Category: Rewards

A Friendly’s Event

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Okay, our first Dine 4 Brain Aneurysm Awareness event at Friendly’s in South Portland, ME was a success, but not quite in the way we had thought. Yes, we raised money that will go directly to the Brain Aneurysm Foundation to raise money for research and education about brain aneurysms, and yes, we sold our T-shirts for the walk, and yes, we got a little more publicity for the KAT-Walk coming up in September, but it was the unexpected, random meetings with people that made it all worth while.

Although this particular Friendly’s is in a busy area of town, the number of people who didn’t even know about the event and just came by Friendlys for dinner or ice cream and had personal experience in some fashion with aneurysms, was amazing.

In fact, we found out during the course of the night that 3 employees at that particular Friendly’s branch had been effected by aneurysms or had relatives who had them. Some successes, some not.

Then, a woman from MA who was just there having dinner with her daughter came running up to the booth and said she just wanted us to know she had two annie’s clipped and thought we were doing a wonderful thing raising awareness. She went in to eat them came back out and chatted with us. We were all a little surprised she was unaware of the Brain Aneurysm Foundation, which is centered in MA and I don’t think her medical professionals did a very good job on educating her, but she’s still a survivor and it was wonderful to see her and share our stories.

The big “contact” we made was the head nurse of the neuro radiology OR at Maine Med. She knew my Dr. and spoke very highly of him. THEN she agreed to take a lot of literature and info, not only on the walk in Sept., but for aneurysm education in general, into her staff and area. She was more than willing to do it and apparently told Dave she’d try to get some folks together for the walk. We’ll see, but it’s great she was so receptive and open to doing things. That’s precisely what we were hoping to get. Dave has visited several hospitals and was never really sure if the advertising packets he’s been giving people were being used or displayed. All we can do is try at this point.

We sold a lot of t-shirts for the walk in September and took some names of people and had a nice dinner ourselves. The people at Friendly’s were great. They let us do whatever we wanted, so we set the tent up right outside their door and put some things inside at the PIck-Up counter and inside for people to read while they were waiting. We did take a few donations as well. One little girl came up and gave us a dollar. It was quite cute and another young girl just wanted to help and walk and give us her name.

I think we’ve done a good job of getting the word out there and lots of people are TELLING us they’re coming to the Kat-Walk in September, but we’ll see. I hope so. The more we can educate the public, we might be able
to save a life or at least help those who have already been effected by brain aneurysms. From our lips to God’s ear.

Arterial Challenge 2011

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The main reason Dave and I traveled to Massachusetts this Memorial Day weekend was to participate in the
10th Annual Arterial Challenge Run and Walk to benefit research and awareness for brain aneurysms through the Brain Aneurysm Foundation in MA.

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a ruptured brain aneurysm survivor and two years after my rupture, we lost Dave’s niece to a massive rupture. So, we’re very involved with trying to raise awareness so that perhaps some lives can be saved. We also have our own walk in September in memory of Kim and to raise money for research and awareness. In fact, at one point along the walk, before Kim’s name was even mentioned, I felt her hand in mine and felt her right beside me. It was strange and wonderful at the same time.

I was also looking forward to meeting up with a fellow survivor. Julie and I came to know one another because we had the same Dr. perform our life-saving coilings back in 2006 in Maine. She has participated in our walk and we’ll both be “celebrating” our 5 year annie-versaries this year. We befriended one another on a message board, and she also befriended another survivor, Lori, who would be at the walk as well.

We all met up in the registration area. Thankfully, although it was still warm and muggy out, it was a cloudy morning. Perfect weather for a walk and run. We were participating in the walk part of the day. It was a 1.5 mile walk through a lovely area of Humarock, MA along the ocean.

Everyone received their t-shirts for the walk and we started promptly at 9:30. We all chatted throughout the walk and took it at our own pace….pretty slow. LOL Hey, I just had a brain procedure about 4 weeks ago, Julie still has issues and Lori is a damned walking miracle and is about to undertake her 5th (I think!) open brain surgery in a couple of weeks. Slow was just perfect for us.

It was nice to get to know Lori. She’s been through such a tremendous ordeal. Something like 10 titanium clips have been used on her one aneurysm, which is a massive 4cm. (about 1.5″). My 8mm one is barely 1/2 inch. She has endured so much and has such a fantastic attitude and is living life to the fullest! She is unable to perform her job, but her sense of humor has certainly remained fully intact and you have to love that. I won’t be complaining about my black and blue marks or my measly 5 pills I have to take every day anymore after meeting her. She showed us a list of about 15 pills she has to take…TWICE a day.

