STORY OF CHERYL NALL



Purple Ribbon Earings

Necklace (Debbie)

Stretch Awareness Bracelets

Hi everyone. This month I would like all of you to meet another of my very special friend who I have high regards for. She is a person with epilepsy, an active epilepsy advocate, an artist and a talented crafts person with a passion for designing and creating unique jewellery pieces to help promote not just epilepsy awareness but also other health causes.

Read and know more about Cheryl and her unique creations.


I have been crafting and making jewellery for about 5 years. I love designing and creating jewellery. While I do make other types of jewellery, my passion is the Awareness jewellery. I started making the Awareness Ribbon pieces because of my epilepsy. I attribute my need to create as a symptom or effect of my epilepsy.

I believe I have had epilepsy for most of my life but the type I have is often difficult to diagnose. I was diagnosed with right temporal lobe epilepsy in November 2005. I don't have stereotypical seizures. I have never lost consciousness during a seizure nor do I have the normal physical signs of a seizure. Because of that I have really tried to promote epilepsy awareness.

I used to speak professionally to groups about my experiences and encourage people to open up about their own experiences with epilepsy. When you hide something, you give it a power over you, but when you confront it, it becomes less powerful.

I want to tell everyone that epilepsy is a neurological condition and that people with epilepsy are like people with any other condition.

I have a shop on the internet where I sell my creations. The site is called Etsy and my shop is Cheryls Purple Cow. Etsy has a promotional tool called the Treasury. A Treasury is basically a poster that shows 12 items from different Etsy Artists. The treasuries I create are filled with Awareness items for sale in different shops on Etsy. They only last 48 to 72 hours and are only available when certain conditions are met. I have kept an Awareness Treasury active almost full time since mid-December. That is quite a feat but I am a determined person in helping to promote epilepsy awareness. I want the topic of awareness to gain recognition on Etsy and the Treasuries.

CHERYL NALL

To know more about Cheryl and her creations, please visit her at the following places. Thank you very much.

Cheryls Purple Cow http://cherylspurplecow.etsy.com/
Unique Crafts and Jewellery for Those with Unique Taste

Facebook Fan Page: http://www.facebook.com/Cheryls.Purple.Cow

Blog http://cherylspurplecow.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cherylpurplecow

DUAL CELEBRATION AND HAPPINESS

A week before celebrating the above, Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Chinese New Year which fall on today, I strolled along the streets of the city and saw big crowds of shoppers busy bargaining and shopping for Valentine's gifts and Chinese New Year (CNY) gifts. Guys and girls spend long hours of their time paying special attention in buying presents for each other. Housewives shop for CNY delicacies to cook special CNY dishes for reunion dinners. Shopping complexes do roaring sales in all consumer items.

So much money, efforts and time were spent and put to great length to ensure everyone gets to have two joyful, beautiful, meaningful and happy occasions to celebrate. I had always been in awe on how quickly people are spontaneous to such celebrations. On the contrary, very often people are slow, non receptive and lack the initiative to respond to "Purple Day for Epilepsy, Walk for Epilepsy, Jeans Day for Epilepsy and other health causes". Donating generously towards such causes would make people think twice.

I wonder how people will react and respond to " Happy Epilepsy Day " if there is one that is celebrated universally every year. Will people shop for all things in purple? Donate generously to Epilepsy Societies? It will definitely be awesome if people would.

My family & I on a public street that was temporarily closed to cater for CNY stalls



In front of Chinatown arch



A CNY lion dance that was followed by burning of firecrackers




Wishing everyone Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Chinese New Year of The Tiger 2010

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Exactly 2 years



My blog is 2 years old today. I would like to thank everyone who visits my blog for their constant support and uplifting comments. It has been two great years of blogging where I had opportunities to discuss and share with readers, people with epilepsy and caregivers from around the world through epilepsy chatrooms, facebook, epilepsy blogs and twitter.


Undeniably, blogs are one of the best tools available for anyone to reach out to the public. It is my sincere hope that my blog will continue to touch, inspire and uplift many souls as I continue to write and share from my own experiences and knowledge gained from others concerning epilepsy.


May all of you who read my blog reap bountiful returns in terms of knowledge of epilepsy and as a result offer your full understanding and acceptance of people with epilepsy who struggle to lead normal lives in a world shrouded with myths, misconceptions and mysteries surrounding epilepsy.






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An epileptic dog rescues its carer after he collapsed

The rescue centre will pay all vet fees relating to his epilepsy if he's rehomed

A dog that suffers from epilepsy has helped rescue his carer, after he collapsed in the snow.

Bentley the dog raced back to the rescue centre in Evesham where he is cared for to get help.

Chris Slight, from Dogs Trust Evesham said: "The weather was atrocious that day and I dread to think what could have happened to Pete if Bentley hadn't raised the alarm."

The canine hero Bentley is still looking for a home.

Bentley led staff to where Pete was, and they helped him back to the centre, where he was wrapped in dog blankets, to warm him up until the ambulance arrived.

