Monday, December 24, 2012

The Reason

In those days Caesar Agustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world.  (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.)   And everyone went to t heir own town to register.   So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David.   He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.   While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
 
 And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.  An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.  Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.”

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.”  So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger.   When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child,  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them.  But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.

On the eighth day, when it was time to circumcise the child, he was named Jesus, the name the angel had given him before he was conceived.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Monday, December 17, 2012

Annaliah

My dearest Annaliah,

How I wish you were here.  On this day six years ago, you were expected to arrive.  We thought that this day (or one close to it) would go down as the day our lives were permanently altered for the better.  We thought we'd have a child - you - and that we'd have someone we were responsible for for the rest of our lives.  We had visions of holding you and dreams of sticky fingered hugs and slobbery kisses and heart warming giggles.  We had faith and hope and expectation.

Today, we don't have you.  We don't have any children living with us on earth.  We don't know what it is to get up at night with a crying baby or to struggle with a car seat or to have to put a child's needs above our own.  We don't know sticky fingers or slobbery kisses or giggles or smiles or cries of delight.  Your voice doesn't fill our home and your body doesn't fill our arms.

We are without you.

And it hurts.  It hurts to be without you.  It hurts to be "just us."  It hurts to not know parenthood.  I remember when you were on the way.  One day in particular stands out.  Your daddy and I were driving around, thinking about looking for a different apartment - one that would be better suited to life with a child.  We had a CD playing, from your Grandma Arlene.  The sound of children singing filled the car, and I smiled as I looked at your daddy.  We were both truly happy.

I miss that feeling.  The feeling of unquenchable joy mixed with anticipation and a hint of fear.  I miss knowing that regardless of what went wrong or right, in just a few short months we would have a child of our own.  I miss the way it felt like everything was going to be just fine.  Because since you've left, we've known a lot of heartache.  We've cried a lot and spent a lot of sleepless nights.  We've held hands as doctors deliver yet another negative report and we've scraped and scrambled to make ends meet so we could have just one more chance at parenthood.  We've weathered a lot of storms, sweet child, without you.

But this is temporary.  We will not spend eternity without you - we will spend it with you.  The day is coming when we will get where we are going.  And on that day, we will see you face to face.  We hold onto that hope and that dream, and it gives us light when everything around us looks dark and grim. 

You make heaven feel real.  You keep eternity on our minds and in our hearts.  Child of mine, even though I am without you, I am grateful for you.  You have changed me, and your daddy too.  We aren't the same and we never will be.  Even without you, we are with you. 

We love you.

Mommy

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Sunday, November 11, 2012

The Better Men

It isn't easy, life.  We struggle and fight for so much, and sometimes it seems worthwhile.  Sometimes it doesn't. 

I'm here to say, fight on. 

This life we lead, the freedom we enjoy, it wasn't cheap.  It didn't come easy... it didn't even come hard.  It came at the highest cost possible - human lives.  Sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives and lovers and friends.   Heroes, all.

I stand free because of them, and for that, I am truly thankful. 

Are you?

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Sunday, September 30, 2012

In My Dreams

During the day, I miss her.  My Gramma, that is.  I miss her every day.  I miss her when something is beautiful, I miss her when things get ugly.  I miss her when I smile and when I cry, and when I do well and when I fail.  When I feel like I am soaring high and when the weight of the world is crushing me, I miss her.

Growing up, she was part of every day.  Most of what I did, she was there and she was in the middle of.  I never really learned to let go of that.  The last time Derek and I drove away from their home, I said to remember and treasure that image, as it wouldn't last.  I had the idea that something was about to change, but I didn't really know at all.

I never would have guessed she was to be taken so abruptly from this world.  To think that a driver's carelessness would be the thing responsible for such a staggering loss... I just wouldn't have done it.  That's what happens to other people, not to me.  Not to her.  But despite being willing to give up everything to go back and change it somehow, with chilling finality, she was killed that day.

She's not dead though - not spiritually.  I know she lives and is rejoicing and dancing in heaven.  But until I join her there, she's gone from my world.  She can't tell me who to love or what to do or how to be, no matter how desperately I wish for her wisdom. 

But at night when I dream, I don't know that.  When I dream, she is alive and present.  Usually, in the dreams, I know she is dead and I know she can't be there... and yet, there she is.  She laughs and smiles and speaks, and we all act like it's perfectly natural for her to be doing those things.  I wish dream-hugs lasted after waking.  I wish I could retain that sense of wholeness and safety after sleep stops for the day.  Some mornings, I let myself sleep through my alarm just so I can have a little longer with her.

But in my dreams is just that... in my dreams.

The reality of it all is, the pain is real.  The alone is real.  The sadness and the lingering sense of shock and disbelief and the empty feelings... they are all real.  Even more real, though, is the fact that this isn't going to last forever.  I'll see her again, and it will be a forever reunion.  It's going to be the end of the pain, the end of the nightmares, the end of the loneliness.  THAT is the reality I try my hardest to focus on.

And in my dreams... in my dreams, I let myself have a reminder that this situation isn't exactly as it appears.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Friday, September 28, 2012

Without You


Dear Doctor F. and Nurses T., M., and D.:

I am writing to inform you that I intend to progress forward mostly without you.  My leg has no visible ulcerations and there is in fact no need for a dressing on it.  I am without fever, my white count is within acceptable limits, and I don't feel "punky."

So while I understand that this may be temporary and that setbacks are a very real possibility, perhaps even probability, for now... adios.

Thank you for the time and energy you've poured into me in the last five months (yes, five MONTHS of biweekly appointments, at a minimum; several of those months were three or more appointments weekly, and there was a large chunk of time where they were daily necessities).  I won't forget about it or you.

It's just that now, it's time to get back to the business of living.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Monday, September 24, 2012

Newness

It's weird how seldom I actually try NEW things.  Not just things I haven't done lately, or things I've considered and rejected previously, but entirely NEW things.

As  most of you probably know, I am not the "theater type" of person.  I lack the patience and desire.  OR at least, I used to.  This past weekend, a friend invited me to attend three plays with her, put on by  American Players Theater.  I knew I would like spending time with her, but I wasn't so sure about the plays.  Turns out, I had a lot of fun and actually really enjoyed watching the plays.  Unlike my suspicions, it was better than TV in person, which is what I expected it to be. 

So here's to new things.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Saturday, September 15, 2012

NICIAW - Depression, PTSD, Arthritis, Ligament Damage

Ruth writes:

1. The illness I live with is: Depression, PTSD, arthritis and serious ankle ligament damage/foot bone spur from an old injury.

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 1995 onward's, various things diagnosed over the years. Injury happened in 1990, or 1991, can't quite remember.

3. But I had symptoms since: With the depression, looking back I realize I've suffered for as long as I can remember.

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Not being able to hold down a job.

5. Most people assume: There is nothing wrong as none are immediately visible, although I use crutches a lot more these days.

6. The hardest part about mornings are: Getting up and getting motivated, especially if I'm in a lot of physical pain, it does have a knock on affect.

7. My favorite medical TV show is: n/a.

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: My computer, linked to the internet, as they provides me with a way of connecting with people. Also, reading and music, so my Kindle and iPod.

9. The hardest part about nights are: Dealing with the insomnia, nightmares and pain control.

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) - Two types of anti depressants, pain killers, one of two types depending on the level of pain. Sometime I also require sleeping tablets.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: Have found Reiki useful in helping me relax.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: visible!

13. Regarding working and career: I had to give up work back in 1995, and again in 2006. I really miss it, and wish I could do more.

14. People would be surprised to know: How much physical and emotional pain I am in every day as I have got used to hiding it very well.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: Not being able to work.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: Have to courage to try and spread awareness by doing things like filling in this form.

17. The commercials about my illness: Can't say I've really seen any.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: Riding horses.

19. It was really hard to have to give up: Work and riding horses, and I had worked with animals professionally ..

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: None.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Treasure every moment.

22. My illness has taught me: To be patient with myself.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: 'It doesn't look/seem that bad.' Or a Doctor that once said. 'It could have been worse.' ... I think the only thing that is worse than being subjected to child abuse would have been if they had killed me!

24. But I love it when people: Say something spontaneously that make me realize I'm not 'lazy' and that I am justified in feeling like I do. Especially when it comes from somebody I have a huge amount of respect for. Happened last year, and whenever I need to remind myself that I am allowed to feel like this I remember what they said. was a very affirming moment.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: A quote from the After Silence store. 'You thought you'd destroy me, but you only made me stronger.'

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: It does get easier to live with what you are going through, it takes time, be kind to yourself in the meantime.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: How much people can wrongly assume what you are capable of.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: Provided me with a safe haven.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because: It's time the barriers of ignorance were pulled down, and the only way to do that is to debunk the myths by speaking up about our experiences so people don't have the grounds to assume.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: Hopeful that slowly people are recognizing that illness covers more than they perhaps realized before

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Friday, September 14, 2012

NICIAW - Eczema, Asthma, Allergies

Kay writes:

1. The illness I live with is
Its chronic allergies really. I'm atopic with eczema, asthma and hayfever with allergies to soap, most cosmetic products, fragrances, colourants, dust, fur/feather bearing animals and even pineapple and kiwi fruits. Lately I seem to have added water to the list.
2. I was diagnosed with it in the year 1985

3. But I had symptoms since:
All my life.

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:
Not using any soaps, perfumes or shampoos. I can only use detergents suitable for sensitive skins without added fragrances or fabric softeners.I also have a skin maintenance regime and need to walk with creams every where I go to keep my skin constantly hydrated so its less likely to break down. I also have a supply of a variety of gloves to use for household chores. I keep clothes that are worn close to the skin restricted to natural fabrics as is possible. This isn't easy when it comes to shopping for bras
5. Most people assume:
That because I don't use soap my hygiene must be bad. They also assume that the allergies can be ignored so they expect me to be volunteering to do the washing up when I visit them when they have not provided any protective wear for me. Its even worse when something needs cleaning up and they try to give me a soapy cloth to wipe things up. I can't touch that with my bare hands and not suffer for it.

6. The hardest part about mornings are:
If its a good day then there's the bath and body creamings to go through. On a bad skin day I'd see what damage I'd done whilst sleeping to my inflamed skin. I can sometimes scratch in my sleep which leads to bleeding. I've even put on cotton gloves as scratch mitts when things were really bad. A bad skin day can mean I also begin with unwrapping clingfilm bandages that covered the worse affected areas over night. I also have to hope that this latest bath doesn't leave me coming out stinging in pain from head to foot due to the latest reaction I'm having with water.

7. My favorite medical TV show is:
Don't really have one

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is:
A washing machine. With all those creams I go through a lot of bed linen quickly. they do rub off on the sheets. I tried using the laundrette when my washing machine was broken and I was waiting to get a replacement. It was a nightmare

9. The hardest part about nights are:
On a good night its just creaming up and hoping its enough to keep most itching at bay. On a bad night itching may keep me awake. A bad skin day could mean putting on extra cream and doing the clingfilm bandage wrap over the worse affected area.
10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
Its just the one extra strong antihistamine. Its all about the creams and bath oils for me. Thankfully I haven't had to use an inhaler for a while.

11. Regarding alternative treatments I:
There's nothing available currently within my means or access.

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose; A broken arm since it would heal and improve. People also wouldn't ignore it if it restricts/changes the way you do things.

13. Regarding working and career:
It does make it difficult for me to do certain jobs. I have tried and can only manage up to a certain limit.

14. People would be surprised to know:
That I adore animals especially the furry ones though I should stay away from them. My immune system isn't low.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:
Its not going to go away.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was:
I haven't really explored that as yet.

17. The commercials about my illness:
The nearest I've ever seen is when they have the annual hayfever treatments ads there's nothing on skin stuff.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is:
This would be a bit after diagnosis, I miss having a pet I could pet
19. It was really hard to have to give up:
That'd be the furry pet again.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:
Hmmm that would be swimming and taking long walks. Swimming did help my lungs regarding the asthma. Though I may have to stop the swimming over the water thing now.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would:
Have a bubble fight and be okay hugging someone who wore lots of perfume and body spray.

22. My illness has taught me:
There's more than one way of doing things

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:
Take more vitamins to boost your immune system. I am not malnourished and my immune system is not low its over active.

