Pictures from Camp-Weave-A-Hope 2010

I recently received a few preview pictures from the photographer that captured images from Camp-Weave-A-Hope.  I should be receiving a disc with more pictures soon, which I am excited to see.

These first two pictures were taken on the high ropes course.  This was on of the scariest things I have ever done, but it turned out to be so much fun, believe it or not! We had to do the coarse that was set up in the gym, rather than the outside coarse because it rained the entire day.

 I almost didn't go, but I know now that I would have regretted not having this experience.

Brittney and I were 2 of the teen camp counselors. This was an exercise only for the teen group to help team building and trust. 

These pictures were from the memorial service that we had on the last night of camp.  The YMCA camp we were at had a wonderful area for this service.  We had a bon-fire and we were right by the lake.  Families created "memory boats" from nature, to represent their loved one then the family said a few words to remember the person before they released their boat into the lake.  It was a beautiful night, the sunset was gorgeous, the boats were spectacular and it was very memorable and meaningful.   This was a very special night for everyone!

Hopefully I will be able to share a few more pictures once I get the rest!

Camp-Weave-A-Hope

This past weekend I spent Friday - Sunday at Camp Weave A Hope.

This a essentially a camp for Families that have experienced a loss.  Many families were there because they lost a parent, or a sibling.  Campers came from all over Michigan to be at this camp, some traveled 5 -6 hours.

It was an interesting weekend to say the least.  There were tears, laughs, and lots of hugs.

I didn't take any pictures, but I did gain some experience in working with individuals and families that are grieving.  I was one of the four counselors for the teen aged group.  Let me just say that it is hard to get teenagers to talk, especially about something like losing their dad.  There were 4 teens in the group, all there because they lost someone close to them, but to also know they were not a lone.

 Saturday morning we spent time on the high ropes course.  It defiantly rocked my nerves.  It was a team building exercise, that also helped everyone to gain trust in one another.

We had small group times, arts and crafts, lots of food, and a memorial service. The group time was hard, mainly because the teens didn't want to talk.  So we all worked on building a rapport with these kids, and to help them feel comfortable in talking about their grief.  A couple kids opened up, cried and told us what happened, others didn't.  

I didn't get much sleep... I was in a cabin with 4 chatty little girls... their ages ranged from 5-15. They were all up chatting until late in the am, and we had to get up at 6:30am to get ready for the next days activities.  Two little girls were at my side whenever they could be, I was like a magnet for these 2 kids.

Not to mention one night a kid went missing, so all the counselors were up search for him.  Luckily the kid was found by midnight.

The experience itself was meaningful.  I learned a lot of things and by the end of the weekend I was glad that I went but I was very glad to come home.  It is so hard to see people in so much pain, and trying to work through all of the grief that they are confronted with, especially when the death is unexpected.

Off to camp I go

This afternoon I am leaving for Camp Weave-A-Hope.  


Here is a brief description of the camp:


Camp Weave-A-Hope is designed to meet the needs of grieving families. A highly-trained staff of counselors, art therapists and volunteers help campers of all ages gain new skills in coping with the death of a loved one. The weekend takes place Friday, July 23 through Sunday, July 25 at a beautiful lakeside YMCA Camp.


I am really excited about going... I will be counseling the high school group! 


Hopefully all goes well and I will home back with some details and experiences to share!




Wish me luck! 

Day #1: MSU Internship

Alright, I started my graduate internship today. The day wasn't a "typical/normal" day but I am hoping that my experiences get better. Its wasn't horrible, but I did find myself continuously comparing this 'new adventure' to my past experiences with Crittenton hospital, including the people. 

I'm having a hard time with the change.  I know where I want to be, and where I want to work. A hospital, I really believe that working as a social worker in the hospital is my niche.  Its where I belong and what I was created to do. I love the hospital atmosphere, as odd as it sounds, I am amazingly comfortable and at ease within the 4 walls of a hospital. I understand how it functions, and the purpose of my being there. I give support to patient's and families in need, assist with transfers to other facilities, arrange services and so on. Typically... social workers do that anywhere. But I love the pace in the hospital, and how each day is different.  Today I got that feeling that my new internship is nothing like the old. Its working within the medical context, but its still not the same. 

