sign language dictionary: Temmuz 2012

Pointing to your pet fish is a great way to introduce the baby sign for fish. Even if you don't have a pet fish, you can point to a picture of a fish in a story book.

Fish is signed with your right hand at chest level. Use the B hand shape with your palm facing left. Move your hand forward and across your body while bending your wrist left and right as if your hand were a swimming fish.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

LOC on born digital collections

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The Library of Congress's Digital Preservation blog today has a really interesting post about the Rhizome ArtBase online archive of digital art. This is the beginning of a new series that the LOC is trying out that will focus on interesting and valuable "born digital" collections. The series will look at particular collections and include conversations with archivists, curators, librarians and others who work to collect, preserve, and provide access to "our born digital cultural record". Today's article features an interview with the digital conservator of Rhizome ArtBase, who talks about the sort of work that is in the collection including Jellotime.com (2008) and the Endangered GIF Preserve (2012-ongoing) which collects animated GIFs that have been marked for deletion from Wikipedia.

National Archives catches inside thief

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The Washington Post reports that a sharp-eyed collector of radio ephemera has helped the National Archives bring a thief to justice. The collector was shopping on eBay for additions to his collection when he came upon an item that piqued his interest: the master copy of a broadcast radio interview with baseball legend Babe Ruth as he hunted for quail and pheasants on a crisp morning in 1937. A close look, however, made him realize that the item had been stolen from the National Archives. Working with federal authorities, he helped them track down the seller- who turned out to be a longtime Archives official who has admitted to stealing 955 items from the Archives – including original recordings of the 1948 World Series and a rare recording of the 1937 Hindenburg disaster.

Summer reading...

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If it's May, it must be time to catch up on non-law reading for pleasure. The Christian Science Monitor has an especially interesting list of 15 new novels recommended for summer reading. The plots range from a story about a duck-billed playpus in Adelaide, Australia (Albert of Adelaide), to a book offering an updated version of "Age of Innocence" set in a Jewish suburb of London (The Innocents). If you prefer non-fiction, they also provide a list of 21 "smart" nonfiction books that are being published just in time for summer reading.

Ruling in Georgia State copyright infringement case

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Judge Orinda Evans of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia has handed down her ruling (350 page pdf) in the case of Cambridge University Press v. Becker. The case is a closely-watched lawsuit in which a group of academic publishers sued Georgia State University over its use of copyrighted material in electronic reserves. The ruling is being hailed as something of a victory for Georgia State, as the ruling cleared most of the copyright claims against the university, although Businessweek reports that Georgia State was held liable for five of the 99 claims. The Chronicle of Higher Education reports that the publisher-plaintiffs in the case are disappointed with much of the ruling.

8 Temmuz 2012 Pazar

Social media helping autistic children ‘navigate the world’

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From The Globe & Mail in Canada:

Jordan Hilkowitz (pictured) is layering household products into a beaker for his latest science experiment.

Right beside his mom’s coffeemaker on the kitchen counter, he is preparing a video entitled Layers and Density, describing each step for his 3,800 YouTube channel subscribers and more than 1.5-million viewers. It’s an extraordinary feat considering that five years ago, the 10-year-old autistic boy was non-verbal.

Jordan, better known as Doctor Mad Science, also has an audience of researchers who are intrigued by the fact that social media could be useful therapy for children with autism.

“I just want to say thank you to everyone who has written nice comments about my video’s [sic],” he posted on a previous video. “I sometimes have a hard time making friends and I now know there are some nice people out there.”

One in every 150-160 children has been diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders, neurological conditions that affect communication and social interaction.

But a growing number of children and young adults are harnessing the power of social media to bring them out of their shells, bolster their confidence and tell their stories – giving scientists a new and potentially transformative avenue to explore in the already extensive field of autism research.

Autistic children have long been drawn to technology, but what is it about these new forms of social media that changes behaviour?

“That part is very much a mystery. But it’s certainly attracting the attention of researchers,” said Peter Szatmari, a leading autism researcher, who is the head of child psychiatry and behavioural neuroscience at McMaster University and McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton, Ont.

