When I Don't Know What Else to do, I Ask You to Pray!

Hi Everybody,

All 300 of the "non-essential Health Sciences Association Members in my city walked off the job today.  364 appointments had to be cancelled and that total is expected to rise. SAHO still remains that yesterdays offer as far as wages are concerned is "final".  Most of the appointments in the Child Development program had to be cancelled as well as several appointments in other areas.  SAHO says they will go back to the table to discuss small details and provid clarification. Health Sciences Association says that they will suspend all strike action as soon as SAHO agrees to independent binding arbitration. I'm scared.  I don't know if I've ever said it that way. I'm scared because I need my Occcupational Therapist and Physical Therapist.  I'm scared because I need to go see my Physical Therapist at clinic with my Orthopedic Surgeon to discuss my legs/hips and also discuss my shoulder before it gets any worse.  I'm scared for all those kiddos who can't have their therapy through the Child Developement Program; it is so very important for young kids to get the proper rehabillitation.  I'm scared for all those newly injured outpatients who need their weekly therapy because the proper rehabillitation early on makes all the difference. I'm scared for that patient and his/her family who hang on to every ounce of progress they see in therapy each week.  So, God I know you're listening and it seems that maybe writing this out is the best way to go about this because I haven't been able to say the proper prayer out loud lately.  So please God, hear my prayers when I ask, no, beg you to end this dispute.  Please allow the government to see that these people ar essential.  Please allow for the two sides to come to an agreement and if that requires binding arbitration, please provide that  Pllease allow patients to be able to go back to getting the services they very much so need.  PLEASE God, do not let this escalation in strike action prosist for any length of time.  Please also provide everyone affected by this situation hope, faith, strentgh, peace, courage, and wisdom. Readers, I ask you to join me in this prayer.

We also had a "God is Good" moment the other day (He always is but, ya know)  As I said before, the ramp for my power chair is a huge pain in the tush for my parents.  Our DME called my mom the other day and he told us he had found a Joey Lift (http://www.bruno.com/vehicle-lift-joey.html) in the warehouse and that if he could get the right parts to install it in our van, we could have it free of charge, wow!  I assume this is not a cheap peice of equipment.  Thanks God! Hopefully that works out.

I stayed up wayyyyyy to late last nigh finishing my Biology paper (How late I won't say because I'm ashamed)I have a massage in the morning and am still fighting a sore throat and runny nose, so goodnight! Thank you for reading and/or praying.

J

Please Pray

Hi Everyone,

Just when it looked like the Health Sciences Association and SAHO might be coming to an agreement, SAHO rejected the Health Sciences counter offer.  This counter offer had been acceptance of the employer's latest wage proposal for 17 job classifications, with an increase of 14.5% or more over the 4 years of the contract, and base wage increases of 14.5% over the four years for all remaining members.  So, it's back to an escalation in strike action. 

Just when I had started to feel a little bit more positive, it all came slamming at me.  School being to much..  My shoulder is killing me all over again (stress does good things for it, you know.).  I am supposed to be going on June 22nd to see my Orthopedic Surgeon and Physical Therapist for that clinic appointment and at that point, we are going to talk about who should be doing the Physical Therapy and that kind of thing..  With this escalated strrike action, though, who knows if that can happen? I'm seriously trying not to sound selfish and to have some faith, but I really need to get into Physical Therapy.  The pain has reared its ugly head with a vengance for the last couple of days.  I'm just so tired of hurting and being so restricted.  I know it could be worse. I'm just frustrated and tired.  I feel like a broken record, on that one by the way.  I'm also getting a cold and this really isn't the best timing for that because I have final exams starting a week from tomorrow, have a test, an essay, and a paper due.tomorrow.  It's a "simple" as there's to much going on. 

PLEASE pray HARD that this escalated strike action will not have to last long. PLEASE pray HARD that the Health Sciences Association can get the binding arbitration they are asking for.  PLEASE pray HARD this dispute can be solved quickly. PLEASE pray HARD it does not have to come to all 1500 "non-essential" members being pulled off the job because they are all essential to their patitents.    PLEASE pray HARDabout this whole situation, I'm at a point where I'm not sure what else to specifcally request.

"My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word."


Psalm 119:81

Thank you and please let me know if I can return the favor.

J

Another Update

Ok, I have to type really fast because I have to leave for OT in like ten minutes... Health Sciences Association job action is on hold. Good. As I said before, the offer is for an average increase off 11% over 4 years.  This would be an increase of 7% in some classifications and as much as 22% in others.  According to SAHOs president this would would bring Health Sciences Association workers to or above the Western Canadian average in all classifications.  President of the Health Sciences Association says there are still a few points that need to be negotiated, but that today represented progress between the two side.   SAHOs president says there is room to discuss smaller issues, but this is a final offer.

Please continue to pray for this to be resolved, and thank you all :)

I REALLY have to go!

