BACK TO SCHOOL AND MY 15TH BIRTHDAY

2nd to 8th February 2013

"Unleash the power of a smile, smile at strangers, smile at trees, smile at misfortune, smile at yourself in the mirror in the morning, smile just for the sake of it."  (Taken from the book The Alphabet of the Human Heart by Matthew Johnstone and James Kerr given to me by Dianne).

I truly believe that a smile is magical and can change someones day, I love to smile, despite the fact that I may be in pain or feeling unwell because the power of a smile can make you feel better.

Before returning to School, a special treat was in store; we went to the National Zoo and Aquarium for morning tea and to look at some of the animals.  Finally we had a day where the weather was cooler and I could cope.  I loved watching the monkeys at play, they are so very human like.  I got to see the large brown bear taking a bath in the water and he loved it.  Then I saw the red panda's having a wonderful game of chasing each other all around the ground and then up the tree branches.  I saw a peaceful, sleeping Koala and the towering, yet elegant giraffe.  But I started to feel quite nauseous so we decided it was time to come home.

School went back this week and it almost feels as though I never had a holiday, we are straight back into work.  In English we are studying Macbeth, another of Shakespeare's greatest tragedies but with a bit more bloodshed than Romeo and Juliet which I studied last year.  We have learnt that the most important lines in the play are "Fair is foul, and foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air"  It tells us that not everything is as it seems in the play Macbeth. 

In Maths we are doing Algebra, which I really love doing and in Sports Science we are doing performance enhancement but not with drugs which has been in the news so much lately but naturally through training and recovery. 

I had my physiotherapy appointment with the wonderful Kaitlyn again, this time she had to work on my ankle and foot which I had injured practising my discus.  My ankle is sprained, my heel looks like it has another stress fracture and also possible fractures in my ankle.  After a gentle massage and some ultrasound, I then had those amazing heat packs along my back which has been extremely painful some days.

I was supposed to see my Oncologist this week, but unfortunately he could not come to Canberra Clinic because he had the opportunity to go to a conference, which is important for doctors because this this where they can learn more about new treatments and research. 

However I did have a visit from Wendy my lovely CNC nurse and Tom my magnificent OT this week.  They both are so helpful and I am so glad that they are part of the team taking care of me.  Tom has given me an air cushion to try out, you see when I am going over bumps in the wheelchair or car, I am experiencing pain up my spine which really is uncomfortable.  I am keeping my fingers crossed that it works.  Wendy talked about all my medications and about visiting the school to talk to the teachers and students again, to help them understand how I am feeling and to ask any questions they have. 

Apart from the pain in my spine and neck, my injured right ankle and heel, I have been experiencing headaches on a daily basis, these headaches are either on the top of my head or in my temples and the intensity of them increases and decreases throughout the whole day, it is so annoying and makes we quite fatigued.  I am grateful for my Ondansetron which is an anti-nausea medication as I have also had nausea virtually on a daily basis.  My way of dealing with all of this is not only through using my medication, but also having relaxation massages from Nalani and smiling through it all, as I said early I think the power of a smile can achieve wonderful things.

Something exceptionally wonderful happened for the beginning of Term, with many, many thanks to Anna and Leanne my book 'Theodore and Friends - Theodore is Left Out' has been put into every Public School in Canberra.  This means that my message of tolerance, inclusion and understanding can be taught to children and hopefully help those that are different.  These copies are A4 paperback size and I have been lucky enough to have been given the spare copies, twenty of them to sell to raise funds for the Brain Tumour Fund for research to find a cure for this horrendous disease.  So they are extremely unique and special books and I am selling them for $20 each.

Today, 8th February was an extra special day, it was my 15th Birthday.  Thank you so much to the people who have left me lovely messages in the comments of my Blog.  For me the most splendiferous part of my Birthday was sharing it with the important people in my life.  My day was really quite magical receiving balloons, flowers, extraordinary cards with the most lovely verses and special gifts.  I felt very humbled and spoilt by many people and I am so touched that so many people care about me.  

A special friend Monique has come up with a new wonderful word 'rainbowiffic', I think it is fantastic and I think it would be the perfect word to describe my wonderful day. 

Tonight I threw at Athletics ACT Track and Field Championships, I threw discus, I was able to throw from my wheelchair which was so fantastic because I was so worried I would not be able to throw with my injury.  Throwing at the Championships is something that I had put on my Special List for this year, it was one of my goals.  I was excited to have Happy Birthday sung to me at the Track and then to throw 3.40m. 

Another highlight of my Birthday at the Track was seeing Louise Ellery, she is someone who I am inspired by, her strength, courage and determination for anyone competing in sport is amazing. 

Jarrett and Nalani also competed, Nalani in the Discus, in which she came second and will get a silver medal and Jarrett in the 800m and he also came second and will be receiving a silver medal.  They were both marvellous and I was so excited for both of them. Poor Jarrett though after he finished his race, his hamstring tightened up and even though Nalani with her fantastic expertise, even though loosening it and treating it with ice, it is still tight and sore so he may not be able to compete in the 1500m tomorrow. 

Tomorrow I am throwing the javelin which I am hoping to do well at also.  Then on Sunday I am throwing Shot put, so you can see it is a busy weekend ahead for me. 

Thank you to those who suggested some fund raising ideas, I really love the one related to athletics, hopefully I can come up with something in that area.  I would deeply appreciate any more ideas any of you have.

Have a rainbowiffic week, may you always keep smiling despite any adversity and enjoy every day to its fullest.