Agents Of Special Moments For Kids With Osteosarcoma

Those who work for Team Reba real estate became special agents of happiness.

Making life better for kids with cancer is a worthy mission. That's actually the mission of MIB AGENTS (Make It Better For Kids With Cancer). Focusing specifically on kids with osteosarcoma, this organization pairs survivors of cancer treatment with youngsters newly diagnosed. It offers support, comfort, entertainment for treatment and recovery, along with end-of-life experiences after all treatment options have been exhausted.

One of the special activities of MIB Agents is creating a Can Do! video that can be shown to those newly diagnosed and offering them hope. Most of those who are diagnosed end up having limb amputation, lumbar spinal stenosis surgery, or a rotationplasty. Each type of surgery changes life for the involved individual, sometimes limiting ability to move.



The video provides footage of those who made it through one of these surgeries, along with activities in which they engage. It gives a can-do message, that even after life-altering surgery, a child can still participate actively in life. The deadline for submission is coming up quickly, July 10, so those wanting to participate need to get ready and submit. The criteria are in the top article on this page: http://www.mibagents.org/press--videos.html.

Another type of special service that is performed by MIB Agents is providing additional support in special cases. 15 year old Victoria faced two challenges, both osteosarcoma and Down Syndrome. Even so, before her diagnosis with osteosarcoma, she was a champion surfer, which she was able to continue, even after her left leg was amputated above the knee.

The collection box that held hope and support for Victoria.

However. she did need some cheering up, and just in time came a package delivered just for her. Now, Victoria has always liked items associated with the sea, especially mermaids. And that very special package just for her contained items specific to her likes - mermaids - on pillows, on jewelry, on cards, on plaques, on stickers. She even received some coloring pages and colored pencils. That certainly made her smile! Now, she's back to the surf she likes so much, complete with waterproof prosthesis. She's out there waiting for that scoring, special wave.

Mission accomplished, to cheer up Victoria and give her some special cards and gifts.

This organization reminds a person of how good you have it, but also offers opportunities to help these kids, who have received an overwhelming diagnosis. It gives them hope and support when they need it, and even provides special support when their lives aren't going so well. Brave, capable, in the fight of their lives, these kids will inspire with their persistence and courage in their fight to live another day and enjoy life.

Thanks for information from the top two articles on this page: http://www.mibagents.org/press--videos.html; and the above website link.

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Welcoming Immigrants And Refugees

Members of ESL 3rd Level class hold certificates of completion.

A considerable amount of political vitriol becomes visited upon new immigrants and refugees. It's bound to cause those who have come to the US seeking respite and safety to wonder if they have made a huge mistake. But not everyone is like that; many who were born in the US are willing to sweep the dust off our welcome mat and find a way to make sure that new arrivals feel the welcome they so deserve.

Aurora, Colorado, has an official welcome organization for those who have recently arrived in the US, AURORA WELCOME CENTER. Because our culture is so different from that which many immigrants may have experienced in their country of origin, the Center offers intentional integration of immigrants and refugees into the community. The Center does this by providing access to needed services, a sense of belonging and safety, and helping immigrants to become change agents in their new country.


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One of the programs provides free access to PREPARATION FOR COLLEGE to non-native English speakers at Emily Griffith Technical College. Classes meet for 10 hours per week, either day or evening, and helps immigrants to improve their scores on college entrance tests. Once they graduate the program, student become eligible for $750 grants towards certificates in career and technical programs.

Another opportunity is a PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP sponsored by The Colorado Photographic Arts Center and Picture Me Here. The workshop occurred over a three-day period, June 22-24, and was a way for participants to share their stories through visual media. At the end of the workshop, participants, family members and community members came together to experience the various banners, flags, and kites flying through the air that were made by participants. The art objects will become part of an exhibit this coming January at the McNichols building. Included will be videos documenting the workshop and the participants' stories.

One of the other programs includes ESL classes through a partnership with Focus Points. Since a majority of citizens do speak English and most business is transacted in English, these classes become vital entry points into US life, with the caveat that these days, many communications now come in more than one language, in recognition of the fact that not everyone learns English.

Opportunities to obtain job training are also open to refugees and immigrants.

