Blog 38 Winning the Fight

September 3 2015

Blog 38 Winning the Fight

I cannot believe that it has been over a year since I wrote my last Blog! I also cannot believe I found it so hard to start writing again! Many things have happened since then as you all probably can imagine.

I literally had to try hard to get back into shape and start working with Lucky to try and get some mobility back along with my strength. I struggled just trying to grasp what had happened and although I was feeling better I still was not strong nor was I seeing the results that I was hoping to get. In fact I can say that I was sliding back I had gain more weight my body was always hurting and no matter how much I worked out  I could not lose weight in fact I could say that I gained! It became a very depressing time for me. The only salutation my doctors could give me is stay on the diet they gave me and increase my insulin and pills, it was nuts!  The viscous circle it creates  is that the more insulin you take the more you eat and the more you eat and more insulin  the weight you gain.  

I became very depressed I struggled through school. Some of the issues I was having were bloating and a lot of stomach cramps. I was having trouble with eye irritation from the computer screen which caused more headaches.  I was not doing well learning the new Jaws program I need to learn,  instructor issues.     I was having mobility issues. I struggled through the holidays and I was not looking forward to the upcoming, winter semester in the New-year. It was the last week in December Arlene and I were sitting watch television and I turned to her and told her I was not winning this FIGHT!

She looked at me and knew exactly what I meant. When we first started seeing each other t in my security school  were these words  on the wall for the student to read.  

I fight the way I Train!

 I Train the Way I need To Fight.!

I will win the Fight because I Trained!

We took some paper and started making a plan of attack. The first thing was I needed to talk with doctor about the medication to talk about  what  was working and what was not including insulin and pills.  The second was to find not a diet but a good eating plan that can be followed on a long term plan, and the best one  I was on is when I was fighting I went to see a Naturel Path who first put me on a cleans and then built a meal plan.  The next part of the plan was once I started feeling  better we address the mobility issues and then the Jaws issues. Until we could put the plan in place in the New- year I just kept clam and watched myself.

AS January 2015 rolled in I had my first doctor’s appointment and for the first time we talked I told her we need to talk seriously and take hard look at all this medication. She ended up removing a couple of pills that were not working she suggested a different insulin that had a better effect for a longer period of time over the day! The draw back however  to get the required amount of insulin it  would take a few weeks because it  may causes nausea, I told her was willing to try anything at this point. The second part was finding a good Natural Path who was not going to try and sell me all kinds of  stuff  I really did have. I did not have to go far in our church is a great couple who are our Chiropractors who also study naturel medicine. In the middle of February   2015 after the church service I had a long talk with them and it turns out his wife was leading a group cleans at the end of that month. I will never forget it Super bowl Sunday not a good day to start a cleanse!  What was this cleanse some are wondering simple stop eating, wheat, dairy, grains, starch.

I found out many things that was causing my bloating and ill health. So did I eat veggies sixty to seventy percent, protein,  sweet potato. We could have broth in between meals to help with our hunger first three weeks was veggies. This eating plan was different for each person because of my insulin issues I had protein in my diet, and some others  may have had something different it was made for that person needs.

So armed with this new plan in the first week of switching my meds and the new eating plan all my blood values started dropping immediately with in the first week I was having normal blood values. My body was trying to adjust so quickly it was a constant juggling of insulin testing adjusting. I also dealt with the new insulin believe me I suffered through February and March sometimes I was so sick I could not get out bed.  In April I went to see my doctor and she had just about fell out of chair! I lost 22lbs my blood values were perfected I dropped all my insulin by half and to date I am down 30lbs my blood pressure is down.

I spent the summer working on Jaws with a good friend who gave me good tools to be able to accomplish a lot of my work with Jaws, but mainly he reduced my stress and my fear of typing by listening and not by looking.  The most important was working with Lucky taking nice big long walks and these are walks that you need to make a good guide dog team.  it Is these long walks encountering different situations that make you great team. I can honestly state that there is nothing wrong with my cardio! I cycle four kilometers on my stationary bike and then take Lucky out for a good four or five kilometer walk and I also started strength training as well.