24. But I love it when people:
Don't spray around lots of air fresheners

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:
I'll have to work on that one

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them:
Start up a creaming regime and your good hygiene can still be maintained.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:
It doesn't define me as a person.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was:
Washed my dishes.
29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because:
Jen asked.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:
OK

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Thursday, September 13, 2012

NICIAW - ADHD, Depression, Anxiety

Chantel writes:

My name is Chantel and I was diagnosed with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder) in 2000 when I was 9 years old. I showed signs of having it at a much earlier age but it is sometimes hard to differentiate between normal childhood inattentiveness and hyperactivity versus true ADHD. I also struggle with depression and anxiety as these play hand-in-hand at times with the ADHD.

It had always been hard for me to follow even the simplest of instructions; not because I wasn’t smart or didn’t know how but because my brain couldn’t slow down enough to even hear the whole set of instructions. I would only get bits and pieces of information at a time because my attention would wander off and on, thus getting me into trouble. I could NOT pay attention if my life depended on it. While all the other kids were outside at recess I was inside doing homework or sitting in time out because I also was always getting into trouble. I would blurt out answers or talk when I wasn’t supposed to. It made the other kids not like me. I was different. I got made fun of a lot. I didn’t like being the weird and annoying kid. I tried so hard to pay attention but my mind just wouldn’t let me. I couldn’t help it. Simple basic math homework of 15 question multiplication problems proved to take me hours and I would stay up bawling all night long because I thought I had to be the stupidest kid in the world. I had no self-worth or friends to speak of and the teachers were terrible to me. That all changed!

I got on medicine when I was 9 and it made such a difference! My C’s and D’s turned into almost all A’s and occasional B’s. Of course it took a lot of different medication changes to find my niche but I am so thankful! I also used behavioral therapy to help train my impulsiveness due to the ADHD.

I still have problems with ADHD in adult life though as it will be a life long struggle I am afraid. My grades did improve and I found out how smart I really was and that I was NOT stupid, but still I struggle with the social aspect of it now. I still am perceived as the “weird” one and frankly I don’t have too many friends and I think that is one of the worst parts of this: loneliness and rejection.

It really bothers me when people tell me to just “stop acting like that” and that I use it as a crutch because I do NOT. I don’t like having this. If I had to choose between a visible or invisible illness I would choose visible because at least I would be believed and get the support and validation that I need to keep going through the day when I become discouraged. Support makes such a difference. I read my Bible when I become discouraged. Philippians 4:13 is one of my favorite verses (among many) that helps me in life.

I chose to be involved in Invisible Illness Week because I wish to bring awareness to these types of illnesses. Just because a person has no physical indication that they are ill does not mean that they aren’t. I hope that the stigma associated with mental health illnesses and other illnesses that cannot be seen with the eyes one day lifts and is recognized and validated. I want it to be that we will no longer be seen as the “weird” or “crazy” ones because our illnesses cannot be seen; we will be seen for what we are: human beings deserving of support and understanding. Blessings to all of you

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Wednesday, September 12, 2012

NICIAW - Fibromyalgia, Meniere's Disease

Izebell writes:

1. The illness I live with is:
PTSD, Fibromyalgia, Meniere's Disease, Tinnitus, Joint Hypermobility, Carpal Tunnel, Arm/hand nerve impingement, DDNOS, chondromalacia

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:
Meniere's, tinnitus - 1995
Fibromyalgia - 2000
PTSD - 2005, 2006, 2011 (different docs)
the rest 2012
Chondromalacia - 1979

3. But I had symptoms since:
Fibro - Not sure
PTSD - 1970
Meniere's/tinnitus - 1995
Joint stuff - 1974
Carpal tunnel/nerve issues - 2006
DDNOS - 1976 (not really sure)
Chondromalacia - 1973

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:
Giving up the things I enjoy doing and making sure I have a few days of rest built in after a busy day.

5. Most people assume:
That I am either just fine or complain a lot

6. The hardest part about mornings are:
Waking still feeling exhausted

7. My favorite medical TV show is:
Untold Stories of the ER

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is:
My braces

9. The hardest part about nights are:
Not sleeping and being too exhausted to interact with My Beloved. There's nothing left for him.

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
8 RX and 6 vitamins

11. Regarding alternative treatments I:
I have tried herbs, chiropractic, massage therapy, acupuncture, diet

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose:
Visible as people can then see something wrong and are more willing to help out

13. Regarding working and career:
I am probably going to have to stop working soon as my hands can't do it any more. Because of the fibro, it takes about 2-3 times longer for me to heal from surgery and I am having my right hand/arm fixed later this year.

14. People would be surprised to know:
How many illnesses I have.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:
The loss of social interaction due to the inability to participate in my favorite hobby

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was:
Go on almost all rides at Disneyland - Tower of Terror is the best! (the virtual reality ones are out, however)

17. The commercials about my illness:
Don't exist

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is:
Bowling but my body just can't do it any more

19. It was really hard to have to give up:
Quilting as it kept me sane and brought me joy.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:
Haven't found it yet as most involve my hands

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would:
Hike a local mountain - 4 miles up and I did it once

22. My illness has taught me:
That God is in control and my strength and support come from Him. All others will fail me.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:
You just need to exercise

24. But I love it when people:
Say "You don't look it!" when I tell them my age. I also like hearing "I understand".

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength." Phil. 4:13 My life verse

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them:
It can get better and you won't always feel like this.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:
That pain is just a part of life and it's usually in the background except right now.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was:
Bring us meals

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because:
Millions of people suffer and the public needs to be educated so they will stop saying stupid stuff.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:
Validated

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Tuesday, September 11, 2012

NICIAW - Pain

An unnamed reader writes:

I've had pain for years but due to being uninsured + in the United States ("greatest medical system in the world," I laughed when I found out people called it that) I've never been diagnosed with anything. I know that I have bone spurs in my feet. I hope I don't have arthritis, because my whole career is based on my ability to move, and if I lose my career I have nothing.

My best theory is that my cartilage was so worn down by the schedule I had to follow when I was trafficked that the bones began to grind together. I worked 20-22 hours a day every day for years. Every time I used to take a step the bones would grind. I just got used to it. There are no gadgets that help this, however I find it is very important to stay warm enough and I have rice bags that I heat up and use to soothe the joints. I'd say my greatest gadget is my pain tolerance, which is very very high.

I would not choose a visible illness over this. If I had a visible illness, I'd never be hired, and the amount of sympathy from other people would not be great enough to cover the loss. People would see my illness before they saw my accomplishments, I think, and things like that really annoy me.

If I could change one thing, I'd make the United States have a universal free health care system. I'll pay more taxes, certainly would be lower than the $200/month I would pay for private insurance if I had money like that.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

I Remember - Do You?

American Airlines Flight 11

Anna Allison-David Angell-Lynn Angell-Seima Aoyama-Barbara Arestegui-Myra Aronson-Christine Barbuto-Carolyn Beug-Kelly Booms-Carol Bouchard-Robin Kaplan-Neilie Casey-Jeffrey Collman-Jeffrey Coombs-Tara Creamer-Thelma Cuccinello-Patrick Currivan-Brian Dale-David Dimeglio-Donald Ditullio-Alberto Dominguez-Paige Farley-Hackel-Alexander Filipov-Carol Flyzik-Paul Friedman-Karleton Fyfe-Peter Gay-Linda George -Edmund Glazer-Lisa Gordenstein-Andrew Green-Peter Hashem-Robert Hayes-Edward Hennessy-John Hofer-Cora Holland-John Humber--Waleed Iskandar-John Jenkins-Charles Jones-Barbara Keating-David Kovalcin-Judith Larocque-Natalie Lasden-Daniel Lee-Daniel Lewin-Sara Low-Susan Mackay-Karen Martin-Thomas McGuinness-Christopher Mello-Jeffrey Mladenik-Carlos Montoya-Antonio Valdes-Laura Morabito-Mildred Naiman-Laurie Neira-Renee Newell-Kathleen Nicosia-Jacqueline Norton-Robert Norton-John Ogonowski-Betty Ong-Jane Orth-Thomas Pecorelli-Berinthia Perkins-Sonia Puopolo-David Retik-Jean Roger-Philip Rosenzweig-Richard Ross-Jessica Sachs-Rahma Salie-Heather Smith-Dianne Snyder-Douglas Stone-Xavier Suarez-Madeline Sweeney-Michael Theodoridis-James Trentini-Mary Trentini-Pendyala Vamsikrishna-Mary Wahlstrom-Kenneth Waldie-John Wenckus-Candace Williams-Christopher Zarba

United Airlines Flight 175


Alona Abraham-Garnet Bailey-Mark Bavis-Graham Berkeley-Touri Bolourchi-Klaus Bothe-Daniel Brandhorst-David Brandhorst-John Cahill-Christoffer Carstanjen-John Corcoran-Dorothy de Araujo-Ana Debarrera-Robert Fangman-Lisa Frost-Ronald Gamboa-Lynn Goodchild-Peter Goodrich-Douglas Gowell-Francis Grogan-Carl Hammond-Christine Hanson-Peter Hanson-Susan Hanson-Gerald Hardacre-Eric Hartono-James Hayden-Herbert Homer-Michael Horrocks-Robert Jalbert-Amy Jarret-Ralph Kershaw-Heinrich Kimmig-Amy King-Brian Kinney-Kathryn LaBorie-Robert Leblanc-Maclovio Lopez-Marianne Macfarlane-Alfred Marchand-Louis Mariani-Juliana McCourt-Ruth McCourt-Wolfgang Menzel-Shawn Nassaney-Marie Pappalardo-Patrick Quigley-Frederick Rimmele-James Roux-Jesus Sanchez-Victor Saracini-Mary Shearer-Robert Shearer-Jane Simpkin-Brian Sweeney-Michael Tarrou-Alicia Titus-Timothy Ward-William Weems

Pentagon


Craig Amundson-Melissa Barnes-Max Beilke-Kris Bishundat-Carrie Blagburn-Canfield Boone-Donna Bowen-Allen Boyle-Christopher Burford-Daniel Caballero-Jose Calderon-Olmedo-Angelene Carter-Sharon Carver-John Chada-Rosa Chapa-Julian Cooper-Eric Cranford-Ada Davis-Gerald DeConto-Jerry Dickerson-Johnnie Doctor-Robert Dolan-William Donovan-Patrick Dunn-Edward Earhart-Robert Elseth-Jamie Fallon-Amelia Fields-Gerald Fisher-Matthew Flocco-Sandra Foster-Lawrence Getzfred-Cortez Ghee-Brenda Gibson-Ronald Golinski-Diane Hale-McKinzy-Carolyn Halmon-Sheila Hein-Ronald Hemenway-Wallace Hogan-Jimmie Holley-Angela Houtz-Brady Howell-Peggie Hurt-Stephen Hyland-Robert Hymel-Lacey Ivory-Dennis Johnson-Judith Jones-Brenda Kegler-Michael Lamana-David Laychak-Samantha Lightbourn-Allen-Stephen Long-James Lynch-Terence Lynch-Nehamon Lyons-Shelley Marshall-Teresa Martin-Ada Mason-Acker-Dean Mattson-Timothy Maude-Robert Maxwell-Molly McKenzie-Patricia Mickley-Ronald Milam-Gerard Moran-Odessa Morris-Brian Moss-Teddington Moy-Patrick Murphy-Khang Nguyen-Michael Noetn-Ruben Ornedo-Diana Padro-Jonas Panik-Clifford Patterson-Darin Pontell-Scott Powell-Jack Punches-Joseph Pycior-Deborah Ramsaur-Rhonda Rasmussen-Marsha Ratchford-Martha Reszke-Cecelia Richard-Edward Rowenhorst-Judy Rowlett-Robert Russell-William Ruth-Charles Sabin-Marjorie Salamone-David Scales-Robert Schlegel-Janice Scott-Michael Selves-Marian Serva-Dan Shanower-Antionette Sherman-Diane Simmons-Cheryle Sincock-Gregg Smallwood-Gary Smith-Patricia Statz-Edna Stephens-Larry Strickland-Kip Taylor-Sandra Taylor-Karl Teepe-Tamara Thurman-Otis Tolbert-Willie Troy-Ronald Vauk-Karen Wagner-Meta Waller-Chin Sun Wells-Maudlyn White-Sandra White-Ernest Willcher-David Williams-Dwayne Williams-Marvin Woods-Kevin Yokum-Donald Young-Edmond Young-Lisa Young

