Stroke Recoverer's Review

“Dedicated to Excellence” Vol. 13, Issue 154 January 2013

Shazya Karmali photos Jan 24, 2013

Games?

We really play it...

www.templetonstrokerecovery.com

Inside this issue:

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January 2013 Volume 13, Issue 154

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RECIPE: Mom’s favorite Chicken Soup

Carry out a random act of

kindness with no reward

intended, safe in the

knowledge that one day

someone might do the

same for you.

1. Laugh is the sun that drives winter

from the human face.

2. Flowers are words which even a

babe may understand.

3. Every seed is awakened and all

animal life.

4. O, fateful flower beside the till—

The daffodil, the daffodil…

5. Friendship is a sheltering tree.

6. You are the bows from which your

children as living arrows are sent

forth.

7. If you don’t know where you are

going, any road will get you there.

8. It is always wise to look ahead, but

difficult to look further than you

can see.

9. The best time to plant a tree was

20 years ago. The next best time

is now.

10.The trees that are slow to grow

bear the best fruit.

11.Like fragile ice, anger passes

away in time.

12.Without a shepherd, sheep are

not a flock.

—submitted by Loy Lai

Templeton Branch-SRABC

ENCOURAGEMENTS

Ingredients:

2 (14 ounce) can, Chicken broth

2 cups ........ Water

3 ................ Carrots, chopped

3 stalks ...... Celery, chopped

1 pinch ....... Ground black pepper

3 slices ...... Fresh ginger root

1 tbsp ......... Vegetable oil

1/2 cup ....... Cooked chicken

breast meat, chopped

1/2 cup ....... Egg noodles

Directions: 1. In a large pot over medium heat

combine chicken broth, water, carrots, celery and ground black pepper and allow to cook. In a medium skillet over medium high heat, combine ginger, vegetable oil and chicken. Saute for about 5 minutes and remove the sliced ginger.

2. Add the chicken mixture to the broth mixture, bring to a boil and then add the egg noodles. Continue to cook over medium heat for about 15 minutes until noodles and vegetables are tender.

“There’s life after stroke”

Templeton Newsletter

Mailing Address:

204– 2929 Nootka Street,

Vancouver, BC V5M 4K4 Canada

Published every month, if possible. Contributions are always welcome. The articles should be in, not later than day 25th day of every month.

Disclaimer: The views expressed in Stroke Recoverer’s Review newsletter: articles, submissions and spotlights are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Templeton Branch-SRABC or the editor of Stroke Recoverer’s Review. Editor reserves the right at any time to make changes as it deems necessary. It is the purpose of this periodical to share a variety of viewpoints mostly from stroke

survivors.

January 2013 Contributors: Loy Lai

Ollie Stogrin

Deb Chow Shazya Karmali Jim Walmsley Werner Stephan Jose Suganob

Production of SRR:

Jose Suganob

Email: [email protected]

Printing Pick-up Person:

Ollie Stogrin

Recipe..Moms favorite Chicken Soup 2

Encouragements 2

Last Month’s Happening 3

BLAST..Jim i-joke..When I am old 4

Jose Notes..Worlds Smallest Eng 5

Lifestyles 6

Chicken soup really does soothe nasty winter colds ...

Hi, everyone? Another

month has gone?

Wasn’t it just Xmas?

Thinking about

Easter?

So far we haven’t had to shovel,

what a relief. I, for one, don’t

snow, that’s why I left Alberta

and it took me 25 years before

I ventured back in winter.

We returned back to Templeton

on the 10th of January 2013

after our Xmas time off and we

almost had a full house! Our

members seem to be so happy

to see one another, a truly good

feeling.