J

Update/Prayers

Hey all,

This will be quick as I have a crapload of homework to do and then I have to race out to the door to Occupational Therapy.

SAHO has offered an 11% increase over four years (Their last offer was 7.5% and the Health Sciences Association was asking for an 18.5% percent increase over 4 years, I think.... Don't mark my words on that).  President of the association, Cathy Dickson says that while it's still a ways away from the 18% percent they are asking for, but she is happy that SAHO is showing a willingness to negiotiate.  They will be taking a look at the offer and responding later today. 

Thank you for your prayers about this :).  PLEASE continue to pray HARD that SAHO and the Health Sciences Association can come to an agreement. PLEASE pray HARD that their will be no need for continued, ramped up strike action.

Thank you muchly :D

J

"Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name ..” ... 1 Chron 29:12-13."

Keep the Prayers Comin', Please!

Hey All,

Tomorrow is the day that SAHO and the Health Sciences Association go back to the table.   PLEASE pray HARD that they can come to an agreement.  PLEASE pray HARD that the Health Sciences Association will not have to take any further, ramped up job action.  PLEASE pray HARD that this was not just a way to delay things and that SAHO actual does have a better offer for the Health Sciences Association. I don't know what else to say; I feel like I can't find the right words.

Thank you.

J

Phil 4:6-7   “Don't fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God's wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It's wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.”

Amazing Progress at Hippotherapy

This week at Hippotherapy, my ROM improved hugely.  In fact, my riding therapist said that she now has to go back and redo her plan for me for the next month because the plan was based on my need to gain ROM .  My legs were so loose that my upper body was really unstable.  My LACK of tightness in my legs made me unstable; that has never happened.  So now the plan is to work on strengthening my legs.  She gave me these rings to put around a pole while riding the horse (for balance), but I kept missing because the horse was stalling.  At the end of the session we tried walking/standing.  I was able to walk just resting my hands on her shoulders and my legs moved easier (the movement wasn't as forced) but, it gets even better.  At the very end, my therapist had me standing just holding one of her hands and my mom told her I never would have been able to standing holding just one hand for support before, because I would've pitched forward.  So, she decided to take it one step further and had my dad come hold my other hand.  Then, she told me "Think of our hands as the saddle of the horse, you don't need to hold onto the saddle." I let go of their hands and was able to stand with NO support for about five seconds two separate times.    I know five seconds does not seem huge, but to someone who can not stand without support, that's a big deal; it's a HUGE deal.  When I went to buy my riding helmet, the lady who was helping us told us that there is a lady from the states who was an Olympic rider and she fell off her horse acquiring a Traumatic Brain Injury.  Now, she attends Hippotherapy five days a week and has said that to amazes her how hard it is for her since she used to ride in the Olympics.  But, it is believed to be a huge part of why she is able to walk.  Do I think I'm just going to up and walk? No, but, with a whole lot of hope, faith, prayer, and hard work, who knows what the future holds? Don't get me wrong, my life isn't centered around learning to walk, but if that's part of God's plan, I'm game.  Plus, it would just be another thing I can prove a few therapists and doctors wrong about, I like doing that; it makes me feel really good :) (not in a "you were wrong" sort of way, just "I defied the odds" sort of way).

Thank you to those who prayed about the appointment schedule and fitting everything in.  Because of your prayers, my Hippotherapist is now able to see me Tuesday (dad is off work, so it works much better), OT is Wednesday  and Massage Therapy is every second Saturday (I can rest after that way)

PLEASE continue to pray HARD that SAHO and the Health Sciences Association can come to an agreement on Wednesday; PLEASE  pray HARD that this contract offer will be one that gives the Health Science Association members  a fair contract PLEASE pray HARD they will accept this contract offer. PLEASE pray HARD this is not just a tactic to delay things.  PLEASE pray HARD there will be no need for further, ramped up strike action.

Please also pray for school as we are 2 weeks away from exams and I am feeling stressed about getting everything in (my fault, I admit it. I procrastinate far to much),    Please also pray for continued progress in all my therapies.  Please also continue to  pray I will be able to have OT this week because as I said, it has been almost three weeks since I had therapy ( I know it could be worse).   Please also keep my OT and his family in your prayers.

Thank you all so much.  Your prayers make a difference.  PLEASE don't hesitate if you need prayers.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.
Proverbs 3:5-6

Thanks and Comtinued Prayers!

 SAHO and the Health Sciences Assocation will be back at the table next Wednesday, June 8th as SAHO has a new contract offer.  Thank you for your pryares about that.  PLEASE  pray HARD that this new offer will END this dispute PLEASE pray HARD that they will not have to ramp up the strike action (if they don't get a satisfactory offer, it will happen and it will happen fast) PLEASE pray HARD that it does not come down to that for the sake of the professionals, the government, and the public.  Thank you so much.


J

Matthew 17:20  He replied, "Because you have so little faith. I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."