American Airlines Flight 77


Paul Ambrose-Yeneneh Betru-Mary Booth-Bernard Brown-Charles Burlingame-Suzanne Calley-William Caswell-David Charlebois-Sarah Clark-Asia Cottom-James Debeuneure-Rodney Dickens-Eddie Dillard-Charles Droz-Barbara Edwards-Charles Falkenberg-Dana Falkenberg-Zoe Falkenberg-Joseph Ferguson-Darlene Flagg-Wilson Flagg-Richard Gabriel-Ian Gray-Stanley Hall-Michele Heidenberger-Bryan Jack-Steven Jacoby-Ann Judge-Chandler Keller-Yvonne Kennedy-Norma Khan-Karen Kincaid-Dong Lee-Jennifer Lewis-Kenneth Lewis-Renee May-Dora Menchaca-Christopher Newton-Barbara Olson-Ruben Ornedo-Robert Penninger-Robert Ploger-Zandra Ploger-Lisa Raines-Todd Reuben-John Sammartino-George Simmons-Donald Simmons-Mari-Rae Sopper-Robert Speisman-Norma Steuerle-Hilda Taylor-Leonard Taylor-Sandra Teague-Leslie Whittington- John Yamnicky-Vicki Yancey-Shuyin Yang-Yuguag Zheng

United Airlines Flight 93


Christian Adams-Lorraine Bay-Todd Beamer-Alan Beaven--Mark Bingham-Deora Bodley-Sandra Bradshaw-Marion Britton-Thomas Burnett-William Cashman-Georgine Corrigan-Patricia Cushing-Jason Dahl-Joseph Deluca-Patrick Driscoll-Edward Felt-Jane Folger-Colleen Fraser-Andrew Garcia-Jeremy Glick-Lauren Grandcolas-Wanda Green-Donald Greene-Linda Gronlund-Richard Guadagno-Leroy Homer-Toshiya Kuge-CeeCee Lyles-Hilda Marcin-Waleska Martinez-Nicole Miller-Louis Nacke-Donald Peterson-Jean Peterson-Mark Rothenberg-Christine Snyder-John Talignani-Elizabeth Wainio-Deborah Welsh-Kristin White

