We are blessed to have a way to share our extraordinary lives that prove why for us, Walking Is, Way Overrated. You'll see... Stories, Life lessons, Problem Solving, Aging with a disability, all intended to encourage and help out anyone who may be new to using wheels for legs, aging, have a loved one facing challenges or you may just be interested in reading something unique. You may even smile! All glory goes to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Hi everyone! Hope all is well. We have been flying through summer keeping busy. Between creating,
with Craig working on his painting about his old job on the railroad in Canada. Finally getting our wheelchair lift repaired so I could get out too! Thankfully, it was something fixable.
We were feeling sad though, that the technicians and employees we trusted over the last 25 years or so have been leaving to start new adventures. Thankful that the only one we trusted with our under van lift, is still at the shop we frequent for all of our wheelchair/ mobility devices and repairs. As well as a couple favourite sales persons.
I know we have so many adventures and possibly helpful topics that we meant to share here at WWO, but haven't. Our hope is to vlog more - keeping this site like an online journal. We plan on sharing an update on the bed in a box we purchased last year, talk about our Hell Fresh experience, Talk about loss and relationships, aging with a disability, osteoarthritis, thought on the new SMA treatment, along with anything else that may seem useful, helpful or smile worthy.
Along with the good in life always comes the not so good. Craig recently lost his older sister suddenly, not something you are ever ready for. And speaking of loss, Craig's loss of another filling in his molar - now means he is in need of a surgical extraction!
For Now here is the first in what we hope will be Craig sharing his pretty wild and crazy life stories. A lot can happen in 67 years!
Watch Worlds Collide As Craig Tells "The Switchman" Story!
This posting was just shared on our Sure Hope Gazette blog. Since these videos and this dear godly woman, my earthly hero, speaks from experience and pertains to our lives, it makes sense to share her message on this blog as well. We can only face each day because of our Saviour, our heart is that anyone who want to know about the Sure Hope we can all have, will get a lot out Joni's words.
And please don't think this message is only beneficial for persons living with physical disabilities. Not at all, this message is great for all of us. You may think, oh that's Joni, the lady who broke her neck in 1967 when she was 17. She's the lady who inspires people living with disabilities. That's great for them, but, I don't need to listen - it's not for me because I don't have a disability.
Well, we would ask you if you do think like that, please think again. Joni's message is always a powerful one to all people. Whatever you may struggle with or however you may feel, god blesses this amazing woman with a heart that shares the love of Christ. She encourages me, and millions of others. And we want to share more messages from her as we receive them to help inspire and motivate, spur on anyone who's heart longs for meaning, Sure Hope and New Life. Including seeing that quality of life is not about whether or not your body works, you are healthy or rich, successful as the world sees successful, come and hear what real Sure Hope is all about, from a woman who knows what of what she speaks.
The cool thing as often happens in my life, is how God has an amazing way of encouraging us just at the right moment, right when we need it. He knows what we need, when we need it. Today, He knew I needed to hear from my earthly hero who speaks about my Heavenly Hero, Jesus Christ. How our weaknesses really are our strengths because of Him. close to Him. He cares about all aspects of our lives. Owning Your Weakness - Joni Eareckson Tada
Forgiving Like You've Been Forgiven - Joni Eareckson Tada
The following post was place on my Heartfully Creating Blog with the accompanying video. I decided it was a good idea to share it here because he shares why he started painting later in life. Since that is a life topic, made sense to share it here too!
Chronic Pain Sufferers may find some ideas from what he says.
Here we go...Well Craig is whizzing along faster than I can keep up. Obviously time lapsing his work, would mean hours and hours of footage. So I am doing short interviews and photographing the developing stages!
Welcome to Part 3 From our new "Craig Paints," series. Craig, my husband, shows us that anyone can learn how to create a great painting without any tutorials, formal training or even following the rules LOL.
In todays episode, Craig not only share life in Peggy's Cove (Craig's version), he also share what prompted him to paint. Originally he used watercolour. When he married me, he started dabbling with my leftover acrylic paints. I taught him the tips and tricks to using this fast drying/non-re-usable once dried medium and the rest is history!
