Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Time To Say Hello, Thank You, and Good Bye......

I'm a bit late, but it's always okay to say "Thank You" to our Veterans, both past, present, and future.....  While Memorial day is indeed the time to enjoy family and friends, we do so with the knowledge that it's made possible by the bravery and sacrifices our Armed Services have made.  All in the name of "PEACE".  Our small town is actually part of a "tri-town" area; Essex(made up of Ivoryton, Centerbrook, and Essex), Deep River and Chester.  For this reason, we have our own elementary schools, but regional junior and senior highs.  The school bands, jr. and sr., rotate between the 3 towns for parades.  This year was our "off" year. Neither were in our town, however, the Essex Elementary School band did not march either.  Therefore, our Memorial Day Parade was tiny.  We are fortunate to have several Veterans who march yearly, but the days of the "long" parade seems to be gone.  There were definitely plenty of parade goers, just not many doers.  I hope next year proves me wrong, and the children of our town can experience the excitement and tears of a great parade....

The week before, I had an appointment with the neurologist I see for my migraines.  After a long discussion, he suggested that I try "Botox" injections.  I have too, many, too often, and too severe.  When I went to my appt., I had just gotten over a migraine that plagued me for over 4 1/2 weeks.  Lights and sounds got to be way too much!  Nothing I try as a prophylactic seems to work, and nothing has helped with the pain.  I DETEST needles, but my doctor assures me that they are the size of insulin needles, and therefore the pain shouldn't be an issue....I'm used to pain, I JUST HATE NEEDLES!!!!  My first "stab" at it is at the end of July...we'll see how it goes!

I've been feeling way more stressed lately, and am easily distracted.  It doesn't really happen often that my depression gets in the way of life.  Thanks to my shrink and the medication regimen I'm on I'm usually pretty even keeled.  I've had more of an issue with dizziness and balance and I think I just need to slow down....take a deep breath....and move forward, one ...step ...in...front ...of ...the...other...

With that said, this last week got extremely hectic.  I think I'm in the process of crashing, but it seems to be creeping up on me. 


On Wednesday, June 6th, my friend Cindy and I traveled to Trenton, New Jersey.  I was scheduled to address the New Jersey Assembly Committee on Health and Senior Services regarding their bill on Step Therapy.  Their bill has a two step protocol, as opposed to Connecticut's law which requires your insurance company to fill the prescription your doctor writes for a pain medication, with either the name brand, or generic equivalent.  The New Jersey bill allows the insurance company to request one attempt and failure before being required to fill the initial rx.  Paul Gileno, President/Founder of US Pain Foundation, met me there, along with a lobbyist from Pfizer before heading up to the hearing room.  There were 2 oopposed who spoke first, one of which was not only a terrible speaker, but was unprepared to give appropriate answers to questions asked.  That "boded" well for us, as we were, clear, articulate, and obviously prepared.  We knew our material, and I believe it was obvious that it was not just coming from our head, but from our heart as well.  Cindy thought we did well, and I felt much better following than I did going into it having not enjoyed the event in Edison.  In any case, Wendy, the Pfizer Lobbyist said that they'd love to have me back in the fall, when it will go before the Assembly and Senate.  God I love doing what I do!  Looking forward to more work!  The trip went well all around, and came at a perfect time as I was stressed beyond where I've been of late and just needed to "Get the hell out of Dodge!"