World Trade Center Towers

Gordon Aamoth-Edelmiro Abad-Maria Abad-Andrew Abate-Vincent Abate-Laurence Abel-William Abrahamson-Richard Aceto-Jesus Rescand-Heinrich Ackermann-Paul Acquaviva-Donald Adams-Patrick Adams-Shannon Adams-Stephen Adams-Ignatius Adanga-Christy Addamo-Terence Adderley-Sophia Addo-Lee Adler-Daniel Afflitto-Emmanuel Afuakwah-Alok Agarwal-Mukul Agarwala-Joseph Agnello-David Agnes-Brian Ahearn-Jeremiah Ahern-Joanne Ahladiotis-Shabbir Ahmed-Terrance Aiken-Godwin Ajala-Gertrude Alagero-Andrew Alameno-Margaret Alario-Gary Albero-Jon Albert-Peter Alderman-Jacquelyn Aldridge-David Alger-Sarah Ali-Escarcega-Ernest Alikakos-Edward Allegretto-Eric Allen-Joseph Allen-Richard D. Allen-Richard L. Allen-Christopher Allingham-Janet Alonso-Arturo Alva-Moreno-Anthony Alvarado-Antonio Alvarez-Victoria Alvarez-Brito-Telmo Alvear-Cesar Alviar-Tariq Amanullah-Angelo Amaranto-James Amato-Joseph Amatuccio-Christopher Amoroso-Kazuhiro Anai-Calixto Anaya-Joseph Anchundia-Kermit Anderson-Yvette Anderson-John Andreacchio-Michael Andrews-Jean Andrucki-Siew-Nya Ang-Joseph Angelini, Jr-Joseph Angelini, Sr-Laura Angilletta-Doreen Angrisani-Lorraine Antigua-Peter Apollo-Faustino Apostol-Frank Aquilino-Patrick Aranyos-David Arce-Michael Arczynski -Louis Arena-Adam Arias-Michael Armstrong-Jack Aron-Joshua Aron-Richard Aronow-Japhet Aryee-Patrick Asante-Carl Asaro-Michael Asciak-Michael Asher-Janice Ashley-Thomas Ashton-Manuel Asitimbay-Gregg Atlas-Gerald Atwood-James Audiffred-Louis Aversano-Ezra Aviles-Sandy Ayala-Arlene Babakitis-Eustace Bacchus-John Badagliacca-Jane Baeszler-Robert Baierwalter-Andrew Bailey-Brett Bailey-Tatyana Bakalinskaya-Michael Baksh-Sharon Balkcom-Michael Bane-Katherine Bantis-Gerard Baptiste-Walter Baran-Gerard Barbara-Paul Barbaro-James Barbella-Ivan Barbosa-Victor Barbosa-Colleen Barkow-David Barkway-Matthew Barnes-Sheila Barnes-Evan Baron-Renee Barrett-Arjune-Nathaly Barrios-Arthur Barry-Diane Barry-Maurice Barry-Scott Bart-Carlton Bartels-Guy Barzvi-Inna Basina-Alysia Basmajian-Kenneth Basnicki-Steven Bates-Paul Battaglia-Walter Bauer-Marlyn Bautista-Jasper Baxter-Michele Beale-Paul Beatini-Jane Beatty-Lawrence Beck-Manette Beckles-Carl Bedigian-Michael Beekman-Maria Behr-Yelena Belilovsky -Nina Bell-Debbie Bellows-Stephen Belson-Paul Benedetti-Denise Benedetto -Maria Bengochea-Bryan Bennett-Eric Bennett-Oliver Bennett-Margaret Benson-Dominick Berardi-James Berger-Steven Berger-John Bergin-Alvin Bergsohn-Daniel Bergstein-Michael Berkeley-Donna Bernaerts-David Bernard-William Bernstein-David Berray-David. Berry-Joseph Berry-William Bethke-Timothy Betterly-Edward Beyea-Paul Beyer-Anil Bharvaney-Bella Bhukhan-Shimmy Biegeleisen-Peter Bielfeld-William Biggart-Brian Bilcher-Carl Bini-Gary Bird-Joshua Birnbaum-George Bishop-Jeffrey Bittner-Albert Blackman-Christopher Blackwell-Susan Blair-Harry Blanding-Janice Blaney-Craig Blass-Rita Blau-Richard Blood-Michael Boccardi -John Bocchi-Michael Bocchino-Susan Bochino-Bruce Boehm-Mary Boffa-Nicholas Bogdan-Darren Bohan-Lawrence Boisseau-Vincent Boland-Alan Bondarenko -Andre Bonheur-Colin Bonnett-Frank Bonomo-Yvonne Bonomo-Genieve Bonsignore -Seaon Booker-Sherry Bordeaux-Krystine Bordenabe-Martin Boryczewski-Richard Bosco-John Boulton-Francisco Bourdier-Thomas Bowden-Kimberly Bowers-Veronique Bowers-Larry Bowman-Shawn Bowman-Kevin Bowser-Gary Box-Gennady Boyarsky-Pamela Boyce-Michael Boyle-Alfred Braca-Kevin Bracken-David Brady-Alexander Braginsky-Nicholas Brandemarti-Michelle Bratton-Patrice Braut-Lydia Bravo-Ronald Breitweiser-Edward Brennan-Francis Brennan-Michael Brennan-Peter Brennan-Thomas Brennan-Daniel Brethel-Gary Bright-Jonathan Briley-Mark Brisman-Paul Bristow-Mark Broderick-Herman Broghammer-Keith Broomfield-Ethel Janice-Juloise Brown-Lloyd Brown-Patrick Brown-Bettina Browne-Mark Bruce-Richard Bruehert-Andrew Brunn-Vincent Brunton-Ronald Bucca-Brandon Buchanan-Gregory Buck-Dennis Buckley-Nancy Bueche-Patrick Buhse-John Bulaga-Stephen Bunin-Matthew Burke -Thomas Burke-William Burke-Donald Burns-Kathleen Burns-Keith Burns-John Burnside-Irina Buslo-Milton Bustillo-Thomas Butler-Patrick Byrne-Timothy Byrne-Jesus Cabezas-Lillian Caceres-Brian Cachia-Steven Cafiero-Richard Caggiano-Cecile Caguicla-Michael Cahill-Scott Cahill-Thomas Cahill-George Cain-Salvatore Calabro-Joseph Calandrillo-Philip Calcagno-Edward Calderon-Kenneth Caldwell-Dominick Calia-Felix Calixte-Frank Callahan-Liam Callahan-Luigi Calvi-Roko Camaj-Michael Cammarata-David Campbell-Geoffrey Campbell-Jill Campbell-Robert Campbell-Sandra Campbell-Sean Canavan-John Candela-Vincent Cangelosi-Stephen Cangialosi-Lisa Cannava-Brian Cannizzaro -Michael Canty-Louis Caporicci-Jonathan Cappello-James Cappers-Richard Caproni-Jose Cardona-Dennis Carey-Steve Carey-Edward Carlino-Michael Carlo-David Carlone -Rosemarie Carlson-Mark Carney-Joyce Carpeneto-Ivhan Bautista -Jeremy Carrington-Michael Carroll-Peter Carroll-James Carson-Marcia Carter-James Cartier-Vivian Casalduc-John Casazza-Paul Cascio-Margarito Casillas-Thomas Casoria-William Caspar-Alejandro Castano-Arcelia Castillo-Germaan Garcia-Leonard Castrianno-Jose Castro-Richard Catarelli-Christopher Caton-Robert Caufield-Mary Caulfield-Judson Cavalier-Michael Cawley-Jason Cayne-Juan Ceballos-Jason Cefalu-Thomas Celic-Ana Centeno-Joni Cesta-Jeffrey Chairnoff-Swarna Chalasani -William Chalcoff-Eli Chalouh-Charles Chan-Mandy Chang-MarkCharette-Gregorio Chavez-Delrose Cheatham-Pedro Checo-Douglas Cherry-Stephen Cherry-Vernon Cherry-Nester Chevalier-Swede Chevalier -Alexander Chiang-Dorothy Chiarchiaro-Luis Chimbo-Robert Chin-Wing Ching-Nicholas Chiofalo-John Chipura-Peter Chirchirillo-Catherine Chirls-Kung Cho-Abul Chowdhury-Mohammad Chowdhury-Kirsten Christophe-Pamela Chu-Steven Chucknick-Wai Chung-Christopher Ciafardini-Alex Ciccone-Frances Cilente-Elaine Cillo-Edna Cintron-Nestor Cintron-Robert Cirri-Juan Cisneros-Alvarez-Benjamin Clark-Eugene Clark-Gregory Clark-Mannie Clark-Thomas Clark-Christopher Clarke-Donna Clarke-Michael Clarke -Suria Clarke-Kevin Cleary-James Cleere -Geoffrey Cloud-Susan Clyne-Steven Coakley-Jeffrey Coale-Patricia Cody-Daniel Coffey-Jason Coffey-Florence Cohen-Kevin Cohen-Anthony Coladonato-Mark Colaio-Stephen Colaio-Christopher Colasanti-Kevin Colbert-Michel Colbert -Keith Coleman-Scott Coleman-Tarel Coleman-Liam Colhoun-Robert Colin-Robert Coll-Jean Collin-John Collins-Michael Collins-Thomas Collins-Joseph Collison-Patricia Colodner-Linda Colon-Sol Colon-Ronald Comer-Sandra Brace-Jaime Concepcion-Albert Conde-Denease Conley-Susan Conlon-Margaret Conner-Cynthia Connolly-John Connolly-James Connor-Jonathan Connors-Kevin Connors-Kevin Conroy-Jose Contreras-Fernandez-Brenda Conway-Dennis Cook-Helen Cook-John Cooper-Joseph Coppo-Gerard Coppola-Joseph Corbett-Alejandro Cordero-Robert Cordice-Ruben Correa-Danny Correa-Gutierrez-James Corrigan-Carlos Cortes-Kevin Cosgrove-Dolores Costa-Digna Costanza-Charles Costello-Michael Costello-Conrod Cottoy-Martin Coughlan-John Coughlin-Timothy Coughlin-James Cove-Andre Cox-Frederick Cox-James Coyle-Michele Coyle-Eulau-Anne Cramer-Christopher Cramer-Denise Crant-James Crawford-Robert Crawford-Joanne Cregan-Lucy Crifasi-John Crisci-Daniel Crisman-Dennis Cross-Kevin Crotty-Thomas Crotty-John Crowe-Welles Crowther-Robert Cruikshank-John Cruz -Grace Cua-Kenneth Cubas-FranciscoCubero-Richard Cudina-Neil Cudmore-Thomas Cullen-Joyce Cummings -Brian Cummins-Michael Cunningham-Robert Curatolo-Laurence Curia-Paul Curioli-Beverly Curry-Michael Curtin -Gavin Cushny-John D'Allara-Vincent D'Amadeo-Jack D'Ambrosi-Mary D'Antonio-Edward D'Atri-Michael D'Auria-Michael D'Esposito-Manuel Da Mota-Caleb Dack-Carlos DaCosta-Joao Alberto -DaFonseca Aguiar-Thomas Damaskinos-Jeannine Damiani-Jones-Patrick Danahy-Nana Danso-Vincent Danz-Dwight Darcy-Elizabeth Darling-Annette Dataram-Lawrence Davidson-Michael Davidson-Scott Davidson-Titus Davidson-Niurka Davila-Clinton Davis-Wayne Davis-Anthony Dawson-Calvin Dawson-Edward Day-Jayceryll de Chavez-Jennifer De Jesus-Monique De Jesus-Nereida De Jesus-Emerita De La Pena-Azucena de la Torre-David De Rubbio-Jemal De Santis -Christian De Simone-Melanie De Vere-William Dean-Robert DeAngelis-Thomas DeAngelis-Tara Debek-Anna DeBin-James Deblase-Paul DeCola-Simon Dedvukaj-Jason Defazio-David DeFeo-Manuel Del Valle-Donald Delapenha-Vito DeLeo-Danielle Delie-Joseph Pietra-Andrea DellaBella-Palmina DelliGatti-Colleen Delougher-Francis DeMartini-Anthony Demas-Martin DeMeo-Francis Deming-Carol Demitz-Kevin Dennis-Thomas Dennis-Jean DePalma-Jose Depena-Robert Deraney-Michael DeRienzo-Edward DeSimone-Andrew Desperito-Cindy Deuel-Jerry DeVito-Robert Devitt-Dennis Devlin-Gerard Dewan-Sulemanali Dhanani-Patricia Di Chiaro-Debra Di Martino-Michael Diagostino-Matthew Diaz-Nancy Diaz-Rafael Diaz-Michael Diaz-Piedra-Judith Diaz-Sierra-Joseph Dickey-Lawrence Dickinson-Michael Diehl-John Difato-Vincent Difazio-Carl DiFranco-Donald Difranco-Stephen Dimino-William Dimmling-Marisa Schorpp-Christophe Dincuff-Jeffrey Dingle-Anthony Dionisio-George DiPasquale-Joseph Dipilato-Douglas DiStefano-Ramzi Doany-John Doherty-Melissa Doi-Brendan Dolan-Neil Dollard-James Domanico -Benilda Domingo -Carlos Dominguez-Jerome Dominguez-Kevin Donnelly-Jacqueline Donovan-Stephen Dorf-Thomas Dowd-Kevin Dowdell-Mary Dowling-Raymond Downey-Frank Doyle-Joseph Doyle-Stephen Driscoll-Mirna Duarte-Michelle Duberry -Luke Dudek-Christopher Duffy -Gerard Duffy-Michael Duffy-Thomas Duffy -Antoinette Duger -Sareve Dukat-Christopher Dunne-Richard Dunstan-Patrick Dwyer-Joseph Eacobacci-John Eagleson-Robert Eaton-Dean Eberling-Margaret Echtermann-Paul Eckna-Constantine Economos-Dennis Edwards-Michael Edwards-Christine Egan-Lisa Egan-Martin Egan-Michael Egan-Samantha Egan-Carole Eggert-Lisa Ehrlich-John Eichler-Eric Eisenberg-Daphne Elder-Michael Elferis-Mark Ellis-Valerie Ellis-Albert Elmarry-Edgar Emery-Doris Eng-Christopher Epps-Ulf Ericson-Erwin Erker-William Erwin-Jose Espinal-Fanny Espinoza-Bridget Esposito-Francis Esposito -Michael Esposito -William Esposito -Ruben Esquilin-Sadie Ette-Barbara Etzold-Eric Evans-Robert Evans-Meredith Emily -June Ewart-Catherine Fagan-Patricia Fagan-Keith Fairben-Sandra Fajardo-Smith-William Fallon-William Fallon, Jr-Anthony Fallone-Dolores Fanelli-John Fanning-Kathleen Faragher-Thomas Farino-Nancy Farley-Elizabeth Farmer-Douglas Farnum-John Farrell-John Farrell, Jr-Terrence Farrell-Joseph Farrelly-Thomas Farrelly-Syed Fatha-Christopher Faughnan-Wendy Faulkner-Shannon Fava-Bernard Favuzza-Robert Fazio-Ronald Fazio-William Feehan-Francis Feely-Garth Feeney-Sean Fegan-Lee Fehling-Peter Feidelberg-Alan Feinberg-Rosa Feliciano-Edward Fergus-George Ferguson-Henry Fernandez-Judy Fernandez-Julio Fernandez-Elisa Ferraina-Anne Ferreira-Robert Ferris-David Ferrugio-Louis Fersini-Michael Ferugio-Bradley Fetchet-Jennifer Fialko-Kristen Fiedel-Samuel Fields-Michael Finnegan-Timothy Finnerty-Michael Fiore-Stephen Fiorelli-Paul Fiori-John Fiorito-John Fischer-Andrew Fisher-Bennett Fisher-John Fisher-Thomas Fisher-Lucy Fishman-Ryan Fitzgerald-Thomas Fitzpatrick-Richard Fitzsimons-Salvatore Fiumefreddo-Christina Flannery-Eileen Flecha-Andre Fletcher-Carl Flickinger-John Florio-Joseph Flounders-David Fodor-Michael Fodor-Stephen Fogel-Thomas Foley-David Fontana-Chih Foo-Godwin Forde-Donald Foreman-Christopher Forsythe-Claudia Foster-Noel Foster-Ana Fosteris-Robert Foti-Jeffrey Fox-Virginia Fox-Pauline Francis-Virgin Francis-Gary Frank-Morton Frank-Peter Frank-Richard Fraser-Kevin Frawley-Clyde Frazier -Lillian Frederick-Andrew Fredricks-Tamitha Freeman-Brett Freiman-Peter Freund-Arlene Fried -Alan Friedlander-Andrew Friedman-Gregg Froehner-Peter Fry-Clement Fumando-Steven Furman-Paul Furmato-Fredric Gabler-Richard Gabrielle-James Gadiel-Pamela Gaff -Ervin Gailliard-Deanna Galante-Grace Galante-Anthony Gallagher-Daniel Gallagher-John Gallagher-Lourdes Galletti-Cono Gallo-Vincenzo Gallucci-Thomas Galvin-Giovanna Gambale-Thomas Gambino-Giann Gamboa-Peter Ganci-Ladkat Ganesh-Claude Gann-Osseni Garba-Charles Garbarini-Ceasar Garcia-David Garcia-Juan Garcia-Marlyn Garcia-Christopher Gardner-Douglas Gardner-Harvey Gardner-Jeffrey Gardner-Thomas Gardner-William Gardner-Francesco Garfi-Rocco Gargano-James Gartenberg-Matthew Garvey-Bruce Gary-Boyd Gatton-Donald Gavagan-Terence Gazzani-Gary Geidel-Paul Geier-Julie Geis-Peter Gelinas-Steven Geller-Howard Gelling-Peter Genco-Steven Genovese-Alayne Gentul-Edward Geraghty-Suzanne Geraty-Ralph Gerhardt-Robert Gerlich-Denis Germain-Marina Gertsberg-Susan Getzendanner-James Geyer-Joseph Giaccone-Vincent Giammona-Debra Gibbon-James Giberson-Craig Gibson-Ronnie Gies-Laura Giglio-Andrew Gilbert-Timothy Gilbert-Paul Gilbey-Paul Gill-Mark Gilles-Evan Gillette-Ronald Gilligan-Rodney Gillis-Laura Gilly-John Ginley-Donna Giordano-Jeffrey Giordano-John Giordano-Steven Giorgetti-Martin Giovinazzo-Kum-Kum Girolamo-Salvatore Gitto-Cynthia Giugliano-Mon Gjonbalaj-Dianne Gladstone-Keith Glascoe-Thomas Glasser-Harry Glenn-Barry Glick-Steven Glick-John Gnazzo-William Godshalk-Michael Gogliormella-Brian Goldberg-Jeffrey