Humans of Castlegar BC

*** JANUARY 2021 UPDATE *** 2020 was a crazy year for all of us I think. Covid has certainly made life more challenging , esp for medically fragile people like ...Zach. We have had to adjust to some changes, but in the end we made it ! As some may know, 2020 brought dialysis changes for Zach, which then brought two fistula surgeries and some life scheduling changes as well. Instead of nightly dialysis, he goes to a Trail 4x per week, 4 hours per run. So not fair, but it is what it is for now. Now onto the exciting updates ! His first fistula was not successful, so another attempt was made in August ( a little further up his arm) and we are pretty thrilled to say this one has been a success ! As hard as failure is for you to all hear about, it’s very hard to live through, so we haven’t said much until we knew this one was working. Although there were concerns in the beginning of it possibly not maturing to size, Zach did the exercise and hard work , and it paid off, because his fistula is working well ! We are pretty happy to say that he’s had his maiden voyage a few weeks ago, and 3 more since, all successful !! Woot woot ! They test run each line 3x before using both together. He has had 3 successful runs ( not without a few hiccups, but he powered through as usual) on the arterial line , and today we started test run #1 of the venous line. After 3 successes we transition to both lines, and once we jump that hurdle and he’s using both lines successfully, we can talk about removing his chest Cath , leaving him line free for the first time in 6 years !! He will be able to swim in lakes etc, play basketball like he used to, just lots of bonus’s to it ! We are SO excited to get to that goal . But for now, we push towards the fistula full time, and keep pushing for a donor. The right set of eyes will see it someday and we can get past this dialysis stuff and onto life ! Please continue to share his story, register to be a donor and be kind to your own kidneys ! Thanks as always for staying on the ride So much love , JDZM **** JUNE 2020 UPDATE **** Where to start. The last 6 months have been challenging. It has tested our patience, love, faith, and our hope . In September, Zachary became very sick with pneumonia. We were airlifted to Vancouver, and by the time we arrived, Zach had deteriorated so badly, they rushed him into surgery, inserted a chest tube and he came out on life support. Seeing your child on those machines changes a person. Being on those machines and waking to the realization of being on life support changed him too. Changes that I’m not sure will ever leave my body or my mind, or his. Watching them breath for him for those 5 days was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before, and nothing I want to experience again, and definitely nothing I’d wish on anyone else. I’m a different person now. Zach is too. It’s some good, some not, but that’s our reality. We spent a month in Vancouver and came home, believing all was ok. All was not ok and a few short months later , we found ourselves airlifted again, this time in the middle of a blizzard, back down to BC Childrens. We spent 3 months this time, as we had to transition Zach to Hemodialysis, as Peritoneal Dialysis was no longer working. Hemo is much different and seems very hard on his body. We’ve watched our energetic, lively, athletic boy change into a tired , sleepy guy. He has no energy for sports, which is ok because with the chest catheter, he can’t play as many anyways. Hemo is hard on him and us. The trips are never ending now- 4 trips to Trail weekly- 16 times back and forth on the highway. Zach and I lived at Ronald McDonald House while we were down there. It was wonderful, amazing and sad all at the same time. We met other wonderful families and made some friends that we will have for life. What we didn’t get was a kidney ! That’s what we really need, so if you have ever shared , thank you ! But now is the time , his antibodies have come down and they are revisiting old possibilities and asking for new people to step forward to be tested. So that’s where we are at. Home, new dialysis routine ,and renewed HOPE ! So please continue to share , each time you see it ! The more eyes we have on his story, the more chances to find his match . As always, we thank you for following our journey. What can I say, we love you all TeamZach JDZM **** DECEMBER 2019 UPDATE **** As 2019 draws to a close, and we enter the 5th year of dialysis, I can’t help but be a little sad we are still waiting. So many shares , so many messages from people asking how to be tested, and no matches so far. 2019 was rough on him. September’s scare and hospital stay being especially trying, and bringing about many changes in his energy level, anxiety, the progression of his disease, and with that, his therapy. He now does 14 hours of therapy a day. So he spends more than half his 24 hour day doing dialysis. No 16 year old should be spending the majority of his time doing this. Please share his story far and wide and as often as possible and help us make 2020 HIS year. May 2020 bring nothing but great things to you all.. and as always, we appreciate each and every one of you for staying on the ride and loving and supporting our boy and our family ****JUNE 2019 UPDATE**** 6 long months have passed since our last update. 