Wet Wet Wet Concerts

Up for grabs Wet Wet Wet tickets for 8th December in the odessey in aid of M.E Research.
NO GENUINE OFFER REFUSED

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BEBO

Hi everyone, just to let you know I have now set up a site on Bebo to get M.E active, please make sure you take a look and feel free to leave a comment!!!!!!!!!!

AntoinetteC88 on bebo

ME FUNDRAISER

Hi everyone, just giving you all an update on my Fundraising event on Saturday night. It turned out to be a fantastic event, in attendance were Dr Vance Spence and his wife Linda & Dr Neil Abbot. ( Vance is the one in the middle). Dr Vance Spence came the whole way from Dundee and he is an ME sufferer as well. He made a very infectious speech, which brought the 700 people who attended to complete silence. You never thought one man could do this, He did!!! saddened to hear about the lack of support for children and people like David and his family and pledged to help me access services to this terrible condition that has been overlooked for to long. NO MORE !!!!
Also in attendance was the Deputy Lord Mayor Bernie Kelly who also made a speech and was very saddened to hear about the lack of support for children and people like David and his family and pledged to help me access services to this terrible illness

Joan Mc Parland (in pink & black) ME sufferer and her mum and aunt travelled all the way from Bessbrook in Newry. Many Thanks I know how difficult that was for you, but I hope it has given you some hope like it has given me for my son David.

A special thank you to all my volunteers who helped on the night (get ready for next year lol).

A special thanks to my sister Jeanette who showed us all on the night what multi tasking was all about what was it you did (photo's,ballets and camcorder) I can never repay you. Your work was invaluable Thanks again!!

A big thank you to Micheal Persell, Bernard Tohill , Tony Ajir and last but not least the up and coming new local talent Andrea Hannaway ( I know how difficult that was for you to get up and sing in front of so many people) Well done, you should be proud of yourself!!!

27th October

Fundraiser for ME Research - Saturday October 27th Devenish Arms Belfast

Due to huge success and demand all tables for sponsoring are gone!!

Limited numbers can pay at door!!



Up and coming new local talent
Andrea Hanaway will be opening the event!!

Followed by Micheal Persell as
Neil Diamond,Tony Ajir as Lionel Richie and Bernard Tohill as Joe Dolan.

Closing the entertainment and getting you all ready to dance the night away with Dj Pado back on stage Andrea Hanaway!!


Don't miss out on what's sure to be a fantastic night!!

In attendance will be Dr Vance Spence and Dr Neil Abbot from ME Research UK, who are travelling all the way from Dundee.

Also in attendance will be the Deputy Lord Mayor Cllr Bernie Kelly.


Compere for the evening Citybeat presenter Robin Elliot.

Tickets £6 or sponsor your table in advance for £50 for 10 people

Holiday Inn

An ME Conference was held in Belfast on

Saturday 15/09/07 organised by
Derek Peters from NI ME Campaign.

Well Done Derek!!!

Presentations where

given by Vance Spence of ME Reasearch UK,
and Professor Malcolm Hooper.

Vance updated us on current
and future biomedical research projects and

Malcolm looked at the legal end of things.
In attendance were patients and carers.


Frances and Eoin O'Brien travelled all the
way from Dublin.
Really enjoyed your company and thank you
for giving me a little bit of hope!!



























Joan Mc Parland who has been a true friend
to me since last year.
Nice to meet you and  your mum May all the
way from Newry.

Well done to them for making such
a huge effort,
as both Owen and Joan have ME.

It was also very nice to meet up with some
old cyber friends,
in particular Ian Mc llroy who had expended
alot of time and energy
to research and provide some information
for me
with regards to my son David.

It was very much appreciated.

It was unfortunate that time was limited
and we did not get to catch up with the
others in the group.

However we did spend a lovely evening with
Frances and Eoin
who we had for dinner at the Devenish Arms
(not literally, i may add).


A special thank you to Vance
(you are a gentleman),
for making the effort to attend
the conference
and for taking the time
after the conference to
speak to me about my son David.

It was nice to get to know you
a little better and finally
get to meet you in person.

I look forward to seeing
you in October.!!!!

Fundraising Event Winner at FRUIT OF THE VINE

This weeks winner Chris McCotter, Belfast.






FRUIT OF THE VINE have made us their designated charity for the year. We held ballots in their shop, Blacks Road, Belfast and have raised a grand total so far of £480 for ME Research.

Special thanks once again to all the patrons who bought ballots or donated money for our cause.

Many thanks to Anto and Jackie for supplying the hampers.

