Vol. 15, Issue 190
“Dedicated to Excellence”
Templeton Volunteers Photos by Karel Ley
July 2016
Vol. 15, Issue 190
July 2016
Caregiver’s LIFE…
I am in my thirtieth year as a caregiver and what a roller coaster amazing experience I’ve had. Who could possibly imagine that my life could seem so full of positive experiences in the face of something as devastating as suffering a stroke. I’m sure one couldn’t meet a more wonderful group than the people I’ve met as a caregiver and stroke recovery volunteer. But, my bonus has been what has happened to my family. Had my younger sister not banged her head n a cupboard and put herself in.
The death of my young husband from cancer followed on the heels of Mom’s stroke and a year later my strong seemingly indestructible father lost his fourteen month with cancer. —Key Akeroyd Templeton Stroke Recovery, Treasurer You should watch out…
For claims that say things like ‘less salt’ or ‘lower in salt or sodium than our regular product.’ The product will, indeed, have less salt than the regular product, but if the regular product was very high in salt to begin with, the salt content may not be low enough for someone on a reduced salt diet.
DELTA Stroke Recovery Reports...
Templeton Newsletter Mailing Address: 204– 2929 Nootka Street, Vancouver, BC V5M 4K4 Canada Published every month, if possible. Contributions are always welcome. The articles should be in, not later than day 25th day of every month. Disclaimer: The views expressed in Stroke Recoverer’s Review newsletter: articles, submissions and spotlights are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Templeton Stroke Recovery or the editor of Stroke Recoverer’s Review. Editor reserves the right at any time to make changes as it deems necessary. It is the purpose of this periodical to share a variety of viewpoints mostly from stroke survivors and volunteers. July 2016 Contributors: Loy Lai Ollie Stogrin Kiyoko Akeroyd Deb Chow Karel Ley Werner Stephan Jose Suganob
Production of SRR: Jose Suganob
Delta Stroke Recovery celebrated their last session prior to breaking for August by sharing a fabulous pot luck in celebration of coordinator Dawn’s retirement party.
candle!
Inside this issue:
Ralph singing an Irish blessing in his beautiful Welshman’s choir voice and one of the letters in Dawn’s name we thought describing Dawn.
Caregiver’s Life Delta SR Reports
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Although, this was her last official session, she has agreed to serve on our executive committee for a minimum of two years.
The club’s new coordinator, Elisabeth Mason, is settling into her new role. Not only does she plan our Tuesday regular meetings but also facilitates the exercise sessions on Thursdays in our local gymnasium where sessions are led by physical trainer, Anne Herringer
Templeton Happenings Encouragements
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August BLAST
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Jokes page
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Travelling in Bear-Country
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HURRAY!!! Shown are Dawn with her parting gift a garden heron, a Pavlova cake made by one the volunteers, in shape of a turtle.
Rick helping Dawn blow out one
—Karel Ley, Director Delta Stroke Recovery
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Vol. 15, Issue 190
July 2016
Last Month’s Happening
July 28 was a beautiful day for a picnic at Templeton Community Center. Again, I wish to thank all the members and nonmembers that helped set-up all the tents and tables...and those helped in the kitchen. I also wish to thank all the community staff that were so helpful in many ways. Our Deb chow (BLAST founder) came with neighbor and Trevor (former volunteer) and did all the tents, tables and chairs. The tents that saved us from sun burn. Thank heavens! I’m happy that there was plenty of food. Chicken, potato salad, bean salad, green salad, pickles, tea, coffee, water, cake for dessert (Lorraine brought). No one went away hungry, I’m sure… At present (since last Sept) we have had no coordinator which leaves picnic to Key, Jose, Deb Chow and I plus volunteers plus volunteers like Jo -Ann (former volunteer) including our Jeanie (stroke survivor) and Tony also a survivor, Olga (volunteer) were our helpers. Then there’s Brad (Key son) brought his students to interview our members regarding their stroke and life before and after stroke. It seemed everyone was having a nice time being busy. Thanks, Brad!
guests have enough to eat that means it was a success! After doing the picnic, I thinksome of us need a vacation (I do…). Some of our members are attending Deb’s summer session at Templeton. All members are welcome to come from other groups. Some that attended the summer session last year that said they enjoyed coming and I imaginethat they will be back this year. A good place to connect with members from other group. Our Jose is going to be moving to Commercial Drive next month. That will be quite a change for Jose, as I think? He has been in the same place for 20 years. And that will be change for Key and I, as often we would run over to his place with items or pickup and deliver. Ahh! Before I forget, our Lillian T. supplied the picnic with bags of potato chips. Lillian loves to shop. Thank you so much, Lillian! I understand that our Frank Kish treated our members to a BLAST dinner last month and as he ran into some money at the local casino. Congratulations Frank! Hang onto that lucky rabbits foot!
