Insights, Blogs & News
Well, Hello There Stranger
“Well, hello there, stranger.” You’d think that after living with the same body for four decades, there wouldn’t be any surprises left. That is, other than the usual age-related changes. I’m getting all too used to them. You, too? My sympathies. Much in the same way, I’ve gotten all too used to the weirdities accompanying four decades of arthritis. As soon as I think I’ve heard of every ramification, there’s another something brought to my attention. Earlier this week, I was grabbing a bite for dinner, and as I bit down softly, my lower left jaw CRUNCHED – and CRUMBLED?? […]
Invisible Challenges with Autism (and other developmental differences)
In Recognition of National Autism Awarness Month – April What is Autism? According to the Autism Society, “Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and affects a person’s ability to communicate and interact with others. Autism is defined by a certain set of behaviors and is a ‘spectrum disorder’ that affects individuals differently and to varying degrees. There is no known single cause for autism, but increased awareness and funding can help families today.” In 2009, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention concluded that autism had risen to 1 in every […]
Actor Gary Busey Wins 40K for Brain Injury Center
Actor Gary Busey joined Donald Trump’s hit TV reality show, “Celebrity Apprentice,” this season. On the episode that aired March 21st, Busey took on the role of project manager for his all male team, Team Backbone. The challenge was to create a display “camping experience” for Camping World. Although there were several hurdles the team experienced, Busey’s team won the challenge. The prize was a $20,000 donation and $20,000 in goods from Camping World to his chosen charity, The Center for Head Injury Services in St. Louis, MO. Busey began his movie and television acting career in the 1970’s. He was nominated for his […]
IDA Grieves the Loss of Jason Graham, 2010 Inspiration Award Recipient
Jason Graham grew up in southeast Denver in a family of five children. Jason graduated from Thomas Jefferson High School in 1991. He battled both a brain tumor and kidney disease from the age of 29, Jason was diagnosed with both a pituitary brain tumor and kidney disease. He had successful brain surgery just before his 30th birthday. In Dec 2006, Jason received a kidney transplant donated by his mother Marilyn. The kidney functioned at a minimum over the next four years, causing him to need another. However, a chronic cough caused him to have to wait for the second transplant. […]
Please Pass the Attitude!
“Please pass the attitude.” We routinely recognize the genes that pass from one generation to the next. After all, we see evidence of hand-me-down genes looking back at us each morning in the mirror. (“When did I become my mother??”) While we recognize genes that are passed along, what we don’t often recognize are the equally important attitudes that we pass from generation to generation. (“I’d like another scoop of the I-can’t-stand-anyone-in-authority gene, please. Yum!”) Awright, so it’s not so much a gene that we’re talking about in regard to attitude. But don’t those passed-down attitudes affect us in similar […]
Dealing with Unsolicited Advice
As many of you know, my husband has been in and out of the hospital since last October. He is battling a rare form of lymphoma in his brain called PTLD. During this time, I have received a lot of generous support, wonderful encouragement, and helpful suggestions from family, friends, and even strangers. People have offered kind words via email, phone, and cards. They have brought meals and offered to clean my house. They have sent motivating books and given money to put gas in the car for my daily trek to the hospital. Someone even fixed my vacuum cleaner […]