Sagrario Lopez, who comes from Hidalgo, Mexico, wrote an ESSAY as an assignment for her ESL 3rd Level class. She commented about her journey, "I came to U.S.A. 13 years ago with my husband. We were looking for a better life. My first years here were difficult because I did not speak English. Now I am glad because I have two children, one boy and one girl, and I am very happy. Now our lives are better because I understand more English and I can go to different places with my family." However, she does miss her family back in Mexico, along with the food, and hopes to go back there one day. Sagrario's comments about her experience do illustrate how the assistance of organizations help immigrant families adjust to our country.

Fatima Amim (right) was recognized for her work with the immigrant and refugee community.

Thanks for information from the above links.

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Spreading The Inspiration

This year's billboard to greet the New Year.

It's an advertising campaign like no other, for it doesn't advertise a product that people can buy. It's people powered and it brings messages to the public through various communication media that lead to community conversations.

INSPIRATION CAMPAIGN (IC) started in 2012, the inspiration of California artist Robert Bengtson. With that start came 25 billboards and nine bus signs with inspirational slogans and pictures designed to provoke thinking and conversation, unlike those billboards that plague our inner cities, pushing liquor and cigarettes, posted in spots designed to capture youthful eyes.



According to Mr. Benson, "IC invites individuals to come together and collectively transform media into a source of inspiration. IC is a way for us to decide what kind of media WE want to see in our world. Which is why IC is people-powered: people submit messages, people vote on the content to turn into media, and people chip-in to buy the ad spaces. We need examples that show the power individuals have when we come together, and IC is here to rally us around a shared vision to create a new kind of media as an example of what else is possible."

Billboards start out with a message, submitted by a person. Then, several inspiring messages are posted on a vote page, where people can select one message that they most want to see on a billboard. Than a professional photographer takes several shots and one is chosen to be combined with the message.

Positive messages left by visitors at IC booth at Bioneers Conference 2015.

The IC has added inspiration cards for a more personalized experience of message sharing. No, you don't pay for them. You request them, and they are provided for free. That's right, free. You can hand them out to anyone you encounter, sort of a mood booster, a positive and inspiring message on the fly and personal. You can also copy photos of the billboard locations since the beginning and share them in your blog and on your facebook page. There are even more possibilities with sharing the inspiration on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

So, if you're in the mood to spread some inspiration, check out IC. You'll be inspired to spread the positivity.

Pick out your very own positive message card at Bioneers Conference.

Thanks for information - and inspiration - from this article on Pollination Project: http://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/robert-bengtson-inspiration-campaign/; and the above links.

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Living With Wolfram's Syndrome

Stephanie Snow Gebel with daughter, Raquel.

Nothing affects a parent more than finding out that your child is ill. So, when a child is found to have a rare genetic disorder that has no treatment and no cure, with a high potential to shorten that child's life span to less than 30 years, it is quite devastating.

In October of 2010, that happened to Stephanie Snow Gebel when her daughter Raquel was diagnosed with Wolfram Syndrome at the age of 5, in the form of a diagnosis of Type I diabetes. That's how Wolfram's usually presents; children are identified around the age of 4 or 5. However, that is only the beginning. Approximately 5 to 8 years after diagnosis, hearing, vision, and neurological functioning weakens until the child has hearing loss, blindness, and other neurological symptoms, including loss of control of urination and headaches. By the age of 30, 60% of those with this diagnosis die. There is no known treatment or cure.



But none of that caused Ms. Gebel to just accept fate's answer. She and her brother, J.T. Snow, a former first baseman for the S F Giants, started the SNOW FOUNDATION to increase public awareness about this disorder and to finance research towards a cure, besides supporting those who have the syndrome and their families.

Adam Zwan also has Wolfram Syndrome. He has a family who loves him. He noticed a difference in their level of concern and worry after he was diagnosed. Before the diagnosis, family visits were enjoyable and even care-free. But now, when he visits, he has noticed the tone "changed from a pleasant event to a worrisome task."

