Architect Builds Incredible Off-The-Grid Tiny Home To Avoid High House P...

Creating livable spaces that fit your lifestyle is inspirational.  But I'd like to see an architect design and build a tiny house for someone in a wheelchair.

Being from the Pacific islands, I'd prefer one constructed from a shipping container...how about that?!

Keep Calm and Dance in the Rain

Donate $10 to "Join My Campaign to Walk Again" for medical care, rehab and recovery from a spinal cord injury caused by cancer treatment, get power wheelchairs to help me stand, and get around independently in my home and around town.

I am a Pacific islander, former teacher, choreographer, dancer, network analyst who became paralyzed with a spinal cord injury from cancer treatment for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  Although it has taken time to get daily assistance for a physical disability, I've been able to get some support from the local county and wonderful friends I've made in town.

I’m calling out to the hearts and minds of friends, family, and folks everywhere to Join My Campaign and help me Get Back on My Feet again!

Starting with:
* Transportation and personal care assistance
* Standing and Portable power wheelchairs
* Treatment and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic's spinal cord injury program. 

Find out more on my fundraiser page: Join My Campaign to Walk Again  for just $10

Look me up: facebook.com/LalaWerx, @lilianani2012 or @passion4living1 and send me a message.  I'd love to hear your inspiring story and challenges living with a disability.

Full of Words - Axis Dance Company

The AXIS Dance Company is based on Oakland, California.  And when I lived in southern California, I desperately wanted to attend their classes and workshops.  Who knows, maybe even audition for the company... My one biggest regret seeing what I was missing.

These are excerpts from "Full of Words", choreographed by Marc Brew in 2011.

Choreography:  Marc Brew in collaboration with the dancers

Choreographic/Rehearsal Asst: Andrea Basile

Dancers:  Rodney Bell, Sonsherée Giles, Sebastian Grubb, Juliana Monin, Alice Sheppard

Original Score: Composed by Dan Wool, cello by Jessie Ivry and Theresa Wong

Costume Design: Sonsherée Giles

Lighting Design: Heather Basarab

Full of Words has been created as a series of physical conversations, encounters and interventions that reflect what it is to be human. 

To learn more about AXIS and how they change the face of Dance and Disability visit www.axisdance.org

Long and Winding Road

Hi all!

It's been a long road (15 years!) to reverse the spinal cord injury I've had which was caused by cancer treatment from a clinical trial at the National Institutes of Health. I moved 2 years ago from southern California to get treatment at the Mayo Clinic's spinal cord injury program, but things are as complicated as ever dealing with uninsured expenses for a power chair, transportation, and personal care services.

In the meantime, I've tried to make the most of it in Minnesota by visiting an awesome vintage store, the annual Todd County Fair, downtown concerts at the Veterans park, not to mention taking a few online classes on writing and painting (among other things)...

But with limited transportation (buses only run weekdays til 4pm), I'm a shut-in without a way to get out and around. The apartment building I'm living in is a secure, senior-only housing and had inaccessible entry doors. Imagine me trying to use a key to unlock the main door, pull it open, and roll myself into the building before the door closes on me...

Having said that, I always like to end on a good note...

I was nominated by the rehabilitation department at the local hospital to attend a Leadership in Ethnically Diverse Communities program, and invited to attend an annual mental health conference by a woman who is a leader in the community. I've made wonderful friends who are motivated to help me navigate the rocky road and travel along it with me....

Isn't that something?  😄

By the way, if you'd like to help me get back on my feet again, you can lookup my GoFundMe page,  checkout the Wishlist (treatment and wheelchairs), and Make a $10 Donation: 
https://www.gofundme.com/2js2gzw

AXIS on So You Think You Can Dance 2011

On June 30th, 2011 AXIS dance Company was featured on Fox Tv's "So You Think You Can Dance?" AXIS dancers Sonsheree Giles and Rodney Bell performed an excerpt from "to color me different" choreographed by Alex Ketley.

Reversing A Spinal Cord Injury caused by Cancer Treatment

Make a $10 Donation and Get a special Thank You! Gift from me :)

https://www.gofundme.com/2js2gzw

Checkout the Wishlist Items and details.  Here's a sneak peek:

 Hello, Alii, Aloha kakou!

My name is Lydia Smith-Lenardson.  I am a Pacific islander, former teacher, choreographer, dancer, network analyst who became paralyzed with a spinal cord injury from cancer treatment for Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.  I’m calling out to the hearts and minds of friends, family, and folks everywhere to Join My Campaign and help me Get Back on My Feet again!

Starting with:
* Transportation and personal care assistance
* Standing and Portable power wheelchairs
* Treatment and Rehabilitation at the Mayo Clinic's spinal cord injury program. 

My previous fundraiser in 2014

Join My Campaign to Walk Again

https://www.gofundme.com/2js2gzw

AXIS Dance Company

Divide from Guest Artistic Director Marc Brew, draws inspiration from visual artist Carl Andre's designs working in minimalism: Spill, 8 cuts and Copper Ribbon. Divide is an abstract work exploring the divide in human interaction in movement, space and time. This is Brew's first full piece with the company in his role of Guest Artistic Director. The UK-based choreographer first worked with AXIS in 2011 when the company enjoyed a huge success with his Full of Words, which went on to become a favorite on the company's tours.

