“I’m sorry to tell you…”
It was July 13th, 2013, a day that will be forever ingrained in my memory. I was sent to the emergency department immediately following an MRI. Alone, l heard the terrifying words, “I’m sorry to tell you…you have a brain tumour”. A mother of three teenage children at the time, It almost ended my life. I am passionate about helping others not make the same mistakes I did during that year of my life. Crises come to us in many ways. How can we be empowered to survive and find our “new normal”?
It’s Brain Tumour Awareness Month in Canada. Let’s join together to raise awareness!
It was July 13th, 2013, a day that will be forever ingrained in my memory. I was sent to the emergency department immediately following an MRI. Alone, l heard the terrifying words, “I’m sorry to tell you…you have a brain tumour”. A mother of three teenage children at the time, it almost ended my life. I am passionate about helping others not make the same mistakes I did during that year of my life. Crises come to us in many ways. How can we be empowered to survive and find our “new normal”?
It’s Brain Tumour Awareness Month in Canada. Let’s join together to raise awareness!
This is a list of common symptoms which, alone or combined, can be caused by a brain tumour (malignant or non-malignant). If you, or someone you know is experiencing any of them, consult a doctor. I ignored them for too long!
Behavioural changes
Cognitive changes
Dizziness or unsteadiness
Double or blurred vision
Frequent headaches
Hearing impairment
Morning nausea and vomiting
Seizures
Weakness or paralysis
Free resources can be ordered by mail from the Brain Tumour Foundation of Canada and supports are available for both patients and caregivers. Youtube also has webinars on a host of topics. There are over 120 different types of brain tumours, making treatment complex.
Although as many as 60% of children with brain tumours will survive, they are often left with long term side effects.
In May 2019 the Brain Tumour Registry of Canada was launched with the goal of collecting data on every malignant and non-malignant brain tumour in Canada. The first Canadian Survival Report is now available with excellent information which will drive research. The Foundation is committed to research that is changing treatment options and improving the quality of life for patients.
Every day 27 Canadians hear the same shocking words I did almost 7 years ago. On Saturday, June 27th Canadians from coast to coast will join together for our virtual community walks. My team, “The Tumour Raiders” is only one of hundreds across Canada.
“Turn May Grey ” has interesting meaning this year with hair salons closed. Many of us certainly are, in a way we never predicted! There are many ways to support: join or sponsor a team or individual for the walk in June, make a donation, share this information to raise awareness or cheer us on!
My Gift to You - WHO WOULD HAVE IMAGINED?
We have direct evidence of the positive impact we’ve have as human beings on our planet, because we’ve been forced to. We can’t ignore this and go back to the way things were. We have a responsibility to learn and re-envision a new normal with the power to create what that new normal will be - for ourselves, our communities and this world.
Six weeks ago, who were you spending time with? What were you doing?
Two of our children were finishing mid-terms in pursuit of their degrees. Our oldest was in the midst of his research, studying for his PHD. Ken and I were ripping out our old kitchen and replacing all the “pieces” step by step.
I was excited to have been a guest speaker at three events at the end of February and beginning of March and looking forward to those booked for the future. My college students had all begun their field placements with success. My podcast series was off and running and second book entering the cover design stage. My husband, a retired police officer, was working part time as a FEDEx driver.
FULL STOP.
We were hearing reports of a virus overseas. We’ve had them before. Wasn’t that too far away to really worry about in Essex County? The Covid-19 journal I began a month ago attests to how quickly things changed… daily if not hourly. Unprecedented, to say the least.
If you’re out of the country, come home.
Your travel insurance will be suspended in 10 days.
The border is closed. Vultures are cleaning out the grocery stores.
Local shops, small business owners are shut down with two days notice.
Schools and childcare centres are closing.
Only essential services remain open.
HOLD ON!
Retired medical practitioners and first responders are being hired back to work. Health care workers are on the front line. We’re searching for masks, face shields, medical gowns and ventilators. Field hospitals are being created. Businesses are re-tooling to make what we desperately need to survive. An entire generation in Italy and Spain have now been taken by this thing. It’s coming our way. One. Ten. Fifty. Almost three hundred…confirmed cases in our county and continuing to grow. People are ill, fighting for their lives. Long term care and retirement homes are locked down. Over one million people in Canada are now without employment.
