Sarah's wood

[Beverley52]

Hi all. Hope this post finds you all on a good day. It's been a whil e since I posted, in fact it's been a while since there were any posts,

I've been away for a few days, and spent some time with my family. We had a family reunion, on my children's fathers side, and did what we used to do when my children were small. We held a picnic weekend, in Woodstock. Lovely area. We played games, rounders, handball. I paid for that for a couple of days. Aching arms and shoulders. Had a look at all the photos from years ago. Remembered the ones who are no longer with us, and generally had a lovely weekend.

At the end of the weekend , my daughter presented me with this. She has had a tree planted in Sarah's Wood, in memory of my wonderful Billy. Needless to say I cried a lot. I hadn't heard of Sarah's Wood before then. And what a lovely idea it was. Can anyone tell me, do these trees have plaques, or anything, to identify who the trees are planted for. I'm crying now just thinking about it. It means a huge amount to me. So if anyone out there can tell me more, I'd be grateful.

Much love to everyone, beverley

[FredaE]

What a lovely idea it must mmean so much to you.

Freda

[Alisonleicssupport]

Hi Beverley.

Sarah's Wood has only just been launched. It is on the Thoresby Estate near to Newark with Sherwood Forest close by. The ground was donated to the MSA Trust by the family of Sarah Matheson who was the founder of the trust on her diagnosis 20 yrs ago. It was based on her memory and this milestone that the wood has been started.

I too planted a sapling in my Mothers memory as I attended the launch last month.

There aren't plaques but all have the same in common either suffered or currently suffering from the disease. I believe there are plans for a bench at some point.

It was a very emotional day. Xx

[Yanno]

Hello Beverley

Great to hear that you had a good few days away - Woodstock is a lovely area. Sarah's Wood was talked about at the Worcestershire Support Group that met a few weeks ago; I should have mentioned it in my write up (see my last post). There's a link to Sarah's Wood on the MSA Trust web site.

We've had a difficult few weeks with repeated UTI's and with Jax suffering from nausea much of the time. We seem to be getting on top of things and are actively planning our next holiday - a river cruise along the Rhine and Moselle. I've had to educate the holiday companies a little as they tend to start off with a "no wheelchairs possible on this holiday". We have to point out that if we can manage on river boats & the back of an ox and cart in Myanmar (Burma) then we should be able to get by in the middle of Europe!

Take care, Ian

[Beverley52 in reply to Yanno]

Yes Yano, thanks. I found the link yesterday. It's a wonderful idea. And I'm very grateful to my daughter for having the foresight, and thought to do it. I knew nothing of it. Maybe one day, I'll get to see it.

So glad you are planning a holiday. Rhine cruise sounds amazing, would like to hear you thoughts on it once you've been. Cruises are my latest holiday love. You're both very brave to be taking the plunge, but a case of now or never eh. Now oxen and Myanmar sound formidable.

UTIs are very challenging. Did you try the vitamin c / potassium Citrate cycle? Worked brilliantly for Billy. Wishing you both a great holiday and hope this finds you both well!! and in good spirits.

Beverley.xx

[Yanno in reply to Beverley52]

Hi Beverley,

The Myanmar trip was just superb - Jax had a little more mobility than now and her speech was much better. As I think I've mentioned before, we are luck enough to have an all terrain wheelchair - all terrain where I can push it that is! The chair has helped us getting out so much because things like gravel, kerbs, bumpy ground are just no problem at all.

As far as vit C/ potassium citrate are concerned, we were just mentioning that (again) to our doctors last week - they had not heard of the combination, nor of potassium citrate as a preventative but we are going to give it a chance. Jax has been so affected by nausea recently we all have been reluctant to give her something else - changing more than one thing at a time and all that. I think you said Belly had two weeks on one then the other for two weeks?

All best, Ian

[Beverley52 in reply to Yanno]

Yes Yano. It was suggested to us by our neurologist . You start with which ever you want. 2 weeks on vitamin c , then two weeks on potassium Citrate. We used the solvable vitamin c and thickened it, with nutilis powder. It took a good bit of powder to thicken it, being fizzy. That was interesting to start with, as it bubbles up again. I had problems to start with, sourcing potassium Citrate. So was using medication for cystitis, but that worked out a bit expensive. Found potassium Citrate on the internet, in capsule form, the sort with granules inside , and I simply opened them and sprinkled it onto his breakfast. The company I used was called Bodykind. But that maybe here in Ireland. Amazon may have them. Not expensive. I paid about €12 for 90 . . It worked like a miracle. Never at the doctors again with a UTI. . Never bought expensive vitamin c . Tescos own, or Lidl.

Never went through the doctor for them, just bought it myself, as the neurologist had suggested it, but his GP was aware that I gave it to him.

Neurologist said that it worked because there are 2 main bacterias that cause UTIs, one likes an acid environment, and the other likes an alkaline environment. So you just change the environment every 2 weeks, then neither of them can get a hold.

Do hope it works for Jax. One less worry.

I checked the potassium Citrate out with a local pharmacist, and he said there was no reason at all why it shouldn't be used, and mentioned something to do with vets using it for dogs!!

Good luck. Beverley x

[Yanno in reply to Beverley52]

Thanks Beverley- we will try it. Potassium Citrate already on order from internet.

Will let you know how it goes.

Ian

[Veteran250]

Hi Beverly...... sorry to hear of your loss, but life goes on and it sounds like you have a beautiful family to help you along the way.....Woodstock is indeed a beautiful place....with regard to the tree for Billy, if you know which is Billy's tree, surely you could put a plaque on the tree. Have a lovely day xx

Don.

[Beverley52 in reply to Veteran250]

Hi Don, I do intend to try and find out if names where indeed given to each tree, and if so, if I can leave some thing with his name on. . Thanks for your condolences. It's not easy by any means. But as you say. Life goes on, and Billy was a very caring man. I know he'd want me to get on with my life. Trying.

Regards to you. Beverley.xx

[Alisonleicssupport in reply to Beverley52]

When they were potted there was no identification attached to each one. They were planted into pots and will be nurtured until the correct time of the year to go into the wooded area. Having said that I'm sure there will be provision once at that stage to mark someone with plaque

Alison

[Veteran250]

Beverly.... go on Google search box..... type in.... Sarah's Wood, MSA Trust.....you will find the page about Sarah's Wood and planting a tree.

[Teresa5]

I went great day out my friend took me, no but place for name to many of us but it was nice place