One theory, Dr. Szatmari said, is that the human face doesn’t have the same drawing power for an autistic child, and that something about technology triggers the motivation that’s lacking in face-to-face contact. “This can really have a big impact in helping people with ASD navigate the world and be able to do things that we never thought possible before,” he said.

Marc Sirkin, vice-president of social marketing at Autism Speaks, an advocacy group in the United States, said Jordan and others are using social media in such astounding ways that those who work with them are forced to take a second look. Carly Fleischmann, a non-verbal autistic teen from Toronto, for example, tweets about her disorder and other topics to more than 24,000 followers, and Nichole Lee, a 21-year-old from Utah, has a YouTube channel where she posts video blogs and speaks about autism.

“We think about people with disabilities [as] being intellectually disabled. As it turns out, there’s a large part of the autism community that’s not intellectually disabled. They’re just unable to communicate,” Mr. Sirkin said.

Jordan began posting science experiments on YouTube a year ago with the help of a babysitter. His interest in science came at an early age – he collected rocks, worked on circuits and, at one point, installed pulleys all over his house. When his focus turned to experiments, his babysitter suggested he appear on camera because she thought it would force him to work on his speech and perhaps gain confidence. Jordan searches for kid-friendly science experiments online, conducts them before the camera, and helps edit the videos. He’s made about $2,200 through his YouTube business, with the goal of earning enough to buy a Macbook.
For Jordan’s mother, the greater value is emotional.

Stacey Hilkowitz remembered that she once needed the help of security guards at the mall to remove Jordan when he was having a screaming fit, and how he would smash his head against the floor. “I’m so embarrassed,” Jordan piped in, covering his face with his hands. Ms. Hilkowitz quickly turned the conversation to how Jordan has changed, crediting that transformation to his appearances on YouTube. He’s loud and confident, his speech has improved, he has friends, and even served some time in school detention this year. “I know it sounds funny, but those are the types of things we want to see,” said Ms. Hilkowitz, who has an older daughter also diagnosed with autism.

“This is a good year for you, Jordan, a very good year,” she said to her son.

Sometimes Jordan has wanted to quit. He has been hurt by comments about his voice and the fact that he doesn’t enunciate well.

These days, Ms. Hilkowitz deletes damaging comments early in the morning. Viewers try to boost his confidence as well. “Six dislikes?????? Don’t worry you can always knock back their job applications in twenty years time,” one wrote.

Jordan is buoyed by those comments. “It really gets to people,” he said. “Like with my disability, it really gets people realizing that anyone can do [anything].”

London 2012: Blade runner Oscar Pistorius set to make history at Olympics

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from BBC News:

Oscar Pistorius is set to be the first double amputee runner at the Olympic Games after being picked by South Africa for the 400m at London 2012.
The 25-year-old has also been selected for the 4x400m relay squad.

"Today is truly one of the proudest days of my life," said Pistorius, who will also compete in the Paralympics.

"It is a real honour and I am so pleased that years of hard work, determination and sacrifice have all come together."

Pistorius appeared to have missed the chance of competing in the individual 400m after he narrowly failed to clock the 'A' standard time for a second time as required by South Africa's Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (Sascoc).
But his inclusion in the relay team opened up his chance to also race in the individual event.

"As I have said many times before, we are not taking passengers to London," said Sascoc president Gideon Sam.
"Everyone has met selection criteria and are genuine Olympic Games material, either now or for 2016. I wish them all the best."

Pistorius ran in the individual 400m at the 2011 World Championships in South Korea but did not progress beyond the semi-finals.

He also ran in the relay but, after running in the heats, he was omitted from the final as South Africa went on to claim silver.

Pistorius is known as the 'Blade Runner' because of the prosthetic carbon fibre limbs he runs with. He was cleared to compete against able-bodied athletes in 2008 when an IAAF ruling that his blades gave him an unfair advantage was overturned by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Pistorius will also compete at the Paralympic Games in London in the 100m, 200m, 400m and 4x100m relay.

