Aloha Everyone,
We arrived home last night from Waikiki after 2 luxurious fun-filled weeks. Earl of course, had a fabulous time and every sight put a broad smile on his face. When we touched down in Winnipeg, his comment was "I don't want to get off the plane! We were busy everyday and put over 900 miles on our rental. We explored the whole island visiting many of it's beaches, shops and restaurants. Earl was able to get into the ocean when it was safe and when the waves weren't breaking on the shore, and he proved himself to be quite a good snorkeler. We spent some time with Earl's good friend Amanda and her fun-loving, adventure seeking family. Our hotel was super and the friendly Hawaiian service was abundant.
We now await a surgery date in Toronto and will let you know when that is. We are expecting it to be in 2-3 weeks.
Good bye for now,
Debbie and Earl
Apr 10, 2008
Mar 2, 2008
We made it to Quebec City
HI Everyone,
Well, we made it to Quebec City....it was somewhat trying but once we arrived it was worth it. The hotel is fantastic and the staff, more that accomodating. It a remodelled older hotel and some of the rooms even have fireplaces.
The team lost in the bronze game, but they played their hearts out, and are all winners in my eyes. It has been quite a moving experience to be here and see all these dedicated special athletes and their dedicated families. We have met wonderful people from all across Canada.
Earl is getting around quite well. Our sigthseeing is limited because they have so much snow....«i actually have never seen so much snow piled everywhere. We are off on a city bus tour shortly so that should be fun.
We will be home tomorrow night after midnight. Tuesday will be a catch up day for sleep and then we will start to get ready for Hawaii.
Take Care, and Earl Says HI
Debbie
Well, we made it to Quebec City....it was somewhat trying but once we arrived it was worth it. The hotel is fantastic and the staff, more that accomodating. It a remodelled older hotel and some of the rooms even have fireplaces.
The team lost in the bronze game, but they played their hearts out, and are all winners in my eyes. It has been quite a moving experience to be here and see all these dedicated special athletes and their dedicated families. We have met wonderful people from all across Canada.
Earl is getting around quite well. Our sigthseeing is limited because they have so much snow....«i actually have never seen so much snow piled everywhere. We are off on a city bus tour shortly so that should be fun.
We will be home tomorrow night after midnight. Tuesday will be a catch up day for sleep and then we will start to get ready for Hawaii.
Take Care, and Earl Says HI
Debbie
Feb 25, 2008
Good News
HI Everyone,
Hmmmm...which good news should I give you first?
Hmmmm...which good news should I give you first?
- Earl is being discharged on Wednesday and with that news has suddenly gained some new found energy. He will be discharged on oral antibiotics, but will be back on IV antibiotics once we are back in Winnipeg. Iv will run until we leave for Earl's Wish Trip to Hawaii. The second surgery will likely take place as soon as we get home from Hawaii.
- He was up walking several times today, the first included a whole flight of stairs. The second a walk to the lounge, a rest there and a walk down the hall to visit with his friend Jimmy. He is still feeling a fairly high level of pain when he is up and around and by the time he gets back to bed he is out for awhile.
- Earl can and has been weight bearing on his left leg (which really makes walking a lot easier)
- The other good news, actually great news is that the cultures came back negative, meaning: Earl is infection free.
- Lisa, from Starlight Starbright came to visit us tonight and she surprised Earl with a new PSP (play station portable) and a gift card to buy a new game. (I have orders to stop at Best Buy on my way in tomorrow to purchase NHL 08) We had a great visit with Lisa, and I know she was happy to meet Earl.
I think I will stop there because I am not sure any one can handle this much good news.
But I do have a riddle for you: If we leave Toronto on Thursday morning.....and arrive in Winnipeg on Monday night....where will we be in between????? don't tell any one,,,,,it's a surprise!Take care,
Debbie and Earl
Feb 24, 2008
Day 3
Earl is starting to recover and was out of bed yesterday for about 1 hour. He will be getting up again, as soon as his pain medication kicks in.
Earl has a new room #1102 (for Care Mail) and a new extension number. 1-416-586-4800 ext 6231
Darby and Christine are now back in Winnipeg
No word yet on how long we will be staying here, but the disappointing news is that we will not be going to Quebec City.....it's just too close to surgery and recovery.