We also wish to thank our visitors from other groups like Karel Ley (Delta), Martha ( Douglas Park) and Blair, John Guy, Ray (three guys from North Burnaby).
July was a busy month for us! We took a trip to the Westminster Quay. There were 16 of us. With Key and I as tour guides. It was a busy day and we didn’t lost anyone, I don’t think? I had lunch as I was chasing members. Not easy as the quay has changed since I was there 3 years ago. I think, it changed into a big city.
I always breath a sigh of relief when the weather is good and members and
I understand our members, Lorraine and Trevor have gone to Saskatche-
wan on vacation. They both deserve a big thank you! For all the jam Lorraine and salmon that Trevor caught that we often have sandwiches from at Templeton. They deserve a vacation. Have a nice August ! See you on Sept 8th. —Ollie Stogrin Templeton Stroke Recovery, President Encouragements…
The problem with the world is that the intelligent people are full of doubts, while the stupid ones are full of confidence.—Charles Bu
kowski
Don’t keep a man guessing too long—he’s sure to find the answer somewhere else—Mae West
Life is an open book full of blank pages You write the story as you go
SUCCESS—”It is not the position where you are standing, but which direction you are going.” - Oliver Wendell Holmes
The best revenge is always to just happily move on and let karma do the rest.
Always believe that something wonderful is about to happen.
Enjoy the little things in life for one day you’ll look back & realize they were the big things. —Loy Lai, Stroke Survivor Templeton Stroke Recovery Page 3
Vol. 15, Issue 190
BLAST 2016 Stroke Survivors, Caregivers, and Friends!
Come, join us for dinner! Monday, August 15th, 2016 Dinner starts at 5:30 pm Trocadero
2411 Nanaimo St, Vancouver, BC (North of Broadway) There’s lots of room for wheelchairs and scooters
July 2016
AUGUST 2016 B.L.A.S.T. —
This will be the second year BLAST has the opportunity to fill in for Templeton Stroke Recovery during the month of August. We hope to see newcomers from closed branches joining BLAST ambassadors and Templeton members. Lately, I seem to be running into a lot of stroke survivors or people connected to someone. Within a few weeks there were four in my neighborhood. I encourage everyone who
notices someone who looks like they may have a stroke to make a connection. No one I’ve approached has been offended. They’ve all been happy to meet another ‘Turtle.’ It’s up to us to educate and bring awareness to our local branches and of course, survivors “Building Life After Stroke Together.” Now they can connect with BLAST Thursdays in August, at our monthly 15th dinners, Facebook group and ultimately Easter Weekend. Please note: We have changed the location for our monthly dinners on the 15th at 5:30 pm to Trocaderos: 2411 Nanaimo St, Vancouver (8th Ave). My contact number has changed to (604)760-7769 Hope to see you in August. Please feel free to print and post information. We will start accepting BLAST 2017 EarlyBird $200 registration after Labour Day. Please feel free to make copies and post information. Turtletalk.ca Deb@TurtleTalk.ca 604-760-7769 11am—11pm
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Vol. 15, Issue 190
July 2016
JOKES GUARD DOG...
PURINA DIET
WHAT’S 2+2?
A young couple’s house get burgled, Yesterday I was at Costco buying a so they decide to get a guard dog. large bag of Purina dog chow for my loyal pet, Necco, the Wonder Dog, The wife goes to a pet shop and tells which weighs 191 lbs. the owner, “I’d like to see the toughI was in the check-out line when a est guard dog you’ve got!” woman behind me if I hd a dog The owner answers, “I’ve got just the dog for you!” He presents o her to a What did she think I had……….an elephant? tiny Chihuahua called Roxy. “Sure he’s cute, but can he really So, because I retired and have little to do, on impulse told her that no, I guard a home?” she asks skeptically. didn’t have a dog, I was starting Puri“Lady, this isn't any dog, he is in fact na Diet again. I added that I probably a master of karate!” shouldn’t, because I ended up in thet hospital last time, but that I’d lost 50 “Prove it!” she demands. pounds before I awakened inan inten“Roxy, karate my chair!” he com- sive care ward with tubes coming out mands of the dog. of most of my orifices and IVs in Roxy immediately attacks the chair in both arms.
Trump is asked the answer to 2+2.
a blur of chops, kicks and uppercuts, I told her that it was essentially a leaving nothing but tinder. Perfect Diet and that the way that it works is, load your jacket pockets “Roxy, karate my desk!” he comwith Purina Nuggets and simply eat mands. Roxy sweeps the desk off its one or two every time yo feel hungry. legs and breaks it apart in mid-air The food is nutritionally complete, so before it hits he ground. it works well and I was going to ttry it “Do you accept checks?” she says again. (I have to mention here that bewildered. practically everyone in line was now She brings Roxy home to her husband enthralled with my story) who looks at the two of them aghast. Horrified, she asked if I ended up in “Why did you bring that little toy? intensive care, because the dog food poisoned me. I told her no, I stopped We’re looking for a guard dog?” to Pee on a Fire Hydrant and a car hit “Honey, this isn’t just any dog off the me. street, he happens to be a master of “Betty White proves that a gal’s karate,” she beams. sense of humor doesn’t “Pffft,” replies the husband. “Karate have to go south my ass!” just ‘cause everything else does”
You know what, it’s probably more like the number two but witth a lot of zeros behind it. A lot. If I’m being honest, I mean, if I’m being honest. I like a lot of zeros. Except for Marco Rubio, now he’s a zero that I don’t like.
