The Gift of Independence

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of NMEDA for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

 I have a new passion… running. It all started with a walk… the Mary’s Walk, which is a fundraising for Maine Cancer Research. Since then I became inspired to run. I am now training for my 2nd 5k and hopefully I will be able to do a full marathon.

I am so lucky that I can walk, much more… that I can run. It must have been disheartening for all those who are physically challenged and wheel-chair bound to just even go around their own backyard, so I thought. But during my very first 5k race, I was humbled by one of the race participants. He crossed the finish line 10 minutes ahead of me. He was wheel-chaired bound but you cannot see in his face that his disability is a big obstacle in achieving his goal. I was amazed at how he crossed the finish line with total confidence.

After the race he was assisted by another guy to his specially-made vehicle and his specially-made-for-races wheel-chair was carefully wheeled inside the vehicle too. As they drove away, I was totally so inspired to work harder on my new passion because I thought, if he can do it… why can’t I!

Well, speaking of that specially-made vehicle. It is indeed great that with this kind of vehicle is available to our physically challenged friends and loved ones so they can to go places safely. It is also good to know that these kind of vehicles are available through the help of NMEDA who makes sure that vehicles like these are easily accessible by wheelchairs.

To know more about NMEDA, here are some additional information:

- NMEDA is a non-profit trade association; they educate consumers on buying products from a NMEDA qualified dealer.

- NMEDA DOES NOT SELL ANYTHING: NMEDA is the only association that promotes safe driving and equipment for disabled people. They are non-profit and their members are required to adhere to the safety standards of the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NMEDA dealers (members) are the ones who sell handicap vans and vehicle modifications for disabled people.

- No two people with a disability are exactly the same. Beware of adapted wheelchair vehicles sold over the Internet or through catalogs. After a personalized “in-person” evaluation, you can be sure you are getting the right driving solution customized to your specific lifestyle and needs. If you need additional training or product refinements, your NMEDA dealer is there to help you.

- NMEDA has Dealers AND Quality Assurance Program (QAP) dealers.
* The Quality Assurance Program (QAP) is the only nationally recognized accreditation program for the Adaptive Mobility Equipment Industry. It is based on the principle that in order to satisfy customers consistently, companies must have a systematic and documented approach to quality.

-----------------------------------

Caring for our loved ones with disability is a tough job but it is nice to know that a NMEDA qualified dealer can help us in our daily challenges in dealing with them.

If you are a Health Care provider who needs this kind of special vehicle for your clients or a caregiver of a physically challenged loved one … visit nmeda.org now and on its homepage, type in your ZIP code on the box provided at the dealer’s locator and see if there is a qualified dealer near you.

The road to independence for our disabled loved ones starts now… with NMEDA… and with our desire to give them the gift of independence.

This Time of the Year

I feel a little edgy lately. I can't help it. It was around this time of the year when I miscarried.

It has been 3 years already and I'm still not over it. I still grieve. I still cry every now and then especially when I hear stories about miscarriages. Though, I became a mom for a brief moment, it was such a wonderful moment in my life.

Three years have passed, but I still feel the pain of losing my precious little one. 

But I try move on though I still grieve, it doesn't necessarily mean that I am hopeless.

And I try to be happy though I still cry, it doesn't always mean that I am lonely.

Then, I try to be free though I still feel pain, it doesn't really mean that I have given up.

One day, I will let this time of the year pass by... celebrating the joy of acceptance.

B.A.S: Blogging Anemia Syndrome

My Bad!

I have not written anything here for a long time. I have no alibi. I am plain lazy!

I am working only part-time and have more free time everyday and yet, I can’t convince myself to write anything lately. Having 6 blogs finally took a toll on me. I do write every now and then, and that is because I am writing paid posts for 3 blogs [this, my breathing space and hubby's blog where I am a ghost writer. lol] I need extra income, you know. But still I am not doing a-ok on that department either, unlike when I was still a stay-at-home wife where I could write 10 to 12 post a day on PPP and 1 post for each non-PPP blog.

While my other 3 blogs are suffering from blogging anemia [together with my newest baby except for the photoblog which I share with my brothers Japol and Gary - thank God!], commenting and blog hopping to other bloggers' websites seemed to be unacceptable, as well . 

This thing or shall I say… phase… is not entirely new to me. I have been there a lot of times and I am so familiar with it. Laziness is my twin sister. We have a love-hate relationship and we have a strong bond together when life in the fast lane is too tiring to bear or in my recent case - becomes monotonous. But unlike my siblings, Laziness and I can get tired of each other and eventually can soon get rid each other as fast as we could.

So for now, I will just take things easy and enjoy my sweet life in the slow lane. And hope that people will be as forgiving as always.