Wow!

also… eeek! Two Months and 11 days until Angelena’s trip!

Oh this big ball of wibbly-wobbly timey-wimey stuff… it gets a little weird sometimes doesn’t it, and trying to balance all the spinning plates, and we all know how clumsy I am, I can barely hold one plate in my hand without it being in danger!

And course consistency is not my strength, especially with chaotic days and weeks and I wonder how here we are on the 12th day of 2024!

There was a teacher’s strike during November, so there was no school, but students are back in school and Angelena is working hard on her studies, they are working on dental activities currently and she finds it interesting, but it also confirms she doesn’t want to be a dentist!

We are still trying to get lists together for the trip, figure out the cash situation, and other things I don’t know how to do because I haven’t traveled internationally (or much at all) since I was three years old but my parents took care of that.

I added a few travel things to our Amazon list, but keep an eye out because we will probably be adding more.

Thanks to EVERYONE who has been helping out with our fundraiser too! Check it out and share it on social media if you can! I am also having a clearance sale at my Depop Shop - out with old, in with the new, and all proceeds from my sales go to Angelena’s travel fund, come shop with me! Other links to our PayPal or Venmo are on my home page.

Thank you again for all the love and support you give to our little family, we are very grateful.

Vivisection

Thank you all again for the donations coming in! Angelena was super excited about her dissecting projects this past year, and particularly meaningful to us with Ehlers Danlos, got to see and understand what some connective tissue looks like and does.

Angelena is getting excited about her upcoming JUNIOR year in high school! This year they will be wearing scrubs and bringing home an infant simulator... but not to "discourage teen pregnancy" but to learn to care for someone and grow empathy. Angelena is already strong in many of these topics as a child who had an ill brother and speaking of guts... an ever-increasing ill mother.

We were able to make a passport appointment for tomorrow, I'm glad to have that paperwork finished and it will be exciting when that passport arrives!

Last month we got to celebrate Anneka graduating from the University of Oregon in Eugene, which was fun, and we got to see some friends we haven't seen in a while, so that made it extra delightful.

We are continuing to save up for the rest of the funds for Angelena's STEM trip to Scotland and Britain, and the more we learn, the more excited we are for her!

Remember any amount counts, no need to worry if you can only donate 4 bucks, it all adds up!

Again, if you share from the links from the FreeFunder site to your social media, FreeFunder will donate up to $70 based on shares, and you can do that for free!

Everything I am selling from my Depop store, proceeds after fees is going to this fundraiser as well. I have fun handmade items, jewelry, vintage items, sustainable and embellished one-of-a-kind clothing, and super cool pieces from the early 1900s. Make me an offer, and if you are local, skip the shipping and we can figure out a pick-up situation!

Thanks again for your support and caring about our little family during our really hard times and for helping me help my kids to be able to do things that will help them have successful and happy futures doing what they love.

And remember, if you want to donate without fees, I have my PayPal and Venmo listed here. Separately, I am asking for Amazon gift cards in any amount as I’m trying to save up for medical equipment for Atticus.

It’s been five and a half years since Atticus was diagnosed and yes, it’s still extremely hard to ask for things and getting beyond the rock in my stomach every time I ask. I appreciate all of you!

Science Studies

Angelena Sciencing at school

Hi all, I just wanted to thank everyone who has donated. This helps us get Angelena her passport and some of her flight to Edinburgh!! The last day of her sophomore year was June 14, and she is excited for her junior year when they will be wearing scrubs and learning even more on her pathway to nursing.

As part of this trip, they will get to put their STEM principles with even more hands-on learning - such as attending a forensics workshop in London! So cool.

Atticus recently got his scans and all was well; sometimes I read them out loud and Angelena, who loved her medical terminology class, will hear medical words, parse them out in Latin and then inform me of what the word means. She's my new Google for medical terms I usually have to look up - only better, because I love seeing the delight on her face.

And! If you share from this site to your social media channels, FreeFunder will even help chip in! Every little bit helps, and I'm so excited to see her adventures. Even if you can't donate, please share, all the sharing helps so much.

I also still have my Depop Shop going, so keep checking back on new items there, shop sustainable style, vintage, and antique clothing items and all proceeds after fees go to her fundraiser! Friends in Portland, if you see something and would like to pick it up and not pay shipping, let me know!

As always, feel free to use my Venmo or Paypal to donate as well so the fees won’t be taken off. There is also a text to donate on FreeFunder - Text ANGELENA to 206-672-7222 to donate!

Thank you, everyone!

Angelena to Britain!

Angelena is a sophomore at Benson Polytechnic High School, where they get to choose a major in various trades, learn hands-on, and be ready to graduate heading in the direction they choose. Angelena wants to be a nurse so is in Health Occupations. So far, she has received her Stop the Bleed/CPR/AED certification, had a medical terminology class, and got to go up to OHSU where she announced “Oh! This is where my brother got his leg cut off!” to the horror of those surrounding her, but amusing to the rest of us. They got to see an array of healthcare workers in their positions, and what they do daily; the kids got to ask questions and learn how to inject an orange with saline. And many other exciting things she learns that I can’t keep up with.

Angelena demonstrating how to tourniquet a bleeding limb at the Benson Tech Show

Angelena LOVES her health occupations class and in turn, will teach me a conglomeration of things about blood vessels and arteries and hearts and how to tourniquet a limb, and even if I’m reading one of Atticus’ scans out loud, she will give me the Latin origination of some medical terms. 

**This week, we found out that next year, her Junior year, they have a wonderful opportunity to go on STEM 2024 Tour: Health Science in Great Britain It will be for one week, during spring break. 

“Journey back to a time when the plague was at its prime and surgery doubled as entertainment as you explore the underground streets of Edinburgh and try your hand at forensic sleuthing in London. Trace the innovations that shaped Britain’s modern healthcare landscape, and participate in hands-on workshops to discover how real-life medical careers operate.” - EF Educational Tours

Angelena demonstrating how to give CPR with an AED

I am so proud of all my kids, and I’m pretty excited about this opportunity for Angelena to travel across the pond to see history and learn more about these occupations (forensics! - my true crime self is so jealous!), and learn about health care in other countries. 

The money goes to getting a passport, round trip flights, hotels, two meals a day, the tour director, transportation while there, local guides, entrances to landmarks and attractions, and some extra spending money for snacks, lunches, and probably a bit of touristy shopping! We would be so grateful to all who can help, and every little bit helps! 

And, if you don’t want to donate through this platform so she receives the whole amount, you know how to contact me! 

DONATE HERE