Name that Newsletter Contest - Osteoporosis Newslett… · Osteoporosis Canada, Alberta Chapter #104, 2526 Battleford Avenue SW Calgary AB T3E 7J4 Phone: 403-237-7022 Fax: 403-220-1727

A Bi-Annual newsletter produced by the Alberta Chapter of Osteoporosis Canada. Spring 2010.

The Bone ZoneStrong Bones, Strong Alberta

Greetings from the Alberta Chapter of Osteoporosis Canada!

Welcome to our first 2010 newsletter! We hope to publish a newsletter for AB Chapter members, volunteers, community associations, medical organizations, support group members and sponsors twice each year. The purpose of this newsletter is to keep you informed and updated with what is happening at the AB Chapter.

Your feedback, requests for future articles and relevant stories are welcome. Please contact us at:

Osteoporosis Canada, Alberta Chapter#104, 2526 Battleford Avenue SWCalgary AB T3E 7J4Phone: 403-237-7022Fax: [email protected]

This newsletter is also available via email! Let us know whether you would like an online copy by emailing us at [email protected].

Are you the creative type? Send us a suggestion for the name of our newsletter and you could win recognition, prestige, best of all a prize! Bone up on your creativity and submit your ideas to us using any of the contacts listed above.Submissions must be received no later than June 1, 2010. The winner will be announced in our Fall issue.

In November of 2009 a fundraiser was held with a ‘Food & Wine’ theme. The location was at an Italian restaurant, Il Gallo Nero (in case you will be visiting Calgary in the near future!). The restaurant has a warm, romantic atmosphere with a pleasant wood and brick décor. A modern twist on Italian fare was served along with a selection of wines that complemented the courses.

The evening was highlighted by guest speaker John Gilchrist, a renowned restaurant critic who is a regular contributor to CBC Radio One and the Calgary Herald.

Other event highlights included a silent auction and door prizes. Trivia cards were placed at each table to encourage conversation and promote (in a fun way!) education about Osteoporosis.

The results were outstanding, with a sellout crowd and successful sale of all donated auction items. Everyone in attendance thoroughly enjoyed their evening while at the same time supporting a worthy cause.

From left to right: Claudio, Owner Il Gallo Nero; Alice Yam, Executive Member; Lorell Thoms, Educator; John Gilchrist, Restaurant Reviewer; Bev Swan, Executive Member; Florence Kaseke, Treasurer; Loretta Brown, Chair; Loretta Kao, Executive Member; Earl Daly, Executive Member

What Have We Done Lately?Food and Wine Fundraising Event a ‘Sparkling’ Success

Name that Newsletter Contest

Resiliency, by definition, refers to one’s ability to recover from misfortune - the positive capacity of people to cope with stress and catastrophe. During the talk, Dayle asked about “natural survivors” - those who bounce back from anything. People who have the ability to take whatever life throws at them and not only make it through these tough times, but actually gains strength and flourish afterwards! How is it possible to grow in strength when diagnosed with Osteoporosis?

There are many people who become victims of their circumstances, feel defeated by life and stop living - those who seem to never recover from even the smallest misfortune. Many people are unable to get through the “why me’s” when thrown an unexpected curve ball in the game of life. Are their things that one can do to ensure they are on the ‘Resilient team’, that they will be able to come through on top when tragedy hits? Can one learn to cope with disruptive behaviour

and sustain good health and energy, even when under constant pressure? How does someone change to a new way of working and living when their old way is no longer possible - without resorting to dysfunctional or harmful ways?

According to the experts (Dayle and psychologists such as Al Siebert), resiliency cannot be taught but it can be learned. What this means is that an individual can do things to prepare themselves for those moments when resiliency is needed. The only difference between the resilient individual and the non- resilient person is the first has found the ability to tap into one’s deepest strengths and talents. Their natural resources have been discovered and maximized. The best part about this news is that we do not need to wait for adversity to strike; we can prepare a course for resiliency right now!

There are five levels of resiliency -

RESILIENCYCan you and your bones bounce back?

A few Thursdays ago, I was lucky enough to hear Dayle Bruce, a Registered Clinical Psychologist, speak on “Staying Resilient through Changing Times”. Resiliency workshops are most often offered to counsellors and social workers who work with troubled youth. So why, then, was Dayle the guest speaker at an Osteoporosis Support Group in Calgary?

