If you have 20 free minutes please watch this youtube video. It is about a woman from the UK who video taped her story with her son who suffered from vCJD. It is a 2 part video, but it is very eye-opening and emotional. Just watching her son reminds me so much of my dad and his sufferings. He quickly lost one ability after another until he was bed ridden, unable to speak and unable to swallow. However, my dad suffered for 3 months while this young man appeared to have suffered for 6 plus months. I'm sure his youth played a role in that. Anyway, this video is worth taking a look at so you can see what exactly a CJD patient goes through. It is pretty heart-wrenching.
I'm thinking that I'm going to run 12 miles early tomorrow morning. We are having a house-warming pary at my new place and it might be hard for me to get up early in the morning. Wish me luck that I have a more successful run than last weekend!
Many blessings,
Lacy
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DbGtk4UutXE (PART 1)
www.youtube.com/watch?v=eLSSAh6luYA&NR=1 (Part 2)
Friday, August 8, 2008
Thursday, August 7, 2008
I did it!!
So I woke up early today and prepared things for my teaching this evening. By the time I was done it was 11:00am and I decided to go for a long bike ride. I actually biked around Lake Nakomis, Lake Harriet, Lake Calhoun and Lake of the Isles. Yeah...that was lots of miles, but I'm not too sure how many. Anyway, it was a good ride and I definitely enjoyed myself. By the time I was done my legs were like rubber, but I survived.
So I just wanted to let you all know that God definitely answers our prayers. I have been praying all week that God confirms to me that he wants to use my talents in the education field. He definitely prooved that true to me today. When I was teaching something came over me...it was like it came from with in. I didn't get nervous at all. It was natural. My peers who spoke Spanish and even those who did not, were so impressed. They said I was a natural. Wow! That is just what I needed. Teaching kindergarten Spanish Immersion is what I'm meant to do and I'm so excited!! Thaank you Lord! You are so amazing!
I hope you all are feeling his magnificent love in your lives!
-Lacy
So I just wanted to let you all know that God definitely answers our prayers. I have been praying all week that God confirms to me that he wants to use my talents in the education field. He definitely prooved that true to me today. When I was teaching something came over me...it was like it came from with in. I didn't get nervous at all. It was natural. My peers who spoke Spanish and even those who did not, were so impressed. They said I was a natural. Wow! That is just what I needed. Teaching kindergarten Spanish Immersion is what I'm meant to do and I'm so excited!! Thaank you Lord! You are so amazing!
I hope you all are feeling his magnificent love in your lives!
-Lacy
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Mad Cow Causes BOTH 'Sporadic' CJD and vCJD
Thank you for your prayers. My teaching went very well today. I couldn't have asked for better. Please pray that the same goes for tomorrow. That is the lesson I'm most worried about. Anyway, please read this article below. It is very interesting and shocking. It will definitely keep you wanting to know more. I didn't post the entire article, because it is a little long. However, I would have to say that the whole article has a lot of important things to say. If you get a chance, please read until the end at www.rense.com/general47/spor.htm
Mad Cow - Linked To Thousands Of CJD Cases?
"People who develop CJD from eating mad cow contaminated beef have been thought to develop a specific form of the disorder called variant CJD. But new research, released last December, indicates the mad cow pathogen can cause both sporadic CJD and the variant form, vCJD."
By Steve Mitchell United Press International 1-3-4
(UPI via COMTEX) -- The U.S. government's monitoring system for cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a fatal human brain illness, could be missing tens of thousands of victims, scientists and consumer advocates have told United Press International.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD can be caused by eating beef contaminated with mad cow disease, but the critics assert without a better tracking system it might be impossible to determine whether any CJD cases are due to mad cow or obtain an accurate picture of the prevalence of the disorder in the United States.
Beginning in the late 1990s, more than 100 people contracted CJD in the United Kingdom and several European countries after eating beef infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy -- the clinical name for mad cow disease.
Only one case of mad cow has been reported in U.S. cattle -- on Dec. 24 in a cow in Washington state -- and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's monitoring system has never detected a case of CJD due to eating contaminated American beef. Nevertheless, critics say, the CDC's system misses many cases of the disease, which currently is untreatable and is always fatal.
Spontaneously-occurring or sporadic CJD is a rare disorder. Only about 300 cases appear nationwide each year, but several studies have suggested the disorder might be more common than thought and as many as tens of thousands of cases might be going unrecognized.
Clusters of CJD have been reported in various areas of the United States -- Pennsylvania in 1993, Florida in 1994, Oregon in 1996, New York in 1999-2000 and Texas in 1996. In addition, several people in New Jersey developed CJD in recent years, including a 56-year-old woman who died on May 31, 2003. Although in some instances, a mad cow link was suspected, all of the cases ultimately were classified as sporadic.