Today, we say, “We have to flatten the curve.”
Today, nurses, doctors and first responders are staying in hotels or living in trailers to keep their families safe.
Today, we’re checking in on family and friends through online video chats.
Today, elementary, secondary, college and university students and teachers have moved to online learning, including myself and my children.
Today, we line up and wait six feet away from each other to enter a pharmacy or grocery store.
Today, we suffer heartache and can’t visit those in hospitals or palliative care…can’t come together to grieve the loss of a friend or loved one.
This is more than real. It’s incomprehensible. The coming weeks and months will be like nothing we have known before. People we know and love will fall ill. Businesses will close their doors permanently. People will have no job to go back to. Reality is about to smack each of us in the face, if it hasn’t already.
The world is giving us time to re-set in countless ways. Environmentally, we’ve had a drop in global emissions, waterways are running clear, air pollution has dropped substantially in major cities around the world. We have direct evidence of the positive impact we’ve have as human beings on our planet, because we’ve been forced to. We can’t ignore this and go back to the way things were. We have a responsibility to learn and re-envision a new normal with the power to create what that new normal will be - for ourselves, our communities and this world. This time can also be seen as a gift for those of us blessed to be staying home. Time to self-reflect, heal, read, be with our families...Time to find ourselves and what really brings us happiness and fulfillment...Time to take a stance and decide that we’re not going back to the treadmill of “stuff”. We’ll move forward with a new sense of purpose and realization of what really matters. Let’s not settle for anything less.
Today, I’m making masks as my “gift” to people. Who would have ever imagined?
If you could go back in time…
If you could go back in time would you change anything? It serves no purpose to dwell on what could have or should have happened. But, reflecting on the choices we made along the way can guide us in the countless decisions we make today, to find our “why” and true purpose in this life.
Once a month, I get together with two long time friends for a walk along the trails somewhere in our county. The Chrysler Greenway runs for 42 kms along the length of the old railway lines, giving us countless locations to choose from. Walking in nature is uplifting in and of itself, but catching up with friends during that time makes it a perfect two hours.
A short time ago, we decided to meet close to the area where I lived during my childhood. From the time I was 10 years old, my mother and 3 siblings lived in a farmhouse on the outskirts of McGregor, Ontario.
My friends and I started walking south along the trail, where trains used to barrel by, a couple of acres behind the farmhouse. Almost immediately, I started pointing and sharing memories: “That was the corn field we loved to play hide and seek in; There’s the remnants of the barn where we used to laugh hysterically as we jumped into the hay loft; The field where the horses roamed; Where my sister screamed as she fell and broke her collar bone…”
My mother used to say she had to “steal from Peter to pay Paul” to save for rent and make ends meet every month. We couldn’t afford to heat the upstairs in the winter and closed off that area of the house. We ran a water line from the well once a week to fill the reservoir in the basement. We were happy because that’s all that mattered to my mom. Family - there is nothing more important. She instilled that in each of us and her legacy lives on.
Smiling, I had a vision of myself as a 10 year old, running through the corn fields and stopping suddenly. The young, “me” glanced over to see her 56 year old self walking by. Time Warp! What had she imagined her life would be like 46 years later? What was that young girl thinking of in those times? Her dreams? Her fears? My dreams and fears as I struggled to figure out my life’s path.
If you could go back in time would you change anything? It serves no purpose to dwell on what could have or should have happened. But, are we achieving our goals? Have we overcome obstacles by challenging and confronting our fears? What’s stopping us from finding our “why” and true purpose in this life? Reflecting and learning from the choices we made along the way can guide us now and in our futures. Perhaps in the coming weeks, as many of us self-isolate due to the COVID-19, we can take this time as an opportunity to refocus, reconnect and make positive choices for ourselves and those we love.