Goldflam-Michelle Goldstein-Monica Goldstein-Steven Goldstein -Andrew Golkin -Dennis Gomes-Enrique Gomez-Jose Gomez-Manuel Gomez-Wilder Gomez-Jenine Gonzalez-Mauricio Gonzalez-Rosa Gonzalez-Calvin Gooding-Harry Goody-Kiran Gopu-Catherine Gorayeb-Kerene Gordon-Sebastian Gorki-Kieran Gorman-Thomas Gorman-Michael Gould-Yuji Goya-Jon Grabowski-Christopher Grady-Edwin Graf -David Graifman-Gilbert Granados-Elvira Granitto-Winston Grant-Christopher Gray-James Gray-Tara Gray-Linda Grayling-John Grazioso-Timothy Grazioso -Derrick Green-Wade Green-Elaine Greenberg-Gayle greene-James Greenleaf-Eileen Greenstein -Elizabeth Gregg-Denise Gregory-Donald Gregory-Florence Gregory-Pedro Grehan -John Griffin-Tawanna Griffin-Joan Griffith-Warren Grifka-Ramon Grijalvo-Joseph Grillo-David Grimner-Kenneth Grouzalis-Joseph Grzelak-Matthew Grzymalski-Robert Gschaar-Liming Gu-Jose Guadalupe-Cindy Guan-Joel Gonzalez-Geoffrey Guja-Joseph Gullickson-Babita Guman-Douglas Gurian-Janet Gustafson-Philip Guza-Barbara Guzzardo-Peter Gyulavary-Gary Haag-Andrea Haberman-Barbara Habib-Philip Haentzler-Nezam Hafiz-Karen Hagerty-Steven Hagis-Mary Hague-David Halderman-Maile Hale-Richard Hall-Vaswald Hall-Robert Halligan-Vincent Halloran-James Halvorson-Mohammad Hamdani-Felicia Hamilton-Robert Hamilton-Frederic Han-Christopher Hanley-Sean Hanley-Valerie Hanna-Thomas Hannafin-Kevin Hannaford-Michael Hannan-Dana Hannon-Vassilios Haramis-James Haran-Jeffrey Hardy-Timothy Hargrave-Daniel Harlin-Frances Haros-Harvey Harrell-Stephen Harrell-Melissa Harrington-Aisha Harris-Stewart Harris-John Hart -John Hartz-Emeric Harvey-Thomas Haskell-Timothy Haskell-Joseph Hasson-Leonard Hatton-Terence Hatton-Michael Haub-Timothy Haviland-Donald Havlish-Anthony Hawkins -Nobuhiro Hayatsu-Philip Hayes-William Haynes-Scott Hazelcorn-Michael Healey-Roberta Heber-Charles Heeran-John Heffernan-Joseph Heller-Joann Heltibridle-Mark Hemschoot-Ronnie Henderson-Brian Hennessey -Michelle Henrique-Joseph Henry-William Henry-John Henwood-Robert Hepburn-Mary Herencia-Lindsay Herkness-Harvey Hermer-Claribel Hernandez-Eduardo Hernandez-Nuberto Hernandez-Raul Hernandez-Gary Herold-Jeffrey Hersch -Thomas Hetzel-Brian Hickey-Ysidro Hidalgo-Timothy Higgins-Robert Higley-Todd Hill-Clara Hinds-Neal Hinds-Mark Hindy-Katsuyuki Hirai-Heather Ho-Tara Hobbs-Thomas Hobbs-James Hobin-Robert Hobson-DaJuan Hodges-Ronald Hoerner-Patrick Hoey-Marcia Hoffman-Stephen Hoffman-Frederick Hoffmann-Michele Hoffmann-Judith Hofmiller-Thomas Hohlweck-Jonathan Hohmann-John Holland-Joseph Holland-Elizabeth Holmes-Thomas Holohan -Bradley Hoorn-James Hopper-Montgomery Hord-Michael Horn-Matthew Horning -Robert Horohoe-Aaron Horwitz-Charles Houston-Uhuru Houston-George Howard-Michael Howell-Steven Howell-Jennifer Howley-Milagros Hromada-Marian Hrycak -Stephen Huczko-Kris Hughes-Paul Hughes-Robert Hughes-Thomas Hughes-Timothy Hughes-Susan Huie-Lamar Hulse-William Hunt-Kathleen Hunt-Casey-Joseph Hunter-Robert Hussa-Abid Hussain-Thomas Hynes-Walter Hynes-Joseph Ianelli-Zuhtu Ibis-Jonathan Ielpi-Michael Iken-Daniel Ilkanayev-Frederick Ill-Abraham Ilowitz-Anthony Infante-Louis Inghilterra-Christopher Ingrassia-Paul Innella-Stephanie Irby-Douglas Irgang-Kristin Irvine-Todd Isaac-Erik Isbrandtsen-Taizo Ishikawa-Aram Iskenderian-John Iskyan-Kazushige Ito-Aleksandr Ivantsov-Virginia Jablonski-Brooke Jackman-Aaron Jacobs-Ariel Jacobs-Jason Jacobs-Michael Jacobs-Steven Jacobson-Ricknauth Jaggernauth-Jake Jagoda-Yudh Jain-Maria Jakubiak-Ernest James-Gricelda James-Priscilla James-Mark Jardim-Muhammadou Jawara-Francois Jean-Pierre-Maxima Jean-Pierre-Paul Jeffers-Alva Jeffries-Joseph Jenkins-Alan Jensen-Prem Jerath-Farah Jeudy-Hweidar Jian-Eliezer Jimenez-Luis Jimenez-Fernando Jimenez-Molina -Charles John-Nicholas John-LaShawna Johnson-Scott Johnson-William Johnston-Allison Jones-Arthur Jones-Brian Jones-Christopher Jones-Donald T. Jones-Donald W. Jones -Linda Jones-Mary Jones-Andrew Jordan-Robert Jordan-Albert Joseph-Guylene Joseph-Ingeborg Joseph-Karl Joseph-Stephen Joseph-Jane Josiah-Anthony Jovic-Angel Juarbe-Karen Juday -Mychal Judge-Paul Jurgens-Thomas Jurgens-Kacinga Kabeya-Shashikira Kadaba-Gavkharoy Kamardinova-Shari Kandell-Howard Kane-Jennifer Kane-Vincent Kane-Joon Kang-Sheldon Kanter-Deborah Kaplan-Alvin Kappelmann-Charles Karczewski-William Karnes-Douglas Karpiloff-Charles Kasper-Andrew Kates-John Katsimatides-Robert Kaulfers-Don Kauth-Hideya Kawauchi-Edward Keane-Richard Keane-Lisa Kearney-Griffin-Karol Keasler-Paul Keating-Leo Keene -Joseph Keller-Peter Kellerman-Joseph Kellett -Frederick Kelley-James Kelly-Joseph Kelly-Maurice Kelly-Richard Kelly-Thomas M. Kelly-Thomas R. Kelly-Thomas W. Kelly-Timothy Kelly-William Kelly-Robert Kennedy-Thomas Kennedy-John Keohane -Ronald Kerwin -Howard Kestenbaum-Douglas Ketcham-Ruth Ketler-Boris Khalif-Sarah Khan-Taimour Khan-Rajesh Khandelwal-Oliva Khemrat-SeiLai Khoo-Michael Kiefer-Satoshi Kikuchihara-Andrew Kim-Lawrence Kim -Mary Kimelman-Andrew King-Lucille King-Robert King-Lisa King-Johnson-Takashi Kinoshita-Chris Kirby-Howard Kirschbaum-Glenn Kirwin-Helen Kittle-Richard Klares-Peter Klein-Alan Kleinberg-Karen Klitzman-Ronald Kloepfer-Evgueni Kniazev-Andrew Knox-Thomas Knox-Rebecca Koborie-Deborah Kobus-Gary Koecheler-Frank Koestner-Ryan Kohart-Vanessa Kolpak-Irina Kolpakova-Suzanne Kondratenko-Abdoulaye Kone-Bon-Seok Koo-Dorota Kopiczko -Scott Kopytko-Bojan Kostic-Danielle Kousoulis-John Kren-William Krukowski-Lyudmila Ksido-Shekhar Kumar-Kenneth Kumpel-Frederick Kuo-Patricia Kuras-Nauka Kushitani-Thomas Kuveikis -Victor Kwarkye-Kui Kwok-Angela Kyte-Andrew La Corte-Amarnauth Lachhman-James Ladley-Joseph LaFalce-Jeanette Lafond-Menichino-David Laforge-Michael Laforte-Alan Charles LaFrance-Juan Lafuente-Neil Lai-Vincent Laieta-William Lake-Franco Lalama-Chow Lam-Stephen LaMantia-Amy Lamonsoff-Nickola Lampley-Robert Lane-Brendan Lang-Rosanne Lang-Vanessa Langer-Mary Langley-Peter Langone-Thomas Langone-Michele Lanza-Ruth Lapin-Carol LaPlante-Ingeborg Lariby-Robin Larkey-Christopher Larrabee-Hamidou Larry-Scott Larsen-John Larson-Gary Lasko-Nicholas Lassman-Paul Laszczynski-Jeffrey LaTouche-Charles Laurencin-Stephen Lauria-Maria LaVache-Denis Lavelle-Jeannine LaVerde-Anna Laverty-Steven Lawn-Robert Lawrence-Nathaniel Lawson-Eugen Lazar-James Leahy-Joseph Leavey-Neil Leavy-Leon Lebor-Kenneth Ledee-Alan Lederman-Elena Ledesma-Alexis Leduc-David Lee-Gary Lee-Hyun Lee-Juanita Lee-Kathryn Lee-Linda Lee-Lorraine Lee-Myoung Lee-Richard Lee-Stuart Lee-Yang Lee-Stephen Lefkowitz-Adriana Legro-Edward Lehman-Eric Lehrfeld-David Leistman-David Lemagne-Joseph Lenihan-John Lennon-John Lenoir-Jorge Leon-Matthew Leonard-Michael Lepore-Charles Lesperance-Jeff Leveen-John Levi-Alisha Levin-Neil Levin-Robert Levine-Robert M. Levine-Shai Levinhar-Adam Lewis-Margaret Lewis-Ye Liang-Orasri Liangthanasarn-Daniel Libretti-Ralph Licciardi-Edward Lichtschein-Steven Lillianthal-Carlos Lillo-Craig Lilore-Arnold Lim-Darya Lin-Wei Lin-Nickie Lindo-Thomas Linehan-Robert Linnane-Alan Linton-Diane Lipari-Kenneth Lira-Francisco Liriano-Lorraine Lisi-Paul Lisson-Vincent Litto-Ming-Hao Liu-Nancy Liz-Harold Lizcano-Martin Lizzul-George Llanes-Elizabeth Logler-Catherine Loguidice-Jerome Lohez-Michael Lomax-Laura Longing-Salvatore Lopes-Daniel Lopez-George Lopez-Luis Lopez-Manuel L. Lopez-Joseph Lostrangio-Chet Louie-Stuart Louis -Joseph Lovero-Jenny Wong-Michael Lowe -Garry Lozier-John Lozowsky-Charles Lucania-Edward Luckett-Mark Ludvigsen-Lee Ludwig-Sean Lugano-Daniel Lugo-Marie Lukas-William Lum-Michael Lunden-Christopher Lunder-Anthony Luparello-Gary Lutnick-William Lutz-Linda Luzzicone-Alexander Lygin-Farrell Lynch-James Lynch-Louise A. Lynch-Michael C. Lynch-Michael F. Lynch-Michael Francis Lynch-Richard Lynch-Robert Lynch-Sean P. Lynch-Sean Patrick Lynch-Michael Lyons-Monica Lyons-Patrick Lyons-Robert Mace-Jan Maciejewski-Catherine Macrae-Richard Madden-Simon Maerz-Jennieann Maffeo-Joseph Maffeo-Jay Magazine-Brian Magee-Charles Magee-Joseph Maggitti-Ronald Magnuson-Daniel Maher-Thomas Mahon-William Mahoney-Joseph Maio-Takashi Makimoto-Abdu Malahi-Debora Maldonado-Myrna Maldonado-Agosto-Alfred Maler-Gregory Malone-Edward Maloney-Joseph Maloney-Gene Maloy-Christian Maltby-Francisco Mancini-Joseph Mangano -Sara Manley-Debra Mannetta-Marion Manning-Terence Manning-James Maounis-Joseph Marchbanks-Peter Mardikian-Edward Mardovich-Charles Margiotta -Kenneth Marino-Lester Marino-Vita Marino-Kevin Marlo-Jose Marrero-John Marshall-James Martello-Michael Marti-Peter Martin-William Martin-Brian Martineau-Betsy Martinez-Edward Martinez -Jose Martinez-Robert Martinez-Victor Martinez Pastrana-Lizie Martinez-Calderon-Paul Martini-Joseph Mascali-Bernard Mascarenhas-Stephen Masi-Nicholas Massa-Patricia Massari-Michael Massaroli-Philip Mastrandrea-Rudolph Mastrocinque-Joseph Mathai-Charles Mathers-William Mathesen-Marcello Matricciano-Margaret Mattic-Robert Mattson-Walter Matuza-Charles A. Mauro-Charles J. Mauro -Dorothy Mauro-Nancy Mauro-Tyrone May-Keithroy Maynard-Robert Mayo-Kathy Mazza-Edward Mazzella-Jennifer Mazzotta-Kaaria Mbaya-James McAlary-Brian McAleese-Patricia McAneney-Colin McArthur-John McAvoy-Kenneth McBrayer-Brendan McCabe-Micheal McCabe -Thomas McCann -Justin McCarthy-Kevin McCarthy-Michael McCarthy-Robert McCarthy -Stanley McCaskill-Katie McCloskey-Joan McConnell-Cullinan-Charles McCrann-Tonyell McDay -Matthew McDermott-Joseph McDonald-Brian McDonnell-Michael McDonnell-John McDowell-Eamon McEneaney-John McErlean-Daniel McGinley-Mark McGinly-William McGinn-Thomas MCGinnis-Michael McGinty-Ann McGovern-Scott McGovern-William McGovern-Stacey McGowan -Francis McGuinn-Patrick McGuire-Thomas McHale-Keith McHeffey-Ann McHugh-Denis McHugh-Dennis McHugh-Michael McHugh-Robert McIlvaine-Donald McIntyre-Stephanie McKenna-Barry McKeon-Evelyn McKinnedy-Darryl McKinney-George McLaughlin-Robert McLaughlin-Gavin McMahon-Robert McMahon-Edmund McNally-Daniel McNeal-Walter McNeil-Jisley McNish-Christine McNulty-Sean McNulty-Robert McPadden-Terence McShane-Timothy McSweeney-Martin McWilliams-Rocco Medaglia-Abigail Medina-Ana Medina-Deborah Medwig-Damian Meehan-William Meehan-Alok Mehta-Raymond Meisenheimer-Manuel Mejia-Eskedar Melaku-Antonio Melendez-Mary Melendez-Yelena Melnichenko-Stuart Meltzer-Diarelia Mena-Charles Mendez-Lizette Mendoza-Shevonne Mentis-Steven Mercado-Westly Mercer-Ralph Joseph Mercurio-Alan Merdinger-George Merino-Yamel Merino-George Merkouris-Deborah Merrick-Raymond Metz-Jill Metzler-David Meyer-Nurul Miah-William Micciulli-Martin Michelstein-Peter Milano-Gregory Milanowycz-Lukasz Milewski-Sharon Millan-Corey Miller-Craig Miller-Douglas Miller-Henry Miller-Joel Miller-Michael Miller-Philip Miller-Robert Miller-Robert Miller Jr-Benjamin Millman-Charles Mills-Ronald Milstein-Robert Minara-William Minardi-Diakite Minata-Louis Minervino-Thomas Mingione-Wilbert Miraille-Dominick Mircovich-Rajesh Mirpuri-Joseph Mistrulli-Susan Miszkowicz-Paul Mitchell-Richard Miuccio-Frank Moccia-Louis Modafferi-Boyie Mohammed-Dennis Mojica-Manuel Mojica-Kleber Molina-Manuel Molina-Carl Molinaro-Justin Molisani-Brian Monaghan-Franklin Monahan-John Monahan-Kristen Montanaro-Craig Montano-Michael Montesi-Jeffrey Montgomery-Peter Montoulieu-Cheryl Monyak-Thomas Moody-Sharon Moore-Krishna Moorthy--Abner Morales-Carlos Morales-Luis Morales-Paula Morales -John Moran-John Moran-Kathleen Moran-Lindsay Morehouse-George Morell-Steven Morello-Vincent Morello-Yvette Moreno-Dorothy Morgan-Richard Morgan-Nancy Morgenstern-Sanae More-Blanca Morocho-Leonel Morocho-Dennis Moroney-Lynne Morris-Seth Morris -Stephen Morris-Christopher Morrison-Jorge Garcia-Ferdinand Morrone-William Moskal-Marco Motroni-Cynthia Motus-Wilson-Iouri Mouchinski -Jude Moussa-Peter Moutos-Damion Mowatt-Christopher Mozzillo-Stephen Mulderry-Richard Muldowney-Michael Mullan-Dennis Mulligan-Peter Mulligan-Michael Mullin-James Munhall-Nancy Muniz-Carlos Munoz-Frank Munoz-Theresa Munson-Robert Murach-Cesar Murillo-Marc Murolo-Brian Murphy-Charles Murphy-Christopher Murphy-Edward Murphy-James F. Murphy-James T. Murphy-Kevin Murphy-Patrick Murphy-Raymond Murphy-Robert Murphy-John Murray-John Murray, Jr-Susan Murray-Valerie Murray-Richard Myhre-Robert Nagel-Takuya Nakamura-Alexander Napier-Frank Naples-John Napolitano-Catherine Nardella-Mario Nardone-Manika Narula -Mehmood Naseem-Narender Nath-Karen Navarro-Joseph Navas-Francis Nazario-Glenroy Neblett -Rayman Neblett-Jerome Nedd-Laurence Nedell-Luke Nee-Pete Negron-Ann Nelson-David Nelson-James Nelson-Michele Nelson-Peter Nelson-Oscar Nesbitt-Gerard Nevins-Christopher Newton-Carter-Kapinga Ngalula-Nancy Ngo-Jody Nichilo-Martin Niederer-Alfonse Niedermeyer-Frank Niestadt-Gloria Nieves-Juan Nieves-Troy Nilsen-Paul Nimbley-John Niven-Katherine Noack-Curtis Noel-Daniel Nolan-Robert Noonan-Daniela Notaro-Brian Novotny -Soichi Numata-Brian Nunez-Jose Nunez-Jeffrey Nussbaum-Dennis O'Berg-James O'Brien-Michael O'Brien-Scott O'Brien-Timothy O'Brien-Daniel O'Callaghan-Dennis O'Connor-Diana O'Connor-Keith O'Connor-Richard O'Connor-Amy O'Doherty-Marni