Adam now feels guilty about his visits because of their association with fear and worry. He even hesitates to just pack up and spend a weekend at a relative's home. He characterizes the conversations that he imagines his relatives have before he appears. They might think, "I hope nothing goes wrong while he's here." Then there are other concerns, "Can Adam eat this? Has Adam ate enough? Is Adam in pain? Does Adam need to go home early? Lord, I hope nothing happens while Adam is here." After Adam had some episodes of low blood glucose in the evening, his family expressed their concern by wanting a baby monitor in his room or by designating a family member to sleep on the sofa next to him in case the same thing happened while he was sleeping.

As he has said, Adam is glad to have a family that loves him so much, but his diagnosis definitely changed their amount of worry. How does Adam handle it? "I just grit my teeth and say that it could be worse so accept it and count my blessings. I try to stay optimistic by hoping and praying that something will change for the better in the near future."

Adam, on the right, with some of his family members.

Whenever you notice that someone has a chronic illness, remember that a human being experiences it, one who has hopes, dreams, expectations, and the need for love and tolerance. Give a listen to some of their concerns; you'll learn so much about living and life.

Some of those who attended the Eat Drink Give fundraising event for the Snow Foundation.

Thanks for information from this blog post on the Snow Foundation by Adam Zwan: http://thesnowfoundation.org/living-wolfram-syndrome-adam-zwan/; Mom On A Mission by Stephanie Snow Gebel on the Snow Foundation homepage; and Our Story on the Snow Foundation site: http://thesnowfoundation.org/about-the-foundation/; along with the above link.

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Evolving Toward The Future With The Latest Technology

From left to right: COO Shawn Davis; Laura Logan; and CEO Ray Schwemmer, present a check to Best Buddies from CollabraSpace.

There's a company in Annapolis Junction that provides software capability, provides a team of engineering experts to help companies utilize the latest IT technology, and its expertise is utilized by government agencies.

Let's take a little closer look at the consultant capabilities of this company, COLLABRASPACE. Because this company has been able to assemble some of the best tech engineers around, companies that use its services are assured that they are receiving the best expertise in terms of current technological development.



Some of the areas in which this team has expertise include technical design and architecture; systems engineering; software development; software testing; system administration; and security and operations research.

Besides these areas of expertise, this company keeps evolving, so that new technologies lead to development of new areas of expertise. Customer businesses benefit by knowing that they have the most advanced technological solutions available. CollabraSpace constantly refines itself to make sure that the best-matching consultants are supplied to customer businesses, allowing them to keep meeting their business goals.

One of the software products that the company has developed is CollabraSuite. This is not a completely new system, which has to be absorbed into a company's culture. It utilizes the familiar features of the desktop environment, but adds in the information sharing environment automatically. That means that those who are already utilizing a common business application are connected to the sharing environment without any new log-ins or learning any new systems.

Not only that, but the software provides a secure, high-performance workspace. It's web-based, real time collaboration, more powerful than any other currently available. It enables businesses to share information within social networking, crowd tasking, web presentation, cloud storage, communities with common interests, awareness of presence, instant messaging, desktop sharing, whiteboard and other visualization media, and integrated APIs.

You don't even have to be in the same place each time that you access this interface. It is available on any web-enabled device - tablets, smartphones, PDAs - whether the user is in the office or out in the field.

Sometimes tech discussions get combined with fun activities.

These are just two aspects of CollabraSpace's capabilities. Remember, this is not just a stay in one place type of company. This is a company that evolves with the technology and the needs of the businesses who need their services. That's a model that can take a company well into the future.

CollabraSpace employees participating in the AFCEA Race for Excellence.

Thanks for information from this article on Expertise from CollabraSpace: https://www.collabraspace.com/services/; this article on CollabraSuite from CollabraSpace: https://www.collabraspace.com/products/; and the above link.

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Spreading Trees, One At A Time

Free trees are ready to go to someone who is willing to plant it forward.

Planting trees, one at a time, then passing it on, in exchange for planting another tree. It's a little bit like Johnny Appleseed with a modern day pay-it-forward twist. That is the model that WE PLANT IT FORWARD uses. It starts out with a potted tree, planted at a potting event. Participants take the tree home and give it away to someone else, who promises to pot a tree and pass it on.

