You are a Pinoy, a Filipino if...

Once apon a time, I stumbled upon a funny list regarding how to know you are Filipino. Evidently many Filipinos were very upset with the stereotypes. I found it very amusing, especially considering most of the sterotypes applied to my family.

There was a time when I was not proud of my heritage. It is something that I am still ashamed to say. The Canadian Cultural Mosaic was not always something I celebrated. I suffered greatly with identity issues during my primary school years. As an individual of mixed culture, internally I struggled with my identity, as my cultural differences wrestled each other, fighting to make themselves more special than the other. It was very frustrating, as I felt my identity was directly tied to my 'race'.

I am a proud Filipino Canadian who knows my heritage runs deep and that I come from hardy stock. Since I found myself, these type of lists really make me laugh. I love to laugh and I do not to take myself too seriously. The list amused me, realizing that if all these things apply exclusively to Pinoys, I am just that much more unique:

• You own a barrel man from Baguio - if you do not know what it is, you just have to see this guy for yourself
• You point with your mouth/eyes
• You pronounce your f's with p's
• You own a rice cooker
• You have karaoke at every family party
• You own a magic mike
• You have an Uncle or Aunt that everyone knows as "Tito Boy" or "Tita Baby"
• Your parents say "open/close" the lights instead of turn "on/off" the lights
• You are always late (Filipino time)
• Your parents complain how much you are always out
• Your parents ask questions regarding who, where and why - EVERY TIME you go out
• You have a picture of the "last supper" in your kitchen
• Your parents compare life here and their life in the Philippines
• You know who Manny Pacquio is
• You go somewhere and you see another Filipino, you ask yourself if you know that person
• You have an insanely huge wooden fork and spoon hanging in your home
• You have seen the movie "DEBUT"
• You try to get someone's attention by saying "sssssssst" or "hoy"
• Your parents over exaggerate (ex:" hoy gising na ! It's almost 12 o clock," when it is really 11:15am)
• Your parents have one or more altars in their home devoted to mini statues of Mother Mary and holy water...
• You have dyed your hair (gold, blonde, red, brown)
• You gamble with your relatives (Mahjong)
• Your middle name is your mother's maiden name
• You have uncles and aunts named "Boy," "Girlie," or "Baby"
• You have relatives whose nicknames consist of repeated syllables like "Jun-Jun," "Bobot", "May-May", and "Ling-Ling"
• You call the parents of your friends and your own parents' friends "Tito" and "Tita" or Auntie & Uncle. - This is a sign of respect and shows the significance of friends in the Filipino culture, they are family. Being raised by the village is a common concept for us.
• You greet your elders by touching their hands to your forehead - another sign of respect, and a dying tradition, sadly.
• You always kiss your relatives on the cheek whenever you enter or leave the room. Another sign of respect and affection
• You follow your parents' house rules even if you are over 18.
  
• You make your children sing and dance to amuse your friends and relatives.
• You have a tabo in your bathroom - Tabo is the little bucket kept in the bathroom for washing up, in lieu of a bidet since we're not French
• You think a meal is not a meal without rice, and you use your finger to measure the correct amount of water to cook rice with
• You always cook too much and you feed all your visitors. - Just shows the hospitality we are famous for. The usual greeting is "have you eaten yet?" And did I tell you we also love food?
• Kid's parties are attended by more adults than kids
• You like your fish with head and tail and bones...
• You think the best way to eat is by using your hands
• All the desserts are sticky, especially made out of rice.
• All the snacks are salty

Third Watch 2 God

I am kinda freaked right now... I am new to this whole blogging thing.
I have been working... a little - on the blog.
Why?
I don't really know.
I have always thought the idea is cool.
But the idea of blogging kinda scares me too.
Getting addicted to blogging.
Spending too much time on the computer.
It's kinda neat to have an online... um... diary.. of sorts, with pictures, video, music, etc. But then again, do I want to share my thoughts with the world?

See, I am an impulsive guy... My impulses directly lead to action. I have to try very hard to pause between impulse and action. That's why I, like so many people with ADD, can seriously lack tact. Tact is entirely dependent on the ability to consider one's words before uttering them. We ADD types don't do this so well. Sorry folks... In advance.

It's funny... I am totally ok with complete strangers knowing what is going on in my mind, but people who know me...
MMMM....
not so much.

