1 year 4 months

I'm a day early, tomorrow is my 16 month brain birthday but in light of recent events and the fact that I'm "leaving on a jet plane" tomorrow to go and spend some time with Alonya and Rick I thought I would knock this one over early!

I thought I was busy in my last brain catch up post, this one feels like a lifetime has passed in the month in between! I guess I should start where I left off in my last monthly update. I did the 5km for the Kim Walters foundation and blogged it here . That afternoon I had a fall up the back stairs which was a bit disturbing and the day after another 2 falls up the back stairs. You can read more about that here That all kicked off into ta trip to the doctor and then a night in the hospital for an PEEG  (Prolonged Electroencephalogram)  .

Meanwhile, I have been doing the 21 Challenge to raise funds for homeless and at risk youth. Not been making an awful lot in terms of fundraising but I have been challenging myself daily with it. Most days I have an idea of what I would like to achieve for the theme but I usually end up with something quite different for one reason or another. This thinking without a box thing is wonderful.

I have signed up for the Brisbane running festival in August and the Bridge to Brisbane in September, both of them I am raising funds for the Brain foundation. Big cause close to my heart. They do fantastic work in many brain related areas, tumours, migraine, stroke, epilepsy and so much more. November I am part of a team put together by my youngest brother to do Relay for Life raising funds for the Cancer Council.

And now for the really big news.... My amazing friend Ted Ewen made me cry on Wednesday night! I met Ted a few months before I went off for my brain surgery. He has been a wonderfully supportive friend all the way from Denmark. He has sent me books to read, talked to me daily, and held my hand virtually. On Wednesday night Ted made me cry like a baby (and most of Thursday as well) and has left me quite stunned. Ted has nominated me for The 2012 Pride of Australia Courage Medal. Ted has made a post on Google plus here asking for supportive comments if you would like to add anything. 

I have also been looking into doing some study to improve my "employability" so I'll be talking to the people at TAFE when I get back from Sydney. I'm also looking at doing some volunteer work so I have some more recent experience. The biggest stumbling blocks I am having with finding work seems to be that I have been ill for so long my most recent working experience is ancient history so until I can get paid work I may as well do some unpaid work to get that experience back!

Tomorrow is the beginning of a new adventure :) I'll see you all when I get back! meanwhile here are days 14 and 15 of the 21 challenge....


21 Challenge photos are uploaded to Facebook, Google+,DeviantArt and on RedBubble......... 

"Chillin"

" Keeping Time"

1. Pedalers' Paradise
2. Green Living
3. The Letter C
4. Life Support
5. Momentum!
6. Boldly Bearded
7. The Colour Red
8. Less Stress, More Awesome!
9. What a Gem!
10. Communication
11. Toy Stories
12. Rule of Trees
13. Give Me a Sign
14. Chillin'
15. Keeping Time
16. Most Underrated
17. Square
18. Minimal
19. My Earth, My Impact
20. Surprise!
21. The Awakening

21 Challenge Days 12 and 13 + more things..

I'll be taking a photo every day for 21 days and uploading them on Facebook, Google+,DeviantArt and on RedBubble......... what will you do?

http://www.openfamilyfundraising.org.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=447845&langPref=en-CA

All funds raised go to assist homeless and at risk youth in Australia. the Challenge ends June 21, our longest and probably coldest night of the year. 

 Rule of Trees

Give Me a Sign

1. Pedalers' Paradise
2. Green Living
3. The Letter C
4. Life Support
5. Momentum!
6. Boldly Bearded
7. The Colour Red
8. Less Stress, More Awesome!
9. What a Gem!
10. Communication
11. Toy Stories
12. Rule of Trees
13. Give Me a Sign
14. Chillin'
15. Keeping Time
16. Most Underrated
17. Square
18. Minimal
19. My Earth, My Impact
20. Surprise!
21. The Awakening

Today I have also signed up for the Brisbane Running Festival on August 5th and the Bridge to Brisbane September 2nd! I'm raising funds for the Brain foundation for both events. They are funding brain research throughout Australia for earlier diagnoses and improved, more effective and efficient treatments to enable normal lifestyles. As you can probably understand if you know me or have read my posts, its a pretty big deal for me.

21 Challenge days 9 10 and 11

I'll be taking a photo every day for 21 days and uploading them on Facebook, Google+,DeviantArt and on RedBubble......... what will you do?

http://www.openfamilyfundraising.org.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=447845&langPref=en-CA

All funds raised go to assist homeless and at risk youth in Australia. the Challenge ends June 21, our longest and probably coldest night of the year.

 What a Gem!

 Communication

Toy Story

1. Pedalers' Paradise
2. Green Living
3. The Letter C
4. Life Support
5. Momentum!
6. Boldly Bearded
7. The Colour Red
8. Less Stress, More Awesome!
9. What a Gem!
10. Communication
11. Toy Stories
12. Rule of Trees
13. Give Me a Sign
14. Chillin'
15. Keeping Time
16. Most Underrated
17. Square
18. Minimal
19. My Earth, My Impact
20. Surprise!
21. The Awakening

"Communication" was taken during my PEEG (Prolonged Electroencephalogram) Results will be back in 10 - 14 days

21 Challenge Days 5 - 8

I'll be taking a photo every day for 21 days and uploading them on Facebook, Google+,DeviantArt and on RedBubble......... what will you do?

http://www.openfamilyfundraising.org.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=447845&langPref=en-CA

All funds raised go to assist homeless and at risk youth in Australia. the Challenge ends June 21, our longest and probably coldest night of the year.