Interview by AllAuthor
A life-long educator, Lynn McLaughlin grew up on the outskirts of McGregor, a small town in Southern Ontario. In her book, Steering Through It, the author explains how it feels to find out she had a brain tumour as well as how she healed not just physically, but emotionally and spiritually as well. She shares her challenges and joys as a mother, a wife, a sister, a friend, a leader, and a survivor.
Where did you grow up as a child? What was your favourite holiday as a child and why?
I grew up on the outskirts of McGregor, a small town in Southern Ontario. When I was in grade 4, we moved two times and I attended three different schools that year. For a few months that year, we lived with our cousins in Wheatly, Ontario. There were 9 of us between the ages of 4 and 11. I will never forget that Christmas morning. Imagine nine children excitedly sneaking around before dawn, thinking we were fooling our parents. The gifts under the tree came right to the door of the room. Christmas was my mom's favourite time of year and I follow in her footsteps because it brings are families together.
What did being an author mean to you as a child? What does it mean to you now?
I was always an avid reader. I loved writing and entered contests in my elementary school with, "Our Little House" from the perspective of the oldest of four children in a single parent household. It was a winner when I was in grade 7 and I think what ignited my love of writing. I cherish the journals I wrote through high school until today.
What was the first memoir you ever read and how did it change you?
Not Without My Daughter by Betty Mahmoody. It opened up a world of which I had limited understanding of. The horrors of what was happening on the other side of the world became real because of the author’s talent in telling the story.
What is "Steering Through It' about? How did you come up with this name?
The book was written and had been formally edited. There were at least three titles but I was not happy with any of them. "Steering Through It' came as a result of a conversation between my husband and I while commuting one day. The title then lead to renaming chapter headings and linking the theme of sailing throughout the book. The design of the cover then began, with a talented artist (Sari Richter). The cover says it all!
Since how long have you been a member of 100 Women Who Care Windsor/Essex?
I joined 100 Women Who Care in 2018 after hearing about it from a friend. We make an immediate postiive impact in our neighbourhoods.
Why did you decide to retire from being the Superintendent of Education with the Greater Essex County District School Board in September of 2018?
That is not an easy question. I loved my position and was inspired by the difference my team was making for our students, staff and families. It was becoming more and more challenging to maintain a healthy lifestyle after I returned to work following my illness. I promised myself and my family that my health would be a priority. Although I don't dwell on it, I know there is a chance of a brain tumour recurence, which keeps me grounded. My career was very important to me but it does not identify me as a person. I am very active, have begun my own business, hosting a podcast called, "Taking the Helm", public speaking and loving every minute.
How was your experience of completing your first Detroit International 1/2 Marathon in November 2019?
Incredibly emotional! I was very committed to training for six months prior to the event but was still uncertain about whether or not I would be able to meet my goal. Rounding the bend for the last 1/2 mile was overwhelmingly triumpant and emotional. I joined my team members, all of whom crossed the finish line despite challenges.
What challenges do your face while teaching future Educational Assistants at St. Clair College?
I love teaching and was excited to be back with a group of students again. It's a very big part of who I am. My only challenge was learning the policies and procedures of the college.
What sparked the idea for "Steering Through It: Navigating Life-Threatening Illness...Acceptance, Survival and Healing?"
I began journalling when I was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Those journals kept me sane throughout the repeated triumphs and failures. A year after my surgery, it was very clear to me that my family and I could help others going through a life changing event.
How difficult it was to share your most personal thoughts, fears and triumphs over the most challenging year of your life with your readers?
My personal "story" is not difficult to share at all. There are countless life lessons that I speak about now, hoping to guide others to make decisions today, rather than waiting for that moment when life stops. It was the experiences of my family that were first difficult to share. Until they wrote about it, I really had no idea what had been happening behind the scenes. It was truly moving.
What kind of takeaway do you want your readers to get from readings your books based on issues that impact the search for justice and equal opportunity in the modern world?
Advocacy! We have to advocate for ourselves and if we are caring for someone who is not in the position to do so, then we must act on their behalf. We should first, understand the diagnosis and treatment options. Only do research on reputable medical based sites. There are many "words of advice" throughout the book.
How did you keep up your mental and emotional strength while dealing with and surviving a brain tumour?