Well tonight I stumbled onto an interesting individual's blog:
His name is Maurice Broaddus, and I envy his mantra (my wife loves 'big' words... not so much in size, words that somewhat show some form of academia):
"I'm about the pursuit of Truth, be it through art, religion, or science. Because all truth is God's truth."

He is an award winning Christian Horror Writer... I can hear the gasps of many evangelical Christians now.

I am not even a Horror fan, but I found his blog as a result of one of my favourite TV shows - Third Watch... I was surfing the net for others that have felt a spiritual connection of sorts as a result of an episode.

What spurred this?
My first comment on my blog:

'beautiful...i'm with Doc on this one.' - from my Thursday, March 22, 2007 blog post.
That was a 3rd watch proverb type of post.

Well, one of Mr. Broaddus' posts has a prayer that speaks perfectly to making sense of me:

"Dear God,

Save me from the pride of having things figured out. The arrogance of thinking I’m doing things the right way. That everyone else is wrong and I’m the only one who sees what went wrong. As if I know how to do things correctly; that somehow, I’m smart or insightful enough to be able to ride in on a high horse of judgment. Save me from my vision of religion and spirituality blinding me from loving others.

Save me from the spirit of bitterness against the church. My frustrations at our inability to be the kind of loving community You called us to be. The shoddy treatment I may have experienced at the hands. The let-downs and disappointments - it’s easy to focus on the Church’s shortcomings. Just as it’s easy to forget that the Church is us and You don’t focus on our short-comings. Let me remember all of the wrongs the Church has committed in Your Name, let every experience sear my heart so that they won’t be repeated on my watch. Help me to remember that the Church is Your bride, however numerous her faults, and how you’ve chosen to bring about Your kingdom.

Save me from the spirit of hearing sermons “so and so” should be hearing or reading books “so and so” should read, but help me to realize that I’m the one who should be hearing and reading. Help me to do my part to inflict less damage into the world. Remind me that I am here to love “those people”, too. Remind me that too often I’ve been a part of the problem.

Save me from my own hubris of the rightness of my spiritual journey. Help me as I work out my journey. Reveal Your Word to me in a fresh way so that I may know you better. Let my questions draw me closer to the reality of You. Let my life reflect Your love and healing. Let my actions help bring reconciliation.

Prayerfully, I’d settle for at least being on the right track.

Ever stumbling toward faith,"

Jeff

The show was called Third Watch, a drama type show set in New York City that ran from 1999 to 2005. It follows the exploits of a group of police officers, firefighters and paramedics at the 55th Precinct whose shifts fell between 3 p.m. and 11 p.m, the "third watch."

Under the media glare of a political debate between candidates for the Senate, the paramedics, firefighters and police are assigned to camp out at the hotel of the debate as a precautionary action, which prompts debates and squabbles.

2 Paramedics: Doc and Carlos, are arguing over the nature of God among their co-workers. Carlos was ranting about what kind of God would allow children to suffer and die, and how people can believe in such a God.

* Doc is the paramedic supervisor at the firehouse and is in charge of all the paramedics.
* Carlos is a rookie paramedic and a med student, who was orphaned as a youngster and raised by nuns.
* Bobby and Kim are veteran paramedics

Carlos: This one nun, she was all right, she used to say "Carlos, you think you’re an orphan, you’re not. You’ve got a father. God’s your father and he’s looking after you." And then, you know, I’d say "well, he’s not doing a very good job."

Doc: Believe it or don’t believe it. It’s up to you. But you ought to ask yourself, when you die and you meet God---
Carlos: What will I say to him? I’ll say "how dare you."

Carlos: If there was an election, for God, I would not vote for the one we got now. No, not until he rode with us on the bus, (the ambulance) just one day.
Kim: Don’t sit too close Bobby. Ground might open up.
Bobby: Yeah, or lightning.
Kim: At least then we’d know there’s something out there.
Carlos: Doc, we ride together. How can you believe in God after seeing what we see?
Doc: I think you’ve got it all wrong. I mean, the question is, "how can you believe in man?"

What is It like to have ADHD aka ADD?

Well, I am not feeling so great right now, and thankfully I surfed the web to find some comfort in my flaws... make sense to you?

Well, it makes sense to me.