My last cardiologist appointment was excellent!  His  only comment to me was keep it up! I know one day we all lose the fight but I really prefer to kind of lose  fight more on my terms more later than sooner!

As I said to Arlene the other day

“I am winning the fight because I TRAIN”!

 

Blog 1 Starting New

November 22 2014

 

Blog 1 Turn of the Page

 

It has been a long journey to say the least! For those of you who have been counting this should be Blog 37 but I really feel Blog 1 is more fitting.

It has been 8 months since my Heart-attack and quite frankly I am still  processing it. I keep replaying it over in my mind we kind of figured when it happened but if I had not gone to the hospital for complaining of  a gastro I would have never have known that I had a heart-attack!

As the doctor questioned me about felling the severe pain I asked him where I should have felt this pain as he told me the different place I might of felt the pain. I asked the doctor if he realized what I have been in my life and mainly over the last 10 years. I then explained that every day of my life I have pain some days worse than others why would pay more attention to this time since I did not have any pain in my chest? He had no answers, my question to him was has this been a buildup or was this was sudden? He had no answer. I then asked why nobody picked it up? He no answer! The signs wear there but every time I said something to my doctor she told me it must be my diet.   So with that said the doctor new that people dropped the ball that’s how I ended up with the head of the cardiology department as my doctor!

I have to tell you it was probably one the funniest or strangest ways it all took place. We had just finished moving on the Saturday and I was quite sick. On Sunday the day of St-Patrick’s day   parade when the hospitals are the busiest and did mention that every year for the last five years I have been at the hospital on St-Patrick’s day. 

We called my friend to see if  he would take Lucky while I went to the hospital and I have to tell it was the same friend that ran our move and it was not easy but another story. He took Lucky  and off we went. When we got there they took me right away poor Arlene was falling asleep in her chair. The doctor told me I would have to go for chest x-ray. He told Arlene to go home I would most probably be there until 6am then she could come and get me. She went very reluctantly but I told it was good and she should check on the little guy. Of course when she left she took my phone.

About 2hrs late they took me for a chest x-ray when they were bringing back to ER they took me right to the cardiac department and did an ecc. The doctor then I told me that I had a heart-attack and I needed to get registered and I needed to sign some papers because I need surgery. He then asked me if I was ok I said yes he ask me if I was scared I said No. I told him I am still processing I had a heart-attack..

The funny part I tried calling Arlene her phone was off she forgot turn it on when she left the hospital she was so tried. I could not call home since the phone would not be connected until Monday we just moved.

I called the only phone number I knew you guessed it my friend Steve  who was minding Lucky the same guy who organized and coordinated our 10 hour move did I mention that it was 1:30 in the morning. I got him on the phone told what was happening and I need to Arlene to come and register me. Without question he got dressed got Lucky went over to the house and got Arlene to come back to the hospital. I have to tell you after all that I thought he would not want to speak with me for a while. lol    

When Arlene got the hospital she went to the ER they told I was discharged she just about freaked out, they told I was on the 4^th floor Catheter floor.

She spoke with nurses and she start filling out the papers she heard me talking with the doctors and they telling me how well I did and we were joking she could not understand why they congratulating me it was only a chest x-ray.

The doctor came out of the room and talked with her she could not believe it you could have knocked her over with a feather.

The reason we were laughing was I feel asleep while they were putting the shunts in my arm. I start to snore while I was on the table the doctor thought I was having trouble breathing. He has never had any one fall a sleep before.

Like I said it has been a long 8 months with up and downs I am finally starting to come around. I had more appointments than I know what to do with.

The doctor was quite happy that I had a service dog because having to work with Lucky was the ideal way to get out exercise. He said that people with dogs recover better because they have a reason to go out. I told him he should try with a guide dog.

