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
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
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)
Monday, March 3, 2008
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!
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!
Saturday, March 1, 2008
She really did go country!!!
A couple of weeks ago, Delaney was excited to have been asked to make a brief speech at "Skate A Kid to Camp," a major fundraiser for The Between Friends Club of Calgary. "Between Friends" provides social and recreational opportunities for people with disabilities, and today's fundraiser was for Camp Bonaventure, a summer camp for youth with disabilities. It's worth mentioning that Delaney is as passionate about Between Friends as she is country music.
In existence for over 25 years, Between Friends is an incredible agency that gives people like Delaney a chance to be a kid. It gives her the opportunity to hang out with friends, and participate in activities at a level of her ability. She's been an active participant for about 9 years!
As we left home for the long drive to the other end of town, we flipped on Country 105, and what luck, a Keith Urban song. At the end of the song, the announcer mentioned she was broadcasting live from the Olympic Oval and Skate a Kid to Camp, because the wonderful people at Country 105 are major sponsors of the event. Well, Delaney couldn't wait to get there for what had the potential to be a perfect trifecta day for her, Between Friends, country music AND the chance to make a speech. Delaney believes her rightful place is behind a microphone.
The only directions provided for her speech were that it be about Camp Bonaventure, and I added that she remember to speak slowly, but the content was her baby.
When we got to the Oval, she couldn't wait to introduce herself to Steph Hansen, the Country 105 announcer. What a coincidence to learn that they had been tablemates at the Jason Aldean show. Leslie, from the promotions department presented Delaney with a CD, pen and a flashing Country 105 pin. Then she was off to the "mainstage" for her speech. She was introduced by Aisling Slattery, from CityTV. She took the mic, and spoke like a pro, slowly, and clearly as we practiced, and promoted Camp Bonaventure with only the joy that someone who had attended could convey.
After lapping up some applause, she was off to visit the lovely Steph Hansen again. I'd cautioned her not interrupt Steph when she was "on the air" but imagine my surprise when I walked past the booth to see Delaney doing a live interview.
As we always do, we listened to Country 105 on the way home, but I barely heard the music as Delaney chattered away about "being on the radio."
We did hear the initial tally for the event, over $106,000 dollars.
In existence for over 25 years, Between Friends is an incredible agency that gives people like Delaney a chance to be a kid. It gives her the opportunity to hang out with friends, and participate in activities at a level of her ability. She's been an active participant for about 9 years!
As we left home for the long drive to the other end of town, we flipped on Country 105, and what luck, a Keith Urban song. At the end of the song, the announcer mentioned she was broadcasting live from the Olympic Oval and Skate a Kid to Camp, because the wonderful people at Country 105 are major sponsors of the event. Well, Delaney couldn't wait to get there for what had the potential to be a perfect trifecta day for her, Between Friends, country music AND the chance to make a speech. Delaney believes her rightful place is behind a microphone.
The only directions provided for her speech were that it be about Camp Bonaventure, and I added that she remember to speak slowly, but the content was her baby.
When we got to the Oval, she couldn't wait to introduce herself to Steph Hansen, the Country 105 announcer. What a coincidence to learn that they had been tablemates at the Jason Aldean show. Leslie, from the promotions department presented Delaney with a CD, pen and a flashing Country 105 pin. Then she was off to the "mainstage" for her speech. She was introduced by Aisling Slattery, from CityTV. She took the mic, and spoke like a pro, slowly, and clearly as we practiced, and promoted Camp Bonaventure with only the joy that someone who had attended could convey.
After lapping up some applause, she was off to visit the lovely Steph Hansen again. I'd cautioned her not interrupt Steph when she was "on the air" but imagine my surprise when I walked past the booth to see Delaney doing a live interview.
As we always do, we listened to Country 105 on the way home, but I barely heard the music as Delaney chattered away about "being on the radio."
We did hear the initial tally for the event, over $106,000 dollars.
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