If you are reading this, and you know me fairly well, you know that I was diagnosed with ADHD by my family doctor after my Diabetes incident. The diagnosis was extremely liberating! Suddenly, my life, my actions, my inactions, my everything made sense! I could finally make sense of myself.

Most people would think I was crazy to think of having ADHD as being a blessing... but I do.

Most people know and can relate to the negative aspects of ADHD, but I want people who know me to see and comprehend some of the advantages to having ADHD. If you know me well, I think you can see some/many/all of these characteristics in me:

* Creativity
* Intuitiveness
* Resourcefulness
* Tenacity
* Warm-heartedness
* Trusting (sometimes too much so) - there are often times I resent this attitude
* Forgiving (sometimes too much so) - there are often times I resent this attitude
* Sensitivity
* Ability to take risks (sometimes too risky)
* Flexibility
* Loyalty
* Good sense of humor

The good Doctor Edward Hallowell would tell you that 'The treatment of ADD begins with hope. Most people who discover they have ADD, whether they be children or adults, have suffered a great deal of pain. The emotional experience of ADD is filled with embarrassment, humiliation, and self-castigation... As a result, many have lost hope.

The most important step at the beginning of treatment is to instill hope once again.

And yet, their capacity to hope and to dream is immense. More than most people, individuals with ADD have visionary imaginations. They think big thoughts and dream big dreams. They can take the smallest opportunity and imagine turning it into a major break. They can take a chance encounter and turn it into a grand evening out. They thrive on dreams, and they need organizing methods to make sense of things and keep them on track.

But like most dreamers, they go limp when the dream collapses. Usually, by the time the diagnosis of ADD has been made, this collapse has happened often enough to leave them wary of hoping again. The little child would rather stay silent than risk being taunted once again. The adult would rather keep his mouth shut than risk flubbing things up once more. The treatment, then, must begin with hope.'

Who is Edward M. Hallowell? According to Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, He is a "child and adult psychiatrist who specializes in ADD/ADHD and who also has ADHD. He is the co-author of the book Delivered From Distraction. He also created The Hallowell Center for Cognitive and Emotional Health in Sudbury, MA. He is alumni of Harvard and is also on the faculty of Harvard Medical School since 1983."

What is it like to have ADD? What is the feel of the syndrome? Here is a short talk that the Doc Hallowell often gives to groups as an introduction to the subjective experience of ADD and what it is like to live with it:

'Attention Deficit Disorder. First of all I resent the term. As far as I'm concerned most people have Attention Surplus Disorder. I mean, life being what it is, who can pay attention to anything for very long? Is it really a sign of mental health to be able to balance your checkbook, sit still in your chair, and never speak out of turn? As far as I can see, many people who don't have ADD are charter members of the Congenitally Boring.

But anyway, be that as it may, there is this syndrome called ADD or ADHD, depending on what book you read. So what's it like to have ADD? Some people say the so-called syndrome doesn't even exist, but believe me, it does.' You cannot imagine how frustrating it is when someone tells you it doesn't exist, or is an excuse. 'Many metaphors come to mind to describe it. It's like driving in the rain with bad windshield wipers. Everything is smudged and blurred and you're speeding along, and it's reeeeally frustrating not being able to see very well. Or it's like listening to a radio station with a lot of static and you have to strain to hear what's going on. Or, it's like trying to build a house of cards in a dust storm. You have to build a structure to protect yourself from the wind before you can even start on the cards.

In other ways it's like being super-charged all the time. You get one idea and you have to act on it, and then, what do you know, but you've got another idea before you've finished up with the first one, and so you go for that one, but of course a third idea intercepts the second, and you just have to follow that one, and pretty soon people are calling you disorganized and impulsive and all sorts of impolite words that miss the point completely.' Unequivocally me... ever had a discussion with me where I ramble onto multiple tangents? Sorry guys, once my brain gets going, there's no stopping me! 'Because you're trying really hard. It's just that you have all these invisible vectors pulling you this way and that which makes it really hard to stay on task.