Boldly Bearded

The Colour Red

Momentum

Less Stress More Awesome

1. Pedalers' Paradise
2. Green Living
3. The Letter C
4. Life Support
5. Momentum!
6. Boldly Bearded
7. The Colour Red
8. Less Stress, More Awesome!
9. What a Gem!
10. Communication
11. Toy Stories
12. Rule of Trees
13. Give Me a Sign
14. Chillin'
15. Keeping Time
16. Most Underrated
17. Square
18. Minimal
19. My Earth, My Impact
20. Surprise!
21. The Awakening

Ripples in the Road

Just after my 5km the other weekend I had a bit of an "episode". I fell up the back stairs three times in two days. To be completely honest it scared me half to death. I am kinda paranoid about falling and hitting my head!

I mentioned it to my physio last week when I went to see him, he had wanted to know what the bruises were from *cringe*. Luckily I escaped with not a lot more damage than some bruising. The deal was, I had to go and make an appointment with my GP, who I saw yesterday.

My GP is about as thrilled as my physio was. She's increasing my medication by a factor of 8 and I will be admitted to hospital this weekend for more tests. She believes I had three seizures resulting in the falls. I have no recollection of what happened so that's the most likely reason. When we have all the results in and see how the medication increase goes, we'll know what is what. She is holding off on a new MRI for now.

So we breathe easier because she hasn't sent me straight for an MRI to look for my brain lump growing back and hope that it is epilepsy from the scaring in my brain from surgery. Hoping for a diagnosis of "fatigue" really was wishful thinking on my part I guess.

SO! I hope to be able to smuggle my camera into the hospital and document part of this continuing journey beyond brain surgery.

Sydney trip is still on though. Much baking, relaxing and catching up will be done!

21 Challenge

I'll be taking a photo every day for 21 days and uploading them on Facebook, Google+, DeviantArt and on RedBubble......... what will you do?

http://www.openfamilyfundraising.org.au/personalPage.aspx?registrationID=447845&langPref=en-CA

All funds raised go to assist homeless and at risk youth in Australia. the Challenge ends June 21, our longest and probably coldest night of the year.

Pedalers' Paradise

Green Living

The Letter C

Life Support

1. Pedalers' Paradise
2. Green Living
3. The Letter C
4. Life Support
5. Momentum!
6. Boldly Bearded
7. The Colour Red
8. Less Stress, More Awesome!
9. What a Gem!
10. Communication
11. Toy Stories
12. Rule of Trees
13. Give Me a Sign
14. Chillin'
15. Keeping Time
16. Most Underrated
17. Square
18. Minimal
19. My Earth, My Impact
20. Surprise!
21. The Awakening

Also!
Charity Print Sales
Lee Daniels is feisty, loving, friendly, a magnificent professional writer and fine art photographer. She's an elementary school teacher who continues to teach, love and praise others. She was recently diagnosed with small cell lung cancer. Because of her health situation she's unable to get out and take pictures. Like most independent photographers she doesn't have health insurance. You can imagine the stress and pain this would cause. Lee is a fighter. Let's help her win this fight.

We are a community of photographers who are providing our photographs for a special price to benefit Lee Daniels in her time of need. All proceeds from the sale of prints in the gallery below will be donated to Lee Daniels to help her with the medical costs of cancer treatments. The prints will be sold and fulfilled through SmugMug and Bay Photo Lab.
We are a community of photographers who are providing our photographs for a special price to benefit Lee Daniels in her time of need. All proceeds from the sale of prints in the gallery below will be donated to Lee Daniels to help her with the medical costs of cancer treatments. The prints will be sold and fulfilled through SmugMug and Bay Photo Lab.

We are a community of photographers who are providing our photographs for a special price to benefit Lee Daniels in her time of need. All proceeds from the sale of prints in the gallery below will be donated to Lee Daniels to help her with the medical costs of cancer treatments. The prints will be sold and fulfilled through SmugMug and Bay Photo Lab.




I have submitted this 


Please go and have a look at the amazing images here http://plusonemagazine.smugmug.com/Other/Photographer-Images/23262869_QrVQww#!i=1879420553&k=dgHhWTD&lb=1&s=A and consider purchasing something to grace your walls :)

May 5 km

Yesterday morning, Kim and I got up in the dark and drove into St Lucia for the 10th Anniversary Rotary Fun Run raising funds for the Kim Walters Think Pink Think Choices Program. Kim braved the cold and the early early morning to take me in, support me and take photographs.

It was a big day for me. I was a bit emotionally wobbly as it was the day after my mums birthday and that was sitting in the back of my head. I still miss her terribly. I was getting a stream of messages from my brain buddies which were very encouraging and heartfelt. Consequently I was in tears before I got started. It's a good thing really, crying makes running harder cos the breathing is all wrong and you can't see!

So I started off on the 5km with a head full of thought about how far I've come and what and awfully short time it's been. About halfway through I was starting to think"may be I can't do this after all" but I pulled myself up by the bootstraps and told myself to sop being silly and get on with it. I got on with it and picked up the pace for the last 2 km and actually ran part of it!

My final official time was 43:36 for 5km. Its not the fastest in the world, not record breaking but for me its my best yet and I'm really proud of how well I did, how much I surprised myself on the day and I know that I'm only going forward from here. I did really well for a chick with a hole in her head 15 months post op and no one is going to tell me any different!

In other news. My 1 year 4 month post will probably be a wee bit late as I will be flying to Sydney that day to spend a week with the lovely Alonya and Rick!