tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72609652692940549462024-03-14T09:19:50.756-07:00'Shared Experiences' by Charlotte FielderShared Experiences - The experience of having and parenting children with upper limb deficiencies
Having been born with a missing left hand, Charlotte has a natural understanding of the issues, and has been able to bring together the many and varied responses in a way which offers valuable insights into parenting visibly different children.
This unique book was published in Autumn 2009 and is available from www.amazon.co.uk and Reach www.reach.org.uk
ALL proceeds to REACH.Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-80993950438095568622011-09-04T02:49:00.000-07:002011-09-04T02:56:21.684-07:00<b><br />
“So many people walk around with a meaningless life. They seem half-asleep, even when they're busy doing things they think are important. This is because they're chasing the wrong things. The way you get meaning into your life is to devote yourself to loving others, devote yourself to your community around you, and devote yourself to creating something that gives you purpose and meaning.</b>"<br />
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The above quote by Morrie Schwartz is captured in the book ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ by Mitch Albom. <br />
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For those who are unfamiliar with the title, ‘Tuesdays with Morrie’ was published in 1997 and is the true story about the visits made by sports writer Mitch Albom, to his dying former professor. The book is thought provoking and the words of wisdom captured during these visits live on and will carry on inspiring readers for many years to come. <br />
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It’s precisely because Mitch Albom saw the need to capture and share Morrie’s thoughts on living and dying that the book will remain a ‘must read’ for those seeking deeper understanding. Readers may recognize that they too can create meaning and bring purpose to their lives, by taking time to consider what’s important and/or unimportant in their lives. <br />
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In a similar way to Mitch Albom, I was driven to capture the shared experiences of parents of child children with upper limb deficiency in my book ‘Shared Experiences’. <br />
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I knew that such a book would inform, reassure and comfort new parents facing the news that their child has a congenital limb deficiency or becomes limb deficient as a result of an accident or illness. It’s very nearly two years since ‘Shared Experiences’ was published and I’m still profoundly affected by the emails and letters I receive from parents from within the UK and around the world, but also the contact from limb deficient adults and adults facing battles with health and disability. <br />
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This was an unexpected consequence, but a consequence that has made me realise more and more what ‘meaning seeking’ creatures we are and that many of us seek our inspiration from a wide variety of sources. We consciously seek out ‘meaning of life’ accounts to inform our own understanding. We don’t have to be directly or personally affected by the issues to be touched or inspired by true life stories.<br />
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And of course, beyond being touched or affected we can make some quite positive choices and act accordingly. Going beyond being touched to be inspired to do more to help your fellow man or your community is where some real learning and enlightenment can be found. We can find ourselves in positive acts.<br />
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We can also learn more than we ever imagined. I was born with a shortened forearm and missing hand, so I felt I knew a lot about visible difference and particularly limb deficiency, but over the last few years my focus has widened. I have become so much more aware of wider disability and health issues.<br />
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<b>"Disability is not a brave struggle or ‘courage in the face of adversity.’ Disability is an art. It’s an ingenious way to live." - Neil Marcus<br />
"Not only do physically disabled people have experiences which are not available to the able-bodied, they are in a better position to transcend cultural mythologies about the body, because they cannot do things the able-bodied feel they must do in order to be happy, ‘normal,’ and sane….If disabled people were truly heard, an explosion of knowledge of the human body and psyche would take place." - Susan Wendell</b><br />
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Read more: http://www.disabled-world.com/disability/disability-quotes.php#ixzz1Wy92nbdp<br />
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I have also learned a lot about rippling and the ripple effect and once you get hooked on ripples you start to very careful about the pebbles you throw into your pond! <br />
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<b>‘Each choice we make causes a ripple effect in our lives. When things happen to us, it is the reaction we choose that can create the difference between the sorrows of our past and the joy in our future.’ – <br />
Chelle Thompson</b><br />
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‘Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end.’ <br />
Scott Adams </b><br />
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I am also completely sold on how important it is to develop my creative side and that in creating and then producing much can be achieved. For many years I didn’t consider myself to be particularly creative. It wasn’t a word that I readily assigned as personality trait. <br />
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I think I associated the word ‘creative’ too closely to 'art'. I thought being creative was the ability to draw, make flower arrangements, and design gardens. As I am spectacularly bad at anything that I consider remotely ‘arty farty’ creativity was like the ‘Turkish Delight’ chocolate in the box IE the one I left until last after the caramels had been enjoyed. I’m not arty - I still draw stick men for people! However I’ve learned to be creative and I’m constantly amazed at the outcomes. Think of the possibilities!<br />
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So how does developing creativity improve your life and the lives of others? Well it’s your own personal opportunity to develop and grow your ideas. If you have those ‘wouldn’t it be a good idea if’ ideas gathering dust at the back of your mind it’s your way of bringing them out for a brush down.<br />
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I apply most of my real creativity to innovative fundraising for Reach www.reach.org.uk and the other charities I support. I enjoy dreaming up interesting fundraising schemes which will hopefully capture the imagination of others and encourage them to join in. Creativity and the ‘Ripple Effect’ are very close cousins.<br />
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<b>‘Creative thinking is not a talent, it is a skill that can be learnt. It empowers people by adding strength to their natural abilities which improves teamwork, productivity and where appropriate profits.’ <br />
Edward de Bono <br />
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<i>Where Edward writes profits I see it in terms of funds raised!</i><br />
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‘Almost always, the creative dedicated minority has made the world better.’ <br />
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Martin Luther King Jr<br />
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‘But out of limitations comes creativity’ <br />
Debbie Allen<br />
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And then trust in your creative self. Share your idea, work them up, modify them and put them into action <br />
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“Creativity comes from trust. Trust your instincts. And never hope more than you work.” -Rita Mae Brown</b><br />
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I was lucky enough to be awarded an MBE in the Queen’s New Year Honours List on 31st December 2010. Let me be very quick in sharing with you, that such an award brings with it a whole gamut of emotions. For me the first stage was disbelief - that my pebbles, had created ripples worthy enough of such an award and then I became a little tongue tied on what I said about it or how I responded to the congratulations or comments of others. <br />
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I guess I didn’t want to appear to ‘Yippee, ’m going to meet the Queen’ as apart from making me look immodest, it it might appear that ‘I’m bigging myself up’ as anyone under 20 might say!<br />
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So here’s my acceptance quote;<br />
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‘I have always believed that the close collaborative efforts of teams and groups is key to bringing us together both in the work place and in the community; and more is achieved by working together than on your own. So whatever it is I’ve done to be nominated then I know it’s not my solo efforts and I want to thank those I’ve worked with for their part. <br />
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I’ve always tried to be a positive person and I firmly believe in John Wooden’s famous quote that "Things turn out best for the people who make the best out of the way things turn out." I’m always telling my colleagues that one!’</b><br />