"I have a phenomenal team behind me who have helped get me here and I, along with them, will now put everything we can into the final few weeks of preparations before the Olympic Games where I am aiming to race well, work well through the rounds, post good times and maybe even a personal best time on the biggest stage of them all," added Pistorius.

"I am also hugely excited to then be competing to defend my three Paralympic titles at the Paralympic Games.

"I believe we will see some amazing times posted and I am very much looking forward to what will be an incredible Olympics and Paralympics in London."

Medal Quest website showcases Paralympics in multimedia for fans

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From WGBH press release. Pictured is Paralymic archer Russell Wolfe, who has a blog on the site.

WGBH Boston launched MEDAL QUEST: American Athletes and the Paralympic Games (pbs.org/medalquest), an original, multi-platform digital project that will offer an unprecedented look into these high-stakes Games. Produced by WGBH Boston and presented under agreement with the United States Olympic Committee and the International Paralympics Committee, MEDAL QUEST showcases these remarkable competitions at the highest level, while following America’s elite athletes as they train for and compete in the London 2012 Paralympic Games.

“These competitors battle for the same gold, silver, and bronze medals as Olympic athletes, in the same stadiums, in the presence of the same flaming torch,” says WGBH Executive Producer Judith Vecchione. “Some of these athletes race or play tennis and basketball in wheelchairs. Others play goalball, a kind of dodgeball for the blind, or they swim with missing limbs or neurological impairments. They are powerful, highly trained, proud to represent their countries…and they are physically disabled.”

Through a comprehensive website, and a combined presence via multiple social media platforms including Facebook Twitter, PBS’s video player, and blog coverage, MEDAL QUEST will ask its audiences a key question: “What makes a champion?” Is it skill, training, technology? Is it support from family and friends? Or is it something more?

The MEDAL QUEST project will allow audiences to find their own answers as they engage directly with America’s Paralympic athletes, witnessing firsthand the talent, emotions, and drive behind their battles and triumphs, wins and heartbreaks.

Launched March 7 and continuing with new videos through October, this multi-tiered Web series will look at Paralympic history and profile the next generation of champions. It also will present the newest group to join the Paralympic movement: wounded “warrior athletes” from the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. Each month, MEDAL QUEST will spotlight four athletes, featuring bios, photography, and blog entries written by the athletes themselves. Additionally, the project offers videos that will introduce rival competitors, tools of the trade, and great athletes and moments from past competitions.

While the Games are a highly anticipated and widely followed event in countries abroad, MEDAL QUEST offers American audiences their first in-depth look at the Games. Fans will learn about the rules and best players in the 19 summer Paralympic sports, including track and field, equestrian, judo, goalball, and much more. Additionally, features such as “Ask the Athlete,” and “Hometown Heroes” will allow users to interact directly with athletes as they train and compete in the 2012 games, kicking off in London on August 29, 2012.

For opportunities to follow and connect with some of the world’s most elite athletes, and for an up-close, in-depth look at the Paralympic Games, visit MEDAL QUEST at pbs.org/medalquest.

New documentary, "Austin Unbound," explores journey of Deaf transgender man

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By BA Haller
© Media dis&dat