It's something that Maggie Bailey set out to do in her community of Raleigh, NC. She explained. "With WE PLANT it FORWARD, I am trying to afford everyone the opportunity to learn more about trees, and to build a network of tree planters." What better way than a potted tree passed on, as the learning is passed on!


This organization is an open community network, meaning that people are free to come and go in their relationship with the organization, while creating well-being for the community and the planet through planting trees.

By holding various types of tree-planting events, with the addition of tree giveaways, tree growing seed kits, school-related curricula, and fund-raising events such as a 5k run, the group makes planting trees into a fun and educational experience. And it is all done one tree at a time.

In April WE PLANT it FORWARD participated in the Triangle SciTech Expo, sponsored by Biogen. This expo brings together scientist and other technical professionals to engage visitors in their passion for science and technology. The organization's exhibition table was giving away Longleaf Pine Tree seeds. Earlier in the month, the group collaborated with students from Panther Creek High School in presenting a rain barrel collection workshop as part of Hillsborough Street's Earth Day celebration.

Two more events saw WE PLANT it FORWARD giving away tree seeds. Longleaf Pine seed kits were given out at Harris Lake County Park and crepe myrtle tree seeds were given away at Lake Crabtree County Park.

A youngster stops by for some tree seeds at a table in the park.

This is all supported by donations and an active group of volunteers. And they are even willing to share with other communities wanting to do the same.

Some hands-on experience at the rain barrel workshop.

Thanks to information from this article on Pollination Project: http://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/maggie-bailey-we-plant-it-forward-community-partner-program/; this article on the expo from facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/796876367113677/; along with the above link.

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Mood Disorders Occurring With Seizure Disorders

Two staffers share lemonades from the Lemonades for Livy fundraising initiative.

Today, coming from the EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF AMERICA, is some information about the connection between depression and seizure disorders (medical term that means the same thing as epilepsy). Did you know that about one out of three people with seizure disorders also develop some type of depression? That percentage rises even further when a person has a seizure disorder that is not well-controlled.

Why do health care professionals see both seizure disorders and depressive disorders together in the same person at such high rates? First of all, seizure disorders can be long-term, or chronic disorders, affecting the lives of those who have them. The additional stress of handling a chronic condition can lay some of the groundwork for development of depression. In addition, there are brain changes that occur separately with depression and seizure disorders.



For instance, neurotransmitters, like serotonin, can be affected by both depression and seizure disorders. The hypothalamus and pituitary glands, which regulate hormones, are located in areas of the brain that affect stress level, mood, and behavior. Genetic factors can affect the development of both depression and seizure disorders.

Now, let's look at the medications used to treat seizures. The first-generation antidepressants, also known as tricyclics, affect the seizure threshold, essentially making it more likely for a person to have a seizure. So, psychiatric clinicians are reluctant to prescribe these medications for someone who has a diagnosis of seizure disorder.

Some recent studies have shown that second-generation antidepressants, the medications known as serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may actually raise the seizure threshold, making it less likely for a person to have a seizure. However, researchers have urged caution in applying those results, as some newer medications, such as wellbutrin, lower the seizure threshold and may even cause seizures in persons who have never had them before. Also, this type of research has not focused on the mechanisms that cause seizures, limiting the applicability of the findings.

Increased community support and outreach can help reduce stress from living with seizure disorders.

What's the take-away for those with seizures? If you notice symptoms of depression and anxiety, discuss these with your provider who treats your seizures. You may need to meet with a psychiatric provider, preferably someone with experience in neuropsychiatry, since they also have more experience with neurological conditions. Ask questions. Don't be afraid to take medications prescribed for your mood; just find out all you can about their benefits and side effects. You may also want to find out the risks of not treating your mood disorder. And, consider all the different types of treatment, such as psychotherapy; support groups; cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT); stress management techniques, like yoga, meditation, and mindfulness; and exercise. Share with members of your social network.

Like Florence Nightingale, nurses have been there, supporting and advocating for those with seizure disorders.

Thanks for information from this article by Sloka Iyengar on the Epilepsy Foundation site: http://www.epilepsy.com/article/2016/6/antidepressants-epilepsy, along with the above link.

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