He shares a very personal reason why he paints that may encourage others who are in a similar situation as he is.
Watch Craig Paints Part 3 - Peeks To Progress, Perks To Painting With Chronic Pain
Today hear a couple great reasons why Craig paints as well as another great read story!
Hopefully, you'll be inspired to give painting with acrylics or whatever a try. And if you already create, we'd love to hear from you.
Any questions or input would be great. Craig loves feedback about his work!
Watch my earthly hero share her encouraging words on why living with dignity means living out life right until the end of our time here on earth. Th seek assisted suicide (murder) is not to die with dignity. Focus on helping and encouraging all of us aging with disabilities and others living in chronic pain, suffering from progressive illnesses and such. Let's all show them what it means to live with dignity so we can die with dignity! God is the Author of life!
Since all of my blogs are able to collide and work together, I am sharing the link to a new post that I just recently shared about where physical health and being an artist impact each other. Take a peek click the header below....
Craig using this sweet teaching tool created by one of our brightest, and best nursing students ever- my mini hoyer lift canvas/sling with little Nicole
Back when I use to paint!
So excited the day I received a gift from my favourite polymer clay artist Christi Friesen
Meet Shane and Hannah! I have a special place in my heart of course for my fellow peers who were born with SMA (Spinal Muscular Atrophy, just like me!). Shane has a great sense of humour (a little dry for some, if you aren't use to it) and attitude about life, living with SMA Type 2.
Shane, like myself, faced a shorter than most others, lifespan. That was until recently. Shane and many others have been blessed with a very new synthetic DNA treatment called Spinraza. Shane has to have an injection into his neck, directly to the spinal cord every four months! It is the first ever actual treatment for this life threatening disease. Type 1 is the number one genetic killer of infants, such as my beloved nephew at eleven days. It was created to replace the affected or missing genes to halt the atrophying effects of SMA. It is not a cure. However, because it now can be started as soon as a little one is born, they are living without the symptoms, as if the SMA was not there!
It is wonderful for those with type one and two. Shane has been using a wheelchair since he was two. He is now about twenty-sixish. The Spinraza has a mega high cost and must be taken for the rest of their life to maintain the effects. It costs hundreds of thousands for each treatment. It is covered by many people's health insurance in the USA. As for where I live in Canada...last I heard was the phone call survey I received from the Muscular Dystrophy Association, when I first learned about this amazing breakthrough. Canada was trying to decide if it would be approved for treatment here or not. Not sure what happened. Mostly because I am not interested in receiving it anyway. I personally has blessed with a long life, I am about to be 53! And I can't travel to receive the injections. I leave when I move on, up to God.
Shane has noticed that he is actually gaining some abilities he lost a decade ago. He also has to accept that his life expectancy is now the same as the average healthy adult! It may sound odd, but I understand how challenging it can be to accept when you have been prepared your whole life to leave earth early. I was misdiagnosed at about seven, when the "Specialist" told my Mom in front of me that I would be dead at twenty. (Duchenne's Muscular Dystrophy). Then re-diagnosed at thirteen with Spinal Muscular Atrophy. However, I didn't learn my life could be "normal" until I passed twenty one or two. I have doubled that age and still battle with preparing for physical death. It is a blessing but it would seem that once you are programmed to believe death will strike prematurely, it's challenging to accept and embrace life here, without pre-planning my life ending event. I am happy for Shane and think he will be just fine adjusting to the very amazing fact that he will no longer have to face a death sentence. And he has a very beautiful, funny, good natured girlfriend and caregiver,Hannah, to enjoy his new adventure called life! He was doing a great job before meeting Hannah too. She's a bonus enhancing his life!
I have been blessed and encouraged watching these two do life together. They laugh a lot and that is why so many fans watch, I am sure! So I hope you enjoy this couple's sense of humour as well as learn a lot about living with SMA and what interabled relationships can be like. You'll see why I said that when you watch their vlogs and tv interviews...Watch the video below to see. Thanks you two for helping to open the eyes of those who need to learn we are equal to everyone else. And thanks for encouraging you fellow peers to live life to the fullest, that love is for everyone. We just happen to do life in a unique way! And thanks for keeping it real!
