There isn't much country happening

But Delaney remains in the spotlight

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Mom, Can We Please Go to the Dentist?

That's a pretty unlikely phrase to hear from a 17 year old, but sure enough for the last several years, it's one that Delaney has uttered often. That's all thanks to the amazing staff at the Alberta Children's Hospital Dental clinic.

She's been a patient at the clinic for about 10 years now, and everytime we visit, it's like "old home week." The staff there treat her like an old friend.

It wasn't always that way, though, our first couple of visits were like, well, "pulling teeth." Delaney found it very difficult to relax while the chair was being lowered and positioned, and she was very sensitive to the overhead exam lights. With infinite patience Dr. Cholette and her wonderful assistants were ever so meticulous and gentle as they cleaned Delaney's teeth. After a few visits, I no longer heard Dr. Cholette reminding Delaney, "you're biting my finger."

We had a big hurdle several years ago, as one of Delaney's baby teeth, which was stubborn to fall out, was removed at Dr. Cholette's office. Delaney was very excited to see Dr. Cholette and her staff, and was wonderfully cooperative in taking the pre procedure Midazolam, which not only calmed, but I later found out, had an incredible amnesiac effect.

After very little time in Dr. Cholette's chair, Delaney and I went home, where she relaxed for the rest of the afternoon. After we had been home for a couple of hours, she came fuming up the stairs. With a very "mad face" she said to me "Mommy, you told me we were going to see Dr. Cholette today." I replied, "Delaney, we did see Dr. Cholette, remember you took some medicine and then she removed your tooth?"

"No," she said, growing more agitated with my apparent lack of understanding, "you PROMISED to take me to Dr. Cholette this morning.....and... you... didn't" She's a bit teary by now.

I didn't want to draw attention to the missing tooth, so I ran upstairs to grab the new toothbrush and sticker she had received at her visit. Triumphantly, I returned, and the evidence was irrefutable, "See Delaney, we DID see Dr. Cholette this morning, HERE is your new toothbrush and your sticker."

She mumbled something, took her "loot" and retreated downstairs.

Her most recent visit to Dr. Cholette and her team, was most certainly her favourite visit. As usual, I prompted her to check in at the desk, and I had already reminded her that "no" she would be getting any dental gloves or masks, of course Delaney has a closet full of dressup props.

In the waiting room, we ran into the mom of one of Delaney's buddies. As I chatted with the Mom, one of Dr. Cholette's assistants invited Delaney back to visit with her friend, while the girl had her teeth polished. "Bye Mommy, see you later" and off through the door she trotted.

After brief chat I went to find Delaney. I walked past an exam room where 2 assistants worked on patient. I hadn't gone more than a few steps past the room when I heard Delaney's unmistable chortle. I walked quickly back to the room where I realized that one of the assistants was actually Delaney, fully masked, gowned and gloved, happily holding the suction while the assistant polished Delaney's friend's teeth.

She was in heaven, and was delighted to give all of Dr. Cholette's staff the rest of the day off when each of them remarked that they thought they would go home, after all, Delaney was doing such a fantastic job.

I'm so glad I had my telephone with me, to capture a couple of shots.

What an fabulous team of professionals at that Dental Clinic. It means so much to me that not only does Delaney have access to such amazing dental care, but beyond that, she is greeted with such open and welcoming arms. I'm really at a loss to express my gratitude to all of them.

Delaney will turn 18 on March 13 of 2009. At that time, she is no longer a pediatric patient and we will have to move on to an "adult dentist". I think I might cry. I know that the Calgary Health Region is very fastidious in their training procedure. I wonder if they've covered the use of fake ID. Maybe, just maybe, I could get some for Delaney, maybe even for a year or two.

Juno's Salute to Country Music

The first week of April was "big" for Delaney, very big. Corb Lund on the 2nd and then on the 4th it was Juno's Salute to Country.

Somehow, I got very lucky and we ended up with seats in the second row, Delaney's favourite place is up close and personal.

Upcoming artists Tracy Millar and Trevor Panczak were featured at the beginning of each set, followed by Gord Bamford and Aaron Lines in the first half, with Carolyn Dawn Johnson and George Canyon up after the intermission.