I returned Thursday night, from my all too brief respite, to a veterinarians appointment for our cat George on Friday morning.  It was supposed to be just a check up and Feline leukemia booster but we knew it would be more than that.  He had seemed to be dropping weight daily, and was eating very little.....even if we opened a can of tuna for him.  As it turned out, he had lost about 4 lbs of his 10.5 lbs, down to just 6.75#'s!  The veterinarian looked sad, and my daughter and I said that we had already discussed that this was more than likely the path we'd take today, and therefore we all felt it was time to give him the gift of PEACE.  We called my other daughter so she could be present, and allowed George to move on.  What I hadn't expected was Tippy's reaction.  I knew that he and George got along exceptionally well, and decided that I wanted him with me when we put George down.  Up until the tech took George to put a catheter in, Tippy was laying quietly by my side on the floor.  When the tech took him, Tippy immediately picked up his leash in his mouth and started pacing and turning in circles.  He would not let me take the leash, but continued to pace at a near frantic level until George was brought back in, wrapped in a blanket.  He had been given a mild sedative, in preparation for the final injection into the catheter.  Tippy reclaimed his spot next to my leg, and lay very quietly until the vet came in to give the med.  My daughter, Bethany, sat in the middle with Em and me flanking her.  As the vet began the injection, Tip picked up his chin and rested it on my knee and stayed there until the vet checked George with her stethoscope, and said, "He's gone"........  Tippy took his chin from my knee and rested it on his paws on the floor.....he remained quiet the rest of the day.......  He has since occasionally looked for George when we go out, since George followed us EVERYWHERE....down the road on walks, or just out to "potty".....and then he'd follow us in.  I guess we are ALL slowly accepting, and getting used to, the fact that George is no longer with us.  He had a wonderful life.  He lived 13 years as an outside cat, the only one left in the whole neighborhood due to all of the wildlife we have, especially the coyotes....of which there are many!  Even several months ago, he was still bringing us the insides of critters.  It was kind of creepy, because he would bring the skinned creature....minus the head and fur/feathers....sometimes the entrails were as large as a squirrels! 


This is a picture of George and Alli, January 16, 2011.  As you can see, George was an uncommonly GORGEOUS feline!  He will be missed more than words can convey......... 
Good Bye George.......


On Saturday night, We attended a benefit comedy show with Lisa Landry, for NEADS Client, Elaine Motta and Service Dog Rudy.  My friends daughter and I med Elaine following my graduation ceremony with Tippy.  We ate at the Applebees in Leominster, MA, and Elaine was there getting ready to move into NEADS for her 2 weeks of training with Rudy.  I feel so blessed and honored when I have the opportunity to meet clients when they are just beginning their NEADS journey.  I med Amy Reay while she was fundraising for her Service Dog.  And, when she was matched with Service Dog Delancy, I just happened to be up at NEADS one of the days while bringing a bread pudding.  To see the excitement and anticipation in the faces of the soon to be "partnered" is so heartwarming.  Knowing that they've become a part of the NEADS family is like welcoming a new member into my own family....It's great.  Below is a picture of the "CT Contingent", along with John Moon, NEADS,(with S.D. Rainbow), and Ellen Jones, NEADS, and a new friend, NEADS alum, Tanya and S.D. Bess!  HELLO



Last, but certainly not least, Tippy and I would like to thank you for your prayers of healing wishes for our good friend, Karin and her Service Dog, Lucky.  Karin has made a miraculous recovery and has been re-united with Lucky.  While she tires easily, Karin is doing much better and gets stronger with each new day.  We are all better for having Karin in our lives, and so with a much heartfelt Thank You, I say Good Night!



Karin and Lucky!!!

Saturday, June 2, 2012

I Really Need To Slow Down......

Graduation Day!!!!  Em graduated from the University of Rhode Island on May 20th.  She received her BFA in Theatre with and Acting concentrate.  Anyone who knows her is probably not the least bit surprised by her choice of major.  The only thing I can ever remember her wanting "to be", is an actress.  She's not interested in tv or movies, just the theatre.  She's been singing since she was just 4 years old in the "Cherub Choir" at church, and stayed with it right through high school.  **Where she got her voice, I have no idea....most definitely NOT from me!!  Em's moving home for a bit to get a good routine going on repaying her student loans.  Unfortunately, we were not able to help, so she's got a lot.  She's hoping to head out by the first of the year, to an area near her friends and theatre opportunities.