  So all day I found myself wanting and wishing that I was back at Crittenton, where I was comfortable with the people I had really gotten to know. I found myself comparing my old field instructor (Denise) whom has become a great mentor and friend, to my new field instructor. The new gal is nice and everything, she is just not Denise.

I have to stop thinking like that.  Its good to have a new and unknown experience, right? I highly dislike changes, especially when I was perfect happy at the hospital. All I can do is wait and hope that next week goes better and makes me feel like being at this hospice place will be okay. I just have to adjust and get use to all of the new things; including new people. 

Okay...enough of my little rant.

Reminder to self: 
It will be okay, and everything will work out. . . .

Wow... has it been a while.

It has been a while since I have posted anything. A lot has happened since my last post.

Where oh where to begin....

~Well I finished at Oakland University with my Bachelor's of Social Work degree. That was an exciting day.

~My last day working for the  C. family was on June  25th. That was a sad sad day. I cried, and so did Olivia's mom, Megan.  It's hard to believe that when I started Liv was just a baby, starting to eat solids, she hadn't started crawling, and was so tiny.  And now she was running all over the place, and talking up a storm.  She has changed so much from a year and a half ago.  The C's took my out for ice cream and gave me a couple Pandora beads for my bracelet to remind me of them. It was too sweet and very thoughtful.
Here's Liv and I as my last day as her Nanny Emmy:

~ I moved back to my hometown, and am no longer living with my dear old auntie... instead Im living with my parents to save money.

~My 4 nieces where here in Michigan for 10 days.  That is always fun, although they were here while I was moving so I didn't get to see them much.

~ I took a trip to East Lansing to navigate my way around MSU. My mom came with me which was great, she helped a ton.  We found the buildings I have classes in and where to park.

~ MSU classes started Tuesday (yesterday) it was exciting to be on campus and meet new classmates. I can already tell its going to be a busy semester.

~ Lastly I will be starting my internship tomorrow... at a hospice and bereavement program (I'll let you know how that goes).

More to come later....

Last Day

Tuesday was my last day of my internship. I started at the hospital way back in January, and by June it has been so hard to believe that I had been there that long. I have developed some wonderful relationship there and the people I worked with have taught me many valuable lessons.

As I was getting ready for my last day, I thought back to the first day. How excited and nervous I was to go there and be a 'social worker'... wondering what I was going to do, who I was going to meet, and what it would really feel like to apply all the skills in a real life setting.

This internship has taught me a lot. I have seen a variety of cases including adult and child abuse and neglect, adoption, and substance abuse, cancer patient, dialysis patients, and so much more. I did a lot of discharge planning, I could give you speech by heart. I also learned a ton about Medicare and Medicaid.  It was definatly an experience I won't soon forget.

Like I said, today was my last day. I had collected 470 hours.  My last day was well spent. As a thank you to those I worked with, I brought in warm bagels, fresh fruit and homemade fruit dips.

I gave my supervisor Denise a MSU green travel coffee mug and her favorite Dunkin Donuts coffee. And of course some wonderful chocolates to go with it.

I didn't expect anything in return, these ladies I worked with since January gave me a lot already.

Denise, surprised me and gave me a charm for my Pandora bracelet. The charm is a basket, and Denise called it "my giving basket" She told me that I had a lot give people, and that this was just the beginning. That charm will always be a reminder of her and my time at Crittenton.

The ladies I work with also took my out for dinner & drinks. We went to Buffalo Wild Wings. These women made me laugh, gave me some wonderful and thoughtful gifts and most of all gave me encouragement and  their friendship.

Cupcake holders... One for me and one for Bobby. 

They are the cutest! 

I think I took cupcakes into work at least 3 times...

Cathy and I.

Cathy is giving me a magic wand because as social workers, we make everyone's problem magically disappear, or at least we're supposed to...

My supervisor Denise and I. 

Denise has taught me so much in the last 6 months. She's been a great mentor and friend.

Nicole, Cathy, Denise, Diane and Me.

These ladies were fabulous to work with!

* A little side story *

A bird ( someone's pet) flew to our table ( we were outside on the patio). It was a nice little bird, but I was a little worried about holding it. But somehow they talked me into it...

A much needed update

It's been a while since my last post, so I thought I would try to catch up on what's been going on. Not like its all that exciting or all that different, but for the sake of a much needed update I will give in and go for it.