I wouldn't let myself attack it in any other way. I kept negativity away and welcomed anything that anyone wanted to offer. Even if I was not feeling up to it, when someone wanted to visit, I opened the door. I set daily goals which were very small. After each week, the growth/change was incredibly celebratory. One small step at a time.
How do you think concepts such as Kindle, and e-books have changed the present or future of reading?
Books are more accessible. We can order them from the comfort of our own home. They are less expensive than paperbacks or hardcovers.
What book ideas are you currently working on?
My second book is about to go into the cover design stage and the release date will be early this summer. It's very different thank Steering Through It and I know is going to change lives! It's a very exciting time when something you have been working on for so long is coming to fruition! I will begin planning the launch in April.
Finally. what intrigued you most about the AllAuthor website? As a premium member now, have your thoughts about it changed?
A fellow writer recommended it. I had never heard of it before. There are many options, some of which I am not taking full advantage of. I love the mockups that I recieve monthy, with the option of flagging the ones I like out of the multitude of options. The seasonal and magic tool are very unique as well. I have been asked to "pilot" or "research" things before they are launched and provide feedback, which is fun to do as an author. The Magic Tool was one example. The GIFs, Tweets, video banners - many options available to us. Also, our facebook group is interactive and within a very short period of time, when someone asks a question, it is answered. That is greatly appreciated!
Meet our first three exceptional guests!
It’s time to celebrate the truly remarkable people we have surrounding us. “Taking the Helm” is all about just that. In each podcast episode, we’ll get to know people who have taken risks, who’ve thrown themselves out there - to create something they’ve dreamed of. Some have given up careers to pursue their passion. Others have ventured into becoming entrepreneurs. Each offers us inspiration through their own experiences and learning. It’s an honour to get to share these conversations and unique leaders with you. My guess is you will want to listen to each and every episode. There’s so much for us to learn and experience ourselves.
It’s time to celebrate the truly remarkable people we have all around us. I’ve been grappling with what I can do to share the strength, drive, passion and commitment of countless people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.
The Podcast, “Taking the Helm” is my solution! In each podcast episode, we’ll get to know people who have taken risks, who’ve thrown themselves out there - to create something they’ve dreamed of. Some have given up careers to pursue their passion. Others have ventured into becoming entrepreneurs. Each offers inspiration through their own experiences and learning. It’s an honour to act as your host and share these conversations and unique leaders with you. I hope you will listen to each and every episode. There’s so much for us to learn and experience ourselves.
We’ve got three incredible episodes being launched today. You can listen directly from my web page or subscribe to one of the podcast platforms (Apple, Spotify, Anchor, Breaker or Overcast). I’d love it if you would join my mailing list for updates. Enjoy!
“Remember that there are two kinds of pain in life: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Choose one.”
Michael Angelo Caruso, from Michigan, is an internationally recognized author and speaker. Michael has educated and entertained audiences all over the world, including the Middle East, the Caribbean, and 49 of the 50 states. His presentations include keynote speeches, seminars and webinars. He now teaches presentation skills, drawing on his unique background. In this interview, Michael shares the life-changing event that moved him into this business, tricks of the trade, his “Present Like a Pro” course and much more!
“It is easier to build up a child than it is to repair an adult”
Amie Elias owns “Doors to Healing”, operating out of the Stone House, a lakefront wellness retreat privately tucked along Lake Erie. She is a certified Traumatic Incident Reduction (TIR) and Life Stress Reduction (LSR) Facilitator. Amie also runs one on one addictions programs and Mindfulness & Meditation workshops. That’s just a drop in the bucket! She shares much more in this podcast interview. Attestations from clients who have worked with Amie in person and virtually are indicative of the remarkable difference she is making in their lives!
“You can have it all- better health, unstoppable confidence, more energy and success. The ONLY thing is your way is the beliefs telling you that you can't!”
Tina Brigley of Essex Ontario, took a huge risk in her life when she left her career as a teacher to help us breakthrough to be unstoppable. You are a powerhouse and people fear the day you discover that! You can have it all- better health, unstoppable confidence, more energy and success. The ONLY thing in your way is the beliefs telling you that you can't!