Dealing With Diabetes-Featuring Claudia Arseneault-Rainusso
August 31, 2011 by Grace Ste. Croix
Filed under •-Feature, Forgiveness, Insights, Personal Growth, Spiritual Guidance, Spiritual teachers, Vision, Youth - Personal Growth
As a person who has family members with diabetes, I was shocked at the recent statistics of how many people are diagnosed every year with the disease. Blood sugar monitoring, living an active, balanced life and making healthy choices are common decisions diabetics make every day. However, what was more shocking was how little the average person knows about the disease. There have been many cases of people mistaking a Type 1 diabetic reaction for a public disturbance or a passer by giving a diabetic more insulin during a diabetic reaction. These mistakes can cost people their lives. Since many people have either Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, it is essential that the public is made aware of the day to day life of a diabetic. But how does one explain the everyday routine of a diabetic person? Can they live and lead a regular, fulfilled life? Absolutely!
Enter Claudia Arseneault-Rainusso. At only eleven years old, this Ontario, Canada resident wrote her class speech about living with diabetes. She explained clearly about the disease and the common misconceptions people have. As a Type 1 diabetic herself, she also explains her transition to using the pump, an apparatus that slowly feeds your body insulin. I want to share her speech internationally for those who want to learn more about diabetes and to be inspired by a new generation of writers :
My name is Claudia. I’m 11 years old, and I have Type 1 Diabetes.
Diabetes is a disease – don’t worry it’s not contagious! – that affects an organ in my body called the pancreas. Everyone has one, but mine just doesn’t work right – go figure!
When I was 2 years old, Diabetes decided to move right on into my body. My mom says that before I was diagnosed, I was sleeping a lot, thirsty all the time and going to the bathroom 20 times a day! She brought me to the emergency room because she thought I had a bladder infection, but the doctors knew right away what was going on; I had Type 1 Diabetes. I had to stay in the hospital for one week while the doctors and nurses tried to control my blood sugar levels, and they also had to teach my parents how to take care of me and my Diabetes – they had a lot to learn!
This is how my body works differently from yours: When we eat any kind of food, it turns into glucose (sugar) and our bodies use insulin to turn that glucose into energy. That pancreas I told you about earlier, its job is to make special cells which make the insulin. My pancreas doesn’t make those cells, so I have to get insulin another way. In my case, it’s by a snazzy insulin pump which runs on batteries – yes, yes, I run on batteries. Ha! Ha! Every three days, I give myself a needle which has a tube around it that stays under my skin when the needle is pulled out. The tube is connected to a long cord which attaches to my insulin pump that is loaded up with insulin. The pump gives me a tiny bit of insulin all day long, and anytime I eat, I input the carbohydrate amount of that food and – Voila! – it calculates how much insulin I need to break down that food to be used as energy for my body! I like to think of my pump as my artificial pancreas that I control! A needle every 3 days may sound like no fun, but its way better than it used to be. When I was first diagnosed, I was getting four to six needles every day! When I was five years old, the doctors and my parents agreed that I was grown-up enough to start pump therapy.
Sometimes, I get too much insulin which causes my blood sugars to go low. I get tired, dizzy and shaky. I can drink juice or eat some candy to bring my blood sugar back to a normal level. My little sister and some of my classmates think it’s cool that I have Diabetes. They see me get special treatment, like drinking juice or eating candy in class, when my blood sugars are low. Trust me, having Diabetes stinks! Sometimes it can be really hard to control my blood sugars, especially when I get sick with a cold or flu. When I get sick, my blood sugar can get very high. When this happens, I get really hyper, really thirsty, and it can be hard for me to focus. If my blood sugar doesn’t come down soon, I can end up in the hospital. I started in a new in school last year, and a few weeks after school started, I got strep throat and my blood sugars went crazy. It was pretty serious and I was in the hospital for one week. It’s embarrassing enough to be the new kid at school, but the new sick kid at school is much worse. That was not the first time this had happened, and it wouldn’t be the last. This summer, I went to California with my little sister and grandmother. I caught a simple little virus at Disneyland, and I ended up in the intensive care at a Children’s Hospital because my blood sugars went crazy again! When I was younger, sometimes kids would say mean things to me like, “Are you going to die because you have “DIE”abetes.”, or “I don’t want to play with you because I don’t want to catch Diabetes.” It really hurt my feelings then, but now I know that those people didn’t know much about Diabetes. My parents taught me how to teach other people about Diabetes, and that’s it’s nothing to be scared of.
