Hope Update #1

     Lovely little Hope is doing much better!  I visited her recently, armed with supplies and toys!  Hope was so happy playing with her new mice!

     Click here to watch baby Hope play!  So super adorable!

     Hope's leg is slowly healing, and she loves all of her visitors.  She's approximately two months old and I swear this kitten doesn't know she's not like other kitties.  She hops to you and "hunts" her toys (complete with butt wiggle) and welcomes all visitors with her sweet personality. 

     When she is old enough and her body is stronger, she will have her surgeries and her rescue parents intend to give Hope wheels so she can run and play with everyone!

     Please continue sending your warm thoughts and prayers to Hope!  They are helping her thrive!

     Hope's fundraising page

     808 Animal Rescue's instagram page (regular updates here!)

Help Save Hope!

     This post is in honor of my friend and her husband, who love animals so much they created their own non-profit organization to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome neglected animals in Hawaii and California.

     808 Animal Rescue facebook page and instagram page

     Hope is a rescue kitten.  She was found dragging herself on the ground in a neighbor's yard.  Although she was not in good shape, she was happy to see kind people and eager to accept food and water.  My friends took her to the emergency vet center and learned Hope has a contorted spine, which prevents her lower half from functioning properly.  She requires a lot of medical care and my friends are asking for your help to rehabilitate and eventually find a loving forever home for this beautiful kitten.

     Please visit Hope's fundraising page.  If you are able to help, please know that you are giving an adorable, loving kitten a chance at a full and wonderful life.  If you cannot donate at this time, your loving thoughts and prayers help just as much as money or supplies.  Please keep Hope in mind as she heals!  Thank you so much for loving and helping animals like Hope!

Where Are All the Great Phlebotomists?

     I've had a great phlebotomist take my blood once.  When I write "great," I mean he was kind and pleasant, kept me distracted the entire time and took my blood quickly and efficiently.  Above all, it didn't hurt and I didn't bruise.

     Just once.

     I remember he was an older African-American man, maybe in his mid-fifties.  He called me in and asked if he said my name correctly.  He talked to me the entire time, asking how I was feeling that day and if I come in often.  He sounded very reassuring and his voice was calm and confident.  I told him I don't like needles or seeing blood, and he laughed and said he'd never met anyone who did like those things.  He explained what he was going to do and promised it would be as quick and painless as possible.  Before I knew it, it was over.  I didn't even feel the "small pinch."  I told him this was honestly my best lab experience ever, and he was humbly appreciative (just doing his job as best he could).  He told me I could always request his service if he was in the lab that day, but I never saw him again.

     I miss that guy.  If I knew what lab he went to, I would go there and request his service every time.

     Most of my lab tests are okay, nothing exceptional.  As long as whomever I get doesn't hurt me and doesn't do anything obviously unsanitary or unprofessional, I'm okay with the process.  I do wish the process was faster, but I also understand the need to be 100% sure blood and names/birth dates/lab orders match and are taken correctly.  

     I have experienced two very bad tests, resulting in major bruising and painful draws.  I remember who those two phlebotomists were, and if I am called by them again I will request someone else.  I don't know if they made a mistake with me or they just weren't very good, but I'm not willing to risk that type of experience again.  My most recent test lasted at least 20 minutes because I got the inexperienced new kid.  I even had to remind him to do certain steps (scary, when you think about it).  New guys should have a mentor watching over them, don't you think?

     Three suggestions for phlebotomists:

1. Be kind and pleasant.  The process itself is unpleasant, so part of your job is to be nice.
2. Be great at drawing blood.  Be sanitary, be quick, be painless.
3. Be 100% accurate.  Check the name, check the order, check the labels on the vials.

A Friend with RA in Need: Sharon Yoshizu

     One of the more difficult aspects of living with RA for me has been finding other people who have had an experience similar to mine.  I have not found another person in Hawaii whose experience parallels my own, but I was introduced to an incredible young woman who helped me when I really needed someone to just get it.

     I was blessed to be introduced to my friend Sharon Yoshizu.  She is incredibly inspiring.  Sharon has suffered with RA since age 21 and has a young daughter who was born with JRA.  Sharon also required neck surgery several years ago that resulted in a stroke, from which she is still trying to recover.  She has been on just about every RA drug available, moving on to the next drug when her body stops responding to treatment.  

     Sharon is amazing to me because, despite the pain; surgeries; stroke; inability to work and failure of treatment, she continues to be hopeful and help anyone in any way she can.  We had not met when I was put in contact with her through our local Arthritis Foundation chapter.  However, Sharon immediately called and reassured me when I was facing a difficult treatment.  She'd been there, she understood.  It didn't matter that we didn't know each other; I also had RA and needed help, so she decided to help.  

     I am so grateful for Sharon and her unlimited empathy and kindness.  I've decided to share her story here because it is one way for me to return her kindness. Sharon needs multiple surgeries and has been unable to find a willing surgeon in Hawaii.  She and her family are moving to California to try to get the help she needs.  This is a huge but unavoidable expense and her family is asking for your help.

      Please take a moment to read about Sharon and her family here.  If you are able, please donate.

     Thank you for any love and support you are able to give Sharon and the Yoshizu family.