Daily Living Blog

Healing For The Holidays

Featured Guest Writer – Judy Keisling.

This year will be the 8th Christmas that I have been alone. Well, not really alone, as I have many friends and a wonderful supporting family in my life. But I will be alone in the sense that my husband is no longer with me – he passed away in 2004 after we had been married 46 years. How do you deal with that?

Now, 8 Christmas’ later, I have a wonderful life; I feel fulfilled. I have a purpose. I’ve learned that by helping others, you help yourself. If you are suffering from depression because of a loss or loneliness, I encourage you to take a page from my book – get involved and give your life a purpose. Yes, sometimes it’s hard, but the rewards will positively change your life.

———————————————————————-

If you know someone that is suffering from depression or who is having difficulty with the holidays or transitions in their life due to loss, Homecare Supplier’s encourages you to share not only this article but the following links with them.

National Mental Health America – http://www.nmha.org/go/help
Guide To Coping with Grief & Loss – http://helpguide.org/mental/grief_loss.htm
Mayo Clinic – Stress, Depression & The Holidays - http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/stress/MH00030

Supporting Our Disabled Law Enforcement

In 2010 there were over 705,009 active Police Officers in the United States. According to the FBI, last year 56 officer were killed in the line of duty, 72 were accidently killed while on duty, and over 53,469 were reported assaulted while performing their job. Of those assaulted, 26%, approximately 13,000 sustained injuries (FBI). While many of those injured were able to return to their normal lives of active duty defending our communities, some could not and their lives were forever changed.

Out of these devastating facts, an amazing non-profit was born, Hunting For Heroes. The founders, Chris Allen and Chuck Bowles, were police officers in St. Louis, Missouri. They were also avid hunters. While working on a hunting television show with a law enforcement and police angle, they began to research organizations that were taking care of disabled law enforcement officers. Unfortunately, what they discovered was there was not a single organization that was providing services specifically to the disabled law enforcement community. They put their television show on hold and instead turned their attention to meeting the need and founded Hunting for Heroes.

Their mission statement is to provide resources, such as recreational therapy and counseling, to disabled law enforcement officers who were injured in the line of duty. Hunting for Heroes provides a hunting camp environment where disabled officers and their families can connect with other families that have suffered life-altering injuries.

Hunting For Heroes has grown exponentially in the last year. According to Chris Allen, “We have had participation from Missouri, Iowa, West Virginia and interest from 10 other states. We even have people contacting us to find out how to have chapters in their home state.” In the last year, Hunting For Heroes has hosted two events and had over 15 nominations for heroes.

As the heroes are selected, they and their families are provided with an all expenses paid trip to a hunting and game farm in California, Missouri. This includes their airfare, hunting licenses, food and lodging. The facility chosen is handicap accessible and has fishing, hunting and a children’s area – something for the entire family.

Hunting For Heroes has truly taken a stand to make a difference and help those protecting us here in the United States to live LIFE unlimited. There are some awesome ways that you can help them. They are definitely in need of financial donations. They also accept product donations that can be raffled off at fundraising events. There are many volunteer opportunities as well. Help us spread the word. You can contact Chris Allen at Hunting For Heroes
8426 Clint Drive, Suite 353,
Belton, MO 64012
E-mail: contactus@huntingforheroes.org
Telephone: 816-812-7991

To find out more about upcoming events, visit their website at http://www.huntingforheroes.com

Limitless Living – A Closer Look

I am the mother of two. I assisted my mother in being a caregiver to my father while he struggled with a fatal disease. I help people every day to deal with mobility issues and questions on caregiving. I thought it would be a while before I became the person in need of caregiving. You know that old saying that doctors make the worst patients, well it is true. I am now the advisor that has become the advisee.

I have lost the use of my right arm. I am hoping that this is a temporary situation that will last just a few weeks. However, no one can give me a definitive answer on recovery time. I have been seen by two doctors in the span of 72 hours, with additional appointments scheduled in the days to come. The only information that I have ascertained is that I am a woman in my forties with a healthy appetite and a pleasant disposition! I read both of my medical charts. When a doctor says you have a healthy appetite, should you be offended? I digress, my apologies. Since I became injured during a marathon training session, I am going to choose to focus on the pleasant disposition part!

As the Director of Operations for Homecare Suppliers, I often perform awareness seminars to educate people on the various products that can assist with making an individual’s life limitless. I am constantly surprised by the new daily living products that exist. However, as a result of my current injury, I now have a greater appreciation for many of these products, including the bendable spoon and fork. Since I am right handed, I thought that the only limitation would be typing and writing. How wrong I was. There are so many things that require the use of two hands. I am unable to wash my own hair. I cannot put deodorant on the left side. I have great difficulty with curling or blow drying my hair. It requires two hands to put on socks and tie my shoes. It requires two hands to lift something into or out of the microwave, unless I want to live on popcorn alone.

How long I will be immobile is yet to be determined. But, I am assured I will eventually have the use of my right arm again.

I believe that there are daily lessons that we must learn in life. Right now, I think that my lessons are patience and pride. An additional lesson that has become very clear to me is the importance of support. I am very fortunate to have people around me that are more than willing to help. I am blessed that they are ready whether asked or not. I firmly believe that everyone can find someone to help them. It may just be a matter of getting past your pride, inhibitions or worries and asking for help.

In spite of this injury, I know that I will take each lesson I am learning and turn it into something that can assist others. I have listed below some contact information and various resource links to assist you in finding the assistance you may need to live life unlimited!

Helper/Assistance (Click on the link to find available resources)
Senior Helpers – A network of Senior Helper Program across the US.
Home Health – Home Health is not just for seniors, but also anyone recovering from an injury. While this list is for medicare approved, it is a good place to start even if you are paying out of your pocket.