6 more long months of dialysis, meds, appts, lab draws, injections, supply orders and dump runs ( medical waste builds up SO fast ! ) We are still sharing, waiting, hoping and praying our boy gets his gift. We will never give up on that ! In the meantime, we promote organ donation and ensure people who want to be, are signed up. We share a lot of upbeat, feel good stories, because that’s what we are after ! But we will also share the sad, the tragedies, the ones who were lost waiting for their gift. Because that’s the reality. That’s what happens when people don’t get the gift they are after. It’s what NO looks like, and it’s important people see what their decision results in. #thatswhatNOlookslike JDZM ****JAN 2019 UPDATE**** Today marks Zach going into his 4th year on dialysis... I’ve been a sad Mama these past few days as this date approached. Ive hid out and cried and moped and asked all the why him and why us and why not questions... Now, I’m ready to battle... please share this far and wide.. it’s time universe.. HEAR us ! ****OCT 2018 UPDATE**** SHARE SHARE SHARE #TEAMZACH, We need your help !! Now that Zach is on the National High Sensitivity list, it means his donor can come from anywhere , not just Canada ! We need his story shared far and wide so we can find our son his life saving gift ! Please share , as often as possible. Our sons gift is out there, we just have to find it !!! #OrganDonation #BCTransplant #BCCH #KidneyKid #TeamZach #KidneyMama #KidneyLife #ShareYourSpare #ZachNeedsAKidneyLikeYesterday #BigAskBigGive #BobbyOPositiveGotHisKidney #WeGotYourBackZach #LogynGotHisKidney #KenyasBraveJourney #KidneyLifeAintEasy #SaveOurKids It's a New Year and it's time to do this thing !! Please share the CRAP out of this and help us find our boy his miracle ! ** SHARE AND ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO DO THE SAME **

**** JUNE 2020 UPDATE **** Where to start. The last 6 months have been challenging. It has tested our patience, love, faith, and our hope . In September, Zachar...y became very sick with pneumonia. We were airlifted to Vancouver, and by the time we arrived, Zach had deteriorated so badly, they rushed him into surgery, inserted a chest tube and he came out on life support. Seeing your child on those machines changes a person. Being on those machines and waking to the realization of being on life support changed him too. Changes that I’m not sure will ever leave my body or my mind, or his. Watching them breath for him for those 5 days was unlike anything I’d ever experienced before, and nothing I want to experience again, and definitely nothing I’d wish on anyone else. I’m a different person now. Zach is too. It’s some good, some not, but that’s our reality. We spent a month in Vancouver and came home, believing all was ok. All was not ok and a few short months later , we found ourselves airlifted again, this time in the middle of a blizzard, back down to BC Childrens. We spent 3 months this time, as we had to transition Zach to Hemodialysis, as Peritoneal Dialysis was no longer working. Hemo is much different and seems very hard on his body. We’ve watched our energetic, lively, athletic boy change into a tired , sleepy guy. He has no energy for sports, which is ok because with the chest catheter, he can’t play as many anyways. Hemo is hard on him and us. The trips are never ending now- 4 trips to Trail weekly- 16 times back and forth on the highway. Zach and I lived at Ronald McDonald House while we were down there. It was wonderful, amazing and sad all at the same time. We met other wonderful families and made some friends that we will have for life. What we didn’t get was a kidney ! That’s what we really need, so if you have ever shared , thank you ! But now is the time , his antibodies have come down and they are revisiting old possibilities and asking for new people to step forward to be tested. So that’s where we are at. Home, new dialysis routine ,and renewed HOPE ! So please continue to share , each time you see it ! The more eyes we have on his story, the more chances to find his match . As always, we thank you for following our journey. What can I say, we love you all TeamZach JDZM **** DECEMBER 2019 UPDATE **** As 2019 draws to a close, and we enter the 5th year of dialysis, I can’t help but be a little sad we are still waiting. So many shares , so many messages from