On Tuesday, May 22, Tippy and I headed over....a 5 minute drive....to the Essex Yacht Club to speak to and profusely THANK the Essex Rotary for helping to make our partnership possible.  The Rotary very generously donated $8,500 of the $9,500**($9,500 is the clients' portion of the nearly $25,000 needed to raise the service dog from "puppyhood" through graduation.)  The above picture was taken by a member of the Rotary, Dick Levene, during an interview I had in preparation for my presentation.  I truly think it is by far my most favorite picture as it shows the love Tippy and I have for each other.  I really enjoyed speaking to the club.  I love being able to speak with people about my blessing of a Service Dog, and how it has changed my life.  Beyond that, the fact that these dogs are able to make such a positive change in the lives of so many with a myriad of disabilities is most definitely a miracle.  It's so very interesting to find so many well educated intelligent people who truly do not know the gist of the Americans With Disabilities Act.  Of course, most people are unaware of the specifics of the ADA unless they either are covered under it, or come in contact with those who are.  It always feels good to leave a group of people knowing that you have provided the service of imparting vital information that every American should be aware of.  I enjoy running through a bit of my daily practice sessions with Tippy.  I think the club enjoyed seeing where their donation went, and the value of that donation.  They don't often have the opportunity to see the "fruits of their labor".

Once again, it seems that I'm working backward chronologically.  I guess it's part of what Mark calls "Wendy Speak".  When people start following my train of thought, they're in trouble!

On Wednesday, the 16th, Tippy and I headed to Edison, New Jersey.  I was asked to speak to a group of intervention pain physicians regarding the practice of "Step Therapy".  I've mentioned this in earlier posts.  Simply put, it's the practice whereby insurance companies require you to try and fail at one or more prescription medications before they will approve the Rx that your doctor initially wrote.  Last year, US Pain helped to get the first bill of it's kind in the nation passed, and ultimately signed into law by Gov. Malloy in the state of Connecticut.  The trip to New Jersey taught me a valuable lesson......ALWAYS ASK FOR AN AGENDA WHEN ACCEPTING A SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT!!!!!  The initial invitation asked for the speaker to speak at the beginning of the meeting for 10 minutes.  We(my friend Cindy went with Tippy and me), arrived at the hotel in Edison at round 4pm, checked in, tweaked my "speech" a bit, changed, and realized we were running late.....of course!  We made it to the venue at exactly 6:30, rushed inside, found my contact, and readied for a speedy intro....WRONG!  I was told, "We've just started our social hour....."!!  Ei, yi, yi!!  During the "hour", I had occasion to mention, "So, I have 5-10 minutes?"  She told me, "Oh no, not even".  Okay, so totally throw out my 3 pages of notes.  Then, when 7:30 rolled around, my contact was 4th on the agenda, and I followed her.  To make matters worse, 2 of the previous members/physicians made reference to the same topics I was going to touch on.  I certainly was not about to repeat the importance of the bill to medical doctors.  I went the route of the importance of their support not only for the New Jersey bill, but for their patients who would benefit by it's passage.  I also explained the importance of the CT law.  That it pertains to pain meds only, a good place to start and get footing, and that in CT, when your doctor writes a prescription for a pain med, your insurance company is required to approve that med, or it's generic equivalent.  Also, it's important to keep the medical decisions with your own physician, the insurance companies should not, in essence, be "playing doctor".

Okay, give me a moment to step off my soap box!  

Before leaving New Jersey, we were able to stop in to see Eddie.  Eddie was in my class at NEADS when I was blessed with Alli.**(More on Alli to come)  Eddie was wounded in Afghanistan in 2003 when an IED went off when he was out of his "Hum-V"(sp?)  Eddie has probably made more of a difference in my life than most.  When we arrived at NEADS, Eddie had the room next to me, we shared a common wall.  During our first 3 nights at training Eddie had flashbacks, yelled and bumped the wall due to his PTSD.  However, once the dogs stayed with us beginning on the 4th night, I did not hear another sound during the night for the remaining week and a half.  And, this was before NEADS started their "Trauma Alert" program.  **(The teams in the new "TA" program learn to recognize the onset of a PTSD episode, and help each other through.....I don't want to say more as I am not familiar enough, and don't want to make a mistake.)  Eddie has gone through so much, and is a remarkable person.  In any case, I met with Eddie in NJ to talk with him about possibly becoming involved with the US Pain Foundation, and possibly speaking.  He has done wonderful work while involved with the Wounded Warrior Project. 
   


I just tried and failed at my 4th try to post.  I had 3 more substantial paragraphs below but lost them all.  I will now try to post just the above......fingers crossed......