Delaney had a blast, and she particularly enjoyed singing along with Aaron Lines "Cheaper to Keep Her" and George Canyon's "I'll Never Do Better Than You."

As usual, Canyon was an impressive stage presence who also worked hard to remain "intimate" with his fans, as he moved his mic to the front of the stage, so close that we could almost touch him.

Corb Lund and the Hurtin' Albertans

Who could deny that quirky Corb and the Hurtin' Albertans are one of Alberta's most unrecognized treasures?

While I love to accompany Delaney to her many country and western concerts, Corb is one of my favourites. His music is intelligent and funny.

Naturally, the house was full when we saw him on April 2 at the Jubilee Auditorium.

Sssshhhh, don't tell Delaney

I just got word that our niece (Delaney's cousin) Annie (who lives with her husband, in Ottawa), has won a trip to the Juno's, sponsored by Paul Brandt. Before becoming a country star, Paul was a nurse at the Alberta Children's Hospital, and apparently, he sponsors a contest through the Canadian Nurse's Association for a trip to the Junos in Calgary.

How wonderful is this? She just celebrated her birthday, she and her husband are expecting their first baby this summer, and her mom, dad, twin sister and her brother in law live in Calgary. And it's just fitting that something so wonderful would happen to her, because Annie, who is a fairly new nurse, also has a degree in Gerontology. She wants to dedicate her life to caring for senior citizens.

Have fun Annie! She'll be easy to recognize, she's the one with the huge smile and even bigger heart.




"Having worked in my first career as a nurse, I know how demanding the job is and the positive difference nurses make in the lives of their patients and their families. From life's start to life's end, there is always a nurse." – Paul Brandt

Well, it was St. Patrick's Day, but the Tartan Army prevailed

It's been an exciting week for Delaney. We just celebrated her 17th birthday on Sunday with 14 wonderful young people, all of whom had a variety of special needs. We bowled and then had pizza and cake. Like so many other things in life, kids with special needs don't experience nearly as many birthday parties as their typical peers.

Bob and I enjoyed meeting the parents as they dropped of their children. Bob once remarked "It's a club you really don't want to belong to" but there's an unspoken understanding with other parents of special needs children. Knowledge of the sadness, and the loss of dreams, the overcoming of challenges and the incomparable sacrifices an entire family makes.

Always a meticulous planner, we've been informed her next birthday party will be at laser tag, and the one after that, Disneyland (shudder!)

The birthday party excitement was just a warm up for the big event Monday night, Martina McBride, featuring Scotsman gone country, Johnny Reid. Unfortunately, I was sick, so it was up to my rock-loving husband to escort Delaney. As it turns out, he loved the show, Johnny rocked the house, and Bob was particularly moved by the social content of Martina's songs.

We were fortunate enough to have been selected for the Calgary meet and greet with Johnny Reid. She called me on her Dad's cell to excited announce, "I got a hug and handshake from Johnny Reid!" As always happens when in the company of Delaney, you get sucked into her unabashed vortex of enthusiasm. "Oh my God, Johnny Reid, Johnny Reid."

Bob remarked on how kind and gentle Johnny was, with a smile almost as broad as Delaney's.

As they made their way back to their seats for Martina, Delaney just kept exclaiming, "Oh my God, I met Johnny Reid.

(In the photo, Country 105 morning show host, Doug Veronelly, Johnny Reid, and Delaney - part of her autism makes her really sensitive to the camera flash)

http://www.johnnyreid.com/

CONVOY, and a big test for Delaney

This morning, I successfully purchased 2 side by side tickets for us for the Country salute for the Junos featuring George Canyon and CDJ. Then I planted myself at the computer so I wouldn't miss the sale of "Plant Big Seeds" featuring Paul Brandt, Jason McCoy, Johnny Reid, CDJ and Aaron Lines. She's wanted to attend for a couple of years, but by the time I found the event, it was always sold out.

I was online with Ticketmaster at 11:00 and there were no seats together, so I took a deep breath and hunted for singles. Well, here's Delaney's big test, she's in row C seat 46 and I'm on the riser, row W!

I would never risk having her sit alone at the Saddledome, but this is a smaller venue, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that with a little coaching, she'll be happy in her third row from the front, and not talk her seat mates ears off!