Two-year-old Bentley is still looking for a new home

After hospital tests Pete recovered and was welcomed back to work by Bentley.

Gentle giant

Pete describes the American bulldog as a "gentle giant" who gets on well with other dogs, and would be best suited to a family with older children.

The rescue centre will pay all vet fees relating to his epilepsy if he is rehomed.

Anyone interested in giving Bentley a home should ring the Dogs Trust Evesham on 01386 830613.

source : news.bbc.co.uk









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Text reminder to take epilepsy tablets

By Jane Elliott Health reporter, BBC News

Forgetting pills can trigger Ben's epilepsy

Ben Davey needs to take 20 tablets of four different types each day - so it is no surprise that sometimes he forgets them. But forgetting can have serious consequences for the 34-year-old Londoner. Ben has epilepsy and forgetting to take his pills can cause him to have a seizure. "For many years I have had about three fits a year," said Ben, who has had epilepsy since puberty.

Fit increase

But when doctors changed his drug regime this year he started getting confused and his seizures increased.

"My fits increased to about 30 this year. I don't want to give the wrong impression that the sole cause of me having a fit was my forgetting, but if I was to forget, the likelihood is I would probably have a fit. If I was taking the same tablets every day it would be easier not to forget, but as they were introducing one medication they were fading out another."

"I was thinking 'I have to got to take one less of this coloured one, one more of this coloured one'. I would say, 'I am going to have a shower and then take my tablet' and then I would be on the bus and wouldn't remember whether I had taken them and there was no knowing."

New service

Now the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), where Ben is treated, has launched a new service to help patients manage their condition. The service will use text messaging to remind patients to take their medication and has a facility to alert carers if they do not respond to a text saying they have taken the tablets. There will also be a web-based patient diary where patients can record their responses to medication, seizures and any injuries sustained during them.

Anthony Linklater, epilepsy specialist nurse, said that what seemed such a simple idea had taken years to plan. "In the past hospitals used to just give medication and send people on their way," he said. "This is just going one step further and as we are introducing the system we are thinking of different ideas. Poor adherence is the main cause of unsuccessful drug treatment."

Pill routine

Professor John Duncan, Professor of Neurology, agreed, "Most individuals with epilepsy have to take medication regularly in order to achieve the best possible control of their seizures, but remembering to take medication can be problematic for some. Taking medication accurately can become quite complicated when it is adjusted as this is usually done in gradual steps over a period of time. We hope that the additional support provided by this service will help some people to manage their medication more effectively which could help to improve the control of their epilepsy."

The NHNN is the first to introduce the system and already has its first few patients signed up for its year-long pilot.

Simon Wigglesworth, deputy chief executive at Epilepsy Action, said he was excited by the potential offered. "Alerts reminding people to take their anti-epileptic drugs could be effective in ensuring they take their medication accurately and on time. An online patient diary could be useful in helping people monitor their epilepsy, and would be particularly valuable for doctors assessing patients with the condition."

Ben, who plans to sign up early this year, says it will make a big difference to his life. The new service would be amazing," he said. You know the feeling when you are just gong to work or the shops and you think, 'Hang on, did I turn the oven off?'

"For me taking a tablet is such an important thing. If I could know that I had definitely done that it would be great."

source : news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health

First Aid For People With Epilepsy (PWE) on Wheel Chair

If someone starts to have a seizure while confined in a wheelchair, seated on a bus, train or tram or strapped in a pram or stroller:

DO

• Protect the person by preventing them from falling if there is no seat belt.
• Make sure the wheelchair or the stroller is secure.
• Protect the person by supporting their head. Something soft under the head will help if there is no moulded headrest.
• Check whether you need to move any hard objects that might hurt arms and legs in particular.
• Consciousness usually returns within a few minutes.
• Reassure the person and tell them what has happened.

NOTE: When the seizure has finished you need to ensure their airway is clear. This may involve removing food or vomit from their mouth and supporting their head to maintain a clear airway. It may or may not be appropriate to remove the person from the chair at the end of the seizure. This will depend on your assessment of the safety issues involved both for you and them.

DO NOT

• Try to stop the seizure.
• Put anything in the persons mouth.
• Try to remove them from their position in most cases the seat provides some support.

Call an ambulance if:

• The seizure activity lasts 5 or more minutes or a second seizure quickly follows.
• The person is not conscious within 5 minutes of the seizure stopping.
• The person is injured.
• The person is pregnant or has diabetes.
• You know, or believe it to be, the person's first seizure.
• You are in doubt.

source : www.epilepsyaustralia.net

MAJESTIC SUNSET

I love watching sunset at any place in the world and against all different kinds of backdrops. The sun is the solar supply to mother earth. All living things depend on the sun to stay healthy and alive. By gazing, captivating and absorbing the beauty of the sun I am constantly inspired to live my life majestically like the sun.

Location: Mobilised and stored in Serene's mind

Medium of paint used : Poster colors


" Shine your light strong, vibrant and far unto all ends of the world. Liven up someone's life " - by Serene Low