In the new documentary, “Austin Unbound,” which was sevenyears in the making, the filmmakers beautifully explore the journey of a Deaftransgender man.
It provides excellent insight into the life of Austin, whoknew as a small child that he was not in the correct body. The documentary follows Austin as he preparesfor and then receives his double mastectomy. It also features in-depth interviews with his family, friends andgirlfriend.
Filmmaker Eliza Greenwood said at the screening of “AustinUnbound” at the Society for Disability Studies (SDS) meeting in June that herbackground as a Gallaudet University graduate and as a hearing sister fluent insign language drew her to the project.
Greenwood began the project in 2004, when she got permissionfrom Austin to begin filming him. Sel Staley also served as director on the project, andMara Green worked as assistant director on the film.
Green said at SDS that they wanted the film to be situatedin the “queer-centric and sign-centric community.”
The final 45-minute film retains that emphasis.
Austin makes it clear throughout the film that he identifiesas a straight man. He gained support from the Deaf community in his journey. Heand his friends created a fundraiser for his top surgery with an American SignLanguage (ASL) Comedy Night. Austin performed, as did a number of other deaf supporters.
“The Deaf community would be different if not for him. Austinis such a leader in the trans world. He’s so open. He doesn’t care what othersthink,” a friend from the Comedy Night says in the film.
The film is unique in that it is entirely in sign languageand captions/subtitles; even the voices of hearing people are not heard. Butthat adds to its power.
Austin’s family members are featured in numerous interviewsthat illustrate the strength that can come from a supportive family. Austin’s mother, Pam, talks honestly abouthis early childhood when he rejected everything girl-oriented. She made herpeace with his transformation by the time Austin was in high school andsupported his decision to dress and identify as male.
Interestingly, his mother’s only regret: that he changed hisname. He is the oldest of four (he hasthree sisters), and she said loved the girl’s name she chose for him. Some might thinkshe is complaining, but it is a sweet moment in which Austin’s motherillustrates how even supportive family members struggle to accept a transgenderperson in their family.
In the most wonderful scene in the film, Austin shows hisscars from the double mastectomy to his grandmother,who smiles, hugs him and tells him she is so happy for his successful surgery.
A significant portion of the film is devoted to Austin’srelationship to his girlfriend, Lola. She is there for him in every way. As shegoes on this journey with him, Lola is able to reflect on Austin before andafter his top surgery.
Lola says his self confidence has increased after the topsurgery, and he seems freer since the surgery.
Austin said earlier in the film that he felt he was wearinga Halloween costume as a child when he was forced to dress as a girl.
After his surgery, he summed up the positive change in hislife: “I feel like a burden has been lifted.”
A note about screenings of “Austin Unbound:”
If you would like to host a screening, contact thefilmmakers here:http://austinunbound.org/screenings-and-presentations/
The film will be in the following Film Festivals in 2012:
Vancouver, BC, Canada, Queer Film Festival, August 16-26, http://www.queerfilmfestival.ca/
The Other Film Festival, Melbourne, Australia, Sept. 19-23, http://artsaccess.com.au/the-other-film-festival/
Lisbon, Portugal, Queer Film Festival, Sept. 21-29, http://queerlisboa.pt/en/
Focus Film Festival, Chico, Calif., Oct. 11-12, http://www.farnorthernrc.org/focusfilmfestival/about_festival.htm

Norwegian director to shoot "The Down's Detective" in Prague

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From Screen Daily:

Norwegian director Bard Breien will shoot his second feature The Down’s Detective in the Czech Republic, it was announced yesterday at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.

The film is a Norwegian-Czech-Danish-German co-production, and it will start shooting in late August.

The story is about a man with Down’s syndrome who wants to be a private detective. He has to pursue a former ice-skating legend who is now down on his luck. Svein Andre Hofso, who has Down’s syndrome, will play the lead [he is pictured in character].

Breien, who also wrote the script, said: “I want to tell an entertaining, exciting and touching story that will challenge the audience. It will be an adventure with one foot planted firmly in a well-known genre where a lonely private detective has to solve a mystery in a cold, dark and hostile world, while the other foot sets out in a completely unknown direction. The Down’s Detective is a film that sparkles with laughter as well as strong emotions, while the whole story and the main protagonist in particular are constantly balancing on the thin edge between tragedy and comedy.”

Producer PÃ¥l RÃ¸ed added: “Just before Christmas 2011, we set off to scout the Czech Republic and Hungary as potential destinations. We were hoping that financial possibilities, lower production costs and different locations would enable us to make The Down’s Detective in a better way than back home. We knew that BÃ¥rd had a name in the Czech Republic, but after one intense day in Prague, we realized how strong the Czechs felt about his film, his humour and his writing style. It did not take long before we cancelled our trip to Hungary, stayed a few more days in Prague and decided to make the film in the Czech Republic.”