LEVEL 1 - Start by optimizing your health and well-beingTake care of YOURSELF - ask for help and support; take control of your actions and emotions. With Osteoporosis, that means taking your Calcium, getting enough Vitamin D and performing daily weight-bearing activities. Take your medications as prescribed and make YOUR health a priority. Remember to revitalize yourself - often! When people take care of themselves and engulf themselves in activities that are revitalizing, they develop their personal resiliency. Remember or discover what it is that makes you feel alive and positive!

LEVEL 2 - Build a strong FoundationRedevelop your self-confidence - do the things that leave you feeling competent and self-assured; then grow from those feelings. Many times people feel limited after a diagnosis or fracture - resilient people find a way to refine themselves and focus on what they can do rather than on what they ‘can’t’. With belief in yourself, you can grow in self-esteem and self-concept. We best know who we are when we define ourselves through personal pride and achievement.

LEVEL 3 - Work through problems - don’t ignore or escape themProblems do not just go away and resilient people face their problems, using both their left and right brain! In regards to Osteoporosis, they not only examine the medical information and statistical reports, but they also consider their emotions and gut instincts. They don’t allow themselves to get paralysed by problems. Resilient people look for options, ask for help, and get support. Be open to creative solutions.

The last two steps of resiliency are a bit more difficult to develop because we need to experience life to test them. Steps four and five are what take a good person who is facing devastation and makes them an inspiration for others.

LEVEL 4 - Develop even higher skillsInstead of letting the negative people in your life bring you down and paralyse your optimism, the resilient person allows them to become teachers. Converting them into teachers puts control back into their lives. Resilient people allow others to grow and prosper and in return, they gain in strength. People can gain great wisdom by trying to walk in another person’s shoes!

Resilient people allow negative emotions to be expressed in healthy ways. They also allow themselves to feel an entire range of emotions. Anxiety and joy are both part of life’s journey. Try to become a ‘paradoxical thinker’. What this means is to think outside the box, almost like playing devil’s advocate with yourself. For example, a resilient person might be sure that the correct answer is ‘NO’, but still considers what would happen if the answer was ‘YES’. They keep an open mind to the alternatives and lessons being offered by life. Creativity is encouraged – try things that are different from your usual thing. Try new calcium-rich recipes, walk a new route, and be open to a different exercise regime.

LEVEL 5 - Develop your talent for SerendipitySerendipity is the ‘talent of converting an accident into a gift or benefit’. When Plan A does not work out, the resilient person not only makes the best of Plan B, but redefines themselves according to what has now been offered. Serendipity asks you to look for the hidden benefits of what has just taken your life off track.

Some of the best examples of Resiliency include celebrity stories like Lance Armstrong (The Lance Armstrong Story), Michael J. Fox (Lucky Man), and Christopher Reeves (Still Me). For these 3 men, their devastating health conditions inspired redefinitions of their lives, their purpose, and their legacies. In their books, all 3 men stated that they would not change their health conditions - their diagnoses helped them become better men.

So now I am left wondering, as I work within the world of Osteoporosis, who will take on the challenge and emerge resilient and who will be left behind?

Lorell Thoms – RSW, BSWEducator, Alberta Chapter

Talking about BonesDoes your group or organization need a speaker? Let our Alberta Chapter Educator provide your group with an informative presentation on Osteoporosis. For more information or to book a presentation, please call 403-237-7022.

COPN Connects!The Canadian Osteoporosis Patient Network was founded in 2004 by four friends who were determined to overcome the challenges of living with osteoporosis. This group felt that people living with osteoporosis needed a strong voice to provide the patient’s perspective in all areas including medical matters, research initiatives, communication, public relations, and education.

For more information on COPN, including volunteer opportunities, please call our toll-free information line at 1-800-463-6842 to talk to an information counselor, who will discuss your questions and concerns. Or, you can access COPN’s website via www.osteoporosis.ca/copn.

We live well with Osteoporosis, You Can Too!

Volunteers WantedAre you interested in volunteering with our Chapter? We need Calgary and Edmonton area volunteers to help at health fairs, education events and fundraising projects. If you would like more information, please call 403-237-7022.