First week back, we were back

to soup and sandwiches, proba-

bly nice after all that turkey and

rich food, then the following

week, Debbie’s dad donated

meat pies. So, we did have

another change, along with

salad that Olga donated. We

have all these treats that keep

coming our way. The following

week, Diana arrives with cook-

ies and her ’penny jar’ which not

too long ago raised over $42.00

from member’s throwing in their

pennies and odd change at

lunch collection time. Too bad,

the penny is on it’s way out, as

I’m sure we aren’t the only

group that raised funds from

loose change.

Last month has change. Now a

stroke survivor, Debbie, with

Martha Hutchinson helping out,

is reviving or trying to revive

Easter Camp. Now known as



Page 3

LAST MONTH’S HAPPENING —by Ollie Stogrin, Templeton Branch-SRABC

BLAST. This is proving there is ‘life

after stroke’ and people have value

after a stroke. Prime example,

Jose with the monthly newsletter,

keeps groups connected all over

BC And, now Debbie going into the

3rd year for Easter Camp. I hope,

SRABC can see how valuable this

camp is to ‘stroke survivors.’ The

camp is volunteer driven. Volun-

teers ‘pay’ to volunteer at camp?

That’s how some people see what

value this camp is to stroke survi-

vors. I, for one, have volunteered

at camp since we started

Templeton, with the exception of

when Camp was not held and

when I was sick with flu. I am

hoping this year the camp will be

bigger and better than in 2012. I’m

sure it will be as more members

are hearing what a great week end

this is for all campers! Repeat

campers and new campers

We have a new volunteer at

Templeton Branch. She is Helena,

just retired from VGH but still want-

ing to work a couple of days a

week and would like to volunteer

with us on Thursdays. Welcome to

our group, Helena! We now are

fortunate to have four (4) volun-

teers. It’s been so long since we

managed to have 4 volunteers.

Key and I are volunteers also.

W hich leads me to go to

next month’s newsletter, hmmm,

I believe, Key will be reporting as

I’m going ‘Down Under’ for some

sunshine. Olga (our kitchen super-

visor) won’t be around, too, for 3

months. I think, she must be

thinking of becoming a Aussie?

Soon, they will be asking her immi-

gration papers or if she is a ‘long

lost Aussie’? Ahh.

Don’t forget to sign up for BLAST

You will have a great time, I will

see you all there.

Happy Easter Time.

— by Ollie Stogrin


BEAUTIFUL STORY...O. Henry

A very poor man lived with his

wife. One day, his wife, who had a

very long hair asked him to buy

her a comb for her hair to grow

well and to be well-groomed.

The man felt very sorry and said

no. He explained that he did not

even have enough money to fix

the strap of his watch he had just

broken.

The man went to work and

passed by a watch shop, sold his

damaged watch at a low price and

went to buy a comb for his wife.

He came home in the evening

with the comb in his hand ready to

give to his wife. He was surprised

when he saw his wife with a very

short hair cut. She had sold her

hair and was holding a new watch

band. Tears flowed simultane-

ously from their eyes, not for the

futility of their actions, but for the

reciprocity of their love.

MORAL: To love is nothing, to be

loved is something but to love and

to be loved by the one you love,

that is EVERYTHING. Never take

love for granted.

“There’s life after stroke” Page 3

MY HUSBAND ALWAYS

TOLD ME...

When Dena got off work

up there at Lake Woebe-

gone, it was snowing

heavily and blowing to the point that

visibility was almost zero. She made

her way to her car and wondered

how she was going to get home.

She sat in the car while it warmed

up and thought about her situation.

She remembered Bill’s advice that if

she got caught in a blizzard, she

should wait for a snowplow to come

by and follow it. That way she would

not have to worry about going off

the road or getting stuck in a snow

drift.

Sure enough, in a little while, a

snowplow went by and she pulled

out and began to follow it. As she

followed along behind the snow-

plow, she felt quite comfortable and

smug as they continued on their

way and she was not having any

problem with the blizzard or road

Page 4


Page 4



BLAST

(Building Life After Stroke Together)

March 29 to April 1, 2013 Good Friday to Easter Monday - 3 nights/4 days

All inclusive. Charter pick up from

Lower Mainland including ferry terminals

Only $225

Give the gift of BLISS (Better Life In Stroke Survival)

Gift Certificates are available or maybe some-

one will give it to you.

