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January 2005 newsletter Our family made it through the anniversary of Ian's death (or what Sean and Ryan decided to call Ian's Heavenly Date) and Christmas with the love, support and prayers of so many. It was a very difficult time as you can imagine. Our hearts were breaking as we kept in mind the true spirit of Christmas. It was wonderful being able to share our holiday with our families. I will try to never take any of them for granted! We have been busy working on the foundation since the holidays. Ian's Rainbow Flu Foundation has distributed flyers to all of the elementary schools in the Parkhill School district along with many daycares, Parents Day Out Programs and pre-schools. Many offices have also placed our flyers out for the public to take. We are hoping that this will spread the word about how serious influenza can be. Thank you to all who have been so gracious in helping out. If anyone would be interested in having some of our flyers, please contact Ian's Rainbow Flu Foundation and we would be happy to get some to you for distribution. The flu season this year has started out slow. By this time last year there were many deaths attributed to influenza and complications from influenza. Unfortunately, it looks like the spread of the flu is picking up. On our medical page I keep an updated flu map that the Center of Disease Control and Prevention publishes every Friday. It is an easy way to keep an eye on your state to see how wide spread influenza is in your area. Many places still have influenza vaccines left. If you are high risk, talk to your doctor about receiving the influenza vaccine. Also, even if you are not high risk, you may be able to receive the vaccine at this time. Check with your doctor or your local health department. Remember one of the easiest ways to help stop the spread of the flu is to wash your hand thoroughly and often. I recently talked with a co-worker who's son lost his battle with cancer this past fall. He told me a saying that really made me think. If you have faith, earth is as close to hell as you will get. If you do not have faith, earth is as close as you will get to heaven. Even in the most difficult times, please keep the faith! Dr. Singer, the boy's principal sent us this email. I asked his permission to post it on our web site. It made Glenn and I so thankful that Ian touched Helen the way he did.
Twinkle,twinkle little
star
How we wonder what you are…
Just over a year ago, many of you prayed on behalf of little
Ian Moise’s family. Ian was just under a year old.
He died suddenly as a result of complications from influenza.
He already had impacted many of our lives as he spent much
time at Prairie Point with his parents when they came to
school to help us.. Moments after Ian graduated to the
next life, a beautiful double rainbow appeared in the sky at
Ian’s parents, Glenn and Julie, went to work to see to it
that Ian’s life would always be remembered with fondness,
affection, and a sense of great purpose. A
memorial garden was developed by his family at our school so
that our children could be reminded that the lives of all boys
and girls are precious—and that those lives are so important
that they would never be forgotten. Glenn and Julie did
not stop with the garden. They established Ian’s
Rainbow Flu Foundation, check it out at www.iansrainbow.org
. It was established to promote the health and
safety of others. We had faith that the work would help
someone somewhere along the line. But we never knew.
At least until last Saturday.
Many of you prayed this week for my friend, Helen, who is
librarian at our school. She had the flu, and was
suffering from many complications. Her husband, John,
pleaded with her to see a doctor. She refused, like most
of us would. He persisted. So did she, until about
11:30 Friday night. In the midst of her resistance, Ian
came to mind. After all, she looks out on his garden
several times a day and thinks of him and his family.
She began remembering the good information that Glenn and
Julie had shared with us. And she decided that she
should heed that effort and take a ride to the hospital.
All the way to the hospital, Helen was in great pain.
All of the way, she thought of Ian. When they arrived at
the hospital, she could not sit up on her own, let alone walk.
She was placed in a wheelchair and, on the way in, she looked
up at the sky. No, she did not see a rainbow. But
she did see a bright star twinkle down at her. And she
had hope.
When her vitals were taken, she had blood pressure of 60/40.
Her kidneys had shut down. Her heart was shutting down.
But she had hope. Her doctor told her that, had she
waited to seek medical attention, she would have died.
Ian and his family had guided her there. Today, Helen
was able to go home from the hospital. Twinkle,
twinkle little star, Now
we know just what you are |