People who develop CJD from eating mad-cow-contaminated beef have been thought to develop a specific form of the disorder called variant CJD. But new research, released last December, indicates the mad cow pathogen can cause both sporadic CJD and the variant form.
"Now people are beginning to realize that because something looks like sporadic CJD they can't necessarily conclude that it's not linked to (mad cow disease)," said Laura Manuelidis, section chief of surgery in the neuropathology department at Yale University, who conducted a 1989 study that found 13 percent of Alzheimer's patients actually had CJD.
Several studies, including the one by Manuelidis, have found autopsies reveal 3-percent-to-13-percent of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia actually suffered from CJD. Those numbers might sound low, but there are 4-million Alzheimer's cases and hundreds of thousands of dementia cases in the United States. A small percentage of those cases could add up to 120,000 or more CJD victims going undetected and not included in official statistics.
Experiences in England and Switzerland -- two countries that discovered mad cow disease in their cattle -- have heightened concerns about the possibility some cases of sporadic CJD are due to consuming mad-cow-tainted beef. Both countries have reported increases in sporadic CJD since mad cow was first detected in British herds in 1986.
Switzerland discovered last year its CJD rate was twice that of any other country in the world. Switzerland had been seeing about eight to 11 cases per year from 1997 to 2000. Then the incidence more than doubled, to 19 cases in 2001 and 18 cases in 2002.
The CDC says the annual rate of CJD in the United States is one case per million people, but the above studies suggest the true prevalence of CJD is not known, Manuelidis told UPI.
Please go to the website above to read on....
Mad Cow - Linked To Thousands Of CJD Cases?
"People who develop CJD from eating mad cow contaminated beef have been thought to develop a specific form of the disorder called variant CJD. But new research, released last December, indicates the mad cow pathogen can cause both sporadic CJD and the variant form, vCJD."
By Steve Mitchell United Press International 1-3-4
(UPI via COMTEX) -- The U.S. government's monitoring system for cases of Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a fatal human brain illness, could be missing tens of thousands of victims, scientists and consumer advocates have told United Press International.
Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease or CJD can be caused by eating beef contaminated with mad cow disease, but the critics assert without a better tracking system it might be impossible to determine whether any CJD cases are due to mad cow or obtain an accurate picture of the prevalence of the disorder in the United States.
Beginning in the late 1990s, more than 100 people contracted CJD in the United Kingdom and several European countries after eating beef infected with bovine spongiform encephalopathy -- the clinical name for mad cow disease.
Only one case of mad cow has been reported in U.S. cattle -- on Dec. 24 in a cow in Washington state -- and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's monitoring system has never detected a case of CJD due to eating contaminated American beef. Nevertheless, critics say, the CDC's system misses many cases of the disease, which currently is untreatable and is always fatal.
Spontaneously-occurring or sporadic CJD is a rare disorder. Only about 300 cases appear nationwide each year, but several studies have suggested the disorder might be more common than thought and as many as tens of thousands of cases might be going unrecognized.
Clusters of CJD have been reported in various areas of the United States -- Pennsylvania in 1993, Florida in 1994, Oregon in 1996, New York in 1999-2000 and Texas in 1996. In addition, several people in New Jersey developed CJD in recent years, including a 56-year-old woman who died on May 31, 2003. Although in some instances, a mad cow link was suspected, all of the cases ultimately were classified as sporadic.
People who develop CJD from eating mad-cow-contaminated beef have been thought to develop a specific form of the disorder called variant CJD. But new research, released last December, indicates the mad cow pathogen can cause both sporadic CJD and the variant form.
"Now people are beginning to realize that because something looks like sporadic CJD they can't necessarily conclude that it's not linked to (mad cow disease)," said Laura Manuelidis, section chief of surgery in the neuropathology department at Yale University, who conducted a 1989 study that found 13 percent of Alzheimer's patients actually had CJD.
Several studies, including the one by Manuelidis, have found autopsies reveal 3-percent-to-13-percent of patients diagnosed with Alzheimer's or dementia actually suffered from CJD. Those numbers might sound low, but there are 4-million Alzheimer's cases and hundreds of thousands of dementia cases in the United States. A small percentage of those cases could add up to 120,000 or more CJD victims going undetected and not included in official statistics.
Experiences in England and Switzerland -- two countries that discovered mad cow disease in their cattle -- have heightened concerns about the possibility some cases of sporadic CJD are due to consuming mad-cow-tainted beef. Both countries have reported increases in sporadic CJD since mad cow was first detected in British herds in 1986.