O'Doherty-James O'Grady-Thomas O'Hagan-Patrick O'Keefe-William O'Keefe-Gerald O'leary-Matthew O'Mahony-Peter O'Neill-Sean O'Neill-Kevin O'Rourke-Patrick O'Shea-Robert O'Shea-Timothy O'Sullivan-James Oakley-Douglas Oelschlager-Takashi Ogawa-Albert Ogletree-Philip Ognibene-Joseph Ogren-Samuel Oitice-Gerald Olcott-Christine Olender-Linda Oliva-Edward Oliver-Leah Oliver-Eric Olsen-Jeffrey Olsen-Maureen Olson-Steven Olson-Toshihiro Onda-Seamus O'Neal-John Oneill-Frank Oni-Michael Opperman-Christopher Orgielewicz-Margaret Orloske-Virginia Ormiston-Ronald Orsini-Peter Ortale-Juan Ortega-Campos-Alexander Ortiz-David Ortiz-Emilio Ortiz-Pablo Ortiz-Paul Ortiz-Sonia Ortiz-Masaru Ose-Elsy Osorio-James Ostrowski-Jason Oswald-Michael Otten-Isidro Ottenwalder-Michael Ou-Todd Ouida-Jesus Ovalles-Peter Owens-Adianes Oyola-Angel Pabon-Israel Pabon-Roland Pacheco-Michael Packer-Rene Padilla-Chavarria-Deepa Pakkala-Jeffrey Palazzo-Thomas Palazzo-Richard Palazzolo-Orio Palmer-Frank Palombo-Alan Palumbo-Christopher Panatier-Dominique Pandolfo-Paul Pansini-John Paolillo-Edward Papa-Salvatore Papasso-JamesPappageorge-Vinod Parakat-Vijayashanker Paramsothy-Nitin Parandkar-Hardai Parbhu-James Parham-Debra Paris-George Paris-Gye Park-Philip Parker-Michael Parkes-Robert Parks-Hashmukhrai Parmar-Robert Parro-Diane Parsons-Leobardo Pascual-Michael Pascuma-Jerrold Paskins-Horace Passananti-Suzanne Passaro-Avnish Patel-Dipti Patel-Manish Patel-Steven Paterson-James Patrick-Manuel Patrocino-Bernard Patterson-Cira Patti-Robert Pattison-James Paul-Patrice Paz-Victor Paz-Gutierrez-Stacey Peak-Richard Pearlman-Durrell Pearsall-Thomas Pedicini-Todd Pelino-Michel Pelletier-Anthony Peluso-Angel Pena-Richard Penny-Salvatore Pepe-Carl Peralta-Robert Peraza-Jon Perconti-Alejo Perez-Angel Perez-Angela Perez-Anthony Perez-Ivan Perez-Nancy Perez-Joseph Perroncino-Edward Perrotta-Emelda Perry-Glenn Perry-John Perry-Franklin Pershep-Danny Pesce-Michael Pescherine-Davin Peterson-William Peterson-Mark Petrocelli-Philip Petti-Glen Pettit-Dominick Pezzulo-Kaleen Pezzuti-Kevin Pfeifer-Tu-Anh Pham-Kenneth Phelan-Sneha Philips-Gerard Phillips -Suzette Piantieri-Ludwig Picarro-Matthew Picerno-Joseph Pick-Christopher Pickford-Dennis Pierce-Bernard Pietronico-Nicholas Pietrunti-Theodoros Pigis-Susan Pinto-Joseph Piskadlo-Christopher Pitman-Joshua Piver-Joseph Plumitallo-John Pocher-William Pohlmann-Laurence Polatsch-Thomas Polhemus-Steve Pollicino-Susan Pollio-Joshua Poptean-Giovanna Porras -Anthony Portillo-James Potorti-Daphne Pouletsos-Richard Poulos-Stephen Poulos-Brandon Powell-Shawn Powell-Antonio Pratt-Gregory Preziose-Wanda Prince-Vincent Princiotta-Kevin Prior-Everett Proctor-Carrie Progen-Sarah Prothero-Redheffer -David Pruim -Richard Prunty-John Puckett-Robert Pugliese-Edward Pullis-Patricia Puma-Hemanth Puttur-Edward Pykon-Christopher Quackenbush -Lars Qualben-Lincoln Quappe-Beth Quigley -Michael Quilty-James Quinn-Ricardo Quinn-Carlos Quishpe-Cuaman-Carol Rabalais-Christopher Racaniello-Leonard Ragaglia-Eugene Raggio-Laura Ragonese-Snik-Michael Ragusa-Peter Raimondi-Harry Raines-Ehtesham Raja-Valsa Raju-Edward Rall-Lukas Rambousek-Maria Ramirez-Harry Ramos-Vishnoo Ramsaroop-Lorenzo Ramzey-Alfred Rancke-Adam Rand-Jonathan Randall-Srinivasa Ranganath-Anne Ransom-Faina Rapoport-Robert Rasmussen-Amenia Rasool-Roger Rasweiler-David Rathkey-William Raub-Gerard Rauzi-Alexey Razuvaev-Gregory Reda-Michele Reed-Judith Reese-Donald Regan-Robert Regan-Thomas Regan-Christian Regenhard-Howard Reich-Gregg Reidy-James Reilly-Kevin Reilly-Timothy Reilly-Joseph Reina-Thomas Reinig-Frank Reisman-Joshua Reiss-Karen Renda-John Reo-Richard Rescorla-John Resta-Luis Revilla-Eduvigis Reyes-Bruce Reynolds-John Rhodes-Franci Riccardelli-Rudolph Riccio-Ann Riccoboni-David Rice-Eileen Rice-Kenneth Rice-Vernon Richard-Claude Richards-Gregory Richards-Michael Richards-Venesha Richards-James Riches-Alan Richman-John Rigo-Theresa Risco-Rose Riso-Moises Rivas-Joseph Rivelli-Carmen Rivera-Isaias Rivera-Juan Rivera-Linda Rivera-David Rivers-Joseph Riverso-Paul Rizza-John Rizzo-Stephen Roach-Joseph Roberto-Leo Roberts-Michael Roberts-Michael E. Roberts-Donald Robertson-Catherina Robinson-Jeffery Robinson-Michell Robotham-Donald Robson-Antonio Rocha-Raymond Rocha-Laura Rockefeller-John Rodak-Antonio Rodrigues-Anthony Rodriguez-Carmen Rodriguez-Gregory Rodriguez-Marsha Rodriguez-Mayra Rodriguez-Richard Rodriguez-David Rodriguez-Vargas-Matthew Rogan-Karlie Rogers-Scott Rohner-Keith Roma-Joseph Romagnolo-Efrain Romero-Elvin Romero-Juan Romero-Orozco Romito-Sean Rooney-Eric Ropiteau-Aida Rosario-Angela Rosario-Wendy Wakeford-Mark Rosen-Brooke Rosenbaum-Linda Rosenbaum-Sheryl Rosenbaum-Lloyd Rosenberg-Mark Rosenberg-Andrew Rosenblum-Joshua Rosenblum-Joshua Rosenthal-Richard Rosenthal-Daniel Rosetti-Norman Rossinow-Nicholas Rossomando-Michael Rothberg-Donna Rothenberg-Nicholas Rowe-Timothy Roy-Paul Ruback-Ronald Ruben-Joanne Rubino-David Ruddle-Bart Ruggiere-Susan Ruggiero-Adam Ruhalter-Gilbert Ruiz-Obdulio Diaz-Stephen Russell-Steve Russin-Michael Russo-Wayne Russo-Edward Ryan-John Ryan-Jonathan Ryan-Matthew Ryan-Tatiana Ryjova-Christina Ryook-Thierry Saada-Jason Sabbag-Thomas Sabella-Scott Saber-Joseph Sacerdote-Neeraha Sadaranghgani-Mohammad Sadeque-Francis Sadocha-Jude Safi-Brock Safronoff-Edward Saiya-John Salamone-Hernando Salas-Juan Salas-Esmerlin Salcedo-John Salerno-Richard Salinardi-Wayne Saloman-Nolbert Salomon-Catherine Salter-Frank Salvaterra-Paul Salvio-Samuel Salvo-Rena Sam-Dinnoo-Carlos Samaniego-James Samuel-Michael Phillip-Sylvia Pio-Hugo Sanay-Erick Sanchez-Jacquelyn Sanchez-Eric Sand-Stacey Sanders-Herman Sandler-James Sands-Ayleen Santiago-Kirsten Santiago-Maria Santillan-Susan Santo-Christopher Santora-John Santore-Mario Santoro-Rafael Santos-Rufino Santos-Jorge Anaya-Kalyan Sarkar-Chapelle Sarker-Paul Sarle-Deepika Sattaluri-Gregory Saucedo-Susan Sauer-Anthony Savas-Vladimir Savinkin-Jackie Sayegh-John Sbarbaro-Robert Scandole-Michelle Scarpitta-Dennis Scauso-John Schardt-John Scharf-Frederick Scheffold-Angela Scheinberg-Scott Schertzer-Sean Schielke-Steven Schlag-Jon Schlissel-Karen Schmidt-Ian Schneider-Thomas Schoales-Frank Schott-Gerard Schrang-Jeffrey Schreier-John Schroeder-Susan Schuler-Edward Schunk-Mark Schurmeier-Clarin Schwartz-John Schwartz-Mark Schwartz-Adriane Scibetta-Raphael Scorca-Randolph Scott-Sheila Scott -Christopher Scudder-Arthur Scullin-Michael Seaman-Margaret Seeliger-Anthony Segarra-Carlos Segarra-Jason Sekzer-Matthew Carmen Sellitto-Howard Selwyn-Larry Senko-Arturo Sereno-Frankie Serrano-Alena Sesinova-Adele Sessa-Sita Sewnarine-Karen Seymour-Davis Sezna-Thomas Sgroi-Jayesh Shah-Khalid Shahid -Mohammed Shajahan-Gary Shamay-Earl Shanahan-Neil Shastri-Kathryn Shatzoff-Barbara Shaw -Jeffrey Shaw-Robert Shay-Daniel Shea-Joseph Shea-Linda Sheehan-Hagay Shefi-John Sherry-Atsushi Shiratori-Thomas Shubert-Mark Shulman-See Shum -Allan Shwartzstein-Johanna Sigmund-Dianne Signer -Gregory Sikorsky -Stephen Siller-David Silver-Craig Silverstein-Nasima Simjee-Bruce Simmons-Arthur Simon-Kenneth Simon-Michael Simon -Paul Simon-Marianne Simone-Barry Simowitz-Jeff Simpson-Khamladai Singh -Kulwant Singh-Roshan Singh-Thomas Sinton-Peter Siracuse-Muriel Siskopoulos-Joseph Sisolak-John Skala-Francis Skidmore-Toyena Skinner-Paul Skrzypek -Christopher Slattery-Vincent Slavin-Robert Sliwak-Paul Sloan-Stanley Smagala-Wendy Small-Catherine Smith-Daniel Smith-George Smith-James Smith-Jeffrey Smith-Joyce Smith-Karl Smith-Keisha Smith-Kevin Smith-Leon Smith,-Moira Smith-Rosemary Smith-Bonnie Smithwick -Rochelle Snell-Leonard Snyder-Astrid Sohan-Sushil Solanki -Ruben Solares-Naomi Solomon-Daniel Song-Michael Sorresse -Fabian Soto-Timothy Soulas-Gregory Spagnoletti-Donald Spampinato-Thomas Sparacio-John Spataro-Robert Spear-Maynard Spence-George Spencer-Robert Spencer-Mary Sperando-Tina Spicer-Frank Spinelli-William Spitz-Joseph Spor-Klaus Sprockamp-Saranya Srinuan-Fitzroy St. Rose-Michael Stabile-Lawrence Stack-Timothy Stackpole-Richard Stadelberger-Eric Stahlman-Gregory Stajk-Alexandru Stan-Corina Stan-Mary Stanley-Anthony Starita-Jeffrey Stark-Derek Statkevicus -Craig Staub-William Steckman-Eric Steen-William Steiner-Alexander Steinman-Andrew Stergiopoulos-Andrew Stern-Martha Stevens-Michael Stewart-Richard Stewart-Sanford Stoller-Lonny Stone-Jimmy Storey-Timothy Stout-Thomas Strada-James Straine-Edward Straub-George Strauch-Edward Strauss-Steven Strauss-Steven Strobert-Walwyn Stuart-Benjamin Suarez -David Suarez-Ramon Suarez-Yoichi Sugiyama-William Sugra-Daniel Suhr-David Sullins-Christopher Sullivan-Patrick Sullivan-Thomas Sullivan-Hilario Sumaya-James Suozzo-Colleen Supinski -Robert Sutcliffe-Seline Sutter-Claudia Sutton-John Swaine-Kristine Swearson-Brian Sweeney-Kenneth Swenson-Thomas Swift-Derek Sword-Kevin Szocik-Gina Sztejnberg-Norbert Szurkowski-Harry Taback-Joann Tabeek-Norma Taddei -Michael Taddonio-Keiichiro Takahashi-Keiji Takahashi-Phyllis Talbot-Robert Talhami-Sean Tallon-Paul Talty-Maurita Tam-Rachel Tamares-Hector Tamayo-Michael Tamuccio-Kenichiro Tanaka-Rhondelle Tankard-Michael Tanner-Dennis Taormina-Kenneth Tarantino -Allan Tarasiewicz-Ronald Tartaro-Darryl Taylor-Donnie Taylor-Lorisa Taylor-Michael Taylor-Paul Tegtmeier-Yeshauant Tembe-Anthony Tempesta-Dorothy Temple-Stanley Temple-David Tengelin-Brian Terrenzi-Lisa Terry-Shell Tester -Goumatie Thackurdeen -Sumati Thakur-Harshad Thatte-Thomas Theurkauf-Lesley Thomas-Brian Thompson-Clive Thompson-Glenn Thompson -Nigel Thompson-Perry Thompson-Vanavah Thompson-William Thompson-Eric Thorpe-Nichola Thorpe-Sal Tieri-John p Tierney-Mary Tiesi-William Tieste -Kenneth Tietjen-Stephen Tighe-Scott Timmes-Michael Tinley -Jennifer Tino-Robert Tipaldi-John Tipping-David Tirado-Hector Tirado-Michelle Titolo-John Tobin-Richard Todisco-Vladimir Tomasevic-Stephen Tompsett-Thomas Tong-Doris Torres-Luis Torres-Amy Toyen-Christopher Traina-Daniel Trant-Abdoul Traore-Glenn Travers-Walter Travers-Felicia Traylor-Bass-Lisa Trerotola-Karamo Trerra-Michael Trinidad-Francis Trombino-Gregory Trost-William Tselepis-Zhanetta Tsoy-Michael Tucker-Lance Tumulty-Ching Tung-Simon Turner-Donald Tuzio-Robert Twomey-Jennifer Tzemis-John Ueltzhoeffer-Tyler Ugolyn-Michael Uliano-Jonathan Uman-Anil Umarkar-Allen Upton-Diane Urban-John Vaccacio-Bradley Vadas-Renuta Vaidea -William Valcarcel -Felix Vale-Ivan Vale-Benito Valentin-Santos Valentin-Carlton Valvo-Erica Van Acker-Kenneth Van Auken-Richard Van Hine-Daniel Van Laere-Edward Vanacore-Jon Vandevander-Barrett Vanvelzer-Edward Vanvelzer -Paul Vanvelzer-Frederick Varacchi-Gopalakrishnan Varadhan -David Vargas-Scott Vasel-Azael Vasquez-Arcangel Vazquez-Santos Vazquez-Peter Vega-Sankara Velamuri-Jorge Velazquez-Lawrence Veling-Anthony Ventura-David Vera-Loretta Vero -Christopher Vialonga-Matthew Vianna-Robert Vicario-Celeste Victoria-Joanna Vidal-John Vigiano-Joseph Vigiano-Frank Vignola-Joseph Vilardo-Sergio Villanueva-Chantal Vincelli-Melissa Vincent-Francine Virgilio-Lawrence Virgilio-Joseph Visciano-Joshua Vitale-Maria Vola-Lynette Vosges-Garo Voskerijian-Alfred Vukosa-Gregory Wachtler-Gabriela Waisman-Courtney Walcott-Victor Wald-Benjamin Walker-Glen Wall-Mitchel Wallace-Peter Wallace-Robert Wallace-Roy Wallace-Jeanmarie Wallendorf-Matthew Wallens-John Wallice-Barbara Walsh-James Walsh-Jeffrey Walz-Ching Wang-Weibin Wang-Michael Warchola-Stephen Ward-James Waring-Brian Warner-Derrick Washington-Charles Waters-James Waters-Patrick Waters-Kenneth Watson-Michael Waye-Todd Weaver -Walter Weaver-Nathaniel Webb-Dinah Webster-Joanne Weil-Michael Weinberg-Steven Weinberg -Scott Weingard-Steven Weinstein -Simon Weiser-David Weiss-David Weiss-Vincent Wells-Timothy Welty-Christian Wemmers-Ssu-Hui Wen-Oleh Wengerchuk-Peter West-Whitfield West-Meredith Whalen-Eugene Whelan-Adam White-Edward White-James White-John White-Kenneth White-Leonard White-Malissa White-Wayne White-Leanne Whiteside-Mark Whitford-Michael Wholey-Mary Wieman-Jeffrey Wiener-Wilham Wik-Alison Wildman-Glenn Wilkenson-John Willett-Brian Williams-Crossley Williams-David Williams -Deborah Williams-Kevin Williams-Louie Williams-Louis Williams-John Williamson-Donna Wilson-William Wilson-David Winton-Glenn Winuk-Thomas Wise-Alan Wisniewski-Frank Wisniewski-David Wiswall-Sigrid Wiswe-Michael Wittenstein-Christopher Wodenshek-Martin Wohlforth-Katherine Wolf-Jennifer Wong-Siu Wong-Yin Wong-Yuk Wong-Brent Woodall-James Woods-Patrick Woods -Richard Woodwell-David Wooley-John Works-Martin Wortley-Rodney Wotton-William Wren-John Wright-Neil Wright-Sandra Wright-Jupiter Yambem-Suresh Yanamadala-Matthew Yarnell-Myrna Yaskulka-Shakila Yasmin-Olabisi Yee-William Yemele-Edward York-Kevin York-Raymond York -Suzanne Youmans-Barrington Young -Jacqueline Young-Elkin Yuen-Joseph Zaccoli-Adel Zakhary-Arkady Zaltsman-Edwin Zambrana-Robert Zampieri-Mark Zangrilli-Ira Zaslow-Kenneth Zelman-Abraham Zelmanowitz-Martin Zempoaltecatl-Zhe Zeng-Marc Zeplin-Jie Zhao-Ivelin Ziminski-Michael Zinzi-Charles Zion-Julie Zipper-Salvatore Zisa-Prokopios Zois-Joseph Zuccala-Andrew Zucker-Igor Zukelman