For more information:

Please go to website: TurtleTalk.ca

2 months to go!!! And 41 people registered

(8 newbies)...

Easter 2013 will be a

BLAST!!!

HandyDART

conditions.

After some time had passed, she

was somewhat surprised when the

snowplow stopped. The driver got

out of the cab and came back to her

car. He signaled her to roll down

her window and asked if she was

alright, as she had been following

him for a long time.

Dena said she was fine and told

him of her husband’s advice to

follow a snowplow when caught in a

blizzard.

The snowplow driver replied it was

okay with him and that she could to

follow him if she wanted,...but he

wanted her to know that he was

done with the Wal-Mart parking lot

and was going over to Canadian

Tire next..

—i-joke submitted by Jim Walmsley

Delta Branch-SRABC

JIMY I-JOKES

WHEN I AM OLD… poem by Helen Singh

When I am old, dear God

Grant me common grace

To say thank you

To appreciate what is done for me

To look beyond my physical frailties

The frustration of being still alive

In a body that no longer works

To not abuse my caregivers

To not misplace my gratitude

On those who are in absentia

To recognize gifts of time

Gifts of sacrifice and money

By those who truly do

Not those who give lip service

The know-it-alls who know nothing

Of how it feels to be me

Of how it will be one day

When these shoes will be their

shoes

And when I am gone, dear God

Grant me one more favour

Let me come back to tell them

I told you so, I told you so

—poem by Helen Singh


BLAST - Easter Long Weekend 2013



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SPEAKERS

This January 2013, we had two

(2) speakers from Bayshore

Home Health. Ian talked about

their home and community health

care services of the largest

provider, Bayshore. And, Anna

Lee (RN) talked and answered

our questions about healthy

snacking. She had Healthy

Snacks brochures which was

distributed to our members.

We were more informed after.

I, being a diabetic, has to snack

between meals, now, I know the

healthy choices. More fresh fruits

Trail mix with whole grain cereal

nuts and seeds, for example.

TEMPLETON POOL CLOSED

For one month (March 22 to April

25, 2013) Templeton Pool building

will be closed for maintenance.

We will meeting at Norah Davis

Garden: 2320 Franklin Street,

Vancouver, from March 28 to

April 18, 2013

WORLD’S SMALLEST GASOLINE ENGINE JOSE’s NOTES

“There’s life after stroke” Page 5

Scientists have created the smallest

petrol (gasoline) engine in the

world (less than a centimeter long

and not even half an inch), small

enough to power a watch or any

small gadget. The mini-motor, which

runs for two years on a single squirt

of lighter fuel, is set to revolutionize

world technology. It generates 700

times more energy than a conven-

tional battery. It could be used to

operate laptops and mobile phones

for months doing away with the need

for charging. Experts believe it could

be phasing out batteries in such

items within just six years. The

engine, minute enough to be

balanced on a fingertip, has been

produced by engineers at the

University of Birmingham.

At present, charging an ordinary

battery to deliver one unit of energy

involves putting 2,000 units into it.

The little engine, because energy is

produced locally, is far more effective.

One of the main problems faced

by engineers who have tried to

produce micro motors in the past

has been the levels of heat pro-

duced. The engines got so hot, they

burned themselves out and could

not be re-used. The Birmingham

team overcame this by using heat-

resistant materials such as ceramics

and silicon carbide.

Professor Graham Davies, head of

the university’s engineering school

said, “We’ve brought together

all the engineering disciplines,

materials, chemical engineering,

civil engineering, and mechanical

engineering. What better place to

have the second industrial revolu-

tion in nano-technology than where

the first took place, in the heart of

the West Midlands.”

