Health fair slated April 25 at Life, Health, and Wellness Center in Ansonia

 

Health fair slated Saturday at Life, Health, and Wellness Center in Ansonia

 

Life Health and Wellness in Ansonia to host mobile mammography coach

 

Save the date: Health fair slated at Life, Health, and Wellness Center in Ansonia

 

Recuperation journey 2.0: Everything happens for a reason

Life takes its twists and turns, and none of us is immune. Our challenge is knowing how to react in a constructive way to those unexpected bumps in the road.  

Looking back at some of those "bumps" I've lived through I now see them as providential. I believe there are no coincidences, and that we meet certain people in life for a reason.

Recently I wrote for a church newsletter about several extraordinary experiences in which I believe Divine intervention played a role. 

I can't imagine what else it could have been. The timing was too perfect.

Postscript: I wrote this in early December but since then my son and I had to deal with one of those things no one wants to happen, and this time we were in the car. 

We did nothing wrong, we weren't hurt, and we both took it in stride because, I'm convinced, everything happens for a reason.

But we may never find out why.

Easter food giveaway, egg hunt slated at Abundant Life Ministries in Ansonia

 

Abundant Life Ministries in Ansonia to hold Harvest Festival Giveaway for kids

 

Life, Health & Wellness, Salvation Army in Ansonia slate gift cards event

 

Wellness clinics slated at Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries in Ansonia

 

Remembering Ralph with a smile

“I sport a mustache.”

That was what a guy who received my name from a dating service said on the phone when he was describing himself as we planned to meet.

I was intrigued. 

It was 1985, even though the way he spoke made me feel like I was living in 1885!

Little did I know after that initial phone conversation that that guy on the phone would become my beloved husband, Ralph. 

The restaurant where we met in Milford, Ct. is long gone, but my memory of that January 30 meeting lives forever.

I arrived there first. Ralph was clearly upset that I had to wait for him for about three minutes. 

We got a table. He had a beer, I had a glass of wine. 

We talked about all kinds of things and as was always the case throughout our marriage, Ralph did most of the talking! 

I was struck by how family-oriented he was. He told me about his family. He was the second oldest of seven kids, five sisters and one brother. 

We were almost the same age. I had just turned 30, and his 30th birthday was three months away. 

Today is the 37th anniversary of our meeting! We were best friends almost from the start. It truly was meant to be. 

Ralph passed away at home on December 2 but today I can smile through my tears as I think about that day in 1985 and how his love changed my life for the better - forever.

Derby Neck Library to host poet's presentation about trees via Zoom

DERBY - Local poet David Leff will be presenting "Trees And American Life" about the ways in which trees give context and meaning to our lives at 6:30 p.m. Monday.
This is a Zoom event. To register, call the library at 203-734-1492 or email headlibrarian@biblio.org. 
This is shared from the Library's Facebook page.

Abundant Life Fellowship Ministries in Ansonia promotes breast cancer awareness

 

Life Health and Wellness Center in Ansonia to host Youth Support Group via Zoom

 

Abundant Life Ministries in Ansonia to distribute snack bags this week

April is National Donate Life Month

Recuperation journey: March is National Kidney Month

March is a busy month full of important national observances. Join us as we observe National Kidney Month! 

The Transplant Life Foundation will highlight stories and important facts and figures all through March to point out a critical need for kidney donation. #NationalKidneyMonth #ShareYourSpare

*Shared from the Transplant Life Foundation Facebook page.

Recuperation journey: You never know

I opened up my email this morning to learn that our wonderful, gentle son was mugged when he was out running last night.

At 2017 Griffin 5K

Cameron has lived in Brooklyn for almost five years and nothing like that had ever happened to him. 

He said he is OK physically but they took his phone. So he couldn't call at 1:36 a.m. when he got back from being interviewed by a detective.

I thank God he is OK. He knows he made a mistake being out late at night with his headphones on...he never heard the perps coming at him from behind.

I'm happy he had already planned to come home for the weekend! He's running the Griffin Hospital 5K Saturday morning as a member of my team.

You just never know.

Recuperation journey: It's all relative

No, I'm not a fan of this frigid weather here in Connecticut and throughout a good part of the country. 
It's almost like living in a snow globe!
I've seen on the news so many are facing more than just the inconvenience we've had to endure for the past week or so. 
My husband Ralph uses a wheelchair so for him this weather means hibernation. 
I hope he doesn't go stir crazy. 

On the other hand I keep reminding myself of how I absolutely hate the humidity that often accompanies the nicer, warm weather of late spring and summer. 
It makes me sluggish and barely able to do anything. 

But the cold weather perks me up, at least somewhat, and keeps me moving. 

So what can we do? Not much, just realize that like everything else in life this too shall pass.

Recuperation journey: Back to Brooklyn

Happy to report our son, Cameron, who had an accident riding his bike on a beautiful Sunday in October and needed surgery to repair a broken hip, is back to his apartment in Brooklyn. 
Yesterday was the big day. 
I was happy for him but sad for me. I certainly got used to him being here. We celebrated Halloween, his birthday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's with him at home.

I'm grateful he is much, much better after eight weeks of physical therapy at Griffin Hospital in Derby. 
I watched the whole process and the therapists who worked with him were amazing! I want to give a big shout-out to all of them, and thank them for everything. 
They gave him exercises and he followed them at home, which of course also helped hasten his recuperation journey. I hope he continues to do them. 
Cameron went from using a walker, to crutches, to one crutch, to a cane. He didn't need the cane around the house, but will need it for a while when he is out in public. 

The neighborhood where Cameron lives. Photo taken through the windshield by Ralph.

Recuperation journey: Having a margarita! in Seymour

SEYMOUR - As we have in the past my daughter Allegra and I went to Hot Tamale Mexican Grill and Bar Wednesday night to celebrate Seymour Pink Day. 
The place was packed with supporters of Seymour Pink, a community's fight against breast cancer. 
The restaurant donates 20 percent of the day's proceeds to the nonprofit. 

And I had a margarita, which is not like me. If anything I'll  order a glass of red wine with dinner. 

However, when my nephrologist gave me the OK to imbibe a bit several months after my May 9 kidney transplant, I admit I was thrilled. 
He said, "Have a margarita! You didn't go through all this to not enjoy life."

Actually when I visit the clinic each medical professional ends the appointment with a similar message. "Enjoy your life," they tell me with a smile.   

The waitress asked me if I wanted a flavor. I had no idea margaritas came in different flavors. Haha. And I went without the salt. 
It was good, but I'm not a huge fan. I prefer a Cabernet or Pinot Noir, truth be told.