I said with Lucky its like strapping yourself to a 90lbs bullet.

I got see Chris’s grad I was here for the kids birthdays and every day is a gift, although some times it does not feel like it.

As we come into the Christmas I am just happy to still be here.

 

I should post again before the holidays and in those immortal words.

 

Keep you stuck on the ice.

 

John & Lucky

I started a private Youtube page check it out I have some good video.

As I start feeling better I will add more video and photos  

 http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCXzocjt3GkZM1SgNZhnLq-w?feature=watch

 

A walk with a Blind Guy!

Blog 36 January 1 2014

A walk with a Blind Guy!

As I wrote in my Blog in May 2013, that I have to apologies for not writing as much as I should have. I made that thou to write more and be on top of things, guess what it is now December 31, 2013 and this is my 3^rd blog.

As you probably guessed I went through the summer de-toxin from medication that the doctor keeps on getting me to try.

I spent 1month getting use to the new meds and the next month expelling the side effects from it.

I did manage to do something’s over the summer not much but a few.

Lucky and I did put some Kilometers on over the summer on the days I felt good and we really started to click together as a team.

Our first evaluation was ok, we had a couple of issues but overall the school was happy.

Our 2^nd evaluation went much better.

Like every new partner be it at work, friends or even a spouse you got to get to know the personality of your partner.

This follows true with a guide dog team, the exception is that you don’t have years to get to find all those little quarks you need to figure those things out quickly, especially when you are working as a team in Montreal. 

I found out a lot about him this summer and we spent a lot of time traveling we traveled, on the buses we traveled on the Metro and we walked a lot.

I found out he is not really a rural dog he works ok in that environment, but it’s not his strong showing. I look at it as having a really intelligent, child sitting in a class that is way to easy for them and as soon as something small happens they are distracted.

However when he is working in the city or in the subway he is as sharp as they come!

His traffic is fantastic his corners are great he brings me around the little cracks in the side walk.

If we are on the corner and he hears a siren he does not move.

It is these things you learn about your partner that makes you a good team. He learned from me to trust in me, he learned that on the street we are all business, but he also learned that when he is at the park and out of harness that is his time to have a break and sniff and roll and I don’t get

upset about it, well maybe a little since it takes a lot to brush him out and 2mins to roll in the grass and get covered clippings. This is all part of his personality

He also learned that I am not in a hurry when we are going somewhere and he can take all the time to assess the route and traffic.

Needless to say after finding all this stuff out between the both of us our second evaluation went a lot better.

I think the hardest thing he had to get use to was when I took our little guy to play pool on his birthday.

I tethered Lucky to my belt and had him follow me around the table while I played after the 1^st game he got it and stuck really close by this proved to be a good work experience.

Over the summer our son Chris made a video for his class on what it is like to work with a guide dog if you ever wondered how we get through revolving doors, you will like this.

I acquired a piece of equipment that allows me to video while I walking so I am going to attach a video clip of Lucky and I going through the Subway up the escalators, outside and crossing some major intersections on our way to pick up a new modem plug.

You can expect more of these videos to come, but for now enjoy.

Happy New-year Joy , Health, Happiness most of all PEACE.

John & Arlene, Lucky and Family

Warning some of these are long. This is my first time 

Walk down town Montreal

Lucky taking a  break 

Going through revolving doors Montreal 1

Going through revolving doors Montreal 1a

   

Blog 35 May 22, 2013

Blog 35 May 22, 2013

The 1^st, 2^nd and 6^th

It has been a long time since a wrote a blog since (Jan 1, 2013) that I must apologies for not writing sooner. In fact I have not done much in the way of e-mails or responding to e-mails or reading comments or Jokes or witty comments, it has taken everything I had to just get through this semester.

