LATEST UPDATE
June 10 , 2009
** Save The Date: Suicide Prevention Week Kickoff Event **
On behalf of the KSPG steering committee, we're excited to announce that nationally renowned speaker Army Major General Mark Graham and his wife, Carol, have agreed to be our keynote speakers at the Suicide Prevention Week Kick-Off Event on Friday, August 21 in Frankfort, Kentucky.
Nominated by Secretary of Defense Robert Gates for Time Magazine's 100 most influential people, Maj. Gen. Graham and his wife will share their tragic story of losing their two sons, one died by suicide and the other died while serving in Iraq.
To learn more about the Grahams’ heartbreaking story and how they are leading the fight to reduce military suicides, click on the following Wall Street Journal story: http://online.wsj.com/article_email/SB123819242229860775-lMyQjAxMDI5MzI4ODEyOTgyWj.html
Stay tuned for additional information about other powerful speakers on the agenda and specifics about the event time and location in Frankfort.
Sincerely,
Todd R. Cheever, MDKSPG
Steering Committee Chair
** I have included several web sites I would like for you to view and act on. The first one is to encourage your loved ones not to talk on their cell phone while driving. This is the web site: www.hangupsavealife.com **
** This web site was also brought to my attention. This is a link discussing the lack of treatment for adolescent depression:
http://www.bhcjournal.com/default.aspx?articleId=27144&tabid=252 **
** This is certainly significant when you consider the results from the Youth Risk Behavior Survey. See below how KY teens compare with U.S. For KY high school students, almost 30% indicated that they felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for 2 or more weeks in a row that they stopped doing some usual activities. If you want to read more on the Youth Risk Behavior Survey you can access results online: http://www.cdc.gov/HealthyYouth/yrbs/index.htm **
Michael Mcfarland, LMFT
Program Administrator
State Suicide Prevention Coordinator
Department for Mental Health, Developmental Disabilities, and Addiction Services
100 Fair Oaks Lane 4E-D
Frankfort, KY 40621
Phone: 502.564.4456, ext. 4518
Fax: 502.564.9010
Kentucky Suicide Prevention Group Website:
www.kentuckysuicideprevention.org
** Lifetime Television has put this bill on their web page with a petition drive to show your support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name and zip code number..
The Open to Hope Foundation an online resource center for people who have experienced loss, is looking for individuals who have experienced a loss and would like to write about it in order to promote universal healing. The writings will go along with the archived on-line radio show, "Healing the Grieving Heart," hosted by Drs. Gloria and Heidi Horsley, heard live Thursdays at 9am PST and archived at www.thegriefblog.com
In order to apply to become a "contributing writer" on the Foundation web site, writers submit a sample of their personal and professional writings and, if selected, produce a minimum of 250 to 500 six times per year. (Previously published articles may be used if the author has permission from publications.) If this is of interest to you, please visit: http://opentohope.com/write-for-us/and fill out the “Contributing Writer” application.
Gloria C. Horsley Ph.D.
National Board Member of The Compassionate Friends
www.thegriefblog.com
www.opentohope.com
Subject: Be my Bra
From a nurse:
I'll never forget the look in my patients' eyes when I had to tell them they had to go home with the drains, new exercises and no breast. I remember begging the Doctors to keep these women in the hospital longer, only to hear that they would, but their hands were tied by the insurance companies. So there I sat with my patients, giving them the instructions they needed to take care of themselves, knowing full well they didn't grasp half of what I was saying, because the glazed, hopeless, frightened look spoke louder than the quiet 'Thank You' they muttered.
A mastectomy is when a woman's breast is removed in order to remove cancerous breast cells/tissue. If you know anyone who has had a Mastectomy, you may know that there is a lot of discomfort and pain afterwards. Insurance companies are trying to make mastectomies an outpatient procedure. Let's give women the chance to recover properly in the hospital for 2 days after surgery.
It takes 2 seconds to do this and is very important. Please take the time and do it! Please send this to everyone in your address book. If there was ever a time when our voices and choices should be heard, this is one of those times.