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Nine months on from the news and subsequent investiture I now realise it’s not something to wriggle and squirm about. I don’t have to explain or justify it. <br />
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It’s there and I can use it as a platform to continue raising awareness about issues relating to disability. <br />
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I can carry on doing after dinner talks, campaigning and fundraising. It doesn’t alter me as a person. I prefer to think about it as the very nice dress that you wouldn’t wear to do the house work in, but instead prefer to keep for special occasions! <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7yIPWnzaocUMAUzyG7CcJOJFnwMzKK8ARd3ow5sY4iKC1dl53ppjI7erhELrNPNBYT9myH2vgBl4pEwm9TweANOYTGW2eVXhmIi1T9xkZMohfMQPK8gafN0kvbIDadYGFb6COKegJ6NT/s1600/IMG_0484.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear:left; float:left;margin-right:1em; margin-bottom:1em"><img border="0" height="320" width="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7yIPWnzaocUMAUzyG7CcJOJFnwMzKK8ARd3ow5sY4iKC1dl53ppjI7erhELrNPNBYT9myH2vgBl4pEwm9TweANOYTGW2eVXhmIi1T9xkZMohfMQPK8gafN0kvbIDadYGFb6COKegJ6NT/s320/IMG_0484.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-31792039009590096422010-06-26T12:35:00.000-07:002010-06-26T12:54:33.347-07:00We're stuck in a lift together!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPAJzy_iQBQ7zWhBRqjFkZ1fooMG-186EPC9gaL4pW-nb-Quue4uoVcqjoDOyv5JRjYSh-wAE-sWw2oWPItue7eJsImraMFzRXZFHDT0xrM9yqWqqdRQXIXiYk7Hhfvr1K8VMCoQHAkY4/s1600/277.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPAJzy_iQBQ7zWhBRqjFkZ1fooMG-186EPC9gaL4pW-nb-Quue4uoVcqjoDOyv5JRjYSh-wAE-sWw2oWPItue7eJsImraMFzRXZFHDT0xrM9yqWqqdRQXIXiYk7Hhfvr1K8VMCoQHAkY4/s320/277.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5487170319374748114" /></a><br />
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<blockquote>"Everyone should be able to do one card trick, tell two jokes, and recite three poems, in case they are ever trapped in an elevator." A quote from Lemony Snicket (Horseradish: Bitter Truths You Can't Avoid) </blockquote><br />
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If you’ve clicked onto my blog, then let’s just pretend we’re stuck in an elevator, because I find that kind of cosy and comforting. I like the thought that you made a definite decision to click on to read what I had to say. You didn’t just stumble upon me on a facebook group or happen to read a sentence or two, as you were passing - you clicked on the link. So thank you – we’re now (for a short while) stuck in a lift together!<br />
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You may wonder why I make the distinction that you made a conscious decision to click the link? Well it’s important to me, because so much has happened since ‘Shared Experiences was published on 23rd October 2009. I barely know where to start. But I want to share some of what’s happened and not all of it smells of apple pie. <br />
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The good stuff</span><br />
First of all, I’ve learned enough about social networking to last me one and half lifetimes. As some of you know I joined facebook so that I could connect with parents outside the UK and let them know about ‘Shared Experiences’. To me - it seemed an absolutely certainty that a parent of a child with upper limb deficiencies in Birmingham Alabama would be going through the same thinking and emotions as a parent in Birmingham, England. I found this to true and lots of parents around the world are now benefiting from reading about how parents in the UK and Ireland dealt with the birth of their limb deficient child. A fantastic result and the equivalent of a card trick (see quote above).<br />
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Networking with parents and limb deficient people round the world has really opened <br />
my eyes, as to how much can be done to help improve each others lives. <br />
My in-box is growing as I’m contacted by parents and health professional who have read my book and wish to comment, say ‘hi’ or ask questions. It’s personally very rewarding and I’m glad to help. <br />
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The bad stuff </span><br />
However, as good as the internet and facebook is at putting me in touch with parents it has also exposed me to a side of life I didn’t even know existed and that is the ‘secret world of a devotee’. I’ve found to my horror that there are men (and it’s mostly men) who are sexually attracted to women with missing limbs and will do anything to start up relationships with women with stumps. <br />
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Their fixation is so great that some resort to adopting fake profiles on facebook i.e. they pretend that they are also a woman with a limb deficiency. I was taken in by a few such people and discovered some of my photos had been uplifted and posted on dubious sites.<br />
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When I found out I wanted to close down my facebook account and take a hammer to my computer. It took me a good few weeks to accept that such people exist and understand more about how they choose to behave. I’ve now made my peace with the simple fact that whilst ‘Mr Main Stream’ might be a ‘tits or legs’ man that there is a minority of men who feel their pulses race at the site of a shapely stump. I’ll leave the topic of devotees at this point as I’m certainly not seeking to normalise their behaviours or give them a platform. I don’t like being pestered by devotees, but they’re out there and there is little that can be done about it. <br />
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<span style="font-weight:bold;">My role as a writer, commentator, disability awareness campaigner etc.</span> <br />
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<blockquote>"Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don't matter, and those who matter don't mind." <br />
~ Dr. Seuss</blockquote><br />
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During the last year there have been a few difficult moments - mainly because my connection to the UK based charity Reach <a href="http://www.reach.org.uk"></a><a href="http:// www.reach.org.uk"></a> has not always been clear. So let me, be clear! I’m a volunteer fund raiser for Reach, but I don’t act in any official capacity. Any comments and observations I make relating to the treatment of people with disabilities and other issues relating to visible difference and limb deficiency are mine and are not to be confused with the official views of Reach. <br />
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Whilst I’m very happy to raise money for Reach I’m also happy with my independence from Reach. It’s important that my readers know that my opinions and views are not necessarily aligned with Reach. <br />
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I have strong opinions about many topics such as disability hate crime, bullying etc. and I don’t have to sit on the fence - I can express my thoughts. This is an important distinction as I want to be free to be who I am and say what I think. <br />
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I wrote Shared Experiences as a purely voluntary venture. It’s my charity work and it’s my way of making a difference. All profits from the sales go to Reach, which I’m truly delighted about. It’s my hope that my book raises thousands of pounds for Reach, so that limb deficient youngsters the UK can continue to benefit from life changing and confidence building activities. But more important to me is the ongoing need to raise awareness about issues relating to having children with limb deficiencies and issues surrounding childhood limb deficiency.<br />
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<span style="font-weight:bold;">So what else have I been up to? Well loads!! </span><br />
I have been very busy in early 2010 helping others to raise money for Reach. So if you’ve enjoyed this blog and wish to lighten your pockets then please donate to either <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/banjulboys-reach/"></a><a href="http://www.justgiving.com/banjulboys-reach/"></a> or http://www.justgiving.com/Pete-n-Nick-r-Nutz/ <a href="http://www.justgiving.com/Pete-n-Nick-r-Nutz/"></a> I have also given inspirational talks to group such as Rotary, written articles and hosted a fab ‘Out of Africa’ party. I am delighted with the amounts of funds these activities have raised. <br />
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<span style="font-weight:bold;">What’s next on my agenda</span><br />
• I have another book in the pipe-line - if I manage to find an agent willing to run with my idea and sign me up. <br />
• I’m trying to find a sponsor to host a one day event in London (or the south east) called ‘One Amazing Day.’ The concept is that I will bring together six inspirational speakers to address 150 -200 young people with visible differences or disabilities. It’s important that all my speakers have some sort of disability.<br />
• I’m hoping to interview Michael Caines the famous one armed chef and others with inspirational stories to tell. <br />
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Well you’ve still in the lift with me and I’ve not told any jokes. There are some good ones on <a href="on http://www.disaboomlive.com/blogs/saydrah/archive/2009/03/12/the-lighter-side-of-disability-top-10-positive-disability-jokes.aspx"></a> http://www.disaboomlive.com/blogs/saydrah/archive/2009/03/12/the-lighter-side-of-disability-top-10-positive-disability-jokes.aspx it’s where I found the following;<br />