I have been dealing with so much stuff that I just could not take on anymore. My doctor felt it necessary to keep trying to find that winning combination of lucky pills that would make it all better. After the 3^rd time of trying a combination I told her for now think of it as when you get your security code wrong 3 times you loose access to that account. I told her it was for the same with me that was the third try there is no 4^th!

I was trying to deal with 4 major things at that time. The 1^st was my foot injury after healing one I got another, while compensating on side of foot it created another injury on the other. This meant more staying in bed and adapted transport, and for those who have never had the pleasure of adapted transport if you want to go somewhere you need the day to travel. If it is a 2hr trip you can count on 5 hours to get it done. If you have a dog, be prepared to share a taxi Car with 2 other adults and have your 80lb dog sit in your lap, Great fun and stressful on me and the dog!

So I missed some first very important dates and events. The first being it was a somber moment when the date came for the 1^st anniversary of death of my very good friend Sylvain Downs, I don’t know how many times that  I wanted to call him just to say or stop by with Lucky our family still misses him. The next firs we celebrated Lucky’s 3^rd birthday on Feb 14 but it was his first with us. The next first was Lucky and mine first year anniversary together as a team. We came together April 11 2012 and it has been great ever since.

We did our first year evaluation on May 3^rd and went great. The next first was our youngest sons first year in College and although it is a special program trust me there was nothing special about the homework. He worked hard to learn and understand, he learned sciences, he had personal growth, he took two college courses and did really well. He had some hard times but no matter how hard or tried he was never quit! I have tell you this he is my Hero but to me and Arlene all our kids are our Hero’s!

As I am writing this Blog we are coming upon 2 major anniversaries. The first is the 2^nd year of the passing of my nephew Eric I keep his picture on the wall along with Jagger because there dates are intertwined. The second is the anniversary of Jagger and have to tell you that as sad as that makes me feel, I see a lot of him in Lucky. I feel very privileged to have been a part of all of them.

The 6 anniversary of, talking at the schools. I was asked to come back and speak once again at the high school to the science class. The interesting part of this was I have now spoke to every student in the school on personal level.

It was the 1^st year for Lucky and they loved him and enjoyed hearing about the whole process.

These talks are really no longer about what it is like to be visually impaired it is more about life and how you approach it. I talk about Eric and Jagger. I talk about how Eric was and his stand on bulling and talk about Jagger and how he was and on his lasts days made sure I got to the hospital and made sure I was okay.

People , ask me what are you doing with your Certificate Pastoral Ministry? I tell them sit in on one of my talks and find out!

I will be blogging more now.

We are on the Move once again wait for some more blogs we are doing our First walk- a-thon on May 26 2013 and we will doing it in our area from starting from our church and ending it will be a 4km walk.  

Here is a link to my online donation do not let the 0 donations scare you because we have raised some money.  

http://my.e2rm.com/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=1839614&langPref=en-CA&Referrer=http%3a%2f%2fwww.guidedogs.ca%2findex2.php

  

Blog 34 January 03 2013 New Start

Blog 34 January 03 2013

New Start!

I love the start of a New-Year! It gives you a chance to put away the hard times you had over the last 12 months and it gives you the opportunity to have a fresh start for 12 more months.

 I have to start by apologizing for not writing a Christmas Blog or a New-Year eve Blog. Some might say I dropped off the earth! I assure you we have not.

I have been still trying to adjust to the new medication that the doctor gave me in October and trying to heal that foot injury both are very frustrating. The foot injury is healing quite well thanks in large part to my friend who has volunteered to change my dressings and make sure that no infections occur. It is most important especially over the holiday’s.

I have had the experiences with home nurses coming to change dressings and the overall experience has not been good. The problem with that is you don’t always get the same nurse and each one has their own way of doing things which sometimes causes a problem in treatment, which in turn causes a longer healing process. So to have someone close to help with the day to day management of the wound care is great and it takes the pressure off my wife is such a blessing. 