Switzerland discovered last year its CJD rate was twice that of any other country in the world. Switzerland had been seeing about eight to 11 cases per year from 1997 to 2000. Then the incidence more than doubled, to 19 cases in 2001 and 18 cases in 2002.
The CDC says the annual rate of CJD in the United States is one case per million people, but the above studies suggest the true prevalence of CJD is not known, Manuelidis told UPI.
Please go to the website above to read on....
Tuesday, August 5, 2008
I must write fast...
because I'm going crazy!! Please pray for me. I have to teach in front of my peers tomorrow and the book that I based my lesson on still hasn't arrived. I ordered it over 1 week ago. There's a chance that it could come tomorrow, but I don't want to risk it. I need a plan B! I've searched all libraries around here and none have a copy of the book in Spanish. It looks like I'll have to get the version in English and translate it myself. What a pain! Tomorrow is going to be hectic. Wish me luck...I'm going to need it.
With all the craziness going on in my head it was easy not to focus on running. I prayed the whole time that the book will come tomorrow and everything will turn out ok. Because I was so occupied, the 5 miles went by quite quickly and I don't actually remember it that well. Oh..there were a few things that caught my attention now that I think about it. I saw a little dog in a dog carrier that a man was wearing on his back...it was so cute! I had never seen anything like it before. It was like what men and women wear to carry their baby on their back. I also saw a group of 5 kids all dressed up in costumes and it appeared they were practicing for a play. I'm not too sure what it was about, but it looked interesting. Oh...the things you will see in Minneapolis! I'm sure I haven't seen nothin' yet!
Please keep me in your prayers that my teaching turns out great tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully, I come back bearing good news!
Much love,
Lacy
With all the craziness going on in my head it was easy not to focus on running. I prayed the whole time that the book will come tomorrow and everything will turn out ok. Because I was so occupied, the 5 miles went by quite quickly and I don't actually remember it that well. Oh..there were a few things that caught my attention now that I think about it. I saw a little dog in a dog carrier that a man was wearing on his back...it was so cute! I had never seen anything like it before. It was like what men and women wear to carry their baby on their back. I also saw a group of 5 kids all dressed up in costumes and it appeared they were practicing for a play. I'm not too sure what it was about, but it looked interesting. Oh...the things you will see in Minneapolis! I'm sure I haven't seen nothin' yet!
Please keep me in your prayers that my teaching turns out great tomorrow. I'll let you know how it goes. Hopefully, I come back bearing good news!
Much love,
Lacy
Monday, August 4, 2008
Once again blessings from afar....
A couple of days ago I received a letter in the mail and there was no return address on it, but a heck of a lot of stamps. I was thinking that it had to have traveled a long way. Not in a million years did I think I would get correspondence from a different country, but once again God makes the impossible happen. This letter actually crossed oceans and came all the way from Australia! Wowzers...eh? Thank you Peter for your support by reading my blog. Peter is a systems analyst (aka...really smart!) and he is trained to recognize patterns. He went on to write about his neighbor who passed away from CJD. He was a vietnam vet and his widow claimed that during the early stages of the disease when he was more aware he blamed a shipment of chicken supplied by US forces in vietnam. He felt unwell after eating this meal and apart from that, he also suffered at that time from what was assumed to be "malaria". Just a freak incident...right?
However, Peter is also part of an online forum and one correspondent commented that her father was suspected to have CJD and he also was a vietnam vet.
My father was a vietnam vet. However, I'm not too sure that he ever stepped foot on to Vietnam territory because he was in the navy and spent most of his time on a ship in the middle of the ocean working on jet engines. However, the part that Peter mentioned about his neighbor suffering from what they thought to be "malaria" gave me an eary feeling. I wrote a paper on my dad in high school and I clearly remember him telling me how he became horribly sick in vietnam with what was assumed to be "mononuculosis". He said it was such a horrific experience because not only was he sick, but he also had to be in lock down for 2 weeks so not to infect other men. I right away called my grandma to confirm this information and she said it was certainly true. She actually believed it to be more serious than they would tell her.
I agree with Peter when he states in the letter, "Sure, these three incidents don't form any proof whatever,.....but no disproof either." There is not much information out there about CJD so if there is something that we can grab onto, it is worth it in my eyes to investigate more. If any of my readers have had a loved one pass away from CJD or is currently suffering from the disease and there is a connection with the Vietnam war, please let me know. Also if any of you have comments or whatever, please don't hesitate to respond.
Much love and blessings to all,
Lacy
However, Peter is also part of an online forum and one correspondent commented that her father was suspected to have CJD and he also was a vietnam vet.