Plus which, you're spilling over all the time. You're drumming your fingers, tapping your feet, humming a song, - wow... anyone who has been worked with me, or has been in my presence for 4-8 hours can completely vouch for this! A friend of mine who owns a sports card store in Hull, put up a sign specifically for me that said: "No singing in the store". 'whistling, looking here, looking there, scratching, stretching, doodling, and people think you're not paying attention or that you're not interested, but all you're doing is spilling over so that you can pay attention. I can pay a lot better attention when I'm taking a walk or listening to music or even when I'm in a crowded, noisy room than when I'm still and surrounded by silence.' Hell ya brotha!

'What is it like to have ADD? Buzzing.' - Totally! HELLO! 'Being here and there and everywhere. Someone once said, "Time is the thing that keeps everything from happening all at once." Time parcels moments out into separate bits so that we can do one thing at a time. In ADD, this does not happen. In ADD, time collapses. Time becomes a black hole. To the person with ADD it feels as if everything is happening all at once.' - Thankfully this doesn't happen all the time, but when it does... 'This creates a sense of inner turmoil or even panic. The individual loses perspective and the ability to prioritize. He or she is always on the go, trying to keep the world from caving in on top.

Museums. (Have you noticed how I skip around? That's part of the deal. I change channels a lot. And radio stations. Drives my wife nuts.' - It is scary, all the similarities... this was always a huge complaint of my wife. "Can't we listen to just one song all the way through?") 'Anyway, museums. The way I go through a museum is the way some people go through Filene's basement. Some of this, some of that, oh, this one looks nice, but what about that rack over there? Gotta hurry, gotta run. It's not that I don't like art. I love art. But my way of loving it makes most people think I'm a real Philistine. On the other hand, sometimes I can sit and look at one painting for a long while. I'll get into the world of the painting and buzz around in there until I forget about everything else. In these moments I, like most people with ADD, can hyperfocus,' - Stay outta my way during the NHL playoffs 'which gives the lie to the notion that we can never pay attention. Sometimes we have turbocharged focusing abilities. It just depends upon the situation.' - When I am hyperfocusing... don't talk to me, don't touch me... I get more than a little squirrelly. [insert blushing face smiley here]

'Lines. I'm almost incapable of waiting in lines. I just can't wait, you see.' - lines make me crazy... and angry... and I know that I am being irrational. 'That's the hell of it. Impulse leads to action. I'm very short on what you might call the intermediate reflective step between impulse and action.' - OH YA, that is a huge weakness of mine. Story of my life. 'That's why I, like so many people with ADD, lack tact. Tact is entirely dependent on the ability to consider one's words before uttering them.' - This is something that I have worked on very hard my entire life... yet I still stumble. 'We ADD types don't do this so well. I remember in the fifth grade I noticed my math teacher's hair in a new style and blurted out, "Mr. Cook, is that a toupe you're wearing?" I got kicked out of class. I've since learned how to say these inappropriate things in such a way or at such a time that they can in fact be helpful. But it has taken time. That's the thing about ADD. It takes a lot of adapting to get on in life. But it certainly can be done, and be done very well.

As you might imagine, intimacy can be a problem if you've got to be constantly changing the subject, pacing, scratching and blurting out tactless remarks. My wife has learned not to take my tuning out personally, and she says that when I'm there, I'm really there. At first, when we met, she thought I was some kind of nut, as I would bolt out of restaurants at the end of meals or disappear to another planet during a conversation. Now she has grown accustomed to my sudden coming and goings.' - Sorry Mom... for busting out of the house 2 christmas' ago at your house... Dad was really pissed at me, and I can completely understand. Perhaps this makes it a little clearer why I had the sudden urge to get out of the house prior to supper, to get into the car, to pick up a Timmy's. I wasn't thinking, and I lacked tact for the situation. To make matters worse, my car broke down before I could get back home. Some nice couple picked me up and drove me to my parents house. After feeling much shame, I had to ask my Dad if I could borrow some money, as I wasn't financially prepared to pay to get the car towed to a garage... Man, that was a stressful Christmas dinner.

'Many of us with ADD crave high-stimulus situations.' - good explanation for fanatically watching Battlestar Galactica & Third Watch... also why I hate blowouts in football and hockey. I love games that are won in the dying seconds of the game. I am also emotionally crushed when my team loses in the dying seconds. 'I love the emotional highs that come with the lows. In my case, I love the racetrack. And I love the high-intensity crucible of doing psychotherapy. And I love having lots of people around. Obviously this tendency can get you into trouble, which is why ADD is high among criminals and self-destructive risk-takers. It is also high among so-called Type A personalities, as well as among manic-depressives, sociopaths and criminals, violent people, drug abusers, and alcoholics. But is is also high among creative and intuitive people in all fields, and among highly energetic, highly productive people.