All that aside let me share a couple of thoughts with you. As we went into the holiday’s some great things happened. Lucky and I have celebrated our 8 month anniversary together. Yes 8 months I got Lucky on the 13 of April 2012 and we are now headed in to the 9 month as a team. We are doing well together.

We finished our first semester at university and he was great. I am always amazed on how they find their way after  only once going to a place. It was like old times we got off the elevator and he would bring me to class, it was awesome, he did well! We did a lot of kilometers/miles together not as much as I wanted but a lot.

As we came into the Christmas season of 2012 I realized I was not in the same place I was in 2011. It was our first Christmas without Eric and Jagger, we did not feel much like being apart of Christmas but our youngest son took care of that.

My wife had a gastro and we did not really celebrate much. This year we sat back to remember Eric and Jagger and we told some happy stories and good things we remember. Once again our youngest son and Lucky quickly reminded us that this was a Happy, Happy, Happy time of year. Our daughter came over and spent the Christmas Eve and to share in my birthday and it was nice.   She was not ready for our youngest and Lucky getting up at 5am, our youngest for gifts and Lucky for bathroom and food, and he is quite good at reminding you when it is time to eat!

Someone once asked me what it was like to have a new guide dog so young? I answered it like being 50 years old and having a child in the terrible two’s. Like every two year old when they are quiet you go and see what they are up too. Sometimes he is in mischief taking (socks and underwear) or there perfect angels sleeping most of the time it is first one. This is his sign of being board and it is time for a walk.

I also had Lucky out in our first snow and he loved it! I stopped at the park on the way to class and you guessed it, he could not wait to roll around in the snow. Every body who walked were laughing and I think this is why we are such a good fit loves to be outside no matter what and he is always up to having fun. I have to admit that we have not been out since we got the 50cm/ 3feet of snow, snow clearing is very slow here and not good.

Our 1^st Christmas and New-year with Lucky was great. He was happy to get his new bed and a toy for Christmas, his other bed did not make it after an uncomfortable night sleep. It was quiet New-Year’s eve we had our good friends over, we had some finger food we watched a funny movie until midnight and we brought in the New year. As we hugged and kissed each other

It was nice to have Lucky with us to bring in the New-year he has been a good addition to our family.

So my New-Years resolution is much the same as last year. I am not promising to lose a hundred pounds that usually doesn’t work, I will train more not hard but more. I will blog more since we have worked out this med issue. If I manage to do one or two of these resolutions I am doing good!

The most important of all resolutions are! 2013 will not be my year, I am going to make 2013 my year!

I am not waiting for something to happen I am going to make something happen. This is what I did for 2012 and it was a good year. Yes there will be bumps, but if you keep in mind to make more good things happen than bad you will have a good year!

Have more Fun! If it is not fun I am not doing it!

I have to admit with some of the bumps we had in the road, we had a lot of fun in the process, and that is the key; (don’t for get to laugh at the little things and belly laugh at the big ones)!

Happy New-Year

John & Lucky and family 

Blessings to you all.      

Lucky waiting to open gift.

Lucky looking outside.

Blog 33 November 9 2012 Service

Blog 33 November 9 2012

Service!