Prague will stand in for Oslo in the film.

Friland’s production partners are Nimbus (Denmark), Unafilm (Germany) and Evolution Films (Czech Republic).

TrustNordisk will handle international sales and Cinemart has Czech rights.

The film has received financial support from the Norwegian Film Institute, the Nordic Film and Television Fund, the Danish Film Institute, the Czech State Fund for the Support and Development of Czech Cinema, and Eurimage.

“We are truly grateful for the support we have received in the Czech Republic. The Czech State Fund for the Support and Development of Czech Cinema really understands the potential of Bard Breien’s second film. It is a great honour for our company as well as for Czech cinema to be part of such a significant film project”, said Evolution Films’ producer Pavel BerÄ�Ãk.

Breiein’s first film The Art of Negative Thinking won the best director prize at KVIFF in 2007. The film went on to win the Czech Lion for best foreign film and then was adapted as a stage production.

7 Temmuz 2012 Cumartesi

Supreme Court affirmative action case amici briefs

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Inside Higher Education has an interesting article about an upcoming affirmative action case before the Supreme Court. The case, Abigail Noel Fisher v. University of Texas at Austin, challenges the right of the University to consider race and ethnicity in admissions when it has been able to achieve diversity through the race-neutral "10 percent" rule (assuring all graduates in the top 10 percent of high schools in Texas admission into any public university in Texas). Now amici briefs have been or will be filed by Asian-American groups for both the plaintiff and the defendant. A brief supporting Ms. Fisher and arguing against race-based admissions was filed by a group including the 80-20 National Asian-American Educational Foundation and the National Federation of Indian American Associations. Four other groups including the Asian American Justice Center plan to file an appeal backing the University of Texas; they filed a joint brief when the case was considered by the Fifth Circuit. The Inside Higher Education article discusses more fully the Asian-American perspective on race-based admissions.

"Dr. Livingstone I Presume"'s field diary

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The Chronicle of Higher Ed reports that a group of scholars and archivists have been working to make legible an 1871 field diary kept by Dr. David Livingstone in Africa. Apparently Dr. Livingstone ran out of writing equipment and wrote some of his diary on old newspaper sheets with ink he made from berries. It has taken more than two years but with fancy scanners they have succeeded in making 99 percent of the diary legible. The article includes before-and-after images of one of the pages, and has a link to the entire Livingstone Spectral Image Archive which includes TIFF images, XML transcriptions, and metadata for the diary.

Changes to Google Scholar search interface

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The Internet for Lawyers website reports that Google is testing a new interface design for their Google Scholar service. And according to the report, the redesign reduces the user's ability to do successful case law research because it's more difficult to find what you need. Fortunately, they point out, you can still access the "old" (better) interface either via the direct url or by clicking the link in the lower lefthand corner that says "revert to old venerable look".

Legal Information Institute releases first US Code ebook

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Our friends at the Legal Information Institute at Cornell (LII) have announced that they have released their first title in eBook form: United States Code Title 17 – Copyrights. It's available for download from the Amazon Kindle and Barnes & Noble Nook stores for $5.99.The LII plans to offer full-featured primary legal materials in these two popular eBook formats. All LII titles will feature livelink cross-references with fully-functional navigation between references within each title. Out-of-title cross-references and references to supporting notes and documents link directly to the LII web site. Each eBook title is updated annually, but links to the LII web site put the most recent official version and an array of updating and research tools at your disposal. The text of LII eBook editions is beautifully formatted and indented, making it far easier to read than other e-book editions.

Hat tip: Katie Nye

Comparing congressional bill versions

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A query on the LLSDC listserv asked if anyone knew a good resource that would allow you to compare side by side amendments to a bill passed by Congress. One answer said that that while THOMAS does not yet have this feature, but CQ Roll Call's "Bill Compare"shows the version changes (unfortunately we don't have this resource because it is expensive). Then someone at Lexis chimed in with this helpful hint: "You can find bill text version on Lexis from 1989 forward (these are from CIS and are also in ProQuest Congressional, but only government, public, non-profit and law school libraries can access them on that platform), and then you can use a redlining program or even Word to highlight differences or changes in the versions from introduced through enrolled- you just get plain html text though, no interlineations or italics.The file is BLTEXT for current Congress, or the archives are BTX111, or BTXxxx back to 101.PQ Congressional is digitizing bills & resolutions back to 1789 as a new PDF collection."

