4th Edition, Summer Quarterly
June, 2015
Life’s Poetry News “The challenges and journeys through life help form and compose who we are” Life’s Poetry Pg. 11
Q U A R T E R L Y N E W S L E T T E R S P E C I A L S U M M E R E D I T I O N INSIDE THIS EDITION _________
Tionna Lawrence
Introduction
“I decided to participate and sign up for the MS Walk that was held annually in my community. The walk raises awareness and funds for a cure to those affected.” Tionna
Tionna Lawrence Ruth RamlochanCook Poetry By Josephine Casey
Ruth Ramlochan-Cook
Special Thanks Contributors Life’s Poetry
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
“Feeling a little better that just maybe there is some hope for me. There is a light at the end of this dark tunnel.” Ruth “I had to choose one place that would help remove the negativity of pain that was entering my body. Yes I had to find my happy place.” Ruth
I n s p i r a t i o n a l WELCOME! Life’s
Poetry News is a quarterly newsletter, which showcases inspirational individuals within our community. Inside this edition Tionna Lawrence
p e o p l e
and Ruth RamlochanCook both share their journey about living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in the hope that they can inspire and elevate others living with illnesses.
“Showing ambition when obstacles arise on difficult missions, that’s a tremendous decision.” Josephine Casey, Author of Life’s Poetry Pg. 12
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Writes from the heart...
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
In life, we are told to expect the unexpected. The day after my 17 th birthday, I woke up to something unexpected. When I opened my eyes that morning, I noticed that everything seen through my left eye was blurred and grey so I went to wash my face to hoping it would change; but nothing happened. With education on my mind, I remembered that I had to write a chemistry test that day and decided to go to school thus pushing my health aside. Once I arrived there I regretted leaving my house, my left eye began hurting which at first I thought was just an awkwardly positioned migraine and later found out that it was much more than that. As the week progressed, my vision got worse which led to my search for an explanation and a solution. My mother then took me to see few physicians who all referred me to see other ones. Finally I get to an ophthalmologist that informed me that the blurred and colourless vision was due to the inflammation of my optic nerve. They also listed a few possible outcomes and mentioned that there may be a chance of it being accompanied by an illness but they refused to say which ones. After a few minutes of begging, the words Multiple Sclerosis came out and a request to visit the hospital emergency room to have them restore my eyesight.
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The following day I went for a hospital visit which turned into me being transferred to pediatric care where I stayed as the doctors ran some tests including a chest x-ray and an MRI. I was hooked up to the IV and given medication to restore my vision. The next morning, they gave me the MRI results, which confirmed that it was MS. I had no clue what MS was, and only told close family and friends. Everyone was shocked to hear. I missed a lot of days at school that year and I had a lot of work to get caught up on but I managed to somehow do the best I could and I graduated high school. In total, I missed about 3 weeks and I was very worried about school but I gathered all of my strength to write exams. The next day, I passed out at school in front of my gym teacher. In February 2014 I received an email from one of the universities I had applied to. It was an acceptance email for the Family and Community Social Services Program. I was so shocked and immediately thanked God. This acceptance was provisional on me maintaining good grades. During that the last months of high school, I developed anxiety and I would freeze up. This caused my marks to drop from an 80s to 60s. Due to this, the university withdrew their acceptance and I felt devastated. I attended summer school as an attempt to raise my marks and I called the university. They told me that I would have to maintain at least a 70% average in order to get back in and I did it. In May of 2014 I decided to participate and sign up for the MS Walk that was held annually in my community. The walk raises awareness and funds for a cure to those affected. I felt sad going to the walk because everything that I had been told about MS became reality. I saw people in crutches and wheelchairs. My family and friends participated in that walk that year and we built a team. We are called the Tionna Troopers. That year, a fundraising dinner was held in my honour to help raise funds to end MS. My journey continues with MS and I managed to survive my first year at university and it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. This year I also participated in the MS walk with my family and friends and the fundraising dinner was held in my support. I thank God and my family and friends for their support. Tionna Troopers all the way!
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
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r a m l o c h a n - c o o k Writes from the heart...