The other news is that Earl cannot bend his leg until he has the next surgery, because he has no knee joint right now.
Take Care,
Debbie
Earl has a new room #1102 (for Care Mail) and a new extension number. 1-416-586-4800 ext 6231
Darby and Christine are now back in Winnipeg
No word yet on how long we will be staying here, but the disappointing news is that we will not be going to Quebec City.....it's just too close to surgery and recovery.
The other news is that Earl cannot bend his leg until he has the next surgery, because he has no knee joint right now.
Take Care,
Debbie
Feb 22, 2008
Surgery is Done!
Hi Everyone,
Earl's surgery was yesterday and the surgery itself went very well. Dr. Wunder said the prosthesis was very loose and came out easily. He said everything looked good, and that it didn't look like there was any infection. They still sent cultures off, so we have to wait a few days to get those results. Post surgery was a little rough, as Earls heartrate was up to 186 and his blood pressure was high too. He was in recovery for 8.5 hours and finally came up to his room at 11:30pm. His heartrate was still up last night but it had come down a good bit. They did allow me to stay with him in recovery, he was asking for me and they thought it might help him if I was there. They also allowed Darby and Christine to visit as well.
Today, Earl has been zonked out. He did get out of bed for a 2 step walk. He has a bit of a temperature and is still using his pain pump. They will start oral pain meds right away. He doesn't have much of an appetite, but is drinking well.
Thats it for today,
Debbie
Earl's surgery was yesterday and the surgery itself went very well. Dr. Wunder said the prosthesis was very loose and came out easily. He said everything looked good, and that it didn't look like there was any infection. They still sent cultures off, so we have to wait a few days to get those results. Post surgery was a little rough, as Earls heartrate was up to 186 and his blood pressure was high too. He was in recovery for 8.5 hours and finally came up to his room at 11:30pm. His heartrate was still up last night but it had come down a good bit. They did allow me to stay with him in recovery, he was asking for me and they thought it might help him if I was there. They also allowed Darby and Christine to visit as well.
Today, Earl has been zonked out. He did get out of bed for a 2 step walk. He has a bit of a temperature and is still using his pain pump. They will start oral pain meds right away. He doesn't have much of an appetite, but is drinking well.
Thats it for today,
Debbie
Feb 20, 2008
One Day Until Surgery!
Sorry about cutting off yesterday, Darby came and told me the resident was in with Earl, so I had to sign off quickly. Dr Wunder came in around 5 and we now have a much clearer picture of what is happening. Earl has been for 2 sets of xrays and will be going to have the IVC filter placed at 1 today. He is looking forward to seeing Paulette, one of his favorites.
This is the plan.Earl's surgery will take place later in the afternoon tomorrow, as it is considered a dirty surgery so comes last in the day. The surgery will be about 5 hours and will involve the removal of all moveable and loose parts. They will then place the spacer which is a molded piece that kinda keeps the space preservered for the new prosthesis. The spacer is made of cement which contains antibiotic beads that will slowly release. They will do a culture and the results of which will detemine how long the spacer stays in. If there are no signs of infection it will stay for 6 weeks (as a precaution) and if there are signs of infectiion it will stay for 12 weeks, at which time we will return to Toronto for the removal of the spacer and placing of the prosthetic.
We told Dr. Wunder about Earls wish trip and he seems to think it is possible........Praise God!
The other good news is that it is not out of the question for us to travel to Quebec if Earl recovers quickly enough.
It amazes me how much new information my brain can hold. I am thankful that Darby is able to be here and that my niece Christine is on the plane as I write this to you.
I will update again when I find out what time the surgery is! The phone number in Earl's room is 416-586-4800 ext 4380
Keep on Praying!
This is the plan.Earl's surgery will take place later in the afternoon tomorrow, as it is considered a dirty surgery so comes last in the day. The surgery will be about 5 hours and will involve the removal of all moveable and loose parts. They will then place the spacer which is a molded piece that kinda keeps the space preservered for the new prosthesis. The spacer is made of cement which contains antibiotic beads that will slowly release. They will do a culture and the results of which will detemine how long the spacer stays in. If there are no signs of infection it will stay for 6 weeks (as a precaution) and if there are signs of infectiion it will stay for 12 weeks, at which time we will return to Toronto for the removal of the spacer and placing of the prosthetic.