Homecare Suppliers Resource Lists
Disability Resources
Daily Living Related Resources Lists
Making Your Home Safe Resources

I’d like to add that one important resource which is often forgotten or not mentioned is mental and spiritual help experts. Depression is a normal reaction for someone facing a physical limitation. Seek out a person from your church, a support group or a professional counselor. It is okay to be sad. Just don’t let the sadness drown you, and don’t allow the depression to control you.

Pam Billings
Director of Operations
Homecare Suppliers, LLC

My Story – Step By Step

Homecare Suppliers, LLC is a nationwide home medical provider specializing in mobility products. Therefore, most of our articles on this blog are from our perspective as the provider of stair lifts, bath lifts and daily living accessibility products. However, as we enter into our sixth year in this industry, we felt we should share some of the stories of those who we’ve met who have been affected by mobility issues.

Thus, begins our newest series on our Daily Living Blog – “My Story”. In the next couple of months, we will be sharing individual snapshots into the lives of those who have been affected by mobility. We hope that you will not only see their struggles, but their character and their victories as they step out to living a life unlimited!

Patricia Wayman is 71 years old and lives in Enid, Oklahoma. She is currently recovering from a stroke.

“I pray every morning that I will never have another stroke,” she explains. “I don’t know if I will be here the next day or not. Half the time I’m scared and the other half the time I’m praying and I find peace.”

Patricia Wayman is just one of millions of Americans affected by mobility issues. While she is not able to do fully what she used to do, she understands she is blessed with what she can do today. She is able to live independently with the help of her family and the mobility devices she uses.

Homecare Suppliers, LLC is a nationwide provider of Home Medical Equipment. Our headquarters are in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. Our website is http://www.buyastairlift.com.

Camp Barnabas Reaches Across Barriers

What is in a name? Does it describe our personality, our character? When a parent chooses a name, is that baby already that person or do they grow into it? What about a label? Poisonous labels warn us to stay away. Sensitive skin labels affirm that anyone can use the product. Labels have the possibility to warn us, restrict us or release us.

There are names and labels throughout our society that are placed on things, places and individuals. Old, Geriatric, Disabled, Autistic, Handicap, Dementia are each words that label. They can be descriptive terms or defining terms. Each of these terms can be used to characterize part of a person’s identity. However, they do not define the whole person. The range of each label is vast, enormous and truly undefined. For example, “Old” can be someone further along in age than you (teenagers call their parents old) to someone who is the oldest living person.

However, often times we see that these labels are allowed to not just define but limit a person. Stereotypes are fixed on the recipient. These labels can become so defining that they mold everyone’s perspective to the negative and the impossible. This is especially true with children who have been diagnosed with a disability or are suffering from chronic illness. The diagnosis becomes the focus, the label and the limiter.

I had a conversation at the end of last summer with one of the founders of Camp Barnabas. Camp Barnabas is a summer camp that provides life-changing opportunities to people with special needs. Cyndi and Paul Teas, are the founders of Camp Barnabas in Purdy, Missouri. Cyndi explained that often those who attend camp consistently hear what they cannot do and are often labeled by their medical prognosis. She said that “many are hearing what the world is telling them – they don’t fit the norm.” But Cyndi pointed out that there are a lot of variations within the “Norm”.

Cyndi said that one of the most limiting factors for people with disabilities is attitude. “People’s attitude toward the child that then forms their attitude toward themselves.” She shared that it is rare for them to see a child so empowered that their disability does not hinder them, but in those cases the child is so much further along.

Camp Barnabas’ respects the difficulties and joys of parenting the special needs child. Their philosophy states “we strive to bring new experiences into these families. We seek to promote a sense of normalcy in the lives of children living with disease or disability. We recognize that disease and disability impact the whole family and we therefore minister to the sibling of a child with special needs by inviting them too to join in the camp experience.”

The camp experience is tailored for each group attending. Every activity is adapted to meet the needs of the campers. There are 9 terms and each term of camp is for specific groups based upon diagnosis including Developmentally Disabled, Physically Disabled, Autism, Hematology, Oncology, Burn Patients, Chronic Illnesses, Diabetes, Sickle Cell, Hemophilia, Amputees, Craniofacial Syndromes, Blind, Visually Impaired, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing. The age is from 7 years old and up.

There is a buddy counselor assigned to each camper for the entire week. The camp is structured so that each camper can successfully do the activities. They adapt everything, from the ropes course to games. Cyndi says, “We see a different way to do it – so that they are able to participate in every way. We don’t want them to sit on the side lines.” This philosophy is proving itself time again as campers state, “I never knew I could do that” and parents are in awe exclaiming “I didn’t know they could do this.”

For many of these young people, their diagnosis has completely limited their lifestyle and their identity. Cyndi says many of these kids haven’t been allowed to just be kids. But Camp Barnabas is that – a place where they can be celebrated for who they are and be a kid. “They need to know that God has a plan for their life. People keep making plans for their life based upon what they think they can do.”

Camp Barnabas’ success is measurable in many ways, including by the sheer number of campers that come back. 98% of the campers return year after year. Since their beginning in 1995 they have had over 10,000 campers. Children, youth, adults who have come through the gates of the camp to the tune of 150 volunteers cheering, calling their name and celebrating their life. These campers leave with an understanding that they can do anything, they just might not do it like someone else.

Camp Barnabas, the founders, the staff, the 1800 volunteers and the 10,000 campers and their families truly reflect Living Unlimited!

To find out more about their camp please visit their website at http://www.campbarnabas.org/. Or to make a donation or volunteer you can contact them at 417.476.2565.