Volunteer Recognition Dinner In February 2010 an informal dinner was held for Chapter volunteers. A fabulous buffet was provided which included HUGE servings of veggie or beef lasagna, with all the fixings.

During the event a scavenger hunt was held where volunteers were required to discover fun facts about each other, such as “Someone who plays an instrument in a band”. This was an excellent way for folks to mingle. Each person who completed their list entered into a draw for prizes, a cookbook with delicious recipes and an Osteoporosis Canada grocery list to help with the shopping.

At the end of the evening gift bags were handed out that included a thank you note, coffee (donated by one of our sponsors) and an OC mug. The volunteers left happy (albeit very full!) and enthusiastic about future contributions to OSC.

Upcoming ActivitiesYou can also keep up to date on news and events by accessing our website, www.osteoporosis.ca. To access Alberta Chapter information, enter http://www.osteoporosis.ca/index.php/ci_id/6769/la_id/1.htm= in your browser.

EDMONTON SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

The Edmonton Osteoporosis Support Group meets on the 4th Monday of each month, September-April (excepting December), from 7-9 PM, in the auditorium of Grey Nuns Community Hospital, 1100 Youville Drive W. (3015 – 62 St. in Mill Woods). Contacts: Marg 780-434-6054 and Annabel 780-436-8150. Meetings are open to all – no re-registration and no admission fee. Parking fees apply. 50-50 draw will be held.

CALGARY SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

The Calgary Osteoporosis Support Group meets monthly from September-May (excepting December). See below for a list of dates. Meetings are held at the Confederation Park Seniors Centre, 2212 – 13th Street NW Calgary from 7-9 PM. Contacts: The Calgary chapter office at 403-237-7022. Meetings are open to all, no registration is required and there is no admission fee. Free parking available.

Calgary 2010 Meeting Dates:Thursday, April 15 Thursday, May 20Tuesday, September 14 Tuesday, October 19Tuesday, November 16

OSTEOPOROSIS CANADA ALBERTA CHAPTER PUBLIC FORUM

Saturday, June 12 from 10:30 to 12:30Delta Bow Valley209 – 4th Avenue SoutheastCalgary, AB

“Using Stem Cells to Regrow Bone”

Moderator:Derrick Rancourt, Ph.D, Director of the ESTM Facility, Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, University of Calgary.

Panel:1) Dr. David Hanley, MD, FRCPC, Professor, Depts. Of Medicine, Community

Health Sciences, and Oncology, University of Calgary, SAC member.

Introduction and overview of osteoporosis research since the founding of Osteoporosis Canada.

2) Dr. Steve Boyd, MD, will review microcomputer tomography (uCT) and its use in measuring bone mineral density both in humans and animal models with osteoporosis.

3) Dr. Jeff Dunn, MD, will describe the use of Magnetic Resonance Imaging as a new mode for imaging the skeleton of human and animal models.

4) Jaymi Taiani, PhD student, will discuss her experiments on transplanting stem cell derived osteoblasts in animal models of osteoporosis.

The five person panel will be open to questions from the public following all presentations.

The Osteoporosis Centre (Calgary) The Osteoporosis Centre is a specialized clinic which was developed to promote bone health education; as well as the prevention, diagnosis and appropriate treatment of osteoporosis and other bone disorders. The Centre is located on the third floor of the Women’s Health Tower at Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, 1441 – 29th Street NW.

Current clinic staff includes 5 doctors specializing in bone diseases, a dietitian, pharmacist, and nurse. A team approach is used to give our patients the most up-to-date information on their bone status; nutrition and lifestyle measures to promote healthy bones; and available treatment options.

A medical referral is necessary for consultation with a doctor in the Centre. However, the nurse, dietitian, and pharmacist are available by telephone if you have questions or concerns about your bones.

A major role of the Osteoporosis Centre is education about bone health. Our “Bone Health and Osteoporosis” classes are available to anyone in the community, free of charge. Classes are taught by the clinic staff, and are available at various times and locations throughout the city.

If you wish to register for a Bone Health and Osteoporosis class, or speak with one of the staff in the Osteoporosis Centre, kindly call: (403) 944-1884

www.osteoporosis.ca