We told Dr. Wunder about Earls wish trip and he seems to think it is possible........Praise God!
The other good news is that it is not out of the question for us to travel to Quebec if Earl recovers quickly enough.
It amazes me how much new information my brain can hold. I am thankful that Darby is able to be here and that my niece Christine is on the plane as I write this to you.
I will update again when I find out what time the surgery is! The phone number in Earl's room is 416-586-4800 ext 4380
Keep on Praying!
Feb 19, 2008
Safe and Sound in Toronto
HI Everyone,
Well, we arrived on Sunday evening ate a little supper and went for a swim. Earl was thrilled to be in the pool, as it has been many months since he has had a chance to swim. We settled in to our room and had a great sleep. We woke up late, went for a nice breakfast at the hotel and then set off to ....you guessed it "The Hockey Hall of Fame." We were able to use a wheelchair and I told Earl he had all the time he needed. Just as you enter there is a giant bronze statue of Ken Dryden, so I took Earl's picture with him. Some of you may not know, but Earl had the opportunity to have lunch with the legendary goaltender, Ken Dryden several weeks ago. We spent over 3 hours looking around the HHOF, then headed back to the hotel. I went off to Dominion to pick up a few groceries and then went back for a little rest. We set out a little later to go for dinner, our first choice the Salad King was closed, so to Earl's delight we settled for Iranian Kebobs. Earl loved it.....I could pass it up. We came back to the hotel, played cards downstairs and then went for a swim and a soak in the hot tub. Darby arrived and shortly afterward we called it a night. At 1:30 in the morning we had a fire alarm and thankfully did not have to evacuate the building. It did keep us up for awile, so we are all pretty tired today.
Earl is settled in at Mount Sinai in room 1110 C on 11 south. (the number at the hospital is 416-586-4800). We are still waiting to see exactly what is going to happen. What we do know is that Earl will be going to have another IVC filter put in tomorrow at 1pm.
Well, we arrived on Sunday evening ate a little supper and went for a swim. Earl was thrilled to be in the pool, as it has been many months since he has had a chance to swim. We settled in to our room and had a great sleep. We woke up late, went for a nice breakfast at the hotel and then set off to ....you guessed it "The Hockey Hall of Fame." We were able to use a wheelchair and I told Earl he had all the time he needed. Just as you enter there is a giant bronze statue of Ken Dryden, so I took Earl's picture with him. Some of you may not know, but Earl had the opportunity to have lunch with the legendary goaltender, Ken Dryden several weeks ago. We spent over 3 hours looking around the HHOF, then headed back to the hotel. I went off to Dominion to pick up a few groceries and then went back for a little rest. We set out a little later to go for dinner, our first choice the Salad King was closed, so to Earl's delight we settled for Iranian Kebobs. Earl loved it.....I could pass it up. We came back to the hotel, played cards downstairs and then went for a swim and a soak in the hot tub. Darby arrived and shortly afterward we called it a night. At 1:30 in the morning we had a fire alarm and thankfully did not have to evacuate the building. It did keep us up for awile, so we are all pretty tired today.
Earl is settled in at Mount Sinai in room 1110 C on 11 south. (the number at the hospital is 416-586-4800). We are still waiting to see exactly what is going to happen. What we do know is that Earl will be going to have another IVC filter put in tomorrow at 1pm.
Feb 14, 2008
Off to Toronto
Hi Everyone,
You all have touched our lives in one way or another over this past year and we thank you for your love and support. We are not at the end of the road yet though, so please continue to pray for us and do keep in touch. You will never know how important it is until you are touched by tragedy yourself...and it is my prayer that you won't.
Love Debbie, Darby and Earl
Life can be seen through your eyes, but it is not fully
appreciated until it is seen through your heart.
-- Mary Xavier
Feb 11, 2008
February Update and Hockey Day in Canada
Hi Everyone,There hasn't been much news lately so I apologize for not updating the BLOG. We are still waiting to hear from the surgeon in Toronto. Earl had to have a CT scan done and now the results are on their way (hopefully sitting on Dr. Wunders desk) to Toronto. It would be great if we could hear back from him this week and so that is what we are praying for. Earl is scheduled to leave for Quebec City on February 25 with Teamtoba and his Special Olympic floor hockey team. Then we are booked to go to Hawaii for his wish trip on March 25th. I realize that the surgery if needed is most important, but we are really hoping we can still make these trips.