A Perfect Match<br />
A woman frustrated by a string of lousy relationships placed a personal advertisement:<br />
"SWF, 35, seeks man who will not beat me or chase skirts for LTR. Must be good in bed!" <br />
After several days with no response, the doorbell rang. She answered the door to find a handsome wheelchair user with no arms or legs on her porch.<br />
"Hello," said he, "I saw your personal advertisement. As you can see, I have no arms, so I won't beat you. I have no legs, so I won't chase after other young ladies."<br />
"But," said she, "Are you good in bed?"<br />
"How do you think I rang the doorbell?" <br />
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Thank you to those of you, who have bought copies of ‘Shared Experiences’. Please don’t forget to review it so that more health professionals are inclined to buy a copy. If you wish to review it or read previous reviews please click on; <a href="//http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shared-Experiences-Experience-Parenting-Deficiencies/dp/0956333303/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257796684&sr=1-1"></a>http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shared-Experiences-Experience-Parenting-Deficiencies/dp/0956333303/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257796684&sr=1-1<br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.co.uk/Shared-Experiences-Experience-Parenting-Deficiencies/dp/0956333303/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1257796684&sr=1-1"></a> <br />
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Thank you staying trapped in the lift with me - sorry I didn’t get round to reciting a poem. I’ll save that for next time…<br />
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CharlotteCharlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-1163211870439169272010-01-05T09:12:00.000-08:002010-02-04T14:29:36.916-08:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgkJigGbikcx0KL1XGF1yThoIgRSum3PBqH5YMfdnK6QO2cX48_EyZ1Vj9-qjf-GV7u8O7A5ngfgwqSw2jSUILxEz-B2gyVnajRy5wc9hvzDh3yZ2-L8u8cPoqIDtTg75HV9i60iDxCq2/s1600-h/IMG_1071.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 300px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgkJigGbikcx0KL1XGF1yThoIgRSum3PBqH5YMfdnK6QO2cX48_EyZ1Vj9-qjf-GV7u8O7A5ngfgwqSw2jSUILxEz-B2gyVnajRy5wc9hvzDh3yZ2-L8u8cPoqIDtTg75HV9i60iDxCq2/s400/IMG_1071.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423314646178791762" /></a><br />Dear 'Shared Experiences' supporter,<br /><br />I wish I knew where the last few months have gone because so much has happened. I'm delighted to tell you that 'Shared Experiences' was officially launched in Dublin at the Reach AGM, at the end of October 2009. <br /><br />We sold over a hundred copies on the day which was great because most were bought by parents of children with upper limb deficiencies, including many of the contributors, so I was able to catch up with lots of people and make new friends. <br /><br />Sales have continued to come in directly to Reach www.reach.org.uk and it's also available via www.amazon.co.uk SO PLEASE BUY A COPY! An please buy a copy for any midwife, teach, doctor, occupational therapist you know! <br /><br />Just before Christmas sales hit £4460 and that all goes to Reach. Sales are going well and particularly outside of the UK because facebook has helped me promote the contents of the book to groups all over the world and I'm in touch with many parents. <br /><br />I received quite a number of emails from mums and dads - some sharing their stories but many asking for advice or simple help. For example one mum asked if I could explain how I tie my shoe-laces. That proved impossible to write down so my husband made a video of me demonstrating how to I wrap the lace around my stump etc.! I have posted that on facebook and it's available to genuine enquirers.<br /><br />You might be wondering 'who is a genuine enquirer'? Well it's a person who has a genuine personal or human interest in limb deficiency. Unfortunately there are a group of people on the internet who have an unhealthy interest in limb deficiency and target people with limb deficiencies to satisfy sexual preferences they have for people with stumps. I could go on and I was very tempted to write an article about what they do and how they do it, but several friends suggested that in explaining their actions that I wold be in some way normalizing it! So for the moment I'm sitting on the fence with it all until I decide how best to deal with all the info I have.<br /><br />Luckily I'm in contact with another charity who have also been targeted and we're sharing info on these people so as to warn other unsuspecting limb deficient people. <br /><br />Back to 'Shared Experiences' .......well I feel very honoured to have been given an an award sponsored by C.H.I.L.D ( http://www.childorg.net.au/ ) an Australian charity which supports children with limb deficiencies. The award is for the person who has done the most to raise awareness about limb deficiency in the community. I also feel humbled because many of those who voted for me did so because they have read 'Shared Experiences' and it was useful to them. <br /><br />So the best way of saying thank you to those who have supported me is to keep on raising awareness about the issues surrounding childhood deficiencies whether they be everyday concerns over 'how will my child tie their laces' or 'should my child have a toe to hand transfer'<br /><br />Thank you for reading my blog. I won't leave the next update so long. All the best to you all in 2010. <br /><br />CharlotteCharlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-57114017985114185822009-09-09T03:37:00.000-07:002009-09-09T03:42:26.929-07:00Review by Susan Kramer, MP for Richmond Park<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIbbMXa5IxBJAUqM8C5opaLcGtFdxXIlOWUxpuY8L9nbdu_yfKKZ3snMJSM3EmHJsdY5m-wr4dFGWqMzI7I0ZVglnIGEHr3MVPcY65Zs_l7jIHnVNcyygEnLbxxEk49UQ9XwzUU-z7ewK/s1600-h/21.jpeg+susan+kramer.jpeg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 170px; height: 256px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEIbbMXa5IxBJAUqM8C5opaLcGtFdxXIlOWUxpuY8L9nbdu_yfKKZ3snMJSM3EmHJsdY5m-wr4dFGWqMzI7I0ZVglnIGEHr3MVPcY65Zs_l7jIHnVNcyygEnLbxxEk49UQ9XwzUU-z7ewK/s400/21.jpeg+susan+kramer.jpeg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5379415932009769474" border="0" /></a>
<br /><meta equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=utf-8"><meta name="ProgId" content="Word.Document"><meta name="Generator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><meta name="Originator" content="Microsoft Word 11"><link rel="File-List" href="file:///C:%5CDOCUME%7E1%5CCHARLO%7E1%5CLOCALS%7E1%5CTemp%5Cmsohtml1%5C01%5Cclip_filelist.xml"><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:worddocument> <w:view>Normal</w:View> <w:zoom>0</w:Zoom> <w:punctuationkerning/> <w:validateagainstschemas/> <w:saveifxmlinvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid> <w:ignoremixedcontent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent> <w:alwaysshowplaceholdertext>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText> <w:compatibility> <w:breakwrappedtables/> <w:snaptogridincell/> <w:wraptextwithpunct/> <w:useasianbreakrules/> <w:dontgrowautofit/> </w:Compatibility> <w:browserlevel>MicrosoftInternetExplorer4</w:BrowserLevel> </w:WordDocument> </xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml> <w:latentstyles deflockedstate="false" latentstylecount="156"> </w:LatentStyles> </xml><![endif]--><style> <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Calibri; panose-1:2 15 5 2 2 2 4 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:-1610611985 1073750139 0 0 159 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin-top:0cm; margin-right:0cm; margin-bottom:10.0pt; margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:Calibri; mso-fareast-font-family:Calibri; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language:EN-US;} @page Section1 {size:595.3pt 841.9pt; margin:72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt 72.0pt; mso-header-margin:35.4pt; mso-footer-margin:35.4pt; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> </style><!--[if gte mso 10]> <style> /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:10.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:#0400; mso-fareast-language:#0400; mso-bidi-language:#0400;} </style> <![endif]--> <p class="MsoNormal">“Shared Experiences” is a wonderful, positive book that draws together the experiences of so many families with children who have upper limb deficiencies, not only to share their worries and difficulties but also to share their successes and joys.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">When I was young, we often visited family friends whose beautiful little daughter was a victim of Thalidomide with very short arms and minimal hands.<span style=""> </span>We all envied her gorgeous blond hair and classical beauty but she so often felt such utter frustration with her short arms and just being different that she would break out into anger hitting all of us children on our arms.<span style=""> </span>She and her family, who felt very isolated, would have devoured Charlotte Fielder’s book and its sense of all that is possible as well as its acknowledgement of the challenges.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">The book focuses most on birth and the early years since, as Charlotte herself says, for older children “life has turned out well despite some bad experiences”.<span style=""> </span>It’s an important message.<span style=""> </span>And because the book has behind it the support of “Reach”, it can link parents to a national organisation for support and advice.