There are a lot of people who I meet that think that because I am Diabetic that I can’t have any sugar; this is NOT true. There are two types of Diabetes: type 1 and type 2. I have type 1 Diabetes. Type 2 Diabetes is the one where you have to be careful about what you eat. A lot of type 2 Diabetics can reverse or manage their Diabetes by eating healthy, taking medication and exercising. A lot of the time, but not always, type 2 Diabetes is caused by not taking care of yourself. Type 1 Diabetes is totally different. There is nothing I could have done to prevent this disease from happening to me, and it’s not going to get any better or worse. I can eat what I like and give myself the amount of insulin I need for that particular food choice.
Sometimes it really bothers me that I have Diabetes, and I wonder why God would allow this to happen to me. When I get discouraged, I remind myself of God’s promises and determine to not let my Diabetes get me down. God promises He is with us always and will give us the strength to handle whatever comes our way. My parents painted a scripture verse on my bedroom wall that says “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I try to look at my Diabetes as something that I have been trusted with, and it’s my job to have a good attitude despite having not so great circumstances. One day, I hope there will be a cure for Diabetes, but until then, I will rely on God for the strength I need each day and pray that one day soon a cure will come.
Love, Claudia
Claudia’s clear and concise speech outlines that there are ups and downs to diabetes, but with a great attitude and an excellent understanding, you can live a fulfilled life. Her faith is her guiding light. It is important for each of us to find our own. Understanding diabetes does not have to be complicated, that is why it is best to hear about it through the example of a young person.
*Special thanks to Claudia for sharing her speech*
*Photo credit: Alicia Arseneault
The Joneses-By Grace Ste.Croix
August 20, 2011 by Grace Ste. Croix
Filed under •-Feature, Family & Relationships, Insights, Leadership, Purpose
The Joneses are well known in every city. They are the perfect family. Mr. and Mrs. Jones have an ideal marriage; they often look much younger for their years. They have two beautiful educated children, a boy and a girl, who excel in school and are quite popular with their peers. They have great occupations, making comfortable six figure incomes. The Jones family set local trends for fashion, they always have the latest and greatest technology and their model home should be on a magazine. Actually, everything in their lives could be on a cover on a magazine. They are perfect. Not to mention, everyone else are always trying to keep up with them.
Have you met the Joneses? You probably have. They are the local celebrities of your town or city. They are charitable, Mr. and Mrs. Jones have that secret for keeping romance alive in their marriage, and their children are stars in high school. Slowly, many of us find ourselves yearning to be like them, thus we copy their entire style. We find ourselves dwelling in our own insecurities: Mr. Jones has a brand new car, why can’t we upgrade ours? The Jones children always get straight A’s, I wish my child could just study more. My wife could be more put together, like Mrs. Jones, if she tries. We have all of these goals to keep up with the Jones’, but these local celebrities just seem to be a little out of our reach.
To aspire to become a better person is generally a great idea. It can be the inspirational turn around that you need. However, aspiring to be ANOTHER person is generally the quest people take. You will never be able to aspire to be someone else. Even if you shadow another almost perfectly, it will eat inside you. Aspire to be a better you, not a better someone else.
We must also ask ourselves why our goals are so materialistic. Why do we need to have a new car, like Mr. Jones? Having material items is a shadow for what truly is important. We should be aspiring to be more passionate, more kind and more confident. With those key features, we may reach the goals that we are looking for. You cannot buy confidence, passion or empathy. These are three traits that you are either born with or you work very hard to achieve. These three key attributes are what should be admired, not the glitz and glamour the Jones’ exude.
Lastly, it is evident that Mr. and Mrs. Jones are not quite what they seem. Their bleached smiles and beautiful brand named clothes hide darker secrets that they try ruthlessly to hide. To be blunt, everyone has problems, you just might not know that Mr. Jones has a drinking problem or Mrs. Jones lost her mother as a child.