This weekend we went out to Winkler Manitoba where they hosted Hockey Day in Canada. Earl was pumped and had a great time. Hockey all day long. We saw Don Cherry and Ron Mclean and Russ Romaniuk and Ab Mcdonald former Winnipeg Jets. Here are some of the pictures.
Please keep Earl in your prayers, as he is experiencing more pain than usual and we are very anxious about what the future holds.
Debbie
Jan 19, 2008
Latest News
The latest news (yesterday) is not too good. We saw Earls physio this week (Tuesday) and she was concerned that Earl's leg was way too flexible and the movement did not seem normal. She called the surgeon, we went for xrays and yesterday the Dr. confirmed that the prosthetic has moved....which also means it is loose. He thinks Dr. Wunder will want to see Earl to determine what the next step will be.
For those of you praying for us, could you pray that the call comes quickly and that the fix will be an easy one. Also pray that we will be able to continue with our travel plans and most of all for strength and courage for Earl and add energy to that for me.
Jan 12, 2008
Think about this!
Happy moments, PRAISE GOD!
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD!
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD!
Painful moments, TRUST GOD!
Every moment, THANK GOD!
Difficult moments, SEEK GOD!
Quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD!
Painful moments, TRUST GOD!
Every moment, THANK GOD!
Could It Be True?
Hi Everyone,
Could it be true....is this it.....are we done? These are questions we have been asking ourselves alot these past few days. Earl completed his chemotherapy on January 08th, received 2 units of blood on January 09th and left St. Boniface Hospital on January 10th for what we hope is the last time. Dr. Wong wants to see us in 3 months for follow up and will continue to see Earl after that on a follow-up basis. I have to admit that I feel this is very surreal and I am not sure if I have taken it all in. Time will tell and as the days go on we will adjust to life outside of the hospital. I am exhausted and need some time to process the events of this last year and Earl needs time to rebuild and strengthen his leg, and body and get back to living life.
We have so much to be thankful for and really want to take time to thank all of our friends and family who have been there for us, praying and supporting us throughout this past year. A very special thank-you is due to the Staff on 5B and Cancercare at St. Boniface Hospital who cared for Earl and me at times. You are a special bunch of people and we know that you love what you do because you showed it in so many ways. Going into hospital for each treatment felt like having a sleepover at a friends....Earl was never frightened or worried about being admitted, because he knew "his friends" would be there. As well, I think Earl brought a lot of joy to your lives and he has this ability to burn a hole in your heart.....You will have a hard time forgetting Earl Cook, if you had a chance to get to know him over this past year.
We are thankful for the many answered prayers and that Our God is an awesome God.
PSALM 48: 14
Praise God.....Earl was granted a WISH trip and we are travelling as a family to Hawaii at the end of March. We will post some pictures, so you can see the joy on Earl's face.
Take care and please keep in touch....
Debbie, Earl and Darby
Could it be true....is this it.....are we done? These are questions we have been asking ourselves alot these past few days. Earl completed his chemotherapy on January 08th, received 2 units of blood on January 09th and left St. Boniface Hospital on January 10th for what we hope is the last time. Dr. Wong wants to see us in 3 months for follow up and will continue to see Earl after that on a follow-up basis. I have to admit that I feel this is very surreal and I am not sure if I have taken it all in. Time will tell and as the days go on we will adjust to life outside of the hospital. I am exhausted and need some time to process the events of this last year and Earl needs time to rebuild and strengthen his leg, and body and get back to living life.
We have so much to be thankful for and really want to take time to thank all of our friends and family who have been there for us, praying and supporting us throughout this past year. A very special thank-you is due to the Staff on 5B and Cancercare at St. Boniface Hospital who cared for Earl and me at times. You are a special bunch of people and we know that you love what you do because you showed it in so many ways. Going into hospital for each treatment felt like having a sleepover at a friends....Earl was never frightened or worried about being admitted, because he knew "his friends" would be there. As well, I think Earl brought a lot of joy to your lives and he has this ability to burn a hole in your heart.....You will have a hard time forgetting Earl Cook, if you had a chance to get to know him over this past year.
We are thankful for the many answered prayers and that Our God is an awesome God.
