
You will find everything from silver to booklets listed here, if anyone has a pet project that you would like to add to this list please let me know.
By
MICHELLE LOTTER - North Shore Times | Tuesday, 25 September 2007

SOLDIERING ON: Barbara Williams is not letting motor neurone disease get the
better of her.
The last thing on Barbara Williams' mind when she started an exciting new job in
Sydney was her health.
So when she started slurring her speech, found it hard to swallow food and
developed a slightly husky voice, the research manager had no idea it was motor
neurone disease.
Almost three years after being diagnosed with the degenerative debilitating
condition, the daughter of former Prime Minister Sir Robert Muldoon and Dame
Thea, has released a book about her experience.
Her medical background as a nurse has helped her explain her condition in her
book Losing My Voice! Living with Motor Neurone Disease.
"Even the ordinary everyday things that we all take for granted are difficult,"
the Birkenhead resident says.
"I've stopped wearing eye makeup because the mascara runs when I cry. Similarly
lipstick doesn't last long because I'm continually biting my lips in a constant
battle to control excess saliva."
Mrs Williams says as the condition weakens her muscles, it can cause her to
laugh and cry more.
She also has a special feeding tube through the wall of the stomach, because she
can only swallow a few sips of liquid at a time.
Sir Robert once said that from the age of four Barbara wanted to be a nurse.
She continued nursing until taking on the position of clinical research
associate with a major pharmaceutical company in Sydney.
Now unable to speak, Mrs Williams has reluctantly returned home.
Her managerial role required her to travel around Australia and New Zealand,
which became difficult. She now works from home in Birkenhead.
Her busy Sydney-based life meant she had little time to pick up on small
symptoms of the disease including increasing cramps in her legs, toes and chest,
a dry cough and the need to yawn at inappropriate times throughout the day.
She says one of the most frustrating things about her condition is not being
able to say thank you when a kind stranger lends a helping hand.
"I feel awful. There are so many times in the course of a day that you want to
say thanks. In the supermarket or shop, to taxi drivers, when someone holds the
door open, etcetera."
Mrs Williams is launching her book, Losing My Voice, in Birkenhead on October 1.
I have
just published my story: Losing My Voice! Living with motor neurone disease. See
www.losingmyvoice.com and
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/showthread.php?t=28759
My story covers the time from when I was diagnosed with ALS in late 2004 while
living and working in Sydney Australia and the next two and a half years when I
travelled extensively for work and holidays while slowly losing my voice and my
ability to eat.
My book is unique in describing, from a health professional’s perspective (I’m a
nurse and clinical research associate), my daily life whilst dealing with the
progressively disabling bulbar symptoms of ALS but still having good mobility.
Other books I know of are written by or about people whose symptoms started in
arms or legs. Feedback is that it’s “riveting” and a “can’t put down” story.
Losing My Voice can be purchased on line
www.losingmyvoice.com
Feedback: I bought your book this morning because I am going to Rarotonga for a
few days and I thought it would be a good opportunity to read it. I started it
and couldn't put it down and I've finished it. It is such an eloquent
description of the effects of MND and your incredible determination. I had no
idea you could write so beautifully.
http://robertmnd.blogspot.com/ on
the entry for Friday, October 19, 2007
To anyone wanting a good read there is a book called ‘Losing my voice’ written
by a woman named Barbara Williams (elder daughter of the late Sir Robert
Muldoon) who has ALS/MND. I am about halfway through it and find it very well
done. Her story gives an insight into the everyday problems of someone with this
disease and how they as an individual deal with it. I admire her spirit. Go for
it Barbara.....
Down Under’s ‘Tuesday’s with Morrie’
Barbara Williams

A documentary has been produced called "The Man Who Learned How to Fall" about Phillip Simmons a Person with ALS. The documentary comes highly recommended by my good friend Marie in PEI who has seen it. For more information check out this site www.themanwholearnedtofall.com .
Poems
Mervin Vindevoghel, whose poems have been featured on my web site, now has a book of poems. The price is $10.00, with proceeds going to the ALS Society. If you would like to purchase a copy, please contact Merv by email or telephone. His email address is vindy@sasktel.net , his telephone number is (306) 543-8204.
