June is brain injury awareness month in Canada. Sustaining a brain injury can happen to anyone at anytime and the consequences can be devastating. This is because it can affect the way you think, feel, communicate, and do things. The road to recovery can be long and lonely. Take a moment to review the…
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“Anything but sorry: what to say when a baby is born with Down syndrome” is a recent campaign launched by the Canadian Down Syndrome Society (CDSS). It’s purpose is to change society’s perception that we should be congratulating parents rather than sending our condolences. This got me thinking…
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In my last blog on motor vehicle accident (MVA) insurance, I focused on protecting your health. Today’s blog is about how MVA insurance can protect your wealth. But, before I get into the details, I want to share a few caveats. The first one is that MVA insurance is a complex subject. My goal in today’s…
Read moreJune is brain injury awareness month. It also marks the beginning of summer – a time when many adolescents and young adults are enjoying the fun and sun, free from the stress of school. Unfortunately, summertime is when the lives of some will forever be changed because of a motor vehicle accident (MVA).…
Read moreIn part one of my two-part blog, I introduced you to Brittany Harrison and her very special dog, Avery, who is deaf. Brittany had come up with the idea of creating a Special Pups Day Camp for children with special needs through caring for Avery and growing up with a cousin who has autism. The Special…
Read moreMillennials are that group of young adults most often described as the “me” generation. Well, this label certainly wouldn’t apply to Brittany Harrison, a Purchase Coordinator for Marks in Calgary, and a few of her millennial cohorts. When I discovered how they are improving the lives of individuals…
Read moreI am 10 years old. My brother and I, along with our parents, have just finished the tour of Hershey’s Chocolate factory in Hershey, PA. We are seated in their cafeteria and anxiously awaiting the mouth-watering taste of the chocolate treat my dad has just ordered.In that moment, I have a glance encounter…
Read moreFamily life can include the joy of getting a first job, marrying, and watching children grow. It can also include the turmoil of job loss, disability, and the death of loved ones. One of the hardest aspects of my life is witnessing my father-in-law’s cognitive decline from vascular dementia. It’s…
Read moreOur biggest losses are gifts in disguise. Witnessing my daughter's psychotic illness is a pain I never imagined having to endure. Her private hell brought her close to suicide more than once. When she was first diagnosed, I feared neither she nor I would survive. That was a year ago, and I now see a…
Read moreAt the time of our son’s birth, I was familiar with many of the physical malformations and cognitive limitations associated with Down syndrome (a short, stocky, intellectually impaired person with inarticulate speech quickly jumps to mind). However, I was shocked to learn of the plethora of serious…
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