5 Temmuz 2012 Perşembe

Baby Sign Language - Toilet (Potty)

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There's a distinct expression of concentration on the face of your baby when it's time to go potty. This is the perfect time to introduce the baby sign for toilet.

Toilet or Potty is signed with your right hand at shoulder level. Use the T hand shape with your palm facing outward. Shake your hand side to side with increasing intensity to indicate greater urgency.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Baby Sign Language - Airplane

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Looking up at an airplane flying overhead is a great time to introduce the baby sign for airplane.

Airplane is signed with your right hand at shoulder level. Use the Y hand shape with your index finger extended and your palm facing outward. Move your hand forward twice as if your hand is a plane flying through the air.

Discover more baby signs at the Babystrology baby sign language dictionary.

Sarcoma Cancer, Large Cell Unidentifiable Lung Cancer, or Melanoma Lung Cancer

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I haven't been on in a while and this is actually the first chance I've had in a LONG time to even think about getting on the computer to give anyone an update on how things have progressed with my husband, Chuck.

So much has happened since the last post and we've been put through so many different hoops and rings with what my husband has and what they think can be done. He's had so many surgeries, hospital stays, moves, and scares since we last talked.

He was at Virtua Hospital in Marlton for a while and was finally moved over to the University of Pennsylvania. He had some amazing Pulmonary Doctors from Garden State Pulmonary in Marlton who really went out of their way to help fight the insurance companies to get the care that Chuck needed. He was fortunate to have Dr. Steinberg, Dr. Salm and Dr. Eric Sztejman who had the, "You Know What's", to go against all of those who originally said that nothing could be done for him and removed the tumor that was supposed to be inoperable !!! They will never be forgotten and will never know how grateful I am to them for giving my children's Daddy a chance!!

They originally believed that Chuck had a Sarcoma lung cancer which started in his lung which is EXTREMELY rare and then moved to his lymph nodes and back. They had specialists from all over trying to get together a treatment plan and decided to biopsy the cancer that they found in his back. They then believed it could have been Large Cell Unidentifiable lung cancer.

While they were determining what it was, he had his first round of Chemo that could be used for either cancer, which was two very rarely used chemo's together called Ifosfamide and Paclitaxel.

The biopsy from his back came back soon after which was positive for a melanoma cancer which changed everything. Although the two chemos work for both cancers they want him to see their group of Melanoma specialists to start a new game plan.

They believe that he had a skin cancer at one point that came out and went into his blood which finally made a home in his lungs, lymph nodes, and back.

They let us know that although its a better cancer to have in regards to treatment options the prognosis is not much different than having the sarcoma cancer.

Taken at Univ of Penn before Chemo

Officially, as of now, my husband has stage 4 Melanoma Cancer that has metastasized into his lungs, lymph nodes, and back.
The most frustrating part of all of this is the waiting that we've had to do for anything to happen at all!! No one could seem to figure out what was going on with him and give a definitive answer about the type of cancer he has. They are still doing biopsy's on the cancer which is why I say "As of NOW"!!!     I didn't want to come on and say too much because every time we were told something it would change. They removed the tumor in his lung back in November and by 30 days later he was rushed back to the hospital for bleeding and they found that the tumor in his lung had doubled in size, blocking off his airway and the blood was from the necrotic (dead) tissue in his lung was ripping off and coming out of his throat! I can't even imagine how horrible this all is to him!

I also believe that something in this world should be done for families that need to see their loved ones that are in a city hospital. Just to visit Chuck across the bridge was $5.00 in tolls, and parking ranged from $9.00-$25.00 per visit! If I went to see him right after work with the kids, I would get the kids something to eat while we were there too which was a struggle that I don't think any family in this situation should ever have to consider when making a decision about going to be with their family when they are sick!!!!