PSALM 48: 14
” For this God is our God for ever and ever; he will be our guide even to the end. “
This is a verse that we became aware of recently and reflects how we feel today.
Praise God.....Earl was granted a WISH trip and we are travelling as a family to Hawaii at the end of March. We will post some pictures, so you can see the joy on Earl's face.
Take care and please keep in touch....
Debbie, Earl and Darby
Jan 1, 2008
Happy New Year Everyone!
Well we are gone with the old and hopefully the new will shower us with blessings!
We had an okay Christmas, best of all was time spent with family and friends. Earl feels so loved by our family and we are thankful for how they have accepted him. To start off the new year Earl will celebrate his 20th birthday tomorrow. We are having a small get together and will go out to Ichi Ban for dinner on the 3rd. I thought it would be a fun place to go given his interest in cooking and culinary arts. He will love how they toss their tools around. After dinner it's off to the hospital to get ready for what we hope will be his last treatment. Hallelujah!!! He has had a pretty good break and is looking forward to finishing. One of the difficulties will be saying good bye to all the nurses and staff on 5B, where he has loved and been loved by so many. He says he is looking forward to having them as friends rather than care givers after all is done.
We wish you all a Happy New Year and pray that those of you who are dealing with cancer will be blessed with good health and a good response to your treatments. For others we wish you a year of good health and joy beyond belief. Let us all be thankful for what we have and help those around us, as we struggle through what life brings us.
Take care, keep in touch
Debbie, Darby and Earl
http://web.icq.com/friendship/swf/0,,16961_rs,00.swf
Dec 19, 2007
Round 4 Complete---ONE more to go!!!
HI Everyone,
Earls is home from hospital and has now got only 1 treatment left. His week went very well and was pretty much uneventful. His hemoglobin was a bit low, but did not require any treatment, so that was great. Earl had an interesting roommate and at the end of a day, requested a move himself. I know its not funny when you are sick, but I haven't laughed so hard in a very long time (behind a closed curtain...I must say). They did a CT scan and the results were good, stating that everything looked good....YIPEE! Earl was supposed to go back in on New Year's Eve, but Dr. Wong wants him to celebrate the new year at home and also to celebrate his 20th b-day which is January 2nd at home also. He will return on the eve of January 3 for hydration and resume his chemo on January 4th. He still welcomes visitors, and this being his last treatment....maybe we can encourage him to stay awake.
We want to wish everyone who reads this a very Merry Christmas and a 2008 that is Healthy Happy and full of Peace and Joy.
Love Debbie, Earl and Darby
Earls is home from hospital and has now got only 1 treatment left. His week went very well and was pretty much uneventful. His hemoglobin was a bit low, but did not require any treatment, so that was great. Earl had an interesting roommate and at the end of a day, requested a move himself. I know its not funny when you are sick, but I haven't laughed so hard in a very long time (behind a closed curtain...I must say). They did a CT scan and the results were good, stating that everything looked good....YIPEE! Earl was supposed to go back in on New Year's Eve, but Dr. Wong wants him to celebrate the new year at home and also to celebrate his 20th b-day which is January 2nd at home also. He will return on the eve of January 3 for hydration and resume his chemo on January 4th. He still welcomes visitors, and this being his last treatment....maybe we can encourage him to stay awake.
We want to wish everyone who reads this a very Merry Christmas and a 2008 that is Healthy Happy and full of Peace and Joy.
Love Debbie, Earl and Darby
Dec 10, 2007
Earl gets Mobile
Earl is working very hard at his physio! It feels funny, but he is making great strides at building up the strength in his new leg. Somedays, we have to hold him back, because if we don't he works too hard and then pays the price later.
Round 3
Hi Everyone,
Earl is back in hospital tonight and getting hydrated for chemo tomorrow. Hopefully all will go much better this time than last time. We have had a busy few weeks with Earl at home. We started to get our Christmas Shopping done and started decorating also....(it takes me a few days to get the christmas decor just right) Earl was happy to get a few gifts and is really getting into the spirit of Christmas, especially after our city lights tour, caroling at a Linden woods Manor and a visit to the Hudson's Bay downtown store. This trip downtown has become a tradition for Earl and I since he moved into our home and family.