Dr. Kyle Jiang, from the Department

of Mechanical Engineering, said,

“We are looking at an industrial

revolution happening in peoples

pockets. The breakthrough is an

enormous step forward. Devices

which need re-charging or new

batteries are a problem but in six

years will be a thing of the past.”

(My guess would be the engine is real, but the

article was written by a news reporter who

exaggerated things a bit)

WHISTLING...

Whistling does not belong to the

exclusive domain of the male folks

Women can get used to the habit

of whistling. The reverse way of

breathing in the air by sucking up

the lips can improve the breathing

function, as it expands the capacity

of the lung.

SMILE…

Smile to improve your health, your

stress level, and your attractive-

ness.

LIFESTYLES —Werner Stephan, North Shore Stroke Recovery Center - West Vancouver Group

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Just recently I became

aware (New Year

resolutions and all

that) of the concepts

of:

High Density lifestyle

Low Density lifestyle

I did not know the difference.

So, I researched the high den-

sity lifestyle first, because it

sounded superficially more

attractive. There are apparently

several signs that one is living

the high density lifestyle:

A mother and her child just

don’t seem to walk fast

enough through the cross-

walk for you

You begin to think that there

is a conspiracy to make you

late for work every single day

You started a petition to

replace food, water and air

with an extra large cup of

coffee

You leave the driveway in the

morning like you were in a

chase scene on TV

You find that waiting for a red

traffic l ight is a waste

of time and ought to be

ignored

You prefer energy drinks all

the time, because they help

you to get through the day

That kind of attitude didn’t

seem to be desirable at all.

How about the ‘Low Density

Lifestyle?’ When I researched

it, I thought that I was back in

the 60s. Remember the hippies?

The low density lifestyle, in my

opinion can be summarized by the

hippie philosophy: ‘Take it easy,

hang loose.” I thought, I heard

them chanting: “Ohmm…” Neither

the high nor the low density life-

style seem to be attractive to me.

Was there no middle ground, or

was there no compromise? Let’s

face it there are no hippies left,

they seem to have died of bore-

dom. The excessive high energy

people seem to die young, too of

heart attacks and stress. So what

do you prefer: boredom or stress?

I am exaggerating, I like to be re-

laxed but also have a bit of stress

and challenges. Like it is said:

What is life without a bit of excite-

ment?

Don’t be confused. ‘LDL’ choles-

terol doesn’t stand for Low Density

Lifestyle, it stands for Low Density

Lipoprotein and is often called the

bad cholesterol because type

B-LDL (as opposed to HDC),

according to http:/en.wikipedia.org,

promotes health problems and

cardiovascular disease. HDL stands

for High Density Lipoprotein. We

haven’t looked at some other

medical issues yet. The National

Institute for Family Heart Studies

has found that lifestyle is a major

determinant of low density lipopro-

tein cholesterol. Environment factors

and alcohol consumption, lack of

physical activity and smoking also

play a major negative role (it raises

LDL cholesterol ). Happiness and

life satisfaction have a major posi-

tive effect.

It would appear that happiness,

combined with a limited low

density lifestyle (not LDL choles-

terol) are the way to go (my

opinion). It seems to be prudent to

limit stress and to have some fun.

Remember A.A. Milne’s ‘Winne-the

-Pooh?’ “Well,” said the Pooh,

“what I like best,” and then he had

to stop and think: Because

although eating honey was a very

good thing to do, there was a

moment just before you begun to

eat it which was better than when

you were, but he didn’t know what

it was called.

Could i t be that i t was:

‘expectation of happiness’ and

the possibil ity that one bee

remained on the honey, thus

providing ‘excitement?’ I think that

the character of Winnie-the-Pooh

first appeared around 1924, so

the bear is now about 88 YOA.

Happiness and some excitement?

It certainly helped him to reach a

ripe old age and he is still going

strong!

—by Werner Stephan

West Vancouver Group North Shore Stroke Recovery Center

1929

1953

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