"From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life." Arthur Ashe
“I Believe”
Louise Brown has recorded a CD of spiritual songs entitled “I Believe”, and it includes such favourites as “Climb Every Mountain”, “The Lord’s Prayer” and “Ave Maria”. If you would like to order the CD (or cassette), please phone Tom Brown at 306-761-2605. The price is $15.00
"A happy person is too satisfied with the present to dwell too much on the future." Albert Einstein
ALS JEWELERY
All items are Sterling Silver.
Small Pendant |
Large Pendant |
Post Earrings |
Dangle Earrings |
Ladies Ring |
Small Pin |
Large Pin | Man's Ring |
I am still doing my sterling silver casting of jewellery although I will be concentrating more on my own creations. I will likely still do some of the ALS line occasionally so if you are interested in it just contact me. The waiting time for it will be longer now however as I will no longer keep as much on hand.
HOW IT IS DONE
LEFT CLICK ON PICTURE TO ENLARGE, BACK ON BROWSER TO RETURN
RUBBER MOLD FOR REVERSE PATTERNS | WAX PATTERNS AFTER FORCING WAX INTO PATTERN | SPRUE ROD WITH PATTERNS, ROD INSERTED IN RUBBER BASE |
FLASKS IN BASE AND INVESTMENT POURED AROUND THEM, IS SHAKEN TO REMOVE AIR BUBBLES AND SITS FOR 1 HOUR | FLASKS PUT IN KILN, 2 HOURS AT 500°, 2 MORE @ 900°, 3 @ 1250° & 2 @ 1000°, THIS MELTS THE WAX AND LEAVES A VOID IN THE INVESTMENT | CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE WITH FLASK IN PLACE AND SILVER IN CRUCIBLE READY TO MELT. |
MELTING SILVER WITH ACETYLENE TORCH | CENTRIFUGAL MACHINE AFTER SPINNING MELTED SILVER INTO FLASK | DIPPING FLASKS WITH INVESTMENT AND SILVER INTO COLD WATER |
SPRUE WITH SILVER AFTER INVESTMENT HAS ALMOST ALL GONE AWAY INTO THE COLD WATER | SPRUE WITH SILVER PINS ETC. ATTACHED AND CLEANED SOMEWHAT | ITEMS CUT FROM SPRUE AND SOAKED IN AN ACID BATH TO REMOVE REMAINING INVESTMENT |
ITEMS ROUGH FILED AND THEN PUT IN TUMBLER FOR 2 DAYS IN COURSE GRIT AND 2 DAYS IN FINE GRIT. | BACKS AND RINGS SOLDERED ON, TUMBLED IN STAINLESS STEEL SHOT FOR 2 MORE DAYS | TUMBLED 2 MORE DAYS IN CRUSHED WALNUT SHELLS AND JEWELLERS ROUGE AND THEN THEY ARE FINISHED. |
"Persistence is to the character of person as carbon is to steel." Napoleon Hill
Book Published by the ALS Society of Alberta
(the following books and booklets can all be ordered from the ALS Society of Alberta: http://www.alsab.ca/order.html
This book is for the whole family regardless of age.
"The quality of a person's life is in direct proportion to their commitment to excellence, regardless of their chosen field of endeavor." Vince Lombardi
"Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the judgment that something else is more important then one's fear." Ambrose Redmoon
"Life is a succession of moments. To live each one is to succeed." Corita Kent
Resources for ALS Healthcare Providers - $25
This book provides healthcare providers with some information on the challenges presented by ALS, by summarizing and presenting literature and resources available as accurately as possible.
"You get wisdom through tough times not easy times." Joyce Meyer
Basic Information Series - $3 per booklet
This series of booklets, created in 1990, provides an introduction to various topics faced by people with ALS, their families, and their caregivers. Titles in the series include:
An Overview for People with ALS
Eating, Drinking, and Swallowing Strategies
Communication Strategies
Breathing Strategies
Coping with Grief - Strategies for People Living with ALS
"How Can I Help?" - A Guide for Family and Friends
"There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living." Nelson Mandela
Resources from Other Units
"Arriving at one goal is the starting point to another." John Dewey
Someone You Know Has ALS, by Lois Clark - $5
A simple way to help children understand and cope with ALS.
"Never look for excuses. Instead of surrending to failure, find a way to succeed." Dr. Ben Carson
MGM
© ALS Independence 2003-08