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Monday, September 10, 2012

NICIAW - Bipolar II and PTSD

Emily writes:

1. The illness I live with is: Bipolar II and PTSD

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year: 2002 (and PTSD again dx in 2006 after knee injury)

3. But I had symptoms since: 1985ish

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is: Unsure of how to respond to this

5. Most people assume: I'm normal, until they see it on paper, then assume I'm insane and should be locked away

6. The hardest part about mornings are: Waking up

7. My favorite medical TV show is: (used to be) ER

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is: vibrator (yep--no men in this girl's life! ha ha) and Android phone

9. The hardest part about nights are: shutting off my mind to go to sleep

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please) 4 RX and 2 OTC

11. Regarding alternative treatments I: have VERY recently started to do chiropractic and massage therapy (big hurdle letting people touch me!!)

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose: Visible: The general public seems to be okay with broken limbs, but not broken hearts or minds.

13. Regarding working and career: I get through

14. People would be surprised to know: They know pretty much all of it -- I have AMAZING coworkers and a great support system Monday-Friday!

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been: It's not new, been dealing for quite a while

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was: go into public without panic attacks

17. The commercials about my illness: ARE there commercials!?

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is: n/a

19. It was really hard to have to give up: NOT trusting people (I'm working on it!)

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is: being more social... not so much a "hobby" per say, but trying to get out and do more things in general

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would: Pee my pants with excitement

22. My illness has taught me: how to be stronger and that I am more of a fighter than I ever thought I was

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is: oh there are too many to list!

24. But I love it when people: Go out of their way to help others, big or small

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is: “I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.” ~Marilyn Monroe

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them: Never been in that position

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is: how close-minded SO many people are

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was: my sister got me groceries so I didn't have to go out and deal with the world

29. I'm involved with Invisible Illness Week because: Jenn asked me to be

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel: a little less alone

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Sunday, September 9, 2012

NICIAW - Pyoderma Gangrenosum

Jay wrote:

1. The illness I live with is:
Pyoderma Gangrenosum - you can't see it under the dressings I wear

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:
2012

3. But I had symptoms since:
2010

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:
Having periods of extreme inactivity in order to let lesions heal

5. Most people assume:
That the wounds are self inflicted, and/or that they hurt only as much as they look like they hurt.  They don't know the agony.  They also assume that traditional wound care is the best approach, when it really is not.