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">This book is written with such loving kindness and yet such a recounting of real experience, that it will resonate with many who have never encountered upper limb deficiency but are aware that in our world, no-one faces life without challenges.</p> <p class="MsoNormal">Susan Kramer MP for Richmond Park</p> Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-13624368107622359482009-08-28T00:54:00.001-07:002009-08-28T01:04:09.965-07:00<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bm0vdsSXMaH-nDQJjbk7hZJA4WvKyopgEC2CMtEsKLYsZcxbyenm0B0Icecw_KdOxX2d9_1xW1KD_3Yii-xO65WwGb-hwgQiuwTd16bgKlvLZGUiKplMhG7uk-VzyRqjvUpfut1K92kI/s1600-h/book+cover.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; float: left; cursor: pointer; width: 254px; height: 400px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5bm0vdsSXMaH-nDQJjbk7hZJA4WvKyopgEC2CMtEsKLYsZcxbyenm0B0Icecw_KdOxX2d9_1xW1KD_3Yii-xO65WwGb-hwgQiuwTd16bgKlvLZGUiKplMhG7uk-VzyRqjvUpfut1K92kI/s400/book+cover.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5374922270805485554" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Welcome to new and old readers of my ‘Shared Experiences Blog’</span><br /><br />I have some really excellent news, as yesterday the publishers sent me the final version. The layout is superb and anyone who has interest in upper limb deficiency will find it very reader friendly. The ‘layout designer’ has used pink and turquoise to alternate each chapter. So it will be very easy to flick through and find the chapters you are most interested in. It is purely fluke that these are my favourite colours!<br /><br />So put a note in your diary that Shared Experiences will be available from the first week in November. However to pre-order please send an email to;<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">shared_experiences@reach.org.uk </span><br /><br />So don’t delay, place your order today!<br /><br />‘Shared Experiences’ has been a truly collaborative process. It would not have been possible without contributions from parents of children with upper limb deficiencies and the support of Reach www.reach.org.uk Not to mention our amazing publishers, my highly efficient and very personable editor Alexa Tewkesbury, my husband Gary and friends like Angela Boulter, Zoe & Peter Downey who have put a lot of energy into helping sell copies as well as throwing themselves into fundraising activities.<br /><br />And friends and associates with their own websites like Joan Henshaw and Peter Billington for adding to their websites.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">So big thanks to all those helping promote and sell Shared Experiences </span>and enormous thanks to those of you who are buying a copy/copies. As Gertrude Stein said ‘Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.’ Gertrude certainly knew her onions, so I hope my message of gratitude is loud and clear. THANK YOU EVERYBODY.<br /><br />To read reviews and for more information please scroll down and down and down!<br /><br />STOP PRESS….And keep on reading because in the near future I will be creating two more blogs on whacky fund raising called<br /><br />• ‘The boys are going to Banjul’ an epic adventure of three men, a rusty old car and a spare tyre.<br />• ‘Pete n Nick are Nutz’ see <span style="font-weight: bold;">http://www.justgiving.com/Pete-n-Nick-r-Nutz/</span> to read how stupid they are even think abut cycling around Iceland and to donate. No donation is too small because we need to reward their efforts, as they’re not that good at map reading.Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-1468688884217245102009-08-03T05:28:00.000-07:002009-08-03T06:09:29.100-07:00When life gives you lemons - make lemonade!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25ominz8PnYWlYtC7zqpdE9XsTkjuw9c6OSjMPljauyrykEUAMD1gPgqa4WhX21t_gj7SC4Em7RmPDQbCGuFgdJZ1tdgmSXbVy9DsSWG3aLdhNm_2uKTXIeZVpVPcD3T4ZVjJQQK0vzbs/s1600-h/lemons.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365718212312654130" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 258px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 209px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi25ominz8PnYWlYtC7zqpdE9XsTkjuw9c6OSjMPljauyrykEUAMD1gPgqa4WhX21t_gj7SC4Em7RmPDQbCGuFgdJZ1tdgmSXbVy9DsSWG3aLdhNm_2uKTXIeZVpVPcD3T4ZVjJQQK0vzbs/s320/lemons.jpg" border="0" /></a> I have been thinking about how to attract ‘media attention’ to boost sales of ‘<span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Shared Experiences’.</strong> <span style="color:#000000;">L</span></span><span style="color:#000000;">eaving</span> a ‘post it’ note underneath the windscreen wiper, of Rupert Murdoch’s limo is one option, but I’m actually going to leave all the big PR stuff to our sponsors and stick with my blog. However I did test the water, by sending an email to two local newspapers. A subsequent interview with one reporter, Justin, proved to be quite challenging. I had prepared myself to talk about <span style="color:#ff0000;"><strong>Reach </strong></span>and the content of <span style="color:#ff0000;">‘<strong>Shared Experiences’</strong></span> but he was more interested in <em>why</em> I wrote it. I tried side swerving his questions several times, before giving in under closer cross examination!<br /><br />We ended up talking about motivation, adversity and what drives us to take on certain challenges. I reflected on this after he left and I concluded it would been very handy for the sake of brevity, to come up with one single word, or ‘all encompassing’ snappy, media friendly, phrase, but nothing came to mind! Getting to a point where I was ready to write <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">‘Shared Experiences’ </span></strong>was more of a gradual process, because I had reached a stage in my life, where I was happy enough, with who I am, to be able to do it.<br /><br />Being OK with yourself - is very important! You have to tell yourself. In fact you have to say it, repeat it often and then believe it. Unfortunately a ‘positive attitude’ towards life doesn’t come in a jar. It would be nice to buy a big jar, open the lid, and let positive mental attitude waft all over you, but it doesn’t work like that. However, if you are open to the possibility and take real ownership of your life; and your thoughts and feelings then you’ve started the journey. Life throws all type of brown sticky stuff at us all. None of us are immune from heartache, worry, anxiety, frustrations, emotional upset. And sometimes low self esteem, poor body image lack of confidence in our abilities, feelings of low self worth can be quite overwhelming. Life can be tough and unforgiving and just as we deal with one crisis another appears on the horizon. Developing a better positive attitude means that we start to recognise negative thoughts and feelings and deal them quicker and in a way that serves us well. Now I’m not an expert, I just know what works for me so that makes me, an expert in me.<br /><br />Growing up with an obvious limb deficiency is like having the ‘mother of all spots’ on the end of your nose! Now if you have ever had a horrible big, angry, pus filled spot, shining like a beacon on the end of your conk, you will know that you can’t even contemplate leaving the house, until drastic action has been taken. You have one choice either you lance it and cover it with every medicated lotion ever produced (including domestic cleaning products) or you stay in.<br /><br />Well I can’t do the equivalent of lancing my spot, so I reached a point where I had to learn to live with it and eventually like me, for me. I’m not saying it was easy and others with more obvious deficiencies might see my missing hand as just a spot, but when you’re young, you don’t see other people’s stuff – you just see your own bag of troubles. Starting work for me and mixing with adults was a big turning point and slowly the clouds started to rise. I was a very different person at fifteen, to who I am now, so I feel compelled to share what has helped and inspired me tp take on a challenge like writing <strong><span style="color:#ff0000;">‘</span><span style="color:#ff0000;">Shared Experiences’</span></strong>.<br /><br /><br /><br /><div><br /><strong>Firstly I’m a great believer in being optimistic.</strong> There is a saying that ‘Whether you are an optimist or a pessimist the outcome is the same, but the optimist has a better time’. That’s not to say I’m blindingly optimistic and have a permanent day pass to ‘La La Land' but negative thoughts just breed more negative thoughts. The best advice I was ever given is ‘If you can’t change a situation - change the way you think about it’. So make 'being positive' a lifestyle choice.<br /><br /><strong>We have one life and this is it, right here, right now.</strong> Life is fragile and can be so stupidly short and we have a responsibility to ourselves to make the best and most of it. Sometimes just seeing how others live their lives can spur us on. I watched most of the 2008 Paralympics feeling humbled, inspired and also very thankful for everything I have in life. Choose your role models carefully. Pay special attention to those who leads their lives simply, but purposefully. Stay away from anyone who wants to drain your emotionally batteries and take you down, to where they are.<br /><br /><strong>We are at our best when we do things together.</strong> Sharing our thoughts, our feelings, our time. Reaching out to our friends our families, our colleagues our communities is where we start to feel that real sense of belonging and it stops us living in bubbles. It stops us from only seeing our own troubles and becoming self obsessed. Dale Carnegie said ‘Let's forget our own unhappiness by trying to create a little happiness for others - when you are good to others, you are best to yourself.’ Last year I did my first sponsored walk (only 6.5miles) but it was a 05.00 start, in the rain, but it felt purposeful and I knew I was doing it for a worthy cause. I would say to anyone who wants to lift their mood or develop more of a positive attitude do things for other people and not just you! Do a sponsored walk, grow a moustache for charity or cut an elderly neighbour’s lawn. Whether it’s a small act of kindness or big sponsored event do something that benefits someone else. Start with small things like phoning an elderly relative, sharing your knowledge by helping a colleague prepare for an interview, giving emotional support and maybe being there for someone when they fall. Be that person.<br /><br /><strong>Stop being angry.</strong> There is nothing is more corrosive and damaging to you than being angry with someone else or a situation you can’t change. It draws you down and drags you in. And the longer you carry it around, the more it eats away at your very soul. Forgiveness is never easy, but once you found a way to let go of anger you start to feel better and more positive about your own life. Disposing of a ‘victim’ mentality is very empowering. Let things be. Bringing up 'old battles' keeps you rooted in the past and stops you living today. Stop asking why did this happen to me? Stop believing you were selected for bad things to happen to or were in some way worthy of it. Life is random; good things happen to bad people and bad things happen to good people.<br /><br /><strong>Forgiveness.</strong> Try and forgive others for what you think they have done to you and also learn to forgive yourself. None of us are perfect. We all screw up, make mistakes, say and do the wrong thing. That is part of the human condition. The important thing is to learn from those incidents and move on. Most of us don’t deliberately set out to hurt another human being, but relationships can become messy and complicated, so learn to apologise sincerely for your part and again move on. Keep in mind that we choose how we behave. We might not think that behaving well or badly is a conscious choice, but it is. Become more choice aware.<br /><br /><strong>Acceptance.</strong> Accepting that there are some things that we just can’t change is so fundamental to our very being. Acceptance is so important and accepting that some things are outside of our control is an importance concept to grasp. We can’t change the way others think and we can’t make others like us. We just have to accept that some things just<em> are</em>. Although perversely when we stop trying to influence a situation, or bring someone round to our way of thinking, it often makes it possible for change to happen. For example we might throw ourselves at repairing a damaged relationship, but both sides must want to change. We can’t make people change because we want them to, but neither should we assume they never will. Acceptance of how things are in ‘the here and now’ keeps us living in the present and making the most of today.<br /><br /><br /><strong>Making the most of what we have</strong>. There is always someone who seems to have more than you or having better time of it, or so you think. But life is simpler if we learn to do the best we can, with the resources we have. There is a saying that 'When life gives you lemons - make lemonade '. It’s a quote you hear every now and again, when someone is talking about developing a positive mental attitude and especially when faced with adversity. It happens to be one of my favourite quotes and has evolved from Dale Carnegie’s original quote ‘When fate hands you a lemon, make lemonade.’ Whether you like the modern version or the original, both boil down to the same wisdom of trying to make the best of what you're given and playing the cards you're dealt etc.<br /><br />I am now the result of every good piece of advice I have ever read, every fridge magnet that has ever inspired me, but most of all many years of careful soul searching and growing. I still have to remind myself constantly of all of the above and I have much, much more to learn. I’ve learnt that you are enriched by the people you meet on the journey, the experiences you share and recognizing that you can transform lemons if you want to. My next book is going to be entitled 'How to make lemonade'! Good luck.</div>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-68348073369641349452009-08-02T12:13:00.000-07:002009-08-02T12:21:18.427-07:00Harriet Sergeant's review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUCqQ75ZkuVImhERf99vF1SjW-jUTPMHZjLIBfZr8hgGltBOMNMhfTCQunr8Kckw7N5UCpGh9yNc_l9B9vKZ5oj7FB3zCh668IWjHylzERL4LqYMqF_eDgJgWpGB20v2M_dUtG6lddNPm/s1600-h/Harriet+Sergeant+2.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5365448569489806610" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEUCqQ75ZkuVImhERf99vF1SjW-jUTPMHZjLIBfZr8hgGltBOMNMhfTCQunr8Kckw7N5UCpGh9yNc_l9B9vKZ5oj7FB3zCh668IWjHylzERL4LqYMqF_eDgJgWpGB20v2M_dUtG6lddNPm/s320/Harriet+Sergeant+2.jpg" border="0" /></a> Charlotte Fielder wrote this book for all parents who go for that first scan, or at the birth, find their new baby is missing a limb. It is a shattering experience. This excellent book offers them support, reassurance, moving and funny stories. It also offers something even more important. It offers the experience of Charlotte herself. For Charlotte was born without a left hand.<br /><br />The first time I met Charlotte, it was at a Christmas party. She was entrancing a circle of people – mostly high ranking police officers and politicians. She was doing this by being entirely herself. She is funny, original and a very hardworking government employee. Everyone wanted to hear what she had to say. As she talked, she waved both her one beautifully manicured and beringed hand together with Fred, the name she gives her stump, with equal animation and confidence. Fred is never tucked away. He is out there as much a part of Charlotte as her kindness, style and humour.<br /><br />This confidence appears to come to Charlotte as easily as breathing. In fact it was hard won as her determination to write this book shows. She was bullied at school and left at 16. She knows the humiliation of being a bright, attractive but one handed teenager. When she talks, you listen. But you do not despair. For Charlotte’s unique personality permeates every page. The ultimate message of this book to the new parent is one of hope. They will learn many things but the most important is that nothing need stop their child growing up to be like Charlotte – an amazing human being.<br /><br /><strong>Notes</strong><br />Harriet Sergeant is author of five widely aclaimed Think Tank reports on immigration, the NHS, the Police and the Care System. She has also written three books on South Africa, Shanghai and Japan. She has written for numerous newspapers and magazines in Britain and abroad and frequently appears on radio and television.Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-65964722312802708232009-07-28T13:05:00.000-07:002009-07-31T15:50:59.809-07:00'Unexpected Outcomes' and I will make you a personalised motivational fridge magnet!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpIc8CG-hcpD0T3SRfEDdiElE_MFx3TVzIDBjXIULbWQyz1CcOIZsSVovkPhTM6oqj_EcCOrZCJTgKF1-OKrIl2Hsnb9r-aCTTfiYCWiPdftZnHpy7aFXnlxFsUOz4osjxqUfxm3j41vu/s1600-h/310.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364690198620651426" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 240px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpIc8CG-hcpD0T3SRfEDdiElE_MFx3TVzIDBjXIULbWQyz1CcOIZsSVovkPhTM6oqj_EcCOrZCJTgKF1-OKrIl2Hsnb9r-aCTTfiYCWiPdftZnHpy7aFXnlxFsUOz4osjxqUfxm3j41vu/s320/310.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8upwATVI__yS0AnYztjN7puvLqdKSmHo0tJhxTtVMSyifeuh_tqqtqmF26eThAK-rJmDtEc39cGh-3PEiBLja945BOiEqO5tR9I8aqWDDnMdTm3z9ihEDzJxzZQsI5xcB4HwFtOgMhfrp/s1600-h/085.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363898268930908450" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 124px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8upwATVI__yS0AnYztjN7puvLqdKSmHo0tJhxTtVMSyifeuh_tqqtqmF26eThAK-rJmDtEc39cGh-3PEiBLja945BOiEqO5tR9I8aqWDDnMdTm3z9ihEDzJxzZQsI5xcB4HwFtOgMhfrp/s400/085.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><br /><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>I've had some unexpected outcomes!<br /><br />I initially thought that writing 'Shared Experiences' was a very enriching experience, but I now think marketing it is equally so. Mainly because I am constantly amazed at how much effort my friends, family, colleagues and acquaintances are putting into spreading the word. I feel constantly humbled by their efforts. Today my friend Angela B forwarded me an email that she had sent to her mates and she has also offered to help with a major piece of fund raising later on in the year. It's so kind of her to put in so much effort in and I'm so grateful to her and everyone who has said 'yes' to buying a copy, have forwarded my link on, or have put one of my posters up on a notice-board somewhere. It feels like team-work so thank you. I hope you know that you really are helping to raise funds for Reach and children like Erin above, will benefit tremendously from your kindness .<br /><br />Well I'm now a 'one woman road show' and last night I attended a Heathrow Rotary Club meeting as their 'after dinner' speaker. It's quite nice being an after dinner speaker - you get a great big fat cigar, a large brandy and you get to tell filthy jokes. I told a spectaculaly filthy joke about a doctor, his paient and a pair of under-pants........