Don't Give up

A few of us are having a bit of a rough this DD Don’t give up Don’t give up searching for a descent night’s sleep, When dreams & disturbed sleep with bad dreams is all you get, When your body aches right through into your bones, Then you just lay there freezing cold, With the other symptoms here I have not told. Don’t give up dreaming of a normal life, Just because after ever little thing left feeling wiped, The invisible marks that feel like life’s stripes, Wanting to do the things that did not because you pain, Or feeling so tired when hoping to gain that ‘normal’ feeling again. Don’t give up searching for these things, Because some where inside the possibility begins, With medical science, a cure, a hope, When Money for research is available, This Illness is not is not just an imaginary one sick joke. Don’t give up when people scorn or say how we feel is not true, You are not the only-one this has happened to, My lord on the cross felt all our pain, Jesus was not believed time & time again. Don’t give up, just because others may want us or discourage us to do, We know how each of us feels & I believe my lord does to, Hope is alive in each one of us & in this strength I do trust, Don’t give up is a prayer each day & with this hope & faith I will stay. Words given to Robin, 28 March ‘06.
With Peace & Hope to all. From Robin ME sufferer age 45

The Thief of Many Lives

In reply to the Thief of Many lives, What you call yourself is not important, I don't really care how many names you call yourself.

There is something in my so called life that you are not capable of destroying and that is HOPE!!

Yes, you have entered our lives and stripped my innocent child of his normal ability to function at any level above minimal.

But I am here I am my child's VOICE and you cannot take that from me either.

I will fight you with all the energy I have, I will tell as many people as possible about you.

YOU WILL NOT ESCAPE ME WATCH OUT!!!

I will give my child all the constant care that you say I won't.
This is because I LOVE and CHERISH every minute I have with him.
This is because I am a MOTHER!!

Yes, when you steal his nights from my child and do not let him sleep, and cause him so much pain. I am there by his side.

As for his friends who are still climbing the ladder of normality, YOU WILL NOT CATCH THEM, I WON'T LET YOU.

SO you have a fight on your hands, not an easy one I agree.

I am going to WIN not you!!

I will fight you, the government and anyone else who gets in my way along this very difficult journey,I will not let you let us live a life of just existing.

We are going to fight back!!

Just a wee comment to you the Thief
Yes you have taken a lot from my son and our family and all the things you have mentioned sleep reversal,Isolation,loneliness,
despair,concentration and memory difficulties, most of all Pain amongst many many more symptoms.

So I call for anybody reading this PLEASE PLEASE reply DO_NOT let this Thief STEAL OUR LIVES, EVERYBODY HAS A RIGHT TO LIVE LIFE TO THE FULL.
I will find you and I am pleading with people to support me and help me raise funds and awareness of this terrible debilitating illness
I call ME.

I am walking the walk and talking the talk, but I need HELP!!

STRENGTH IN NUMBERS!!

11 September 2007 12:57

GET in shape

Most people with chronic illnesses, such as chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS),
fibromyalgia (FM), and multiple chemical sensitivities (MCS), have been
offered well meaning advice, such as joining a club, getting some exercise,
and getting out more. These infuriating, but well meaning, suggestions often
leave the chronically ill individual feeling misunderstood. After all, would
it be appropriate to tell an paraplegic to have fun by going dancing? Of
course not!

Well meaning friends often believe that chronic illness is psychological and
victims just need to get out and have fun. Or, they may believe that the
victim would not be tired if they got in shape. Or worse, they think the
illness is affecting the chronically ill person at a psychological level and
believe that to be the reason why the ill person does want to go out more
often. In reality, those with chronic illness are quite adept at pacing
themselves to avoid exhaustion. What friends fail to realize is that
exertion is exertion, regardless of work or play. Now science has stepped in
to provide evidence of this.

Researchers in Japan noted that patients with chronic fatigue syndrome
(CFS) report substantial symptom worsening after exercise and took an
interest in the specific time course of the worsening. They investigated the
influence of exercise on the subjective symptoms and cognitive function of 9
female CFS patients and compared them with 9 healthy women. An exercise test
was conducted and monitoring of vital signs, cognitive function, and
psychological status was performed from one week prior to exercise until two
weeks after exercise.

Physical symptoms in the CFS patients did get worse on the fifth day.
However cognitive and psychological status remained constant. There was no
cognitive or psychological benefit to the exercise, yet patients became more
fatigued and suffered physical decline.