My father was a vietnam vet. However, I'm not too sure that he ever stepped foot on to Vietnam territory because he was in the navy and spent most of his time on a ship in the middle of the ocean working on jet engines. However, the part that Peter mentioned about his neighbor suffering from what they thought to be "malaria" gave me an eary feeling. I wrote a paper on my dad in high school and I clearly remember him telling me how he became horribly sick in vietnam with what was assumed to be "mononuculosis". He said it was such a horrific experience because not only was he sick, but he also had to be in lock down for 2 weeks so not to infect other men. I right away called my grandma to confirm this information and she said it was certainly true. She actually believed it to be more serious than they would tell her.
I agree with Peter when he states in the letter, "Sure, these three incidents don't form any proof whatever,.....but no disproof either." There is not much information out there about CJD so if there is something that we can grab onto, it is worth it in my eyes to investigate more. If any of my readers have had a loved one pass away from CJD or is currently suffering from the disease and there is a connection with the Vietnam war, please let me know. Also if any of you have comments or whatever, please don't hesitate to respond.
Much love and blessings to all,
Lacy
Sunday, August 3, 2008
I couldn't have asked for a better day....
It was hard to get up this morning with the rainy, dark weather and all. I love sleeping during storms, especially when the breeze comes through the window. However, I woke up bright and early at 7:30am to meet my good friend Jan Heyerdahl, who was also me 8th grade English teacher, and go to church with her.
Just to fill you in a little. When I was a volunteer in Guatemala last year I was translating a letter to a little girl from her god mother. The letter absolutely brought me to tears and then when I saw the signature I almost went into shock. Was this the same woman who was my teacher? Indeed, it was and what a God moment. Jan contacted me after reading that my dad had passed away and we met up. She wanted to send some things with me for her godchild when I returned back to Guatemala for a quick visit to close things up there. Anyway, we had an amazing reconnection and haven't lost touch since. She is truly a woman of great faith. She is definitely a gift from God for me to see his light during this dark time of grief. Anyway, she actually decided to go down to Guatemala to visit her godchild for the first time. It was the such a moving experience for her.
So we reconnected today not only to go to church together, but also so she could show me her photos and give me a letter that she received from one of my friends in Guatemala. How great it was to go through her photos and see the people that I love so much. It brought back so many good memories that just calmed my heart. It was a year ago today that I returned from Guatemala for a short visit and God showed me that Guatemala is not that far away. Another God moment was when I was about to say goodbye to Jan. I had mentioned to her about my family reunion today and how I wanted to bring the sweet corn, but my step-mom decided not to come so I had no way of getting the big pot, cooking stove and kerosene that my dad always used. I didn't know what to do and I was debating even bring the corn. However, before I left she said that she had a little something for me. She brought me outside and gave me a burlap sack ahnd inside were a dozen ears of corn! Amazing! Who has sweet corn just lying around? Well...she just happened to because she ate it with her family this weekend. I was just brought to tears! That was dad telling me that he would make it possible to make the corn.
My step-dad ended up having all the supplies I was missing so there was another blessing. So I just stopped at a farmers stand on my way down to the picnic and picked up 2 dozen more ears of corn.
It was so good to see my family and they were all so very thankful that I took over the corn for my dad. I got lets of help removing the corn husks and setting everything up. It was great! Before we sat down to eat, My great uncle Mel made sure to call everybody's attention for a moment of silence to remember the man who always provided the corn for us. That was such a moving moment. As the tears rolled down my cheek, shivers ran up my spine. The corn actually turned out very well...dad would've been so proud. It didn't stop there, when people started to pack up their things to leave my uncle Ken called for everybody's attention once again. With tears in his eyes, he told our family that I am running a marathon in honor of my dad and to raise funds/awareness for CJD. He gave them the info about my blog and also asked for their support either spiritually or monetarily. That was such an uplifting moment for me, that truly touched my heart. Thank you so much Uncle Ken for your love and thoughtfullness.
It was an emotional day, but God answered our prayers and blessed me in so many ways. All the way home I rocked out to my dad's music and praised God. He is so great! I pray that you all are also feeling the light of his love in your lives as well.
Many blessings,
Lacy
Just to fill you in a little. When I was a volunteer in Guatemala last year I was translating a letter to a little girl from her god mother. The letter absolutely brought me to tears and then when I saw the signature I almost went into shock. Was this the same woman who was my teacher? Indeed, it was and what a God moment. Jan contacted me after reading that my dad had passed away and we met up. She wanted to send some things with me for her godchild when I returned back to Guatemala for a quick visit to close things up there. Anyway, we had an amazing reconnection and haven't lost touch since. She is truly a woman of great faith. She is definitely a gift from God for me to see his light during this dark time of grief. Anyway, she actually decided to go down to Guatemala to visit her godchild for the first time. It was the such a moving experience for her.