<br /><br />However not last night, and not at Heathrow Rotary Club, who meet regularly at the Thistle Hotel, Longford and have a very civilised dinner before the meeting. We ate in the restaurant on the top floor with a terrace with the most amazing view of Terminal Five and the Northern run way. If you are an aviation enthusiast (or an anorak as I prefer to call you) then you must go and have a meal there. It's Heathrow's best kept secret. Well it was, but now I've told you!<br /><br />Back to my evening with the Heathrow Rotarians. They are a lovely bunch of people (I've now made them sound like bananas) but they desperately need new members and you don't have to work at Heathrow to join. Let me know if you're interested and I'll email you th secretary's details.<br /><br />They made me very welcome and I spoke to them for about 40 minutes about Reach and 'Shared Experiences'. Afterwards the President told us about her own grandmother who had grown up without an arm, went to Cambridge, drove a Rolls Royce and was partial to sawing branches off tress whist sitting on them.Clearly people with missing limbs are made of sterner stuff than other mere mortals!<br /><br />The unexpected outcome was that Gillian, the president of Heathrow Rotary is very well connected to the Royal College of Midwives and is going to forward details to her associates. So another door opened. I'm delighted.<br /><br />So I am now even more convinced that we attract whatever we focus on. If we think negative thoughts, we effectively draw them in, but equally if we think positive thoughts we draw them in too.<br /><br /><br /><br />For the last few months I have been thinking very positive thoughts about how I am going to market 'shared Experiences and it's BLOODY working! I think the secret is to visualise what you want to achieve and go for it.<br /><br />Reprogramming your thinking isn't easy and it doesn't happen overnight, but it is possible. So go for it! Think those positive thoughts and please let me know if you want me to if you want make a personaised motivational fridge magnet for you!<br /><br />Thanks for reading this and following me on the Blogosphere</div></div>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-18276612642275327592009-07-25T00:51:00.000-07:002009-07-29T08:21:30.018-07:00Charlotte's thoughts on sales, cycle rides & other outcomes!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlhUIG73MxHvKQlWxEUWwbDX9muEAp6X-zDHmUMXXkaQRn98eX0kyPfzLbW_3-76B8gS_UD2yjGpTbpfdFhDf7HCSbOv4jcy_qZntKUDPuJ0c7fJrMl3DFVEyqjarkdsLHLSkUSED5MDK/s1600-h/book+cover.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363902500791646578" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 254px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 400px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTlhUIG73MxHvKQlWxEUWwbDX9muEAp6X-zDHmUMXXkaQRn98eX0kyPfzLbW_3-76B8gS_UD2yjGpTbpfdFhDf7HCSbOv4jcy_qZntKUDPuJ0c7fJrMl3DFVEyqjarkdsLHLSkUSED5MDK/s400/book+cover.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Thank you for looking at my 'Shared Experiences' blog which I have created to keep 'Shared Experiences' supporters up to date on where we are on the road to publication.<br /><br />I appreciate all the interest and support expressed and demonstrated, as every copy sold makes money for Reach. During difficult and uncertain financial times small charities work hard to raise money so hopefully Shared Experiences will provide a steady income stream over the next few years. More about what Reach does with its donations in future blogs<br /><br />Anyhow back to money - last night in the canteen at work, someone asked me about how much I would make from the sales. It was a well meant question because my colleague clearly thought I would have to be nuts to spent three years writing a book without payment! BUT please be assured this is my voluntary work. I am doing this for FREE.<br /><br />I'm not on a percentage, so by buying a copy you are not paying for my next cruise!<br /><br />There are of course other rewards. For example the sense of achievement and satisfaction of seeing something that started as a small idea becoming a stomping reality, but most of all my reward is the emails I have received from parents of children with visible deficiencies, some who contributed and many who didn't. That's really all the feedback I need. So if this book helps new parents through some dark days then how wonderful is that. And if you buy it because you are interested in other peoples' life experiences how wonderful are you - thank you.<br /><br />A some what unexpected outcome is the increased level of interest this book has prompted in Reach <a title="http://www.reach.org.uk/" href="http://www.reach.org.uk/">http://www.reach.org.uk/</a><br /><br />Now. I'm not a not a trustee of Reach - I am just a member, so please note whatever I say about Reach in these pages are my thoughts about the charity and I'm not expressing official views. I have to say that in case I inadvertently say something horribly controversial!<br /><br />Back to the increased interest in Reach. Since I have been openly promoting Shared Experiences and talking to friends and colleagues about it, two of my colleagues are going to raise money for Reach on the Plymouth to Banjul rally (this will be covered in a future blog because it's a great story). Plus one of my friends is considering doing a cycle ride around Iceland (the country not the shop!) I cannot begin to describe how good it feels to engender such interest. I must have missed my true vocation selling replacement windows!<br /><br />So please log into my blog from time to time. I somehow feel comforted knowing we're all hanging out together in cyber space!<br /><br />Charlotte<br />woman on a mission<br /><br />Please consider doing your 'on line' shopping via the attached link. It won't cost you an extra penny, but the retailers will give a percentage to Reach. Isn't that great? Thank you so much, for even thinking about it. <a title="http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/reach" href="http://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/reach">www.easyfundraising.org.uk/reach</a></div>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-82435716644019960152009-07-25T00:22:00.000-07:002009-07-29T11:08:52.200-07:00Message from Gary Phillips - Chairman of Reach<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCq7Yp9TjRmN1iWba8dg08TTM_uHRuRXn_zy3DJ3BELJl8xMiCKCaTCPghcItwJFydw8ks7JuT0KDmlN5KzBp857AC5KYyNsWtNvESdjc31ola8YHJAn0L0OgrGorbm6Zk-LH_Xe20v54F/s1600-h/GaryPhillips.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363945538055701586" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 150px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 200px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCq7Yp9TjRmN1iWba8dg08TTM_uHRuRXn_zy3DJ3BELJl8xMiCKCaTCPghcItwJFydw8ks7JuT0KDmlN5KzBp857AC5KYyNsWtNvESdjc31ola8YHJAn0L0OgrGorbm6Zk-LH_Xe20v54F/s200/GaryPhillips.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>"As a charity supporting families of children with disabilities, we know how important it is for parents to feel that they are not alone in their situation. Charlotte's book provides that reassurance through the many experiences she has gathered here. It is an amazing read and will appeal to anyone, whether they are professionally or personally touched by disability or just interested in other's life experiences."<br /><br />Gary Phillips Chairman of Reach - June 2009<br /><br />To order pre-order your copy send an email to; <a title="mailto:shared_experiences@reach.org.uk" href="mailto:shared_experiences@reach.org.uk">shared_experiences@reach.org.uk</a><br /><br /><a title="http://www.reach.org.uk/" href="http://www.reach.org.uk/">http://www.reach.org.uk/</a><br /><br />Gary is a Reach parent, father to Matthew and Thomas. The family joined Reach when Matthew was born with an arm deficiency, which was found on the 20 week pregnancy scan. Since joining Reach in 2000 they have regularly attended events organised by their local branch Wessex as well as the Family AGM Weekends.<br />He is responsible for starting the leadership weekends, to provide suitable leaders for the activity week and other events. He works for a large public sector organisation in IT and has considerable experience in working with young people, organising adventure activity trips for 10 – 18 year olds and running several cadet units in St John Ambulance. He was also instrumental in putting together Reach child protection policies and the new website.<br />Gary wants to ensure that Reach is fit for the 21st century and with the development of the 5 year plan looks forward to working with the members to ensure Reach is around for another 30 years. He can be contacted on <a href="mailto:chairman@reach.org.uk">chairman@reach.org.uk</a></div>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-71084882226901941372009-07-24T15:26:00.000-07:002009-07-29T07:47:08.075-07:00Frank Shapiro - Coach and Author<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11Q5JeT8FDFwdEzMHYLvHlHQCX2TXA8sEhD7f3IguD-GitVE5QuYlwZ9-Ovy3EkNvLjkDZs-qb2Wzt19pSiOHf4jakX7Xj3a42gaETc9g8jG1_pzM-TjnS4CPdDVNKRseQIkbM6tiuABK/s1600-h/Frank+shapiro.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363893592101886290" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 200px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 168px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh11Q5JeT8FDFwdEzMHYLvHlHQCX2TXA8sEhD7f3IguD-GitVE5QuYlwZ9-Ovy3EkNvLjkDZs-qb2Wzt19pSiOHf4jakX7Xj3a42gaETc9g8jG1_pzM-TjnS4CPdDVNKRseQIkbM6tiuABK/s200/Frank+shapiro.bmp" border="0" /></a> 'A touching account that pulls no punches by saying what needs to be said regarding the fears of children and parents of children with upper limb deficiencies. Charlotte clearly displays an understanding of this topic and provides parents who find themselves worried about the future of a child with answers to questions that they might have. Her ‘cup half full’ approach is clear by the way she concentrates on the ability of the child when some may be stuck on the disability. By writing this book, Charlotte has given parents and children alike what they most need, reassurance.'