Which is to say there is a positive side to all this. Usually the positive doesn't get mentioned when people speak about ADD because there is a natural tendency to focus on what goes wrong, or at least on what has to be somehow controlled. But often once the ADD has been diagnosed, and the child or the adult, with the help of teachers and parents or spouses, friends, and colleagues, has learned how to cope with it, an untapped realm of the brain swims into view. Suddenly the radio station is tuned in, the windshield is clear, the sand storm has died down. And the child or adult, who had been such a problem, such a nudge, such a general pain in the neck to himself and everybody else, that person starts doing things he'd never been able to do before. He surprises everyone around him, and he surprises himself. I use the male pronoun, but it could just as easily be she, as we are seeing more and more ADD among females as we are looking for it.

Often these people are highly imaginative and intuitive. They have a "feel" for things, a way of seeing right into the heart of matters while others have to reason their way along methodically. This is the person who can't explain how he thought of the solution, or where the idea for the story came from, or why suddenly he produced such a painting, or how he knew the short cut to the answer, but all he can say is he just knew it, he could feel it. This is the man or woman who makes million dollar deals in a catnap and pulls them off the next day. This is the child who, having been reprimanded for blurting something out, is then praised for having blurted out something brilliant. These are the people who learn and know and do and go by touch and feel.

These people can feel a lot. In places where most of us are blind, they can, if not see the light, at least feel the light, and they can produce answers apparently out of the dark. It is important for others to be sensitive to this "sixth sense" many ADD people have, and to nurture it. If the environment insists on rational, linear thinking and "good" behavior from these people all the time, then they may never develop their intuitive style to the point where they can use it profitably. It can be exasperating to listen to people talk.' - sorry folks, I know this describes me all too well! 'They can sound so vague or rambling.' -hello again - totally me 'But if you take them seriously and grope along with them, often you will find they are on the brink of startling conclusions or surprising solutions.

What I am saying is that their cognitive style is qualitatively different from most people's, and what may seem impaired, with patience and encouragement may become gifted.

The thing to remember is that if the diagnosis can be made, then most of the bad stuff associated with ADD can be avoided or contained. The diagnosis can be liberating, particularly for people who have been stuck with labels like, "lazy", "stubborn", "willful", "disruptive", "impossible", "tyrannical", "a spaceshot", "brain damaged", "stupid", or just plain "bad". Making the diagnosis of ADD can take the case from the court of moral judgment to the clinic of neuropsychiatric treatment.

What is the treatment all about? Anything that turns down the noise. Just making the diagnosis helps turn down the noise of guilt and self-recrimination. Building certain kinds of structure into one's life can help a lot. Working in small spurts rather than long hauls. Breaking tasks down into smaller tasks. Making lists. Getting help where you need it, whether it's having a secretary, or an accountant, or an automatic bank teller, or a good filing system, or a home computer, getting help where you need it. Maybe applying external limits on your impulses. Or getting enough exercise to work off some of the noise inside. Finding support. Getting someone in your corner to coach you, to keep you on track. Medication can help a great deal too, but it is far from the whole solution. The good news is that treatment can really help.

Let me leave you by telling you that we need your help and understanding. We may make mess-piles wherever we go, but with your help, those mess-piles can be turned into realms of reason and art. So, if you know someone like me who's acting up and daydreaming and forgetting this or that and just not getting with the program, consider ADD before he starts believing all the bad things people are saying about him and it's too late.

The main point of the talk is that there is a more complex subjective experience to ADD than a list of symptoms can possibly impart. ADD is a way of life, and until recently it has been hidden, even from the view of those who have it. The human experience of ADD is more than just a collection of symptoms. It is a way of living. Before the syndrome is diagnosed that way of living may be filled with pain and misunderstanding. After the diagnosis is made, one often finds new possibilities and the chance for real change.

The adult syndrome of ADD, so long unrecognized, is now at last bursting upon the scene. Thankfully, millions of adults who have had to think of themselves as defective or unable to get their acts together, will instead be able to make the most of their considerable abilities. It is a hopeful time indeed.'
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An AWESOME Tell... the Show to come later!