•  I had my first MSU class in Flint.  The class covered Grief & Loss which will be very helpful for my next internship that I will start in July. It was a 2 day class, and I got a lot out of it. But I still need to write a reflection paper about what I learned... that's due on Saturday (yikes!)
• I attended a beautiful wedding reception almost 2 weeks ago. It was for someone very special to me, my godmother, Julie (Pictures to hopefully come later this week).
• I had an 'interview' for a new nanny job... it is looking promising! :) ...
•  I have 5 more days with Olivia, it is going to be hard to leave that little girl. So hard that I am almost dreading it. 
• Car Repairs Galore! My little 2002 Sunfire has been in need of some attention... first my diver's side mirror got broken ( again that's another post in itself), my driver's side window wasn't working anymore, and it is in need of a transmission flush. My sweet mother has gotten my car all fixed up and ready to travel to Iowa. 
• On that note, my mom will be going to Iowa to see my sister and will be bringing  my 4 nieces to michigan for about 10 days. I only wish I was going to be able to see them more... I will only see them about 4 days while they are here. 
• I am in the process of moving. Holy Cow did I collect a ton of 'stuff'' while staying with my aunt. I cannot believe all the stuff I have in my little room/bathroom. I took a car load last weekend, and I plan on taking some more things back this upcoming weekend as well.
• Speaking of packing... I will only be living with my dear old aunt for another week and a half! I have been here for 2 years... it sure doesn't feel like it now that Im looking back at everything.  When I first moved here it felt as if I would be living her FOREVER... and now Im packing and getting ready to move out.
• Today was my last day at my BSW internship at the hospital. It was a bittersweet day. More details/pictures to come later.
• I'm at the home stretch for my classes... I have 2 more days of 'class time' which all of my BIG projects/papers/presentations/portfolio's are due. Then next week all I have is a final. Then I am free... well free for about a week anyway!! 

Alright, enough for now. Check back this week for pictures! 

{ Being a Social Worker Means: }

You will never be bored. 
You will always be frusturated.
You will be surrounded by challenges.
So much to do and so little time.
You will carry immense responsibility and very little authority.
You will step into people's lives and you will make a difference.
Some will bless you.  Some will curse you.
You will see people at their worst ~ and their best.
You will never cease to be amazed at people's capacity for love, courage, and endurance.
You will see life begin ~ and end.
You will experience resounding triumphs and devastating failures.
You will cry a lot.
You will laugh a lot.
You will know what it is to be human and to be humane.


~Author Unknown

MSU Internship

I found out yesterday that I will be completing my graduate internship at Catholic Charities. I have an interview set up for next Wednesday. If all goes well, which I am hoping it will, then I will start the next chapter of my education at this new agency.

I am excited to have the opportunity to be there.  Leslie works there, so I know a little bit about what the agency has to offer. But being at C.C. will be a completely different experience than being at the hospital. Which I think I'm okay with. I liked the idea of hospice, but  I need to have a little variety as far as practice methods. And I feel that I will be able to do a little more counseling, goal setting and intervention at C.C.Rather than the hospital where I mainly help with discharge planning, and screening/interviewing for patient's living situations. I occasionally do a little bit of counseling, but it isn't a weekly thing, its a one time deal. Going to C.C. will defiantly be a different experience.

I will start at the beginning of July. Here's to something new and different! I'm looking forward to learning and experiencing new things.

Donor Drive 2010

 I learned something very important this week. The state of Michigan's Law has changed when it comes to organ donation.  At one point, if a person signed the back of their Michigan driver's license,  they would be eligible for organ donation.  This is not the case anymore. 

 State law now states that a person must be sign up through the gift of life website. If an individual is unable to make their own medical decisions, next of kin has the choice. So if someone's intent is to donate their organs, the should be registered to ensure that their wishes are met.  

Michigan ranks very low (42nd) on the list of registered organ donors within the state.  The goal is to make more people aware that registration through gift of life needs to be done, and to help Michigan rank higher within the united states with registered residents of Michigan.

Registration is very easy and quick. There is more information below, or go to:

Gift of Life Michigan

Please read more, and consider signing up.  

This is a choice and with this choice, you could potentially have the ability to safe lives with your donated organs. 

What is it?