We get many opportunities to serve but very few rarely do, and those who do get little reconnection. As we come to this time of remembrances I reflect on those soldiers who gave their lives for us! With the end of world war two the second war that was to end all wars and of course all the other wars that followed those wars it seems it is a never ending war all for different reasons. As Canada officially closed it combat role in Afghanistan and the US out of Iraq and their mission coming to an end in Afghanistan the threat of veterans being forgotten is unlikely. Although as the veterans from world war two pass-away we have created a whole new generation to take their place.  The most amazing part of this is the lack of respect that is shown in schools, work places, and even homes. It is almost as if people believe that their freedom and safety is their right and not a gift that was paid for with lives and great sacrifice.  We remember the soldiers that served but we forget the sacrifices that families and friends pay when they loose that one they love. When we talk about service we are also talking about those families that gave so much for us.
I had a chance to speak this week at the University for a Class on diversity what it is like being student with a handy cap. It was a great talk since the other two people that were to speak with me could not make it. I was asked to speak for two hours (for those who know me that is easy part). I got to hear a lot of things that you would not get here in a 30min talk. I spoke about the sacrifice that the puppy raisers did so I could have great dogs. I spoke about how Lucky saved my life 2 times in 20mins from cars not paying attention. They asked about the training we did and the sacrifice my wife made for being home with our son for a month on her own! Having to trust that our son would close the front door when he left the house never mind locking it if he closed it we are happy. My close friends helping my wife out, and being there as well as driving her to visit me! I speak about my sisters, who visited me while I was there and making sure that I was ok and feeding me. I got to speak about Jagger and Lucky and my commitment to them and there’s to me. I got to speak about the dedication that my family and friends give me on non conditional bases.

At the of the talk of course the students were very happy and I had a lot of questions, the professor was very pleased and impressed that I could talk and keep their attention and answer all the questions she was very pleased. As I was packing up my things and getting ready to leave a young man probably in twenties came up and asked if he could shake my hand. As we shook hands he said thank you and thank you for talking about your military experiences. He further went on to say that he is in the reserves and will be heading to Afghanistan in a few weeks for a tour providing security.

I stop what I was doing and put my hand out and said “ I want to thank you for your sacrifice and your service” he was amazed that someone thanked him. I like to think that maybe somewhere down deep inside of him that he got some hope that if something happens to him that he could bounce back. There is a great line from the movie the Big Red one. During a patrol the section comes across a memorial dedicated to the Big Red One division! The soldier asks how they put this monument up so fast? The sergeant replies they didn’t! This monument is from world war 1.

The soldier replies “yah but all the names are the same” Yes said the sergeant the names are all the same but the dates is new”!         

Blog 32 October 11 2012

Blog 32 October 11 2012

Being Thankful!

October is always a special time for me. It reminds me of special time of when my family was together; my mom and brother were still with us. My other brother was flown in from BC he was in the military. I can’t say it was a happy period that we got together but as a family we came together!

In October 1978 at the age of fifteen I received a bone marrow transplant from my older brother. At a time when bone-marrow where new and cutting edge technique. There were not many doctors doing these procedures. The doctor who did my transplant had literally just got off the plane a couple of weeks earlier and was in Montreal to setup a Bone-marrow transplant department.  In 1978 the guidelines were strict in regards to donors. Unlike today where donors only have to be a parciule match to be considered a donor back then you almost had to be an exact match.

I am remember sitting with the doctor with all my family in the room and he asked if we had anymore relatives to test because we would need a lot of family to find a good match.

(just like back then and today God gave me many blessings), after all the testing of the immediate-family the doctor came back and broke the news to us that we did not have one donor but we had two donors! The other donor that could have given me the transplant was my sister. So thought was if it did not work the first time, we could do it again since there were two donors.

The rest of the siblings were matches for other vital nutrients that I would need after in the way of transfusions.

It was a long road before to get to the transplant stage and it was a longer road to recovery! I thank God for my family every day and friends.

Today is no exception I thank God for my wife and kids.  I thank him for my sister and brothers, I thank him for my friends who are also to me my family.

This October I also got to celebrate my first year wedding anniversary to a wonderful woman who loves me and takes care of me.

As I look back over these 34 years and recount everything that has gone on in my life, I can’t say it was easy but nothing in my life! I am thankful that I had another opportunity be the father I wanted to be! To be the husband I wanted to be! To be a better friend!

To be the man God intended me to be!

I am very thankful and to celebrate I went and had my eye adjusted today and it feels great, and Lucky is doing fantastic!

Look for more Adventures around the corner!  

Lucky has been working really hard these last couple of day's. This photo was just after his supper.