Kickin' off my brand spankin' new blog with an impactful story that I have to tell over, and over, and over again. I originally posted about my experiences at Sick Kids in Toronto 12-04-2004, 02:22 AM. I posted in an area called 'Show & Tell'

Sorry I can't really keep this brief, but I really want to tell the whole world! Well, as some of you may know, Junior (my six year old son) needed to have his third heart surgery on Thursday December second . Here is a synopsis of how the week has went.

MONDAY NOV 29 - The Family & Grandpa D drove to Toronto for our stay at the Hospital for Sick Children.

After unpacking our things in the smallest living space that I have ever encountered, I picked up the newspaper and noticed an ad for the upcoming Baby Sens vs. the Baby Leafs games on Wednesday & Friday of this week. That got me thinking... (as some of you may know) Anton Volchenkov is Junior's absolute favourite player. Anton likely would be in Toronto during Junior's stay. How awesome would it be if Anton could come & visit Junior before going into surgery! Well, I did make a whole bunch of calls, but I was only able to talk to machines . I told my wife of what I was trying to arrange, she wished me luck but told me that I should not tell Jr., for fear of disappointing him if it could not be arranged.

TUESDAY NOV 30 - An extremely long tiring day of hurry up & wait. Ten hours of waiting around... is EXTREMELY EXHAUSTING! When we got back to "the Residence College Hotel Hostel" (heavy on the hostel side), I had a message waiting for me from the Senators: They reminded me that they really have no control over what the Binghamton Senators do, but my request was being forwarded to the top Ottawa Senators brass - as they were in Toronto too - to watch the young prospects. They said that someone would likely be calling me tomorrow.

WEDNESDAY DEC. 1 - The whole family went to the Hockey Hall of Fame for the afternoon on Wednesday & had a great time... Junior really loved the interactive hockey games . I was able to connect with the Senators, and things were looking fairly positive, until I was unable to tell them what room Junior would be in Thursday or what time Junior would be going into surgery. This was not a case of ignorance, the Hospital just cannot let you know these things for certain. The Senators staff told me they would try their best.

I had also been calling Ronald McDonald House regularly to see if they had a room available for the family to no avail. I went over myself to check it out & somewhat plead my case. I needed to get my mind off the pending surgery. During my brief visit, they offered my a handful of tickets to the game! I have never been one to allow free hockey tickets to go to waste, and what better way to take my mind off things than to enjoy a little hockey.
Mom & Grandpa wanted to sleep & Mom did not want me to take Junior, as she feared Jr. might get sick before the surgery...

So I put on my Senators jersey & headed to the game by myself.

At the rink, I was wandering all around the Air Canda Centre, not knowing where the seats were...

other than they were in the third bowl.

I found my seat with the help of Maple Leafs staff...

IN THE TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS ALUMNI BOX!!!

Wow!

They treated me like gold!

I was the only one in the box.

They fed me.

They poured beverages for me.

Brian Burke was filming all his segments on TSN right beside me. It was funny though... the multitudes of Leaf fans were shocked to see someone in a Senators jersey in the Leafs Alumni box! I didn't know I would be sitting there... despite the Sens loss, I had a great time & was stress free.

