My Little Angels

I wanted to share how incredilble may children are.  They give me so much strength on days when I am having a lot of challenges.  The other day I was working on some of the fundraising events, and my children wanted to help, so they went around the house and collected all the change they could find.  When they where done, they brought it to me and told me it was for Arizona. 
They also have labeled some of their toys with numbers. When I asked them what they where doing, they told me they are going to have a garage sale in our living room.  They wanted to sell their toys to make money to go to Arizona, to help make my legs better.  I just gave them HUGE hugs.... ohhh man I love them so much!!
I helped at Tyson's playschool for the first time this year, all I have to say is that I was soooo tired after... I could have slept for a week.  It was so worth it!!! He was so excited, I was finally able to be a parent helper in his class.  It was time for them to walk down to the washroom to wash their hands for snack. I  was so exhausted, already have had made two trips there. Tyson grabbed one of my poles (I use to walk), handed it to me,  took my other hand and said "come on Mom, I will help you".  How do you say "no or I'm too tired" to that.  I mustered up every once of energy I had, stood up and walked down with him.  It really does not seem like a big deal, but to him it was so important. It felt so good, I can't wait to be able to do more with them. 
Whenever I think this is to big of a challenge for me, I just remember these moments and it reminds me how bad I WANT MY HEALTH BACK!!!  For my husband, children and most importantly for myself.  

Here We Go!!!

We have officially started our fundraising, I am so excited!  I have had some amazing people help me, Cathy from Green Tea Frog, Vanessa from V-Ness Design & Print Services, the tickets and posters look amazing.   I would like to send a big Thank You to everyone who has helped me and who continues to help me; either through donating their time, items for the auctions or in any other way; Thank You!!! 

We have some amazing events planned;

*A Spring Tea on April 9,2011 from 1-3pm, it will be held at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Spruce Grove.  We are going to have refreshments, great desserts, guest speaker and a silent auction. Tickets need to be prebought and they are $10.00 each

*Roast Beef Dinner & Silent auction on May 7, 2011, doors open at 5:00, it will be held at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Spruce Grove.  There is going to be great entertainment, amazing food, a live & silent auction and music for dancing.  Tickets need to be prebought, they are $30.00 each.

*Garage Sale & BBQ on June 11, 2011, it will be held at St. Matthews Lutheran Church in Spruce Grove parking lot.  If you are spring cleaning and have any items you would like to donate, I would be truely grateful.

Tickets can be purchased at the following locations;

The Green Tea Frog

Gift Source

Barb Baxter Spa Care and Services

Romantic Notions

or you can contact myself (Amanda) by phone: 780-571-1645 or by email:  abucklaschuk@yahoo.ca

I hope I get to see you at one of these events. 

Thank You for caring!

An Amazing Day

Yesterday was a very exciting day!!  A day, I have been waiting for, for the past 7 months.  Taras took me to the Glenrose for my driving assessment.  I was so nervous, I just wanted something great to happen.  I have been praying to get my license back since September 2010, when it was suspended due to my legs being effected in my last MS attack.  It was definitely an experience to have to go through, and 2 1/2 hours later..... I have been approved to drive with hand controls.  Yahooo! It is still going to be a bit of a process; we have to put the hand controls in the vehicle. I will need to go for some driving lessons to learn how to use the new controls.  I have waited 7 months, so a little longer is bearable, when I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. 
The first place my kids want me to take them is the library. 

My little bit of advice; be grateful for your license, it is very much a privilege, not a right!!

Progress

 Fundraising events will soon be on the way!  We are planning a dinner and silent auction event to take place on May 7th.  It will be held in the Spruce Grove area. Please keep posted for more details. If you  or anyone you know would like to donate any items for the silent auction, I would be truly grateful. We are also looking at having a garage sale;  If you have items you would like to clear out of your home, please contact me.  My email  abucklaschuk@yahoo.ca 
Tomorrow February26 in Taber, AB Gina Turvato is having a special event.  She is a RVP with Arbonne International and for every person who attends her event she is donating a dollar to my charity.  I would like to Thank her, for her help and my awesome sisters Angela, and Melanie for their help with tomorrows fundraiser.
I am so excited to have these events, and even more thrilled by all the people who have taken time out of their busy lives to help me.  THANK YOU!! I am really humbled for all your help.

Thank You!

I am so grateful for all the amazing people I have met. The Parkland women in business, Thank You! I am so excited to work with such a great group of women.  You were so welcoming to me at your meeting, and made something that was so very challenging for me, a little easier.
I am blessed to have such a huge support through family, friends and my community.
I am so excited to have HOPE. Hope to heal, and have the opportunity to fight.

HELP!!

I not very good at asking for help, but I am learning I can't do it all myself.  So this is me asking for your help, I am in the process of putting together a couple of charity fund raisers.  We are in the process of  planning a dinner and silent auction.  I have approached a couple of charity groups, and we are planning a golf tournament.  If any one has any other suggestions PLEASE post them.  My husband Taras has opened an "In Trust" account for me at the TD Bank. "Taras Bucklaschuk in trust for Amanda Bucklaschuk" You can go into any TD bank and contribute. Thank you so much for all your help, and support.
God Bless

To Give You a Little More

Could you imagine waking up one morning getting out of bed and when you go to stand up on your legs, you collapse?   It is so scary; I did not know what was happening.  I had an appointment with my neurologist and after another MRI she told me it was a relapse.  This attack was so much worse than the last one 3 ½ years prior. The first attack happened after the birth of our second child. It caused a bit of tingling in my hands, made me extremely tired and caused my right eye to cross for a few months. This time was so very different; it has affected me from the waist down.  My sensation of hot and cold on my legs, my feet being numb and I could not feel when I would step on something or stub my toe. I had to learn to be so careful, where I stepped and making sure my legs moved when I wanted them too.   At times my arms and legs are just covered in bruises because my legs will just give out, and I fall, or I lose my balance. It also has affected some of my internal organs like my bladder and bowel.

  It is so frustrating to be such an independent person; who love life so very much, to have so much taken away.  I miss playing outside with my kids, or being able to take them to school. I now have to rely on family and friends to help me.  I have had my driver’s license suspended, that was really difficult for me, my independence GONE.

There have been days where I don’t know how I have made it through. All I can say is it is through the grace of God, and the love of my husband, children and family. They have all come together to help me, in any way they can.

I don’t know if you are aware there are no current cures for MS in our medical system.  They have treatments that may prevent 1 in 3 further attacks, but no promises.  The doctors have no idea why my body is attacking itself.  They don’t know what my future holds, or if it will ever get better.   I am not willing to live my life on so many unanswered questions.  I am determined to fight and find a way to get better.  So with all that in mind we have been doing a lot of research of other options.

My husband has found a medical clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona. The name is Envita Natural Medical Clinic of America. They have experienced doctors who are very confident they can help me.  The clinic runs a series of tests to find out why my body is attacking itself. Then the doctors combine pharmaceutical and natural treatments to help my body heal.  For this treatment I need to go to Arizona for 6-8 weeks.  The treatment will cost me $25000, and I am responsible for a place to stay. 

I truly believe my life is worth it, I also want to be a voice to others.