As soon as he went to the University of Penn they were able to insert a stent which would move the tumor the other way so that it didn't block off his airway until they can start a treatment to try and shrink it.

We almost felt grateful that he has a rare cancer because more doctors and specialists wanted to be involved to catch a glimpse of it first hand. We feel fortunate to have the specialists at the University of Penn involved. They are great doctors who REALLY seem to care about Chuck.

Chuck told the doctors that he was really upset and that this could be the last Christmas he had with the kids and wanted it to be special so they decided to give both kids, and me, the "BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER"!!! DADDY was home for Christmas!!!   We really saw the true meaning of Christmas this year! It wasn't about presents it was about family and cherishing every second we had together!

Daddy with Charlie & Lucas a month before we found out he was sick

I've been through some pretty hard times in my life but NONE compare to what I feel when I look into my kids eyes and image them without their daddy!

Everyday when I look at Lucas, talking more and more, having conversations with me and crying to go see his daddy when he's in the hospital, assures me that miracles DO happen!! Lucas had the same prayers from all of you and I believe that is what helped him get to where he is today.

I humbly ask for you to continue those prayers so that we can see a miracle happen with my husband as well. Thank each and every one of you who sent messages and well wishes for a Happy Holiday with Chuck and know that we've been hoping for the same thing for all of you.

We are all overwhelmed at the responses from all around the world. Every faith and religion has been praying and wishing Chuck and our family the best and can't tell you just how much it means to us.

THANK YOU!!!

Our journey through the last few months from HELL with Metastatic Melanoma (SKIN) Cancer!

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My God, if you told me 10 years ago that SKIN Cancer could be so mean and powerful I would have laughed!! I cringe at the thought of spending days in the tanning salon and putting iodine and oil on my body to get a tan!
Obviously, things have been pretty crazy since the last time I was able to post was in January.   My hero of a husband has fought his behind off to keep this cancer at bay and every time he takes a step forward, it kicks him fifty steps behind.
I feel completely blessed that he is still here with us since they told us in October he wouldn't make it through the night when he first went in. Since then he's had eight bronchoscopies to remove tumors from his lung so that it wouldn't collapse or suffocate him.
About a month ago we went in for treatment only to find that the cancer had formed two tumors in his head. One in his brain and an inoperable one in his eye. He had brain surgery two days after they found them to remove the one from his brain and massive radiation treatment on his head in hopes to keep the cancer in his eye from spreading.
Chuck was nominated, by the hospital, to a foundation called, For Pete's Sake. They send families on respites to get a break from Cancer.    They chose him and the trip was canceled because of how sick he got last month. Another blow from this horrid Cancer!
To make matters worse, during this time, I had gone in for a routine mammogram and was called back because they found two suspicious lumps, one on each side!!! We were devastated to say the least!! We were certain that God would not give two parents, with no one to care for their kids, cancer!!! The second round of tests showed no cancer in the breast but some inconsistencies elsewhere so I've been going to specialists to figure out what the problem is during all of this mess with my husband. I can seriously say that I am on the thinnest shred of thread, that I have ever been on emotionally, in my life. I usually don't ask for prayers for myself but in this situation will take any that are offered!    We have been in and out of the University of Penn on almost a daily basis for treatments, procedures, tests, or visits. I have to say that I don't think we could have found a better group of doctors to care for Chuck. I instantly start tearing up when I see how excited they seem to see him and how wonderful they treat him! They really make him feel like he's the most important person in the world to them. The amazing thing is, they make ALL of their patients feel that way. It's just an amazing hospital and anyone fortunate enough to be treated there is a very lucky person. Making sure Chuck and I get to our appointments and, taking care of and getting our children where they have to go, working, and trying to keep our lives as normal as possible for our kids has been the most difficult thing to keep together all while trying to keep things as normal as possible for them!
HE ALWAYS WAS AND ALWAYS WILL BE...... MY HERO!!!