After the walk, many people who had participate in the walk and run met at local restaurant and chatted about their personal stories and congratulated one another for completing the walk or run. The sun even came out. A very nice gathering and good company.

Julie brought her mom who drove every day from MA to Portland after Julie had her rupture. They’re both very warm and outgoing women with great strength and passion. Lori was traveling from Florida with her very good friend Cindy. What a magnificent wealth of friendship Lori has in Cindy. I envy that. She is truly blessed and rich in that regard. Cindy is a gem. And I had Dave with me. My angel, my chauffeur, my go-to-guy and love. We’re ALL survivors….caretakers included.

According to their Facebook post, the Brain Aneurysm Foundation said this about the walk: “We had almost 600 participants, including 270 runners. Thanks to all the fundraisers and teams who helped The Brain Aneurysm Foundation raise over $50,000 at the Arterial Challenge.”

I’d say that was a HUGE success! I think just having other survivors and caretakers meet with those who have gone through the same thing can bring great comfort and we can continue to spread the word about the signs and symptoms (if you’re lucky enough to have them) to the general public AND health professionals.

And I pray Julie continues to heal and solutions are brought forth to ease her discomfort. I also pray very hard for Lori who will undergo a serious bypass operation in June. She HAS to come through that because she’s going on a Disney cruise to Hawaii next April!

4th Annie-Versary Plans Made

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I’m going to treat myself to a spa-day again for my 4th annie-versary this year. It’s such a stressful time of year for me anyway, but remembering everything I’ve gone through, I like to treat myself to something special, and getting a massage, a manicure, pedicure and a hair cut and style is the perfect luxury treat I think.

Dave and I will also have dinner that night with our friends Bob & Steve and hope to have some good laughs, enjoy a good meal and just plan enjoy being alive. That’s the plan anyway!

The KAT-Walk 2009

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It was a stunning day out and a stunning location along the Back Cove of Portland, where Kim spent a lot of time walking. Today was the first KAT-Walk for Brain Aneurysm Awareness. Dave and I got there very early for set up. Several tents, flags, signs and tables needed to be assembled. One tent for Dress For Success, one tent for Registration, one tent for the water and cheese that was donated, one tent for The Brain Aneurysm Foundation and a banner/tent that Dave made for our Starting Line. Then we had to post the many, many sneaker signs that Dave made. Among other things. Everyone was very impressed.

Almost 200 people showed up for the walk. Many others stopped to make a donation, but didn’t attend the walk. I’d have to say what we lacked in quantity for the walk, we made up for with quality. Salt-of-the earth people with compassion and caring in their hearts. Kim was definitely looking down on us. Approx. $2,500 was donated just today and there is more online and in the mail that we’re aware of. I’m now hearing well over $5,000 has been raised so far.

Kim’s dog, her pug Bella, lead the walk. Dave informed me after a few steps that he wasn’t participating with the walk, so I continued on by myself. Nancy couldn’t do the walk either because of her hip surgery last summer. So I plugged on and met up with one of Kim’s dear friends, Angel and she had a bad ankle, so we kept a slower pace, but made the entire 3+ mile walk and crossed the finish line in a little over an hour very
sore, but proud of ourselves. I’m sure a lot of people in that city walk, bikemor run that trail on a daily basis, but I don’t, so I was beat.

Everyone helped tear things down, which was a HUGE help, then there was a small reception over at a pub/restaurant at a golf course that Nancy always goes out to. Everyone agreed it was a good day and everyone agreed Kim would have been very pleased.

The woman, Ginny, from the Brain Aneurysm Foundation brought some great things to hand out and raise awarenessmfor the symptoms of aneurysms and the kinds of treatments. Magnets, fliers, brochures, key chains, pens and even DVDs. We were VERY pleased to see manympeople stopping at the booth and speaking with her. I had a short chat with hermabout my own experience with my annie and Dori and Rhonda, she agreed with me that you two should be check out given our family history with Debbie, Tim’s and my aneurysm. Of course, I now worry about Dave and Nancy too!

I took my camera, but never pulled itmout. There were many people taking photos and the sister-in law of one of the planners is a professional photographer and donated her time and services to take photos the entire day. I can’t wait to see her photos. I think she’ll have some really great shots.

We’re both exhausted, but it was worth it. I ate two brownies with a tall glass of milk when I got home and had an Ibuprofen chaser and a long soak in the tub.

I think Kim was looking down on us and smiling and telling God “See those signs? My Uncle Dave made those.”. It felt good to DO good in her honor.