<br /><br />Frank Shapiro – Coach and Author<br /><br /><a title="http://send.webvalence.com/link.php?M=" href="http://www.completeperson.com/" n="4700&L=" f="H">http://www.completeperson.com/</a><br /><a title="http://send.webvalence.com/link.php?M=" href="http://www.dealingwithfame.com/" n="4700&L=" f="H">http://www.dealingwithfame.com/</a><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>A note from Charlotte</strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">Frank Shapiro is a Life Coach, Broadcaster, Freelance Writer, and Public Speaker. I met him on the Ventura. I attended his talk on 'personal passion' which was exceptional and at that point I realised that writing 'Shared Experiences' was my personal passion and not just my hobby. </span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;">The next day I started talking to Frank in the cyber-cafe and he is such an uplifing guy. The type of person who you want to stand next to for ages, so that some of his qualities rub off on you! Frank and I have become e-pals and there is a chance that if he is in the country, he will come along as an 'after dinner speaker' for a fundraiser I want to hold for Reach in 2010. If so, make you buy a ticket because he's good and you'll come away buzzing with enthusiasm. </span><br /><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><br />Frank specializes in coaching High Profile people such as Models, Actors, Entertainers, and Celebrities, as well as Entrepreneurs and Professionals. Frank helps them discover how to achieve their career and personal goals, resulting in a more balanced life. Frank has a vast amount of experience in public speaking. He speaks on all subjects relating to health/well being and is available for workshops and seminars. Subjects covered also include personal development and business topics.<br /><br />During Frank's 20 years of coaching, he has enabled scores of people to bring out the very best in themselves. His coaching background includes extensive corporate experience, where the emphasis has always been on the personal best of the individual, for the ultimate benefit of the entire organization.<br /><br />Frank is especially interested now in the needs of the creative person, which stems from his association with an Entertainment Management company where he looks after artists, songwriters and producers. Subsequently, he has taken on the role of personal manager for a select group of this company’s clients, helping them to focus on achieving their individual career and personal goals.<br /><br />Based on his experience as a coach, Frank believes that in order to be at your best, you need to be happy not only with your work but with your personal life as well. He also believes that his coaching works best for the person who feels they have a substantial gap between where they are now and where they want to be. In fact, he believes the wider the gap, the faster the results.<br /><br />Frank has been professionally trained as a coach with Coach University. He is also a member of the International Coaching Federation and adheres to its pledge of standards, practices and ethics.</span>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-21041068363757942312009-07-24T15:24:00.000-07:002009-07-29T11:33:57.254-07:00Adam Afriyie's review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJXjcEF82m0ovtjhgpfpNCnra8L59y3xvYwDWeWfaYvAylMB-rQvlaJWkr4OYVhii3Yp2janloSHeL5kxhGSWGg_dryHnBRm9cLD-hde8OvTjT2LYjxzUoy6G1j6ERWO8anv4CJGI_uZc/s1600-h/Adam%2520Afriyie%2520-%2520Smile.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363899931245874930" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 119px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 133px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoJXjcEF82m0ovtjhgpfpNCnra8L59y3xvYwDWeWfaYvAylMB-rQvlaJWkr4OYVhii3Yp2janloSHeL5kxhGSWGg_dryHnBRm9cLD-hde8OvTjT2LYjxzUoy6G1j6ERWO8anv4CJGI_uZc/s320/Adam%2520Afriyie%2520-%2520Smile.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Adam Afriyie MP for Windsor said;<br /><br />'‘Charlotte’s personal determination and commitment to reach out to others affected by limb deficiency is overwhelming and this book is a wonderful testament to all her hard work.<br />Readers will be left humbled by the experiences of the contributors.<br /><br />It is only through a publication like this that the veil can be lifted, from those unaffected, to glimpse into the lives of those with limb deficiency.<br /><br />It is reassuring to know that there are people like Charlotte around, who are willing to listen, support and share their experience with parents who are faced with the shocking news that their child will have to face the challenge of limb deficiency.<br /><br />When I first met Charlotte I was struck by her energy, optimism and drive and she has my very best wishes.’<br /><br />July 2009<br /><br /><br />House of Commons:<br />Westminster, London, SW1A OAA<br /><br />Windsor Conservative Association:<br />87 St. Leonards Rd, Windsor, Berkshire, SL4 3BZ<br /><a href="http://www.adamafriyie.org/">http://www.adamafriyie.org/</a></div><div> </div><div><strong>Charlotte's notes</strong></div><div>If you live in Windsor vote for Adam! He is the most sincerest of men and has a genuine interest in what his constituents are up to. I'm always struck by his natural ability to pick on up on threds of conversation from months before. He has a natural interest in people.</div><div> </div><div><strong>More notes from Adam's impressive</strong> <strong>CV</strong></div><div>Adam has a gained a broad experience with service on parliamentary Select and Standing Committees to appointments ranging from policy development to party spokesperson:<br />Shadow Minister for Innovation, Universities & Skills - focussing on Science and Innovation. 2007.<br />Conservative Parliamentary Leader for TMT - Technology, Media and Telecoms. 2006.<br />Member of the Economic Competitiveness Policy Group, co-chaired by John Redwood and Simon Wolfson. 2006.<br />Chairman of the Deregulation Task Force. 2006.<br />Science & Technology Select Committee. 2005.<br />Finance Bill Standing Committee. 2007.<br />Welfare Reform Bill Standing Committee. 2006.<br />Lottery Bill Standing Committee. 2006.<br />Civil Aviation Bill Standing Committee. 2005. </div><div><br /><strong>Background</strong> </div><div>Born in Wimbledon in 1965 to a white English mother and a black Ghanaian father, he attended former grammar school Addey & Stanhope in New Cross and went on to gain a BSc in Agricultural Economics from Imperial College (Wye) London University.<br />Living in Israel and visiting Egypt, Cyprus, Greece, Holland, Denmark and Sweden in his gap year, his appetite for travel has not diminished over the years.<br /></div><div>Sport has also played an important role and since captaining the basketball team at university Adam has remained a keen distance and charity runner and health and fitness amateur.<br />Over the last 30 years his sports have included cycling, tennis, badminton and skiing, but since a knee and foot operation activities have been somewhat restricted.<br /></div><div>BusinessAdam’s business experience is well recognized. He was a regional finalist in the 2003 Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the year awards, and in 2005 he sold his controlling interest in DeHavilland Information Services to EMAP plc.</div><div><br />He is also non-executive Chairman of Adfero Ltd - a news and information services company - and past appointments have included Governor of the Museum of London, Trustee of the Museum in Docklands and a director of Policy Exchange, the centre-right think tank.<br />As Patron of Berkshire Young Enterprise, Adam is keen to encourage teenagers to recognise their business skills as early as possible. </div><div><br /><strong>Political</strong></div><div>Having joined the Party in 1990, Adam is an experienced Conservative activist. During his time he has stuffed envelopes, delivered leaflets, surveyed, door-knocked and canvassed, run supporters clubs, chaired branches and spoken at conference on several occasions..<br />Selected as the candidate on 3rd October 2003, Adam was elected to Parliament as the MP for Windsor on 5th May 2005 with:- An increased share of the vote of 49.5%- An increased majority of 10,292- A swing against the LibDems of 1.2%</div><div> </div>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-16813148161440013412009-07-24T15:23:00.000-07:002009-07-29T07:41:15.439-07:00Cerrie Burnell's review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQmbMjmFBxQ6wFxlOu4dqMDldZjrhgySxruROR2p6eIDKvVV7rHP1I6MW3MoFEHRcj_pB2MB1b6Pt8tp1DkptIkPXytEgf2gSRsUihGUO9HrmNln4wyU12U6N4HSsop2nRGOyP17dHHmU/s1600-h/cerrie_burnell_full_length.jpg"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363892140250515266" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 226px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 300px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLQmbMjmFBxQ6wFxlOu4dqMDldZjrhgySxruROR2p6eIDKvVV7rHP1I6MW3MoFEHRcj_pB2MB1b6Pt8tp1DkptIkPXytEgf2gSRsUihGUO9HrmNln4wyU12U6N4HSsop2nRGOyP17dHHmU/s320/cerrie_burnell_full_length.jpg" border="0" /></a><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div></div><br /><div>Cerrie Burnell, CBeebies Presenter wrote;<br /><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;">'A collection of experiences that take you on a journey of discovery, spanning decades, cultures and attitudes, in society and the medical profession. These stories are shocking, saddening, funny, inspiring and captivating. A brilliant realisation of life with one hand.'