If you're receiving this, it's because I think you will take the 30 seconds to vote on this issue and send it on to others you know who will do the same. There's a bill called the Breast Cancer Patient Protection Act which will require insurance companies to cover a minimum 48-hour hospital stay for patients undergoing a mastectomy. It's about eliminating the 'drive-through' Mastectomy where women are forced to go home just a few hours after surgery, against the wishes of their doctor, still groggy from anesthesia and sometimes with drainage tubes still attached.
Lifetime Television has put this bill on their Web page with a petition drive to show support. Last year over half the House signed on. PLEASE!! Sign the petition by clicking on the web site below. You need not give more than your name, state, and zip code.
( http://www.lifetimetv.com/breastcancer/petition/signpetition.php )
This takes about 2 seconds. PLEASE PASS THIS ON to your friends and family, and on behalf of all women, THANKS
Subject:Re: Sweet Auburn International Film Festival
Exciting news about the documentary "Space Between Breaths." As you know it was one of eight documentaries selected to be screened at the Sweet Auburn International Film Festival Mother's Day in Atlanta. The documentary was screened May 11th only hours before the awards ceremony for the festival was being held.
The Smiths wished that each of you could have been there as they announced that the award for the 2008 Sweet Auburn Best Documentary went to "Space Between Breaths!"
The documentary continues to gain exposure. Each of our special angels are the moving force behind this film. The message of hope will live on as a legacy to all of our children.
Congratulations to the Smiths for a job well done. We are honored that the documentary is going to be shown at J.I.M.'s Conference, June 7th.
Congratulations Luther and Rosemary!!!!!!!
As you can tell, Rosemary was very excited.
If you are interested in digital scrap booking, Jackie Beams has these 2 websites. Digital Scrap booking is used in making websites, etc. She uses Paint Shop pro 8 & 10. Contact her if you are interested. You could also print them.
www.jackiesangels.blogspot.com
http://jackiesangels2.bravehost.com
During WWII, there was an advisor to Churchill who organized a group of people who dropped what they were doing every night at a prescribed hour for one minute to collectively pray for the safety of England, its people, and peace. This had an amazing effect, as bombing stopped.
There is now a group of people organizing the same thing here in America. If you would like to participate: Each evening at 9:00 PM Eastern Time, 8:00 PM Central, 7:00 PM Mountain, 6:00 PM Pacific, stop whatever you are doing and spend one minute praying for the safety of the United States, our troops, our citizens, and for peace in the world.
If you know anyone who would like to participate, please pass this along. Someone said that if people really understood the full extent of the power we have available through prayer, we might be speechless.
Thank You **
In l978, the National Organization for Parents of Murdered Children was formed. Their toll-free number is 888-818-7662. Web site is www.pomc.org
Send a letter
to our troops in Iraq
In Florida, a parent can obtain a birth certificate for their stillborn child. I hope you will look at this and ask if your state has this law, if not, let that be your project for our stillborn children.
Very soon, you will see a great many people wearing blue every Friday. The reason? Americans who support our troops used to be called the 'silent majority'. We are no longer silent, and are voicing our love for God, country and home in record breaking numbers. We are not organized, boisterous or overbearing.
Many Americans, like you, me and all our friends, simply want to recognize that the vast majority of America supports our troops. Our idea of showing solidarity and support for our troops with dignity and respect starts this Friday -- and continues each and every Friday until the troops all come home, sending a deafening message that every red-blooded American who supports our men and women afar, will wear something blue. By word of mouth, press, TV -- let's make the United States on every Friday a sea of blue much like a homecoming football game in the bleachers. If every one of us who loves this country will share this with acquaintances, coworkers, friends, and family, it will not be long before the USA is covered in BLUE and it will let our troops know the once 'silent' majority is on their side more than ever, certainly more than the media lets on. The first thing a soldier says when asked 'What can we do to make things better for you?' is: 'We need your support and your prayers.' Let's get the word out and lead with class and dignity, by example, and wear something blue every Friday.
Information on Wearing Red on Fridays
Birth and Angel Dates, and Fellow Travelers' Web site pages have been added since last month. Please look at these pages to be sure that I have your child(ren)'s correct information and visit the web sites. It is so important that we know each other's children. I hope you will look in June Birth and Angel Dates and July Birth and Angel Dates If they have a web site, I hope you will visit the site and sign their guest book. It means so much to all of us, when our children are remembered.
http://www.ucumberlands.edu/lamentations/
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