Earls is anxiously awaiting the completion of his chemo, but I remind him that we won't know for sure what will happen next until after they run some tests, to see if the chemo is being effective. At our latest visit to the surgeon who did Earl's revision to clean out the infection, the Dr. pointed out something of concern in the most recent x-rays. There appears to be some excessive bone regrowth at the the site where the prosthetic fits into the femur. He was not sure what this could mean and has sent the images off to Dr. Wunder in Toronto. We sit and wait to hear what this means. There is also a bit of concern about something seen in the ultra sound that was taken when Earl was in hospital 3 weeks ago. Hopefully this week will provide some answers.
Please continue to keep Earl in your prayers.
for Earl, Debbie
Earl is back in hospital tonight and getting hydrated for chemo tomorrow. Hopefully all will go much better this time than last time. We have had a busy few weeks with Earl at home. We started to get our Christmas Shopping done and started decorating also....(it takes me a few days to get the christmas decor just right) Earl was happy to get a few gifts and is really getting into the spirit of Christmas, especially after our city lights tour, caroling at a Linden woods Manor and a visit to the Hudson's Bay downtown store. This trip downtown has become a tradition for Earl and I since he moved into our home and family.
Earls is anxiously awaiting the completion of his chemo, but I remind him that we won't know for sure what will happen next until after they run some tests, to see if the chemo is being effective. At our latest visit to the surgeon who did Earl's revision to clean out the infection, the Dr. pointed out something of concern in the most recent x-rays. There appears to be some excessive bone regrowth at the the site where the prosthetic fits into the femur. He was not sure what this could mean and has sent the images off to Dr. Wunder in Toronto. We sit and wait to hear what this means. There is also a bit of concern about something seen in the ultra sound that was taken when Earl was in hospital 3 weeks ago. Hopefully this week will provide some answers.
Please continue to keep Earl in your prayers.
for Earl, Debbie
Nov 23, 2007
Round 2 update
Here are some pictures of my new leg!
Hi Everyone, today is Friday and I have just arrived home from the hospital since arriving there on Tuesday morning. Earl has had a bit of a tough week, starting on Tuesday when we found out that his hemoglobin counts were low. They needed to give him 2 units of blood and after the first one he had a reaction. This was quite scary as his head and lips began to swell and he broke out in hives from his waste to the top of his head. The nurse acted very quickly as we watched this reaction appear before our eyes. She administered Benadryl and it wasn't too long before he started to respond. His chemo was put on hold and the next day his counts were still low, so they gave him another unit of blood...this time starting with the Benadryl first. Thankfully, no reaction thins time. The chemo resumed but Earl was very tired and needed to sleep. The other events of the day were that Earl's roommate and several others on the ward were found to have MRSA a superbug found in hospitals. They had to find a private room for Earl, which did happen by the end of the day. Problem #3 Earl's leg was swelling so they sent him for an ultral sound. They have found something but due to the metal in his leg the test was somewhat inconclusive. We are waiting to find out what is causing the swelling. Tonight when I finally left Earl was feeling much more like himself and looking forward to and evening watching hockey and sleeping.
Nov 19, 2007
Round 2 begins
Hi Everyone...this is Earl.
I am heading back into hospital tonight to resume chemo tomorrow. Thank you to all of you who keep in touch and encourage me. Would you please keep me in your prayers that the chemo will be effective and that I won't get sick. Also, as I begin to use my leg....(I can actually walk with 1 crutch for short distances) please pray that I would work hard at my physio and that my leg would continue to get stronger. My ultimate goal is to be back in net for the Canadian Winter games in Quebec City at the end of February.
Earl
I am heading back into hospital tonight to resume chemo tomorrow. Thank you to all of you who keep in touch and encourage me. Would you please keep me in your prayers that the chemo will be effective and that I won't get sick. Also, as I begin to use my leg....(I can actually walk with 1 crutch for short distances) please pray that I would work hard at my physio and that my leg would continue to get stronger. My ultimate goal is to be back in net for the Canadian Winter games in Quebec City at the end of February.
Earl
Nov 6, 2007
Special Olympics Day on TSN
"Enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sport"
Make a donation online
You can also donate
by calling
1-888-888-0608
You can also donate
by calling
1-888-888-0608
For the past 23 years, TSN has been a strong supporter of Special Olympics Canada, helping generate awareness and support fundraising efforts for the organization and its worthwhile and rewarding programs.