“I have to say a lot of people have been asking this question. No, really A lot of people come up to me and they ask me. They say, ‘What 2+2?’ and I tell them look, we know what 2+2 is. We’ve had almost eight years of the worst kind of math you can imagine. Oh, my god, I can’t believe i. Addition and subtraction of the 1s, the 2s and the 3s. Its terrible. Its just terrible. Look, if you want to know what 2+2 is, do you want 2+2 is? I’ll tell you. First of all the number 2, by the way I love the number 2. It’s probably my favorite umber, no, it is my favorite number.
Though, I probably shouldn’t say that. He’s a nice guy but he’s like ‘10101000101,’ on and on, like that. He’s like a computer! You know what I mean? He’s like a computer. I don’t know. I mean, you know. So, we have all these numbers and we can add them and subtract them and add them. TIMES them even. Did you know that? We can times them OR divide them, they don’t tell you that, and I’ll tell you, no one is better at the order of operations than me. You wouldn’t believe it.
So, we’re gonna be the best on2+2, believe me. Ok? Alright. Thank you.” Page 5
Vol. 15, Issue 190
July 2016
TRAVELLING IN BEAR-COUNTRY - Werner Stephan, Stroke Survivor: North Shore Stroke Recovery Center - West Vancouver Group
Is it dangerous? It can be! A hunting buddy of mine advised to travel with a dog or a horse. The animals would warn me of other animals, that are stalking me, long before I would otherwise become aware of them. That, I thought, was true. He also claimed that bears or cougars would be more afraid of a human than the other way around and take off before I knew they were there. I remembered that to be not true. Young male black bears, about 1 to 1-1/2 years old, are not yet experienced enough and are therefore unpredictable. In the 1960 years, I therefore always hiked with rifle. Since firearms are now illegal without a license, you are on your own and you would have to rely on your hunting knife. Good luck! In the 1970th, I once hiked and fished up north near the Peace River Dam, when a fully grown but obviously young black bear attacked me, probably wanting the fish which I had caught. I did not want to argue or try to run, so I shot him. I skinned this bear and had the skin tanned. My son when he was a baby, really liked to roll around on the fur, so I can’t say that this bear fur was not used well. Animal rights activists might not agree, but I only killed bears if I felt that I had a valid reason. Sometimes, I fished or berry-picked not more than about 50 feet away from bears, who did the same. Mostly the bears would take off, but sometimes the bears stayed, keeping a wary eye on me. I did the same. That is quite safe, as long as one does not show fear. Friends in the USA
There’s gold in them thar hills...
More Food?
More Hugs?
advised that it is wise to carry a large caliber handgun when hiking in bear -country. But here in Canada, we have to rely on our hunting knives to defend ourselves, if it becomes an issue. A dog might come very handy as well. To apply for a firearm license to carry a handgun is rarely successful. Meet bears when hiking? Don’t try to run away; the bear is faster than you are. Try to appear taller than the bear. Don’t show fear, even when it is difficult. Remember, a bear might also be afraid of you, a fearsome human. Hopefully!!! —Werner Stephan, Stroke Survivor North Vancouver Stroke Recovery Center (West Vancouver group)
The gold rushes of 19th –century Canada were largely responsible for the creation of two of Canada’s largest territories—British Columbia and Yukon. In 1857, gold was found on the Fraser River, and the great influx of Americans seeking their fortune caused the British government to react by creating the colony of British Columbia in 1858, giving Britain control over laws and regulations concerning claims. Several small rushes followed the Fraser River gold finds began to dwindle. In 1860, gold was found near Cariboo Lake. The subsequent building of the trail known as the Cariboo Road gave access for people from different areas of Canada to moil for gold. In 1896, gold was found along Rabbit Creek (later named Bonanza Creek) by members of the local Tagish tribe, Tagish Charley, Skookum Jim, Jim’s sister Shaaw Tlaa (Kate) and Kate’s husband, George Carmack. The great influx of gold prospectors became known as the Klondike Gold Rush, the last major gold rush. The massive population explosion in the Yukon— from 5000 to over 30,000—that resulted from the gold rush led to the establishment of the Yukon Territory. Did you know? The Klondike Gold Rush lasted only 18 months. Page 6