When people achieve greatness they should receive a pat on the back. It may inspire you to achieve greatness as well. It is just essential that you are achieving the first steps towards your own path, not retracing the steps of someone else. There are many ways to achieve greatness and we each must guide ourselves a different way to get there. Without individuality, we my as well continue attempting to keep up with the Joneses.
Share The Warmth -By Grace Ste.Croix
August 8, 2011 by Grace Ste. Croix
Filed under •-Headline, Insights, Youth - Personal Growth
“To awaken hopes and dreams by overcoming hunger and poverty”
It has been a mandate of every community that no child should ever go hungry. A simple request that every child should have a full and nutritious breakfast, lunch and dinner is an idealistic goal, but unfortunately a goal that most communities cannot accomplish. Many children do go hungry, cannot afford even the basic school supplies and therefore their grades, self esteem and personal nutrition suffer greatly. Three women fromMontreal,QuebecCanadarealized a problem within their community and decided to do something about it.
In 1989, there was a public plea for clothing and food for the homeless.Montrealis known for its frigid winter temperatures so staying very warm is essential. Three women called the local newspaper, the Montreal Gazette, for aid in donating clothes and food. The response was great, many people called to give and to volunteer. The very next year, Share The Warmth was officially incorporated. They would collect food and clothing and deliver it to the homeless on the street. The rest would go to homeless shelters and drop in centers.
In 1992, after a public call for even more food and clothing for those living in homes under the poverty line, Share The Warmth expanded their mandate. Requests poured into share the warmth, to organize a food bank, to aid youth living in group homes and sadly, even schools were highly concerned about their many hungry students. Something needed to be done.
Share The Warmth was deeply concerned about the children. Children and youth in the area of Point St. Charles andVerdunwere very bright but needed the tools in order to succeed. Students were lacking supplies and some could not even afford notebooks to write in. Drop out rates in these areas were alarming. Share the Warmth organized a youth group, created scholarships for students, organized music clubs and aided tutoring programs through the generous donations of local businesses and people. Share The Warmth also has a second hand shop located on site. Most of the programs are organized by volunteers, willing to give back to their community.
Behind the great organization of Share The Warmth are its people. Debbie Gunn runs many of Share The Warmth’s programs. Once a single mother on welfare, Debbie decided to give back to the community 15 years ago and volunteer at Share The Warmth. Debbie was worried that her skills would not match what Share The Warmth was looking for. When asked what her talents were, she replied, “I am a good mother.” Little did Debbie know at the time that maternal instincts and a big heart was exactly what Share The Warmth needed. The organization gave her the confidence she needed to leave the welfare system and look for full time work. Share The Warmth, did not want to lose her and offered her a full time paid job immediately. She now heads their second hand shop, the Christmas Box program, volunteer program and back to school program. It’s all about people helping people.
Share The Warmth always needs volunteers and donations. There website is www.sharethewarmth.ca and they have an incredibly kind and generous staff. If you are looking to institute something similar in your community, what Share The Warmth has is an excellent model for you.
No one should ever go cold or hungry. Our children, no matter where they are born or in what financial situation, should have equal access to an education and have a chance to achieve their dreams and learn a skill set for their future. Share The Warmth is one organization making those dreams a reality. Thousands of people are eating, clothed and better educated because of such a small group of caring people.
As for me, finding real philanthropists making a difference has been a humbling experience. I am slowly receiving great stories from people across the world, but I want more! Visit me at my facebook page, Facebook: Grace Ste.Croix and tell me about someone or an organization that are making a difference for others.
For donations, information or to get in contact with Share The Warmth, visit: www.sharethewarmth.ca
Share the Warmth Foundation /Partageons l’espoir
625 Fortune St.
Montreal, Quebec
H3K 2R9
Tel.: (514) 933-5599
Fax.: (514) 933-7270
Registration No. 129600813 RR0001
Since 1989 – Share the Warmth Foundation
Philanthropy At Its Finest
July 23, 2011 by Grace Ste. Croix
Filed under •-Headline, Insights, Oneness In Action
Philanthropy At Its Finest
Currently we are living in a time when pennies are pinched and our lives seem more constricted. There are many people in need. In retrospect, we are living in a time where giving is at its most great, and everyday heroes are not in the movies, but walk among us.