6. The hardest part about mornings are:
When a new lesion is forming and it has adhered to the dressing overnight, while the pain relievers have all worn off, and I have to not only unstick it but redress it before I can do simple things like walk around the house to prepare for my day.

7. My favorite medical TV show is:
I'm a House fan - I like dark humor.

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is:
It's a toss up between Vaseline gauze and Duoderm - without either, I've got nothing I can use to put dressings on my wounds.

9. The hardest part about nights are:
The pain seems to creep in even more at night, probably for lack of distraction.  Laying awake from pain while so tired that tears are flowing gets old, fast.

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)
2 pain meds, and 5 other prescriptions

11. Regarding alternative treatments I:
Have only found alternative methods of advancing my condition; at this point, having found a system that works as well as medically expected, I am not interested in other options to try.  I am allergic to most dressings as well as many substances one might ingest. 

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose:
Invisible.  I prefer not to be the center of attention.

13. Regarding working and career:
The various things I have fought in the last several years have killed my career.  I work as a Martial Arts instructor part time, and the P.G. makes that occasionally nightmarish painful.

14. People would be surprised to know:
That I complain less and use less pain medication than is expected of someone in my condition.

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:
That I can't just fix it, that I can't prevent it, and I can't really do anything about it once it flares up.

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was:
Keep my leg - doctors were talking about amputation prior to diagnosis.

17. The commercials about my illness:
Don't exist.  It's a gruesome, painful illness but is thankfully pretty rare.

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is:
Taking a long, hot bath.  I haven't had the chance since due to the constant lesions on my legs.

19. It was really hard to have to give up:
The long hot baths that I used to enjoy every night.

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:
Wood working in earnest.

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would:
Remember that hot bath idea?

22. My illness has taught me:
That people are quick to judge and slow to show empathy when they can't understand or explain something that is going on.

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:
"That looks absolutely disgusting."  Also, when they say "that doesn't look bad at all."

24. But I love it when people:
Just treat me like the regular person I am.

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:
I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them:
If a dressing seems not to be working - do something else.  And don't let anybody perform a debridement on your wound, it will only make things worse.

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:
How little support is actually available for someone in my situation.

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was:
Went and refilled my pain medicine prescription, then came back and made me dinner to eat with the pills.

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because:
It's important to raise awareness even of less common illnesses.

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:
Like I had a chance to be heard.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Sunday, September 2, 2012

It Makes Me Ache For Heaven

A lot of the time, I'm really genuinely grateful for my earthly life.  I like it.  It's beautiful.  Some times, my attitude isn't so good.  Always, I know that my life is a gift - as is every life. 

And some lives.... some lives have touched me in a way that makes me ache for heaven.  In a way that changes my decisions because I think, "No, I have to make it.  I have to see this person again."  I know my motivation for following God is supposed to not just be about what I'll get out of it, but if I am being genuinely honest... sometimes, it is.  Sometimes all I have left is what I know will happen when I get where I'm going.

And seeing Jim... means more to me than I'd have ever imagined it would.  It's a big, important deal.  Just having the hope of seeing him again, is enough to change my actions sometimes.  He's not the only person I miss... but today, he is the one I miss the most. 

It's been a year.  It feels like forever has passed and it feels as fresh as if it was yesterday.

Tonight I pause to remember not one of the Better Men, but one of the Best Men.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Friday, August 31, 2012

NICIAW - Year Two!

I am reposting this because I've received several entries already, but I don't want folks to forget - there are still two weeks left. Thank you all so much.  Even if you already submitted something last year, feel free to do so again this year.  You deserve to be heard.

Please visit This Link to learn more about National Invisible Chronic Illness Week.

Thousands, millions even, of people suffer with invisible illness. As months, weeks, and years go by, we learn to stay silent, to quit complaining, to "toughen up." We learn to not ask for support or help. We get tired of being a burden. Sometimes, we find ourselves dreading the next person who says "But you look just fine." This year, from September 10th - 16th, I will be publishing as many stories as are submitted to me. You can follow this checklist, or you can write it in any other format you choose. But try to view it as an opportunity to show the world what it is like to be you. It's important to me this year, to give my readers a voice. You can email me at kyukidojen@hotmail.com and I will gladly post on your behalf. Please include what you want me to call you in the post dedicated to you, and as well as you can, answer the following questions. It is time to see just how NOT alone we really are.

1. The illness I live with is:

2. I was diagnosed with it in the year:

3. But I had symptoms since:

4. The biggest adjustment I’ve had to make is:

5. Most people assume:

6. The hardest part about mornings are:

7. My favorite medical TV show is:

8. A gadget I couldn’t live without is:

9. The hardest part about nights are:

10. Each day I take __ pills & vitamins. (No comments, please)

11. Regarding alternative treatments I:

12. If I had to choose between an invisible illness or visible I would choose:

13. Regarding working and career:

14. People would be surprised to know:

15. The hardest thing to accept about my new reality has been:

16. Something I never thought I could do with my illness that I did was:

17. The commercials about my illness:

18. Something I really miss doing since I was diagnosed is:

19. It was really hard to have to give up:

20. A new hobby I have taken up since my diagnosis is:

21. If I could have one day of feeling normal again I would:

22. My illness has taught me:

23. Want to know a secret? One thing people say that gets under my skin is:

24. But I love it when people:

25. My favorite motto, scripture, quote that gets me through tough times is:

26. When someone is diagnosed I’d like to tell them:

27. Something that has surprised me about living with an illness is:

28. The nicest thing someone did for me when I wasn’t feeling well was:

29. I’m involved with Invisible Illness Week because:

30. The fact that you read this list makes me feel:

Stumble Upon Toolbar

I am NOT sorry...

So, I hear it all the time.  "I'm sorry, but..." "... I disagree."  "... I don't want to."  Blah blah blah.  I'm sorry but... it is a phrase I have come to truly loathe.

It isn't used as a positive phrase the majority of the time (i.e., I am sorry to have to say this, but your test result came back badly.").  It's just used as an excuse to say things we would not dare say without some sort of get-out-of-jail-free card. 

"I'm sorry but your hair looks really bad."

"I'm sorry, but that's what I want and so that's what I will do."

But the one usage that gets me going... that torques me off and makes me want to scream is this... "I'm sorry, but that's just what I believe."

We need to stand up for our beliefs, not hide behind insincere apologies for them.  I believe in God, Creator God who created all that is and was and will ever be.  I believe His son came to earth in human form, while somehow retaining his God-hood (is that a word?)  I believe he lived a truly sinless life, and was crucified one day when he was about 33 years old.  He didn't stay dead though - three days later He rose and ascended and is seated at the right hand of God the father.  I believe that that sacrifice is what earns me a place in heaven.  I have given my heart and soul to Him,and I believe it is all real.

And I'm not sorry.  I'm not sorry I believe it, not sorry I said it.  I'm not sorry if it offends you and I'm not sorry if you disagree. 

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Sunday, August 19, 2012

It's Supposed To Hurt

I burned my finger recently.  Was putting in a baking sheet with supper on top, and the front of my finger hit the oven rack.  I heard it go "psssttt" before I felt my hand jerking back (luckily, without the baking sheet full of food).  It's a tiny burn - from my fingernail down to the knuckle, just under half an inch.  And it's just on one finger.

And you know what?  It hurts.  It's distracting.  It makes me feel generally uncomfortable, even though it's just a tiny injury.

That's how our conscience should be.  When we blurt out a bad word, it should sting like this.  It should distract us and bother us.  When we fudge the truth just a little, it should burn.

But our consciences are like my dad's hands.

He is a mechanic (a gifted one, at that), and does a lot of welding and other things that burn his hands.  He doesn't even feel them anymore.  He can have big, angry blisters and not have even noticed they were there until I ask what they are from.  Sometimes, even after he thinks about it, he can't remember. 

We get that way.  We get so used to our little transgressions that we fail to feel the sting. 

The problem with that isn't the absence of pain.  The problem is, when our conscience hurts, we turn to God.  We pray, we repent, we resolve to change for the better.  When that happens, the result is good.  But when we get so accustomed to the little pains, we don't bother turning to him - because we aren't even really aware that anything is wrong at all.

Psalm 139:23-24
God, examine me and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  See if there is any bad thing in me.  Lead me on the road to everlasting life.

We have hope though.  No matter how seared our consciences are, God can still search us and show us what we need to see.  The question is, are you (and am I) brave enough to do that?

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Your Walk Talks

Growing up, I had an outstanding youth group leader, Mr. Jay.  He had this way about him... we played games and went hiking and had adventures, and we also would sit in the study at the church and discuss the really deep issues in life.  He took a group of kids who would never have been a group by choice, and knitted us together into something beautiful.

One of the things he used to say was this:

"Your walk talks, and your talk talks, but your walk talks louder than your talk talks."

In other words... yeah, what you say matters.  It gets through to people.  But not to nearly the degree that what you DO gets through.

I was laying on the couch this afternoon thinking, and that's what kept coming back to mind.  I know for me personally, my walk and my talk don't always line up.  I send mixed messages, even though I'd rather not. 

What areas of your life do you need to examine and sort out?  What things do you need to answer once and for all, so that your walk and your talk are saying the same thing?  Just one little phrase that stuck in my head (and I'd bet lots of other teenagers heard him say it and let it stick in their heads too), that gets to me every time I let it.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Prayer Request

My daddy cut his finger today, really badly.  He cut almost entirely through his extensor tendon.  He's waiting now to see the doctor for titches and surgical evaluation - not sure yet if he'll be able to just get stitched up or if he's going to need surgery to repair thing.

**update**

Dad's home from the clinic with plenty of stitches in.  He's not in a splint or cast right now; enough of the tendon is intact to not need that.  He's nervous about possible infection or lingering pain, so if you could pry specifically about that, I'd appreciate it a lot.

***update again***

Dad's finger is feeling plenty stiff but otherwise is okay.  He's not liking having to be careful not to muck up the sutures, but that's just expected and par for the course.  He is healing well.  Thank you for praying everyone.

Stumble Upon Toolbar

Sunday, August 5, 2012

Exercise Regimens, Cancer and You

For the first time, I have chosen to allow a guest post.  What he says, I agree with very much.  I think his message is important and unlike other requests I've had for guest posting, I feel that this one is worth passing on to my readers.


Exercise Regimens, Cancer and You
Guest Post by David Haas

Cancer can bring your life to a screeching halt, but you’ll find that as you go through treatment and as each day comes closer to normal, you still need to move forward. One way to normalize each day after a cancer diagnosis is through exercise. The National Cancer Institute states that exercise has an enormous positive benefit on both cancer treatment and cancer risk reduction. However, if you have never exercised before it can be hard to get into it.

If you are worried about getting started with exercise, remember that you do not have to do it alone. You will find that there are likely family members and friends who are wiling to help you, but if you want good concrete information, take it to a gym and talk to a professional trainer. At the very least, the gym will help you learn how to use all the different equipment. A lack of knowledge in this area is very common with adults, and when you are nervous about using the equipment for the first time, remember that everyone had to start from somewhere!

Remember that you do not need to stick with one exercise if you find that it is boring, dull or painful. As a matter of fact, the old saying of “no pain, no gain” is completely wrong. Good exercise leaves you feeling sore and pleasantly tired. Exercise taken too far leads to pain and fatigue. If you are pushing your body too hard, you’ll find that you won’t be able to exercise the next day. This is something that can make a huge difference in how well you do in the future, so remember to take it easy, especially if you are nervous about getting started.

Once you have started, stay started! Anyone can do a few strenuous exercises over the space of a few days, but it takes a great deal more effort to keep at it for a regular stretch of time. Make a schedule and stick to it. Remember that just by exercising three or four times a week, you can make a huge difference in your physique and well-being.

Whether you are dealing with breast cancer, testicular cancer or mesothelioma, you’ll find that exercise can improve your general health and rate for success. At the very least, exercise can improve your mood. Exercise releases endorphins into your body, and it allows you to clear out the stress that you may be experiencing. Take a few moments to consider what your options are and what kind of exercise is most likely to suit you.

Exercise can be fun. Don’t let a lack of experience and depression stop you. Consider the link between cancer and fitness and use what you know to spur you forward.

Stumble Upon Toolbar