from my mind when I left my teaching position in Garden Hill, near Island Lake in northeastern Manitoba. I couldn't have suspected it would before the end of the decade play a major role in my life. In 2006 I came south to Winnipeg, facing a serious medical condition and challenging treatment agenda. I missed my former job as a senior high art teacher and being part of something bigger than myself But by the spring of2007 something else was beginning to fill the void in my life. I had joined a hepatitis C support group. We met everyTuesday at 7 p.m. The chairman and group members were a lively lot and we had much to share in talking about how we fought for normalcy in our lives, and how we coped with the treatment and the inevitable money problems. One day the chairman asked me if I would consider doing a presentation on hepatitis C to groups in Winnipeg. A female was needed to visit rehab centres. At first I was reluctant. But my first visit went over extremely well and then I was booked ahead for a year to do a monthly presentation at one centre. I really enjoyed this. I enjoyed having the clients add their own comments. I felt honoured by the enthusiasm these people showed for what they were hearing, and looked forward to the next session.
Message of hope
I've been asked to do other presentations as well. I have also attended conferences in Calgary, Regina and Winnipeg concerning the effect of the hepatitis virus
Nora Fraser
on people. I was able to meet care givers, medical staff and my peers who had experiences similar to my own. I found out that the hep C virus touches people in all walks of life .. One in 12 people globally have been diagnosed with either the hep B or C virus. A huge number more do not know they have the virus, and that their liver is being scarred and inflamed, leading to a diagnosis of cirrhosis.
The rehab clients have suffered from a variety of illnesses. When I do the educational awareness presentations, they are very moved by what they are hearing, and learn that there is hope. So I believe my volunteer work has been very helpful. There is an 80 per cent chance now of clearing the hepatitis virus. A patient can move forward with renewed energy if the liver has not been hugely damaged.
I feel happier. Perhaps I look better. Although I still have fatigue and sometimes lack concentration, I do not dwell on these things. The northern classroom still calls to me but I am answering the call here in the city in a different way.
There were more positive developments last summer. I was helping with a table at Central Park, promoting hep C awareness, and came across a pamphlet about a workshop at St. John's library on writing and drawing. So I went to that and met
an outstanding instructor, who invited me and my granddaughter Kylie to Art City on Broadway Avenue (a srorefront art centre for inner city youth founded by Winnipeg artist Wanda Koop). I enjoyed the workshop. We produced works on canvas re the seven sacred teachings of the Aboriginal people, and I decided to take my granddaughter to some more sessions free of charge. Art City is a great place for youth to gather and be creative. I found out there was a clay class downstairs and that I could attend a free adult class there once a week. After a few ~eeks I inquired about volunteering at the children's class. I wanted, with my time and skills, to return something back to Art City and I was accepted. So every Thursday I volunteer with the children's pottery and clay class. Quite often Kylie and my younger granddaughter Kira come, too.
Amidst all the clay We, the volunteers, help the kids but we strongly keep in mind that their work is theirs and we give them a lot of freedom to make choices about subject matter, size, shape and the rest. The kids have wonderful ideas.
When I offered myself as a volunteer at Art City, the leadership accepted me right away. So my prior experience gave me that extra push, and of course art has always been my field of interest. What could be more exciting than being surrounded by artists on staff and very creative volunteers, and of course the youth?
So I am in the middle of all this day being shaped and cut and pressed and wedged and patterned by kids from age 3 to about age 14, and I'm gradually increasing my own portfolio of new works. Every week, I am enthusiastic as I head toward the art class on Broadway. The experience has added to my life in a very positive way .
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