I have made it a personal quest to find these everyday philanthropists. We read about those who are extremely wealthy and give large amounts of money to charity. However, my focus is on the everyday people who are making a difference. Those philanthropists who actually have day jobs and make the rest of us feel that we too can give or help in a cause.
Welcome to Toronto, Ontario, Canada. As one of the most multicultural cities in the world, Toronto is a place where you can dine at a delicious authentic Indian restaurant for lunch, and walk next door and eat some delicious Jamaican jerk chicken for supper. Toronto boasts many blocks of “little countries” in every corner. Ethiopian? French? Sri Lankan? Spanish? Yes, please! Sample a piece of the world’s dishes by walking a few blocks. Genuine kindness, a plethora of culture and a full belly is what is behind each restaurant door.
Across from Honest Ed’s “everything” store on Bathurst is a small restaurant with a big heart. Sam and Agathi own George’s Chicken, a small eatery in a busy part of Toronto. It sells everything from Spaghetti to arguably some of the best chicken Kabobs in town. However, it has a few secrets other then the fabulous food that has given Sam and Agathi such loyal customers.
The owners believe in something that is rare today, keeping prices low. The menu has hardly changed even with the huge flux of food prices! The philosophy is simple. Everyone deserves a good meal at a fair price; certainly a rare idea in these times! Walk into the restaurant and receive good conversation from at least one of the owners and feel like a part of the family. Instead of raising prices substantially, they work longer hours, often times if you have a midnight craving, George’s Chicken is open and ready for your business! They also start early morning breakfasts on the weekends. It’s a warm environment, but that’s not the big deal that they keep under wraps.
Sam and Agathi donate a few hundred rotisserie chickens every year to the homeless around Christmas. Trust me; this is not a huge restaurant. They really go out of their way to give everyone a full belly at Christmas time. They do not call the press, they do not promote their business; they just give. Many have witnessed George’s Chicken give a hot meal to homeless people who are hungry at any time. These are the stories of people doing extraordinary things. This very small business gives more to those in need then many businesses three times its size. They give what they know best, food.
Sam and Agathi may be one of many kind hearted restaurateurs in the world that donate. I just think its time we start talking about it. George’s Chicken, along with many every day philanthropists, give back to the community. Through their generosity they make the rest of us know and feel like we can do the same.
If you live or are ever visiting in Toronto, go to Bathurst and Bloor, right across from Honest Eds, stop by George’s Chicken and grab a bite. Speak to the owners, they’re great conversationalists and extremely genuine. As for me, I continue my search for everyday good people, those who have some and give back plenty. Readers, want to share with me your own story?
Research, Relate, Raise- Pet Problems
July 16, 2011 by Grace Ste. Croix
Filed under •-Headline, Healthy Pets
A decision to get a family dog is a big one, but as most pet owners will assure you, any pet can be a wonderful addition to your family. However, how well do we research a potential newcomer to our family? Does the new cat like children? Can this new puppy adjust to another pet already in the house? Many of us fail to take proper consideration of a pets needs while we focus solely on our own. This is giving Humane Societies and Animal Shelters big problems.
Unfortunately, there is an abundance of Jack Russell Terriers, hounds and other dogs who are extremely active and require a lot of attention. These pets are a welcome addition to any family, but sometimes the owners of these pets do not do enough research on how much time these pups may need. Regular walks, an active lifestyle and loving owners are just a few of the requirements to own these great pets.
In many cases, city animal shelters and humane societies are seeing an abundance of dogs that are active, such as the amount of Jack Russell terriers dropped off at their front door. It is becoming all too common that people are adopting these pets and not realizing the commitment you must give them. Therefore, these pets are dropped off at a shelter. These societies are overwhelmed with all animals, including these pets and it is harder for them to find potential active owners in the big city then in a suburban or rural area. Often times they spend long periods in these shelters and in worse case scenarios in some cities, are put down because of overcrowding.
If you have any interest in getting a new pet for your family, do your research! Whether it is a hamster or a Jack Russell terrier, see what the needs are of the pet and make sure you are as good of a fit for that pet as that pet is a good fit for your family. If this is the case, take the time to check out humane societies or animal shelters. They have a lot of loving animals who could use a good home, and the shelters need to take in more animals, so the empty spot is also appreciated. So commit to the three R’s , RESEARCH, RELATE and RAISE a new pet into your family