So we reconnected today not only to go to church together, but also so she could show me her photos and give me a letter that she received from one of my friends in Guatemala. How great it was to go through her photos and see the people that I love so much. It brought back so many good memories that just calmed my heart. It was a year ago today that I returned from Guatemala for a short visit and God showed me that Guatemala is not that far away. Another God moment was when I was about to say goodbye to Jan. I had mentioned to her about my family reunion today and how I wanted to bring the sweet corn, but my step-mom decided not to come so I had no way of getting the big pot, cooking stove and kerosene that my dad always used. I didn't know what to do and I was debating even bring the corn. However, before I left she said that she had a little something for me. She brought me outside and gave me a burlap sack ahnd inside were a dozen ears of corn! Amazing! Who has sweet corn just lying around? Well...she just happened to because she ate it with her family this weekend. I was just brought to tears! That was dad telling me that he would make it possible to make the corn.
My step-dad ended up having all the supplies I was missing so there was another blessing. So I just stopped at a farmers stand on my way down to the picnic and picked up 2 dozen more ears of corn.
It was so good to see my family and they were all so very thankful that I took over the corn for my dad. I got lets of help removing the corn husks and setting everything up. It was great! Before we sat down to eat, My great uncle Mel made sure to call everybody's attention for a moment of silence to remember the man who always provided the corn for us. That was such a moving moment. As the tears rolled down my cheek, shivers ran up my spine. The corn actually turned out very well...dad would've been so proud. It didn't stop there, when people started to pack up their things to leave my uncle Ken called for everybody's attention once again. With tears in his eyes, he told our family that I am running a marathon in honor of my dad and to raise funds/awareness for CJD. He gave them the info about my blog and also asked for their support either spiritually or monetarily. That was such an uplifting moment for me, that truly touched my heart. Thank you so much Uncle Ken for your love and thoughtfullness.
It was an emotional day, but God answered our prayers and blessed me in so many ways. All the way home I rocked out to my dad's music and praised God. He is so great! I pray that you all are also feeling the light of his love in your lives as well.
Many blessings,
Lacy
Friday, August 1, 2008
Oofta....I'm pooped!
Well..I didn't head out for my run until 2pm and that probably wasn't the best idea. It was a hot one, but I lucked out because there was a little breeze. I felt very stylin' in my new shorts and shoes. However, that ended quickly when I ran by this really cute guy and as soon as we made eye contact I almost tripped and fell. How embarassing! Just my luck! It was definitely a hard run today and I didn't feel on top of my game, but I did run 12 miles! My hips weren't bugging me, but my calfs (is that spelled right?) felt really tight and heavy. My new shoes are great, but I probably shouldn't have done that long of a run to break them in. I think my right foot is bigger than my left, because my toes felt kind of scrunched. Wierd! Also, I just couldn't stop thinking about how much further I had to go. I started off listening to country music, but that didn't motivate me at all. I needed something that I could sing to so that my mind wouldn't be on running. So I put on some shakira and that definitely helped! It was a beautiful day and I ran the same route that I rollerbladed earlier this week. However, it felt a lot longer today! However, I did it and I survived!
I want to ask for your prayers not only for me, but for my family as well. It was this weekend one year ago that I came home from Guatemala and that was the same day my dad went to the hospital thinking he had a stroke. I'm so glad that he is no longer suffering, but now start the days of reliving. I'm doing the same thing this weekend as I did the weekend I came home from Guatemala, which is kind of strange. I'm going to my hometown celebration and on Sunday I'm going to the "Hladky" family reunion. My dad was there with us at the last one and he always brings the sweet corn. I'm thinking I should take over that job this year. I want to keep his memory alive. We are sure going to miss him a lot more this weekend. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Much love,
Lacy
I want to ask for your prayers not only for me, but for my family as well. It was this weekend one year ago that I came home from Guatemala and that was the same day my dad went to the hospital thinking he had a stroke. I'm so glad that he is no longer suffering, but now start the days of reliving. I'm doing the same thing this weekend as I did the weekend I came home from Guatemala, which is kind of strange. I'm going to my hometown celebration and on Sunday I'm going to the "Hladky" family reunion. My dad was there with us at the last one and he always brings the sweet corn. I'm thinking I should take over that job this year. I want to keep his memory alive. We are sure going to miss him a lot more this weekend. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers.
Much love,
Lacy
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