people asking how to be tested, and no matches so far. 2019 was rough on him. September’s scare and hospital stay being especially trying, and bringing about many changes in his energy level, anxiety, the progression of his disease, and with that, his therapy. He now does 14 hours of therapy a day. So he spends more than half his 24 hour day doing dialysis. No 16 year old should be spending the majority of his time doing this. Please share his story far and wide and as often as possible and help us make 2020 HIS year. May 2020 bring nothing but great things to you all.. and as always, we appreciate each and every one of you for staying on the ride and loving and supporting our boy and our family ****JUNE 2019 UPDATE**** 6 long months have passed since our last update. 6 more long months of dialysis, meds, appts, lab draws, injections, supply orders and dump runs ( medical waste builds up SO fast ! ) We are still sharing, waiting, hoping and praying our boy gets his gift. We will never give up on that ! In the meantime, we promote organ donation and ensure people who want to be, are signed up. We share a lot of upbeat, feel good stories, because that’s what we are after ! But we will also share the sad, the tragedies, the ones who were lost waiting for their gift. Because that’s the reality. That’s what happens when people don’t get the gift they are after. It’s what NO looks like, and it’s important people see what their decision results in. #thatswhatNOlookslike JDZM ****JAN 2019 UPDATE**** Today marks Zach going into his 4th year on dialysis... I’ve been a sad Mama these past few days as this date approached. Ive hid out and cried and moped and asked all the why him and why us and why not questions... Now, I’m ready to battle... please share this far and wide.. it’s time universe.. HEAR us ! ****OCT 2018 UPDATE**** SHARE SHARE SHARE #TEAMZACH, We need your help !! Now that Zach is on the National High Sensitivity list, it means his donor can come from anywhere , not just Canada ! We need his story shared far and wide so we can find our son his life saving gift ! Please share , as often as possible. Our sons gift is out there, we just have to find it !!! #OrganDonation #BCTransplant #BCCH #KidneyKid #TeamZach #KidneyMama #KidneyLife #ShareYourSpare #ZachNeedsAKidneyLikeYesterday #BigAskBigGive #BobbyOPositiveGotHisKidney #WeGotYourBackZach #LogynGotHisKidney #KenyasBraveJourney #KidneyLifeAintEasy #SaveOurKids It's a New Year and it's time to do this thing !! Please share the CRAP out of this and help us find our boy his miracle ! ** SHARE AND ASK YOUR FRIENDS TO DO THE SAME **

Ode to a community So gentle and sweet Where rainbows are painted and sculptures meet... With parks and museums Look for pianos, you will see them Libraries and ponds The list can go on Mountains and rivers Their beauty brings shivers Ode to a community So gentle and sweet A beautiful city Its love we do keep D Mac

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Ellie Davidoff plays a great part in our community. She was born and raised in Appledale, Slocan Valley, then moved to Castlegar when she got married. When she ...graduated from Mount Sentinel, she was drawn towards working with children. She took Human Services and the Early Childhood Education Program, which was a stepping stone to her career teaching preschool, working in daycare, and working in the school system as an education assistant. It provided the tools needed to work with children and youth in the Castlegar and Doukhobor communities. As her children grew up, she would be involved in their activities during their various stages. She was a part of the Sunday School committee, Castlegar figure skating committee, and Turning Pointe performance company society. For 15 years, she was the director of the Vision Of Peace Youth Choir, as well as the USCC Union of Youth, both when her daughter was in council 12 years ago, and now for the youth today. After she retired from working in the School District, 3 years ago, she took the role of secretary at the Brilliant Culture Centre. There, she helps organize many various cultural projects and event coordination at the Brilliant Cultural Centre such as the Union of Youth Festival, Turning Pointe dance events, and Selkirk College Mir lecture series. She has so many great ideas that help improve our community. She feels that the Doukhobors’ aspects of way of life, toil and peaceful life, love, and forgiveness, drive her to stay involved, and the fact that she has truly become attached to a project and youth she works with. Her biggest wish and desire for the future is to have more youth engaged to become drivers, movers and shakers. We have so much work to do, people to help, culture to preserve, and heritage to sustain so that her grandchildren grow up knowing true essence of love and peace within their own hearts. See more