MY HERO and our Children!!

My husband, Chuck, makes me so damn proud!!!!
I've never seen more determination and fight in any person in my life!
He is and always will be, MY HERO!!
I have cried so much over the last few months and felt so many different emotions I'm surprised I can still function! I honestly don't know if I would have that kind of strength in me to fight as hard as he is and that scares that crap out of me!! I've watched him bring other people up when they show that they are sad that this cancer has taken over his entire body and just sit in awe at how his faith is SO strong that he can do that!
As it stands today, and I say today because it could change tomorrow, Chuck has Melanoma cancer that has pretty much metastasized through his entire body. The doctors have been very up front and honest with us from the beginning about his prognosis but we have all stayed steadfast in the our belief that miracles can happen.
When you have two little children you can't do anything else but believe that a miracle can happen to continue getting up out of bed each day. When I look at them my heart fills with sadness, my eyes fill with tears, and my emotions fill with anger at the thought of how my children are going to get through this if they lose their Daddy if this cancer gets the best of Chuck.
The trip from, For Pete's Sake was given back to him because he recovered so well from the brain surgery. It will be at a closer place in case Chuck has to go back into the hospital right away. This is supposed to take place in May but you can't plan anything with this cancer!
I put a donation button on the side bar of the site and in this post in case anyone wanted to help with the cost of his treatments, tolls, gas, co-pays, etc. My church has been so wonderful with helping us for the last few months. My boss could not be more understanding and our friends have been an amazing strength for us.
It amazes me how good people really are in the world when things like this happen. I am in shock to see the out pour of people who have extended their desire to help in any way that they could in this horrific time in our lives to try and ease the burden a bit for us. Thank you, words will not ever read what our heart feels from your support and love for our family. Thank you all for your continued prayers!

Change for Chuck

WE ARE BLESSED!!

To contact us Click HERE
Yes, you heard me right!

Most people in the situation we are in right now would not be saying that they are blessed, that's for sure!!

Well, I told you on our last post that we were trying to find out what was wrong with me and we were blessed to find out that it was NOT cancer, I have Lupus!!! The lumps that they found in my breasts were swollen lymph nodes. All of the lymph nodes in my body are swollen because apparently its in a flare up.

I can't tell you how relieved we were when we found out that it was ONLY Lupus and not Cancer. Lupus is not the best thing in the world to have either but its sure as hell better than being told that you have cancer when you are watching your husband slowly die from it!!! We could not imagine leaving our kids to care for themselves without anyone being here for them.

DONT TRY THIS AT HOME KIDS!!!! I am so mad at myself right now!!! I was trying to clean a vent over the weekend and stood on the arms of the couch and loveseat. Screwdriver in one hand and Scissors in the other and fell! FLAT on my face!! I'm a big girl and did a nose dive, superman fly jump (as Charlie called it) right to the floor!! I was doing everything I tell my kids not to do and hurt myself pretty bad! I thought I broke my wrist but didn't thank GOD! As the days progressed so did the pain in my lower back!! Well, today I was stuck in the bed for over an hour! My lower back is completely locked up!! The pain is horrific.

I am SLOWLY trying to get ready for a trip that was given to us from For Pete's Sake Foundation. I told you in our last post that they give families stricken with cancer a respite from treatments and they are sending us to Great Wolfe Lodge in the Poconos. We have been through SO much over the last few months. I am SO looking forward to just relaxing and seeing the kids have a good time for once!! They have endured more than any 4 and 12 year should ever have to!

Some of Chucks friends from growing are a having a benefit for him on June 3rd. I'm going to post all of the details for any of our friends that we met here in case anyone would like to come and meet the family. I feel like you are all family to me. You have all been so wonderful with sending in donations and prayers and We will NEVER be able to thank you enough. We feel your love, prayers, and strength!

Here is the Facebook post to the benefit that his friends are hosting CHEERS FOR CHUCKIE

CHEERS FOR CHUCKIE FLYER

I made a printable flyer for them too which you can copy from our web page by clicking on my "Chuckie" picture!