Monday, November 16, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
Vaccines
(Matt's voice)
The vaccines thing is driving me crazy. People seem to think that their government has something to gain by secretly poisoning them.
I've actually had some great conversations at work and I've tried my best to encourage people to get vaccines by presenting the evidence for their efficacy and importance.
It's like a seatbelt. Sure, there are very rare circumstances where people can be hurt by their seatbelt but wearing it makes us ten million times safer (or something like that).
Some folks have said "It just seems like they rushed it", in regards to the production of the H1N1 variant vaccine to which I've had to bit my tongue and not say, "Well, how long will you need them to lock it up in the cupboard until you feel ready for it?"
People seem to fear, a great deal more, things that they've DONE PURPOSEFULLY to themselves or their children than things that might occur by chance, even if those chance things are more likely and much more dangerous.
Let us remember that in the past, and in many parts of the world without good vaccine access, children die at an alarming rate from childhood diseases. Smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza have killed countless millions. Vaccines have, perhaps, been the greatest lifesaving invention of all time (not to mention the only real way to 'boost' your immune system) but we seem ready to fear them at the drop of the smallest piece of misinformation.
Let's let the health professionals keep doing their jobs, and do our part to get vaccinated and keep those who can't get vaccinated (autoimmune disorder etc) safe by not passing it on.
The vaccines thing is driving me crazy. People seem to think that their government has something to gain by secretly poisoning them.
I've actually had some great conversations at work and I've tried my best to encourage people to get vaccines by presenting the evidence for their efficacy and importance.
It's like a seatbelt. Sure, there are very rare circumstances where people can be hurt by their seatbelt but wearing it makes us ten million times safer (or something like that).
Some folks have said "It just seems like they rushed it", in regards to the production of the H1N1 variant vaccine to which I've had to bit my tongue and not say, "Well, how long will you need them to lock it up in the cupboard until you feel ready for it?"
People seem to fear, a great deal more, things that they've DONE PURPOSEFULLY to themselves or their children than things that might occur by chance, even if those chance things are more likely and much more dangerous.
Let us remember that in the past, and in many parts of the world without good vaccine access, children die at an alarming rate from childhood diseases. Smallpox, measles, mumps, rubella, influenza have killed countless millions. Vaccines have, perhaps, been the greatest lifesaving invention of all time (not to mention the only real way to 'boost' your immune system) but we seem ready to fear them at the drop of the smallest piece of misinformation.
Let's let the health professionals keep doing their jobs, and do our part to get vaccinated and keep those who can't get vaccinated (autoimmune disorder etc) safe by not passing it on.
Halloween!!
(Matt's voice)
I look so cool but Derek looks cooler. Is anyone surprised that I dressed up as an early 19th century gentleman? However, the best response was the slightly tipsy fellows that we passed on the street who said, "Napoleon!!! .... wait ... no... George Washington!!!" They seemed very pleased with themselves and, I must admit, GW was closer than Napoleon. At least they didn't notice that my waist coast was SO 1776 while my tailcoat was TOTALLY 1815. I'm so embarrassed.
Em was sick on Halloween so I asked my friend Derek to help with some Unicef stuff. We bought some stamps and Em prepared addressed, stamped envelopes with donation forms inside for Unicef. When Derek and I showed up on people's porches the usual reaction was to reach for some candy while giving us a suspicious "you two are WAY too old for trick or treating" look, but they all brightened up when we gave our polished spiel. Unicef, it appears, is no longer doing the change box things but seem to be working through primary classrooms.
Fistula Fund
(Matt's voice)
One of the first things we've done to promote charitable giving in our daily life is create (basically) a swear jar. Sadly, Em and I don't swear very much (practice from working with kids all day) so our jar is, instead, an 'unnecessary stuff jar'. Whenever we're tempted to buy a $5 Latte (Em) or a gas station hot dog (not Em) we instead throw the cash in the jar. Right now our lovely mason jar is supporting the Fistula Foundation (http://www.fistulafoundation.org/), a group dedicated to supporting women with obstetric fistulas, a condition caused from giving birth, and providing corrective surgery. This condition isn't something that we worry about in Canada because it is treatable with a simple surgery. The cost (where it is needed)? About $450.
We've just hit the $200 mark. This gives us a nice, daily reminder and a short milestone to reach (plus it's fun to count and re-count the money in the jar!)
Monday, November 2, 2009
Sunday, November 1, 2009
I'm sick....and am I ever lucky!
(Emily's voice)
Part of the reason why I haven't written on the blog in over a week is because I have come down with some flu-like symptoms and have been pretty sick for the last few days. I had a fever over night Thursday night, stayed home from work on Friday and have been keeping pretty close to the bed ever since. Today is the first day that my head feels a bit less hazy and my eyes a bit less grainy and my lungs are burning less when I cough, so I see that as a great improvement. I don't know if I have had the swine flu or just regular seasonal flu or maybe just a really bad cold with some flu-like symptoms. But, I'm on the mend.
The whole time I have been sick I just keep thinking about how lucky I am. I am so lucky that I live where I do. Just down the street there is a hospital that I can be whisked away to in the event that I show any emergency symptoms. I have a large support network between my boyfriend, family and friends; all of whom are more than willing to help me. I can take a day off work if I feel ill. I can spend the day just lying around using my energy to heal. I can stay warm in my apartment without any effort from me. I have immediate access to fresh, clean, potable water so I never have to worry about becoming dehydrated due to some of my less enjoyable symptoms (no need to mention those here). And, to prevent further infection, I can go out to one of the government-run community vaccination clinics and receive protection from further sickness.
How many people in the world can say these things? I bet that I'm in the minority. So, I'm sick and it sucks. But damn, am I ever lucky!
Part of the reason why I haven't written on the blog in over a week is because I have come down with some flu-like symptoms and have been pretty sick for the last few days. I had a fever over night Thursday night, stayed home from work on Friday and have been keeping pretty close to the bed ever since. Today is the first day that my head feels a bit less hazy and my eyes a bit less grainy and my lungs are burning less when I cough, so I see that as a great improvement. I don't know if I have had the swine flu or just regular seasonal flu or maybe just a really bad cold with some flu-like symptoms. But, I'm on the mend.
The whole time I have been sick I just keep thinking about how lucky I am. I am so lucky that I live where I do. Just down the street there is a hospital that I can be whisked away to in the event that I show any emergency symptoms. I have a large support network between my boyfriend, family and friends; all of whom are more than willing to help me. I can take a day off work if I feel ill. I can spend the day just lying around using my energy to heal. I can stay warm in my apartment without any effort from me. I have immediate access to fresh, clean, potable water so I never have to worry about becoming dehydrated due to some of my less enjoyable symptoms (no need to mention those here). And, to prevent further infection, I can go out to one of the government-run community vaccination clinics and receive protection from further sickness.
How many people in the world can say these things? I bet that I'm in the minority. So, I'm sick and it sucks. But damn, am I ever lucky!
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