TSN celebrates the inspirational achievements of Special Olympics athletes across Canada with its seventh annual Special Olympics Day, airing Saturday, November 10.
Highlighting the day is the live two-hour special � Special Olympics Day on TSN � at 1 p.m. ET (encore on ESPN Classic at 6 p.m. ET). Hosted by Vic Rauter and Jennifer Hedger, the show honours the accomplishments of Special Olympics athletes, coaches and volunteers across Canada. Features and interviews include a profile on Earl Cook, a member of Manitoba's Floor Hockey team, and Saskatchewan native Michael Qing, who won four silver medals at the 2007 Special Olympics World Summer Games last month. The show will also feature figure skaters Teagan Laxton and David Robertson, as they prepare for the 2008 Special Olympics Canada National Winter Games in Quebec City.
Viewers are invited to call TSN's Special Olympics hotline at 1-888-888-0608 from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m. ET to donate funds to Special Olympics Canada. A number of Canadian celebrities will be on-hand to answer the phones, including I.B.F. World Junior Featherweight champion boxer Steve Molitor, actress Tara Spencer-Nairn of Corner Gas and MTV host Daryn Jones. Callers will also receive information on volunteer and coaching opportunities with Special Olympics Canada.
TSN has been a strong supporter of Special Olympics Canada for 23 years. The organization, now celebrating its 25th anniversary of the Special Olympics Festival, is dedicated to enriching the lives of Canadians with an intellectual disability through sports. Over the years, hundreds of TSN staff have donated their time and efforts to Special Olympics Day on TSN and the Special Olympics Festival Breakfast & Gala.
TSN has televised both the Canadian and World Special Olympics Games and Special Olympics World Summer Games. Special Olympics athletes have also appeared on TSN's highly acclaimed sports talk show Off The Record.
You can make a donation or find out more about Special Olympics by logging on to www.specialolympics.ca.
Oct 26, 2007
Latest News
HI Everyone,
Earl will be going back into hospital this Monday, October 29th to resume chemo on Tuesday. They are anxious to get going. Earl will remain on IV antibiotics for the duration of his chemotherapy. We are ready to continue the fight, and with the prayers, love and support of all our friends and family we go forward. The results of the pre-surgical chemo came back and Earl's response was only 10%. In light of this they are changing his chemo and hopefully it will pick up and have a more positive effect.
Earl is getting around much better these days and in fact he started walking with one crutch for short spans this past Wednesday. He also rode the physio bike and was thrilled when he was able to make one complete rotation, and then two and three and so on. He was so happy.
The next big exciting news is that TSN (the sports network) contacted us and they are going to do a story on Earl as a Special Olympics Athlete. It will include his cancer, his love of hockey, his Floor Hockey Team and their journey to The Special Olympic Winter Games in Quebec City this February. The story will air on TSN on November 10th time TBA, which is a day that TSN focuses their programing on Special Olympics. Pretty Cool and Earl is so looking forward to it. We are still not sure at this point if Earl will be able to participate, but he will be going to the games.
take care, and keep in touch Debbie, Darby and Earl
Earl will be going back into hospital this Monday, October 29th to resume chemo on Tuesday. They are anxious to get going. Earl will remain on IV antibiotics for the duration of his chemotherapy. We are ready to continue the fight, and with the prayers, love and support of all our friends and family we go forward. The results of the pre-surgical chemo came back and Earl's response was only 10%. In light of this they are changing his chemo and hopefully it will pick up and have a more positive effect.
Earl is getting around much better these days and in fact he started walking with one crutch for short spans this past Wednesday. He also rode the physio bike and was thrilled when he was able to make one complete rotation, and then two and three and so on. He was so happy.
The next big exciting news is that TSN (the sports network) contacted us and they are going to do a story on Earl as a Special Olympics Athlete. It will include his cancer, his love of hockey, his Floor Hockey Team and their journey to The Special Olympic Winter Games in Quebec City this February. The story will air on TSN on November 10th time TBA, which is a day that TSN focuses their programing on Special Olympics. Pretty Cool and Earl is so looking forward to it. We are still not sure at this point if Earl will be able to participate, but he will be going to the games.
take care, and keep in touch Debbie, Darby and Earl
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Getting to know Earl
Earl and the Kickers
Earl's Trip To Minnie
Checking out the New Guys
Earl and Paul Lapolice