<br /></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong></strong></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:times new roman;"><strong>Note from Charlotte</strong></span></span><br /><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></strong><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Many of you will recall that in February 2009, Cerrie shot into the headlines when a small number of parents complained that Cerrie CBeebies, children's TV presenter with one hand appearance was prompting awkward questions from young children. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">So how should you explain this kind of disability to a child? No-one comes up with wrong-footing questions quite like a young child. And young, curious minds don't hesitate to point out differences in people they see around them. So when the BBC's children's channel CBeebies employed presenter Cerrie Burnell, who was born with only one hand, her appearance on television screens prompted a debate among parents about what they say to their children. </span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Online message boards on CBeebies and the BBC's disability magazine Ouch! were brimming with support for the employment of a person with a disability, and the way this educated children about diversity.<br />But a minority of parents expressed concern that Ms Burnell's appearance was "scaring" children. One father said he feared it would give his daughter nightmares and a mother said her two-year-old girl could not watch because she thought the presenter had been hurt.</span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;">Ms Burnell, 29, says she doesn't take this personally but these kind of comments highlight the prejudice that disabled people face.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"><strong><span style="font-family:Times New Roman;"></span></strong></span><br /><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7906507.stm">http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/magazine/7906507.stm</a><br /></span><span style="font-family:verdana;"></span></div>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-78953189779823949862009-07-24T15:21:00.000-07:002009-07-29T11:05:50.087-07:00<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaM5xf_HYEp0hLsQ893tf2VBhe86pnHUv_Lkv5ICFfAs6SGKU5trEfSXMKF_p1oEoPF5vHbbmqhoq0EtApJL0-SkY7LpBDBveIOfg0TkSaGShCSu6zuBaLmtjMpRdIRuxPDmxrcT1joXIa/s1600-h/simon.gif"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5363944889240858210" style="FLOAT: right; MARGIN: 0px 0px 10px 10px; WIDTH: 100px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 121px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaM5xf_HYEp0hLsQ893tf2VBhe86pnHUv_Lkv5ICFfAs6SGKU5trEfSXMKF_p1oEoPF5vHbbmqhoq0EtApJL0-SkY7LpBDBveIOfg0TkSaGShCSu6zuBaLmtjMpRdIRuxPDmxrcT1joXIa/s400/simon.gif" border="0" /></a><br /><div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGkL_7p1uNTUNuUtumaByU5g4oFH7xmnnnRH_oMt84yFFl0N-eWxn-JjshbzibvsbnvYLxRhsBQgjQZc2iqMSd37md2ypITXDu30zytAE3rTtlrWgDnbCxg01-41dRnyZS94XnWow7X86/s1600-h/simon.gif"></a><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:arial;">Professor Simon Kay says -The surgery of congenital abnormalities of the hand is challenging and intricate, and this field attracts some of the most skilled and capable surgeons in the world. But, in treating children with such conditions, too few surgeons recognize that they are treating the child, the parents and the family. In fact, they are also treating someone who is not yet present: the future adult. To recognize that they are not simply treating an anatomical abnormality but a large intertwined group of people is difficult for some surgeons, and so this book should be compulsory reading. In fact it should be compulsory for all health care professionals interacting with children with congenital differences, and their families, because it will enable them to hear, and what they hear from the experiences in this book will remind them that the surgery is not the most important part of what they do. It should also teach lessons in courage and duty that will humble many.</span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"></span></div><br /><br /><div><span style="font-family:Arial;"><strong>Notes</strong></span></div><br /><br /><div>Simon Kay, is Professor of Hand Surgery at the University of Leeds and a consultant Hand and Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon at the Leeds Teaching Hospital, UK. Simon is also a Honorary Visiting Professor at the University of Umeä, Sweden. He has developed one of the largest children's hand surgery services in the UK and has focused on microsurgery in reconstruction of congenital defects of children's hands. His research also includes brachial plexus surgery and nerve repair. He co-edited the world's major textbook in children's hand surgery, The Growing Hand. He led the first series of comprehensive syllabus based European instructional courses in hand surgery. He was the President of the British Society for Surgery of the Hand in 2007 and is president elect of the British Association of Plastic Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgeons. </div></div>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7260965269294054946.post-9552282205782605872009-07-24T15:20:00.000-07:002009-07-31T01:16:40.194-07:00Alexa Tewkesbury's review<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQh8B6G-4LSIRztq_67sPQGk-MYQAeKfpYhoCfzAOsRGlUpRVd3zOxkeV2obKuxs2in_NyiUsjgUX_2ld4fBYDwIMFBbai99sVrPisXfuliUpdieDNNmXzf6ng03l1HGsXqNbT7HoEZzh/s1600-h/DD%234.bmp"><img id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5364535214831440114" style="FLOAT: left; MARGIN: 0px 10px 10px 0px; WIDTH: 267px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 320px" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHQh8B6G-4LSIRztq_67sPQGk-MYQAeKfpYhoCfzAOsRGlUpRVd3zOxkeV2obKuxs2in_NyiUsjgUX_2ld4fBYDwIMFBbai99sVrPisXfuliUpdieDNNmXzf6ng03l1HGsXqNbT7HoEZzh/s320/DD%234.bmp" border="0" /></a><br /><div>Award winning writer Alexa Tewkesbury writes - Been very busy and among other things have just edited a book called Shared Experiences written for parents and relatives of children with upper limb deficiency. The book has been produced in conjunction with REACH, a charity set up to provide advice and support for those affected in any way by upper limb deficiency. Author, Charlotte Fielder, has painstakingly brought together true stories, reflections and observations from parents bringing up upper limb deficient children - and they make amazing reading. When you have a visibly different child, it's not just about coping with your own emotions and the practicalities of life. It's about dealing with other people's reactions, too. Sad to say, many of the recorded experiences aren't good. Then again, many have found things far easier than they ever thought they would, and the humour both parents and children have been able to apply to their situations is definitely up-lifting. This isn't a book weighed down with full-on emotional trauma or heavy-weight psychology. Reading it is a lot like sitting down over a cup of coffee and having a chat with Charlotte herself. It's friendly and accessible - and where she shares any personal thoughts, it's safe to say Charlotte knows exactly what she's talking about. She herself was born with an upper limb deficiency. As she says in the book, she's been through it all, and the warmth and generosity of her personality shine through as she recounts, sometimes with startling honesty, what it's like to grow up with a visible difference in a world where tolerance for such things can at times be harshly sparse. Whether, you're affected by the issues or not, Shared Experiences is an informative, eye-opening and, at times, delightfully funny read.<br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Note from Charlotte</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"></span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">I adore Alexa. Not only is she an award-winning writer of many </span><a href="http://www.alexatewkesbury.com/single.htm?ipg=7628"><span style="font-family:courier new;">books for children</span></a><span style="font-family:courier new;">, as well as an editor, proof reader, copywriter, story teller and voiceover artist, working with publishers, designers and film makers nationwide but she is also a genuinely lovely person and I would thorougly recommend her as an editor.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;">Based in the UK, Alexa works on a freelance basis and will undertake all types of writing commissions, such as corporate literature, advertising copy, website text and magazine articles.<br />She also offers services as an editor and proof reader, allowing you to make the most of your written words.</span><br /><span style="font-family:courier new;"><br />If your project needs a voice, Alexa’s skills as a voiceover artist and story teller embrace a range of vocal skills, styles and accents. Whether for advertisements, films, telephone message recordings or websites, Alexa will work with you to achieve the sound and delivery you are seeking.<br /><br />Whatever you want to say, Alexa will help you say it precisely and professionally – because, after all… words matter.<br /><br />Look her up on www.alexatewkesbury.com/<br /><br /></span></div>Charlotte Fielderhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08438712322020162578noreply@blogger.com0