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kdgirl

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Everything posted by kdgirl

  1. I make hemp jewelry...you know, the knotted kind with beads and such in them. I can make some in varying lengths, with wood beads, glass beads, etc. Do you think these would fit with the rest of the items? I see them alot on teens/young adults...perhaps they would make a good Christmas gift for younger ones. Let me know, and I'll whip up a batch! Blessings, Katie
  2. I would DEFINITELY recommend an adult dog, especially since your parents will be first-time dog owners. Petfinder is a great site, especially for getting a sense of what types of dogs are out there. And HUGE kudos to your parents for deciding to get a rescue dog from a shelter--there are SO MANY wonderful older dogs who need homes. A good portion of them have been surrendered not because of abuse or neglect, but because of divorce, or a move to somewhere that doesn't allow pets, or children who develop allergies. In terms of housebreaking, most older dogs are already housebroken (or close). And even if they're not fully housebroken, their bladders are developed to the point where they can "hold it" for a respectable length of time. I SWEAR by crate training--my dog Kayla now naps in her crate when she needs downtime, and goes to her crate on command when I am at work and at night. Also, obedience training (even for an adult dog) is helpful, not only for teaching basic commands, but also for socialization w/ other dogs and developing a bond between dog and owner(s). I adopted my "shepherd mix" (shelter-speak for "we have no idea" ) from City of Chicago Animal Care and Control at five months (she is now 15 months and only 35 pounds). I would advise your parents to look at Petfinder and other shelter websites, but also to spend time just visiting shelters in their area and see who steals their heart! Animal family members are wonderful for the spirit--I think your parents are making a good decision. Blessings, Katie
  3. hello everyone, i introduced myself a number of months back, but didn't ever post much. i do lurk very frequently, though, and feel as though i know all of you from reading your posts. now, however, i have a NEW reason to dedicate myself to this board. when i was growing up in springfield, illinois, i never had grandparents close by. what i WAS blessed to have, though, were adopted grandparents (grandma birdie and grandpa bob) who lived next door. they were (and continue to be) a constant support to my family, especially when my father had kidney transplant surgery in 1982. i recently found out that my "grandfather" was diagnosed with lung cancer. he was diagnosed in late summer 2003, after a period of feeling "not right." i don't know what type or what stage, and i am trying to get that info without prying. i am assuming it is fairly late stage, as he is not a candidate for surgery. however, he is receiving chemotherapy. his wife, my grandma, said that the side effects are fairly severe. i saw him last week, though, and he is still mobile and able to eat a LOT! so i am assuming that these are all good signs. they don't have a computer, but are talking about getting one. i plan to refer his wife to this site, as i know she will be able to get invaluable support and information. he's not much of a "talker," and never has been much for new-fangled technology , so i'm not sure he'd be up for it. but please know that i will pass you all along as a valuable resource. i will update as i have more information. know that all survivors and caregivers are in my thoughts and prayers. katie
  4. I've been torn about the HIV/AIDS funding to Africa, so I thought I'd respond with my thoughts. I DO agree that there needs to be more funding for LC research in the US. The fact that HIV/AIDS and all sorts of other cancers are getting so much funding (though not nearly as much as the military , but that's another issue entirely) but not LC seems to support the stereotype that LC is something that people "deserve" (because they have chosen to smoke, as most people assume that all LC patients are smokers). In fact, I saw Jessica Simpson (teenybopper pop star) on the Today Show a few weeks ago...she is part of the Legacy campaign to get people to quit smoking, and she was talking about how she got involved b/c LC was such a "selfish" cancer! GRRRRRR! However, the perception that a huge amount of adults (and children) in Africa have HIV/AIDS because they couldn't get it under control is not entirely true. These are nations that are living in poverty...poverty more extreme than we could even fathom living in the US. They do not have access to quality prenatal care, safer sex materials, or safer sex education. In addition, those who have HIV/AIDS, because of poverty, cannot afford the sorts of drugs (protease inhibitors or "cocktails") that US patients with insurance have the benefit of. Many nations, such as South Africa, are beginning to ride the wave of sex education and condom distribution, and the results are phenomenal! However, I'm sure that President Bush's funding for HIV/AIDS in Africa is contingent upon "abstinence-based" programs, not risk reduction models (meeting people where they're at, rather than placing your morals/standards upon them). So I agree with the funding, but disagree with the conditions placed upon it. I have emailed President Bush also, as I agree that LC research deserves FAR more funding than it receives. However, as an HIV/AIDS counselor/tester of youth in inner-city Chicago, don't ask for the funding to be pulled from those who have NO other resources. I'm sorry if this posting seems irrelevant...I just had to share my thoughts about this issue. Hope all are well. Katie
  5. kdgirl

    yay grandma!!!

    i just had to share this with everyone because i am so happy and proud! my grandmother, who suffers from SEVERE systematic lupus (she was diagnosed over 10 year ago), has kicked a 60 year smoking habit!!! she used the patch (my mother bought all three steps for while she was visiting, and apparently stubborn grandma stuck with it!), and it worked!!! she says that, although she is still in pain from the lupus, she can feel a difference in her breathing and she is feeling a bit better. she is an inspiration to me, as i am preparing to kick the nasty vice myself. WAY TO GO, GRANDMA!!!!
  6. hello, everyone-- i have been lurking here for some time and have just registered. you all are an inspiration to me with your faith, courage, and hope. i am not a lung cancer patient; however, i lost a grandmother to some sort of cancer that involved her lungs/esphagous (i was very young, so i don't remember the details) and a grandfather to pancreatic cancer (three weeks from diagnosis to his passing). i know i don't have the knowledge or experience that you all have, but i would like to be able to offer my support to everyone through this trying journey. katie
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