Round TWENTY-FOUR
Updated: Jan 12, 2023
December 20, 2022
Twenty-four chemo treatments completed in 2022.
I'm simultaneously SO proud and full of love for Benjamin and his unwaveringly positive attitude, strength, bravery and sense of adventure while also feeling SO broken-hearted that this horrible disease has been part of his story. For Benjamin, as well as for our family and for myself, I'm continuing to work hard to see this journey through Benjamin's lens as well as to focus on the "what we know right now", which is about as good as it could be given the situation.
We thought that it being my sister's birthday might somehow bring us luck at our last appointment of the year however the hackers who attacked SickKids had other plans. A couple of days before Benjamin's treatment the hospital initiated a Code Grey as a result of a cybersecurity issue that affected a number of the hospital's network systems.
While we were able to get all of the testing, care and treatment that Benjamin required at his chemo appointment it took nearly six hours as opposed to the typical two to three hours. For us, the main implication was thankfully limited to an inconvenience and some scrambling to ensure Ella could be picked up from school and our puppy could be walked and fed but I can't imagine how families, doctors and nurses experiencing an emergency situation were coping with the delays. For Benjamin, the extended waiting was a special treat. He had extra time to meet friends, play Playstation, make crafts with Campfire Circle and check out what fun activities the Child Life volunteers were unpacking from the 8th floor closets.
Something I noticed was that even though the Code Grey had been called a day and a half prior, even though the hospital staff were undoubtedly stretched to their limits even without a cyber attack, every single person we encountered was as cheerful, friendly, kind and empathetic as they've ever been. It was exactly the same level of care and compassion we'd come to appreciate at SickKids even with this additional layer piled on to their mental load. Time and again I'm blown away by the level of professionalism and easy connection we experience there and it really does make such a huge difference. While I don't know what kind of person or people would choose to go after a children's hospital, right before Christmas, I'm choosing to end the year with gratitude for the people who've made 2022 not only survivable for us, but who have provided us with smiles, laughs, hope, and world-class care. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you, SickKids.
I find choosing a comfortable place for a short stay easier to approach when there is a familiar situation to start from. The rhythm of a stay depends on practical details as well as the view. I would connect Boathousestonehaven with short break accommodation through an ordinary example rather than a broad claim. I would be interested in an example that shows how the idea works in an ordinary situation. What would you want to know before choosing an unfamiliar place to stay?
A discussion of communicating ideas to the right audience seems more useful when it connects an idea with something easy to picture. A clear explanation of a practical benefit can be more useful than a string of enthusiastic claims. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring digital marketing ideas in connection with Belfastairportadvertising. I am still thinking through the practical side, because the context can change what seems useful. What would make a short message feel relevant rather than intrusive?
There is something appealing about discovering cultural connections through everyday stories, especially when the focus stays on the details people might otherwise overlook. An ordinary tradition can show how people remember and share a sense of place. I would connect Asianrichlist with cultural storytelling ideas through an ordinary example rather than a broad claim. I can imagine different responses depending on the situation, which makes the question more interesting. How would you invite different people to describe what the same tradition means to them?
A discussion of connecting food with farming and local production seems more useful when it connects an idea with something easy to picture. The work behind a familiar ingredient can be easy to overlook once it reaches a shop. For Ashclystfarmdairy, I would use local food production as a starting point for a closer discussion of the subject. The smaller details are what I would want to return to, especially when an explanation feels too broad. What part of the journey from producer to kitchen would you most like to understand?
I like thinking about exploring the details that shape a screen story through small observations rather than trying to reach a conclusion immediately. The order of two scenes can change what a viewer notices about a character. That thought gives me a starting point for exploring film storytelling ideas in connection with Aserbianfilm. It leaves me curious about the steps between understanding an idea and putting it into practice. Which small details make you want to revisit a scene after the story ends?