I had to go do my regular lab work  this week.  As my kidney function continues to decline, I am reminded of the time of my Daddy’s life that he was on dialysis.  I hope to have a successful transplant like he did when the time comes.  I hope that I don’t have to be on dialysis too long.

Check out the link above to find out how you can donate life.

Stroke strikes F.A.S.T. and you should, too! Many people don’t know that if you can recognize the symptoms of a stroke you can save not only your life, but maybe the life of someone else. Being able to recognize symptoms and to understand that they signal an emergency, you are able to seek medical attention quickly. Treatment exists to minimize the effects of stroke; however it must be given within 3 hours of the first symptom. It is easy for people to recognize stroke symptoms by learning to act F.A.S.T. and calling 9-1-1.

F=Face Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A=Arms Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S=Speech Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?

T=Time If you observe any of these signs, then it’s time to call 9-1-1.

Brought to you by

National Stroke Association

May 12, 1934 – September 20, 2001

Happy birthday Daddy!

People who have read my blog for awhile know that I have a kidney disease that I inherited from my Daddy.  Many people assume that is what caused his death, but it is not.  Daddy had a massive stroke in 1997.  His doctor’s didn’t think he was going to make it.  My stubborn Daddy proved the doctors wrong.  He lived for almost four years after having the stroke.  Life was different after he had a stroke.  He required a lot of assistance in daily living.  His last year was especially rough as I watched him grow more dependent.  I do not even for a second regret my decision to take care of Daddy.  I have memories of his last few years that my sisters do not.  I became even closer to him during that time.

It is very fitting that Daddy’s birthday is in the middle of Stroke Awareness Month.  Most strokes are not the massive type that Daddy had.  Many people have a stroke and aren’t really sure what is happening to them because it is a more mild stroke.  Treatment for strokes is most effective when given shortly following the attack.  Vital brain function can be saved if treatment is administered soon enough and is successful.  I will be blogging a few times this month about stroke awareness.  It is important for everyone to know the warning signs.

Happy birthday Daddy!  As always I am the first to send the wishes…..

Have you ever heard of the Kids In Need Foundation?  It is an organization that provides free school supplies to students in the most need.  Expo and many other companies donate products to help ensure these children have school supplies.  Individuals can also make cash donations which allows more products to be given to needy students.  According the the Kids in Need Foundation website, for every $500 donated, they are able to obtain $12,500 in school supplies.  Please visit the “Ways you can help” page of their site for more information about donating.

The Kids in Need Foundation has Resource Centers in select cities in the United States.  In Missouri there is one in St. Louis.  The center services more than seventy St. Louis area schools with over 90,000 students eligible for services.  While centers like this only service public school students, I still feel that it is a worthwhile cause to support.  Giving to others is a trait that I hope will always be in the hearts of my children.

I received an email before Christmas about using Expo products as homeschool tools. I was asked if I would like to try out a few Expo products.  Needless to say, I jumped at the chance.  After all, I really should have stock in the markers as many as my kids go through in a year.

If you missed the weather report I sent earlier today via Twitter (you really should be following me if you missed it) it is really cold here in Missouri.  We were stuck inside today due to the weather.  While Heathen Dad braved the cold (and shoveled snow) to bbq some turkey burgers, I decided to break out the box of Expo items we were sent.

The kids were so excited to open the box.  Please tell me that my kids aren’t the only ones out there to get excited about new markers.  My daughter grabbed the sixteen pack because of “all the pretty colors”.  She made a couple of drawings that she just had to see on my blog.  When she saw the pack of click retractable markers she was even more excited.  Using those took away the one thing she doesn’t like about markers – putting the lid back on.  Her only request is that we find a retractable set with more colors.  My son had to draw with the fluorescent markers.  We decided to use our black marker board to write about my blog   Snowy day + Expo markers = FUN evening of drawing

I would like to thank Garfield Group for sending the Heathen family three sets of Expo markers and a cleaning cloth to try out.  I am glad that they contacted me with information about the Kids in Need Foundation.  It is always nice to find another way to help others.

Next time you think about burgers and fries, think about this…There are many things – including foods high in saturated fat – that can cause arteries to become blocked through the gradual build-up of cholesterol, called plaque.  Cholesterol is a soft, waxy fat (lipid) that is made by the body.  It is found in the bloodstream and in all of your body’s cells.  Your body needs cholesterol to form cell membranes, some hormones and vitamin D.  Cholesterol is also found in some foods, such as eggs, meats and dairy products.  Cholesterol or plaque build-up in the arteries can block normal blood flow to the brain and cause a stroke.  High cholesterol may also increase your risk for stroke by raising your risk for heart disease, a stroke risk factor.  There are two types of cholesterol  low-density lipoproteins (LDL) and high-density lipoproteins (HDL).

• It’s important to understand your numbers because they are key measurements of your stroke risk.
• For most people the combined HDL (good cholesterol) and LDL (bad cholesterol) should fall below 200.
• Maintain a healthy cholesterol level by eating a diet low in saturated fat and incorporating exercise into your routine.
• Ask your doctor how you can improve any numbers that are not in normal range.

Information provided by National Stroke Association.

]]> http://heathenhomeschoolers.com/2009/manage-cholesterol-stroke-awareness/feed/ 0 http://heathenhomeschoolers.com/2009/controling-blood-pressure-stroke-awareness-month/ http://heathenhomeschoolers.com/2009/controling-blood-pressure-stroke-awareness-month/#comments Tue, 19 May 2009 02:20:55 +0000 Heathen Mom http://heathenhomeschoolers.com/?p=436

Tip of the Week 2 – Control Blood Pressure to Prevent Stroke

Did you know…High blood pressure is the number one cause of stroke? Yet, nearly 60 million Americans have high blood pressure, and almost a third do not know they have it!

· Have your blood pressure checked at least once a year – more often if you have a history of high blood pressure, have had a heart attack are diabetic or are overweight.

Information provided by National Stroke Association

Promoting Stroke Awareness

Spreading the word about Stroke Awareness Month is very important to me

Tip of the Week 1 – Know Stroke Symptoms

Many people don’t know that if you can recognize the symptoms of a stroke you can save not only your life, but maybe the life of someone else. Being able to recognize symptoms and to understand that they signal an emergency, you are able to seek medical attention quickly. Treatment exists to minimize the effects of stroke; however it must be given within 3 hours of the first symptom. It is easy for people to recognize stroke symptoms by learning to think F.A.S.T.

F=Face Ask the person to smile. Does one side of the face droop?

A=Arms Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?

S=Speech Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence. Are the words slurred?