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
Ruth with husband Stephen “Why me?” is the question that has haunted me for the last 21 years. Multiple Sclerosis a silent tormentor. There are days when your first glance at me is a pleasantly plump West Indian Canadian Lady. My story will guide you through a journey of pain, confusion, depression, determination, strength, love, hate, faith and endurance. I need my story to be told. As I look at my seven year-old beautiful daughter, I need her to see her mom as more than a mother who gets tired quickly, a mother who can only walk minutes at a time, a mother who battles depression on a daily basis, a mother who turns to her pharmacy in her own kitchen to deal with the different levels of pain she encounters, but to see her mother as a mother of strength, determination, and who does not give up on her dreams but who faces each battle with a positive outlook; a mother who wants the best for her. My story is not to draw pity from you, but a story from which to draw strength and encouragement from. Lying on my bed trying to figure out what is going on with me, why can’t I feel my hands, my fingers to tie the laces on my running shoes. Something is really wrong. Can you imagine being 17 years old and your mom has to bathe you, dress you and help you eat due to the lack of feeling in your body. “Body transplant needed”, I thought to myself.
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It wasn’t that easy. I felt a lot of pain, coming from my spine and from the waist and I felt paralyzed. I learned how to refocus my pain elsewhere without the use of too much pain medication. It actually started to work! I loved how I was feeling. I had to choose one place that would help remove the negativity of pain that was entering my body. Yes, I had to find my happy place. I found my place of solace. I remembered this place that my dad used to take me when I was a kid and I always remembered feeling refreshed and at peace. I would go and sit down on the lakeshore on some rocks. You could close your eyes and take in all the sounds that freely surrounded your body. You could hear the ruffling of leaves in the trees that surrounded this secluded park; you could hear the birds chirping away along the shore and the waves of Lake Ontario crashing against the rocks. This was my high place… Not to go and get high off of pain medications, but to go and relieve the pain I was feeling at that moment in time. I would go sit on one of the rocks with my cup of peppermint tea and close my eyes and try to visualize where in my body I was having this pain: if it was in my spine, my limbs or anywhere else. Then visualize the pain coming out as I took deep breaths and as the waves were crashing on the rock, the current was pulling away the pain I was visualizing. I did this for about an hour or two and when I walked back to my car, I felt incredible. Not 100%, but I felt like my body was flushed with positive healing water. I know it sounds weird, but it really helped. The power of mind over matter. My daily battle with MS continues but I know that I have to be strong for my family and I will continue to think positively. I am currently writing a book on my journey with MS and hope to inspire others living with MS. Ruth Ruth speaking at the MS Fundraising Dinner in May 2014 organized by Josephine
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
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In Hopes for a Cure for MS
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
When you hear of a loved one diagnosed with a sickness You are saddened and feel at lost for words You start to wonder why And feel tears falling down as you cry But you know deep down you have to try and have all the strength and courage to carry on Because you have that hope That sickness won’t stay long To hear of that loved one diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) feels devastating But you remain hopeful and waiting For healing For recovering For restoring And for curing You keep that faith and trust in God for a cure A lot have suffered from Multiple Sclerosis So let us support each other to end this battle Let us do this together Helping one another To feel better In Hopes for a cure for MS By: Josephine
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Live Live for today Some people say Enjoy each moment Cherish them everyday Life may be hard Some of us ask why oh Lord Struggles are hard to overcome This is true on that accord Who knows what the future holds What it entitles and may unfold So just live your life as you see it And live it as you see fit Just Live Live Live By: Josephine
Be Inspired! Feel Inspired! Stay Inspired! This is your time Just Shine!
SPECIAL THANKS A very special thanks to Tionna and Ruth for sharing their journey about living with MS. It is not always easy to share these stories but they are both brave and we thank them kindly for their words of encouragement and inspiration.
CONTRIBUTORS Danielle Sawh
Josephine Casey, Founder and Creator of Life’s Poetry News
Josephine Casey is the author of Life’s Poetry, which is a collection of poems written by her that expresses freedom of speech in everyday challenges through life’s journey. It is a balance of our emotions and a combination of inspirational messages throughout the good and bad times. Life’s Poetry is realistic and portrays our human nature in what we feel and do. For all readers who experience life’s struggles, this collection will inspire you. Life’s Poetry is available at: Kobobooks.com, Knowledge Bookstore, Amazon.com, Accents Bookstore, barnesandnoble.com, and the Gospel Café. Life’s Poetry @Lifes_Poetry @lifespoetry
For Inquires or further information please contact: Josephine Casey josephines.poetry@gmail.com Tel: 416-668-4511