Axis Dance Company is devoted to changing to the face of Dance and Disability- challenging the idea of what, and who, dancers are.

Concept & Direction: Marc Brew

Choreography: Marc Brew in collaboration with the dancers

Rehearsal Assistant: Juliana Monin

Dancers: Joel Brown, Sonsherée Giles, Sebastian Grubb, Juliana Monin

Original Score: Caroline Penwarden

Costume Design: Keriann Egeland

Lighting Design: Allen Willner

In a Wheelchair Having Low Self Confidence/Depression

Signs of Depression

http://www.facingdisability.com
For Families Facing Spinal Cord Injuries

Make Your Own Bottle Brush Flower Essence

A very dear friend shared this message with me some years ago on using flower essence to heal.


Hi Lydia,

Do you have any trees around you that have flowers growing on them that look similar to a bottle brush flower?

I have found the bottle brush flower to be a good one to make flower water from for the spinal nerves. Only because the flower to me resembles the spine and all the nerves coming from its center. It doesn't say so in the books but I do find it gives stimulation to the nerves down my legs.

I make my own -

• Pick the flower, just one is needed early in the morning before the bees are up. 
• Place it in a clear glass jar and cover it with fresh rain water. 
• Cover the glass with clear plastic and sit it in the early morning sun. 
• Leave it out overnight and the next day after the water warms from the sun again. 
• Take it in and strain the water into a container.

This I use to massage into my back and down my legs. The muscles in my legs relax and the pain in my lower back seems to disappear. I know you can get bottle brush flower essence and I guess they make it similar to the way I do but I just use the fresh stuff, though they do not say anything about using it the way I do.

Maybe a flower growing in your area may be able to be used in the same way.  The bottle brush is red also, so I figure its good for the Base Chakra.

May be something like that will help while you are waiting for the powers that be to attend to you

Here is a photo of one from my garden

Love

Veronica

To All the Awesome Contributors to My GoFundMe webpage

I want to gratefully acknowledge the wonderful people who have contributed towards my fundraising efforts to treat and recover from my spinal cord injury caused by cancer treatment.

It has been a very long time since I've been able to get enough funding and given the current economic situation, my heart is filled with immense gratitude to all the kind and generous souls who have and continue to share their love and encouragement.

So...(drum roll, please)... with their permission, here are the folks who have donated to my fundraiser webpage thus far:

1. Elaine Ferrier, $100

Other fundraising efforts I'm setting up

the Avon Fund Raiser Program and 

Jewels by Parklane via the HelpHOPELive Foundation

 Shopping on my Avon website also helps me earn more and get to the next level as a sales representative.  Folks who are interested in the Avon opportunity also generates additional income and propels me into leadership.

Message me on Facebook Passion4Living or Twitter @AvonLadyCoach to Participate

Shop and Buy from my store: www.youravon.com/Lydia

Includes FREE Shipping on $35 orders, Special Offers, and Promotions

Please Like and Share my Passion4Living posts on Facebook and Retweet and Favorite my @AvonLadyCoach tweets 

.

Brinley Announcement

Dear Lydia, Remember this smiling face? You met Brinley earlier this year as she learned to walk with assistance on the treadmill. She still needed her therapist's help to put one foot in front of the other. In May, Brinley had surgery to untether her spinal cord (unlike most people, Brinley was born with her spinal cord attached, or tethered, to her spinal column). The doctors believed that this surgery would help Brinley's mobility. Boy, were they right! After a few weeks of post-op rest, Brinley returned to physical therapy and that week Brinley took her first unassisted steps with her walker! Therapy is a 24/7 job…it's hard work! But her whole family helped out. Her siblings sat at the end of their long driveway and cheered Brinley on as she walked the length of it using the walker on loan from Easter Seals. That hard work paid off and now Brinley's walker is not just a therapy tool, it's helping her get around independently! Brinley is so motivated. She's even tackling stairs! Seeing just how far Brinley has come, her mom is hopeful and excited. "Before the surgery, I thought that Brinley walking at four or five years old was a realistic goal. Now, I think two and half is realistic." That's in only six months! I know I can't wait to see what Brinley does next. And I have to thank you. Her journey wouldn't be possible without support like yours! So thank you, and stay tuned! Sincerely, Cameron Robbins Easter Seals Easter Seals Inc. 233 South Wacker Drive, Suite 2400 Chicago, IL 60606 | 800-221-6827 (toll-free) Easter Seals and its affiliate organizations are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations.

Wings for Life World Run for Spinal Cord Injury Research

ONE DAY AT THE VERY SAME TIME

ALL OVER THE WORLD

4TH MAY 2014

This is the first time I've ever heard of a global event so inspired to cure spinal cord injuries.  For me, it's a huge encouraging jolt of hope, just knowing there are people in the world motivated to run in support of those of us who can't.

100% of the proceeds from the event will go to the Wings for Life foundation, which funds research into curing spinal cord injury.

Checkout the site and the locations set for people to run on one day, May 4, 2014:
http://www.wingsforlifeworldrun.com/en/