Remember when I shared with you that CTV article from about a month ago? No? Here it is again in case you missed it.
After that was published, some really cool things happened!! And now there’s a follow-up story all about the amazingly kind and generous response from readers and how they created some holiday magic for me. Check out the link below!
“Finding my Miracle”: Communities give back after CTV Vancouver story
I’m still so touched by the kindness and generosity of strangers. I love stories like this, where people step up to help out or bring joy to people they’ve never met, and it is both humbling and thrilling to find myself on the receiving end of that thoughtfulness. I am very grateful for this entire experience!
P.S. If you ever want to follow along with my yarn adventures or see what I’m up to in terms of crochet, you can find me on Instagram @carefulscrochet.
Finding my Miracle 
How wonderful Catherine. It gives me hope that people are kind and loving. That they put their own issues aside to help someone deserving. Happy New Year.
It gives me hope, too! For everything that I find frustrating or depressing, there are always examples of people just being kind and thoughtful people, and that’s what keeps me going.
Fantastic ..Happy New Year to you 😃😃
Happy New Year, Helen!
Wow, Catherine! That is so awesome and so deserving too. How thrilling that everyone’s appreciation for you and what you are going through has been realised in a tangible and practical way. I’m thrilled for you too. I looked at that humongous bag of yarn and hoped that the whole exercise didn’t overwhelm you but what a cool way to be overwhelmed.
It is nice to read some happy news. Katelyn Verstraten is an angel, and so are all of the people who donated yarn. They can rest assured that none of it will go to waste in your hands, Catherine. I wonder whether all that yarn means fewer blog posts in 2017 because you will be busy wrangling yarn!
A Merry Crochet Christmas to you and a Happy New Year!
Haha I’m not sure if the yarn will have a direct impact on the number of blogs I write…but we’ll have to see how it goes 😉
Catherine
I just discovered your blog and I am incredibly impressed by your attitude and willingness to do whatever you can for others.
It is overwhelmingly positive when others can read your story and gain enthusiasm for life from your words.
I am semi-retired and live in Surrey, and aside from my son, I have very few people in my life here in BC. Yes, I do a lot for my son and I have clients that are very happy with the work I do for them, but most of my clients are in Edmonton, Toronto, Hamilton, and various other places around the world. I rarely travel to see them, but work from my home through eMail and telephone.
I have been looking for a cause to give me inspiration, having volunteered in the past for the Red Cross, Salvation Army, St. John Ambulance, United Way and a number of other organizations, but all in Edmonton where I grew up.
When I heard that you have decided that you need a wheelchair, I thought that I would like to help you in any way I can to achieve that end.
Here’s a short story that I have experienced second hand.
My brother-in-law has been dealing with a degenerative disease since his early teens, and he was told he would never walk again. He not only walked, but rode a motorcycle, skied and even rode horses. The medical professionals do not know how he did that, after the treatment they did to stop his seizures, but it took such a toll on his body that eventually he had to accept using a wheelchair much of the time to keep his joints from giving up on him. He is the most stubborn person I have ever met and that is why he has been able to exceed all predictions. I am incredibly proud of what he has achieved, not because of his condition, nor in spite of it, but because most of us would be overjoyed to have done the great things he has accomplished with his career and the incredible husband and father he is.
I have another sister who has had untreatable nystagmus from an early age and it prevented her being a meteorologist. She said to my brother in law, despite his dealing with his condition for decades, that he “didn’t know what it was like to be disabled”.
But in fact she was right, even though she probably doesn’t know it.
To her, her eyes being unable to focus prevented her from doing what she wanted to do, but my brother in law has never let his circumstances hold him back. I would never think of him as “disabled” even though he regularly has to choose alternatives and work so hard to attain his objectives. He just gets on with it and doesn’t complain or make excuses.
I immediately thought that of you when I heard how you are dealing with your situation.
Being prevented from achieving our goals is common to us all, but when the things we are fighting to maintain are so basic to living, it is hard to sympathize with someone who is complaining about having fewer choices with their life. I can’t play professional basketball because of my short status so I have to accept a lesser job like being a doctor, or lawyer or a writer.
When you have no alternatives, it is easy to give up. To stay so focused as you have done, shows remarkable character.
Anyway, here is my question and a proposal.
Have you been able to get a wheel chair that allows you to get around?
If not, please let me help you with that goal.
I am perfectly willing to help with fund raising to get you a new wheel chair that will allow you better mobility.
Second suggestion
I also drive a Toyota Matrix that will easily hold a wheelchair and passengers. Being semi-retired, I would like to offer to pick you up with your wheelchair and take you shopping when you feel the need. It is not like the independence of driving yourself, but if I could help you out once in a while, it would make me very happy.
I really like being able to help others and you are certainly deserving of a little help now and again.
My eMail and telephone number are shown below. I hope you will allow me to help you in some fashion.
Barry
+1 (604) 496-0434
barry@hulltax.com
Unit 2002, 13399 – 104 Avenue, Surrey BC V3T 0C9
Hi Barry – thank you for the introduction and for stopping by. Your offers of help are very kind! I did end up getting a wheelchair and it helps a lot when I’m trying to get out of the house but not well enough to carry about on my own two feet. So I’m good there 🙂
Just in follow-up to what you were saying – personally speaking, I do actually consider myself disabled. And I really believe that that’s not a bad thing, or a bad word. There’s a movement among the disability community to “just say the word” because it’s only in facing and accepting and making disability more normal that the world will become more accessible. The fact is that there are people who are disabled, and there are things they cannot do no matter how hard they try, and it doesn’t need to be like that. One of my favourite quotes about disability is from the late Stella Young: “No amount of smiling at a flight of stairs has ever made it turn into a ramp.”
Anyway, I think it’s important to remain as optimistic and hopeful as you can, no matter what your situation in life is. But I also think that it’s important to be realistic, and that it’s okay to say you can’t do something because of a disability. Just my thoughts for this morning. Thanks again for reading and for your kind offers of assistance!