THURSDAY DEC. 2 - SURGERY DAY - We wake up at 4:00 AM, getting everyone ready for the day that begins at 6:00 AM. At 9:00 AM, it has become clear that the earliest that Junior will go into surgery is 1:00. By now, the Senators Director of Media Relations Phil Legault let me know that Anton would be at practice until 11:45 & he has an important NHLPA meeting at 1:00. Scheduling the visit looked to be difficult, so I asked if Anton could just send a little note just pass along his best wishes. Phil Legault asks if they can come by after the union meeting, but I told him that Junior would likely be in surgery and that my wife & I would be a mess. Well, Noon rolls around and the nurses come in to the waiting room to tell me that the Senators would be there within the hour!!!! I asked Junior if he would like to see Anton Volchenkov, "Yes" - of course, but he didn't really take me seriously. Well, at roughly 12:45, Jr. was in shock & awe. It also seemed that Phil Legault & Anton Volchenkov were very moved. Junior - a boy who has lots to say - was basically speechless, but clearly enjoying the visit. Legault & Volchenkov were apologetic that they didn't really have much "to give" Junior. They had already given much more than expected . There was nothing really for Anton to sign, so we got him to sign his Sick Kids gown. We told Anton how Junior basically has all his cards... that resulted in Anton pulling a 2002-03 Bowman Young Stars stick card of himself out of his wallet & autographing it for Jr. We got lots of pictures, some great memories & it allowed Junior to relate something really cool to the heart surgery. I never thought of this, but it seemed to shock Anton that he could have such an effect on such a young person. In a way, I think his meeting with Junior was saddening for him, as he was meeting one of his biggest fans who was going into life threatening surgery within the hour. Before they left, they asked us to keep them updated & assured us they would be sending Junior some goodies! After they left, my wife wondered how we would contact them & how they could get goodies to Junior. I was still grinning ear to ear, watching my boy proudly holding his signed card, wearing his signed gown. Well, Junior went into surgery less than 30 minutes after the visit. I am happy to say that after a 5 hour surgery, everything went absolutely smoothly! The third surgery was much smoother than the first two. You can't imagine the relief you feel. Same surgeon all three times - a wonderfully skilled man!

FRIDAY DEC. 3 - DAY AFTER I wake up at 6:00 AM, and go spend some time with my son in the Critical Care unit. I return back to my room at 9:00 AM to discover that the Senators Director of Media Relations Phil Legault has called to ask on behalf of Anton (who doesn't speak English very well) on how Junior was doing! Wow... way beyond the call of duty. Phil also wanted to apologize ... it seems that teammates asked Anton why he was late & he told them about visiting Junior. He didn't realize that there are lots of Ottawa Sports writers looking for something to write about. Phil Legault was apologizing, as he was concerned that we might think that Anton's visit was a publicity stunt. I intend to tell him that I know it wasn't a publicity stunt & that I intend to publicly thank them in the papers. Phil said they tried to convince the papers not to mention the visit, but apparently one paper intends to. Another cool piece of memorabilia from Anton's visit!

I am feeling on top of the world, then Ronald McDonald House calls to say that they have a room available for us.
The house is SIMPLY AMAZING. Their generousity & the facilities are astounding. After unpacking again, the house manager again offers me a tickets to tonight's Leafs-Sens game - this time "Executive Suite" tickets! You know I couldn't let those hockey tickets to go to waste. Junior was asleep in the hospital, Mom & Grandpa wanted to sleep... So I put on my Hull Olympiques jersey & headed to the game by myself. I had to represent, but still be diplomatic . At the rink, I had a nice hostess take care of me & only me Again... despite the Sens loss, I had a great time. Kudos to the Leafs & their staff.

Thanks for the read - I had to share.

My post got a lot a nice responses, here are a select few:

* 'I'm glad your son made it through everything, and I'm extremely impressed with Volchenkov's (and the sen's as a whole) support to a young fan. I always liked the game Anton plays, but by the looks of it he plays an even better game off the ice.'

* '1) Glad to hear your son's doing well and got to meet his fave player.2) See, guys like Volchenkov give the rest a better name than they deserve. That's a guy who knows he's a role model and ACTS LIKE ONE. That's simply outstanding.

* 'Jeff, thank you so much for sharing the story with the group here. I'm also glad to hear your son is doing better after the surgery. Being a father also I couldn't imagine having to deal with my children going through that and the pain it must cause you and your family.

* 'My prayers are with your family and to a quick recovery for your son...'

* 'Jeff - Great to hear that everything is going well for your family ... incredible story .. such a shame that all the players are taking such a hit on their "nice guy" reputation because a bunch of "suits" won't let a deal happen to get them back on the ice...thanks for the read - the world needs more "good news".'

* 'I heard about this story in the Citizen. Great story, and what a nice gesture.'

* 'That is so great to hear Jeff!! I must say your first post brought a tear to my eye when I read it through. I can't imagine what your family is going through and I wish you all the best.'

* 'A great story. A lot of teams are very good at doing things like this in their community, but when a person finds the time to take a few minutes out of his day to make an unplanned visit to a hospital not in his "home" city, it's very nice to hear. All the best to your son.'

* 'Wow Jeff - I wouldn't have been able to type all of that out - way too emotional! Best of luck to your son and family and it's nice to hear that such a small act of kindness can mean so much to someone.'