Donor Drive 2010 is a massive statewide effort by Gift of Life Michigan, the Michigan Eye-Bank, Michigan Health & Hospital Association, the Donate Life Coalition of Michigan, volunteers, faith groups, corporations, schools and others to add one million names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry.
In fact, anybody who wants to become a part of this unprecedented effort, is encouraged to contact Gift of Life Michigan for information on how to get involved.

Why is it necessary?

The premise is simple: There aren't enough organs to provide life-saving transplants for the roughly 3,000 people waiting in Michigan today. In addition, Michigan is behind most of the nation in the percentage of licensed drivers signed up on the state's official database of people who wish to someday become organ donors.

A key reason for the state's need to catch up: Many residents still think they need to sign the back of their driver's license or state ID to register as future organ donors. In fact, the law changed in 2007, requiring residents to add their names to an official, confidential state database. A red heart logo on their license or ID signifies that they have, indeed, signed up. Residents need to do this just once.

What do we need to do?

To catch up, Gift of Life has set a goal to add one million names to the Michigan Organ Donor Registry by the end of this year. That would bring the state's total to 2.7 million and place it in line with other states across the nation.

How do we do it?

We're hoping big efforts with social media, table drives, special volunteer work inside Secretary of State branch offices and other statewide grassroots pushes by a variety of people and groups will help make it happen. To help you help save lives, we've created a toolkit of downloadable materials. 

How do we sign up?

It's simple. Click here.

Back to it.

Well after a pretty shocking and unthinkable day yesterday, I am happy to say that I did go back today. Although I must say that while getting ready yesterday morning the thought never crossed my mind about what my day would be like.

Most days,  I am working on discharge planning, rehab placements, drug and alcohol abuse, and hospice, along with other things. But that doesn't mean that I won't have an occasional crisis that needs some attention. No day is the same, even if I am doing the same task. Things change & plans change.   That's what I love about the field of social work, for the most part, every day is different. today won't be just like yesterday.  It honestly keeps me on my toes.  I am always thinking. I like that about this field.  Honestly I'm never board or sitting at my desk without something to do, or someone to talk to.

I am happy to say that I am covering units on my own. It makes me feel important, needed, and smart.

I can do this.  

I am covering the joint unit, and most of a medical/surgical unit, with very little help. I think that's pretty darn good for being a student, and going into my 2nd month of an internship. I do have a lot to learn, and I am willing.  I am, if anything, getting some good experiences from this.  Even more than some of my classmates.

I am enjoying it. I love the patient contact, for the most part. And I love being involved with their planning during a difficult, time. I like the crisis work.  One thing I have learned is that most of the time, working on the mother/baby unit is crisis work. Getting a call from that unit is never a good thing.

But you have to take the bad with the good.

Broke my heart

Social work was called to the mother/baby unit today. Actually, we were paged overhead, on the hospital intercom. That is never good.

We walked into the unit, immediately knowing that something was not normal, and that something was veerry wrong. Its normally a pretty quiet unit, but today Mother/Baby was too quiet.  Denise and I walk over to the nurses station to see what's going on...

A 15 year old girl delivered a baby that was still born.

Oh. My. God.

I'm speechless.  1,000 things start running through my mind.

The 15 year old's mom is in the room with her, and the patient is holding a teddy bear and won't stop sobbing.  (Can you really blame her? She was expecting to be holding a baby. What should this girl be doing?)  The mom of the girl is crying, but not as hard, she is a very passive person.

The 15 year old patient, has a 1 year old at home.

We walk into the room. All we can do is sit and listen and try to let her talk. We didn't say much, asked a few questions, but tried to let her do some of the talking. She talked a little, but mainly just sat on the bed, holding a teddy bear, crying.

Oh.My.God.

The hospital I'm working at is not a high risk hospital. Anything that is considered high risk goes to a larger hospital that is better equipped to handle bigger traumas.   Why was she brought to a smaller hospital? It was either deliver in the hospital or in the ambulance. 

Because we don't normally have this type of case, a social worker from a hospice company was called, and she came to speak with the patient. She had more resources to give her then we did. The patient also saw the hospital chaplain.

It was not an easy day, that's all I can say.

So now my project is to revamp the resources for the Mother/Baby unit. And I will be finding some resources for a death of a newborn. How horrible and tragic that the hospital didn't have the information and had to call hospice. But in all fairness they help with death, and the healing process more so than a hospital social worker.

It just broke my heart. Fifteen with a one year old and dealing with the loss of a newborn. It just broke my heart.