Regardless of pleasure or pain, exertion is exertion. Pleasurable exertion
holds the same fatiguing capability for the chronically ill as unpleasurable
exertion. And there are no psychological benefits to boot. The next time we
recommend to a CFS patient to get out more, have fun, and exercise, it might
be best to think twice and opt for a quite home movie that won't make the
person sicker and more discouraged instead.

This post is copyrighted (c) 2007 Lourdes Salvador
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=36333
"Reprinted with Permission"

27th October

Hi everybody, just giving you an update on my Fundraising night in the Devenish Arms.

60 tables have been sold already, don't miss out what is sure to be a fab night all for £6 a ticket or sponsor a table of 10 people for £50.

Sadness of severe ME

ME

ME a word that has changed our world and life.

My aim in writing this blog is to raise much needed awareness of a devasting life limiting illness called ME.
Living with ME is a challenging battle every hour every day!!
All we can do is ' go with the flow'.
Our lives is not where we envisaged it to be but then again does anybody know what tomorrow will bring?????
I still wonder how we muddle through, and I find it difficult to cope with watching my young son's suffering and watching his life go by and his friends move on.
It is a very dark place to be!! Much darker for David!!

ME has brought many things into my world as a carer.. PAIN, FUSTRATION,ANGER, HOPELESSNESS, AND BELIEVE IT ARE NOT FRIENDSHIP!!!

How can I change something I have no control over??????????
How can I not feel Guilty????

If there is one thing to always live by, is that HOPE may seem hidden, but it never leaves your side. HOPE IS EVERYDAY!!!!

NEVER GIVE UP,ACCEPT YOUR LIMITATIONS BUT ALWAYS STRIVE TO DO YOUR BEST!!

Please feel free to leave comments.

Petition

And sign the petition: http://petitions.pm.gov.uk/ME-is-real/

Letter

www.meletterproject.com

27th October

Hi everyone almost 50 tables sold for Fundraising Event. Don't miss out!!!
I now have Vance and Linda Spence and Neil Abbott coming over for the event, they are doing tremendous research into ME!!

ME THE CURSE Paul's Documentary

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5597775473582571000

This Documentary was made by David's older brother Paul to raise much needed awareness for ME!!!!

At the end of the documentary I said I am a support worker for the NIMEA, this is no longer the case due to personal views.

I still consider myself a support network for anyone out there suffering this terrible illness, so please do not hesitate to contact me if you feel the need!!!!!

ME RESEARCH

October 27th

Belfast Fundraising Event 27 October 2007 From: Our favourite Belfast Bluebird, Antoinette Christie. (What can she be up to now?) Fundraising event on 27 October 2007 at the Devenish Arms Belfast in aid of ME Research. * Stars in your eyes, Disco, ballets and auction. * £50 to sponsor a table for 10 people or £6 a ticket. * Formal dress optional. And guess what .... She keeps us in suspense ... I have 3 special guests coming for the event ... And they are ... Vance & Linda Spence and of course Neil Abbot. Tell everyone you meet Thank you Antoinette Christie Northern Ireland's First Lady of M.E.

invisible illness

October 27th

Just giving you all an update for my massive Fundraising Bash in the Devenish Arms!!
There are 40 tables sponsored so far, don't leave it to late.

£50 for a table of 10 sure to be a fantastic night!!!


You can purchase tickets closer to the time £6.00 each!!

Donations

A special thank you to the Flush on the Springfield road for donating a canvas of GEORGE BEST to be auctioned in the Devenish on October 27th.

A special thanks also to the following shops who donated to help with my fundraising, Direct Furniture,J&S Tyres, Serentity Beauty, Europa Hotel, Whiteford, Balmoral,Early Learning Shop, Easons, Euro Flowers,Laurel Leaf Bar,Selection Box ,Peake Blooms, Katrina Mc Quillian, Lena's Twin Spires.
O'Neils, Hibs,Snoopy's

Pound Shop in Andytown for supplying all my buckets for fundraising

A very special thanks to Clarkes Fruit shop for their continuious support over the past year.

Whiterock Leisure Centre

A special thank you to all those who particapted in the sponsored spin in aid of ME AWARENESS and RESEARCH. To all you who donated money.
A special thank you to Cairan Tully for his generous donation.

Granny Marley

David's Granny Marley who raised £210 round local shops in aid of ME RESEARCH.

Well done granny xxx

J&S TYRES

A special Thank you to J&S Tyres Kennedy way for donating a sum of money to ME RESEARCH.

CLIFTONVILLE TOP

SEAN CLEARY WHO DONATED A SIGNED CLIFTONVILLE TOP AND SIGNED PROGRAMME UP FOR AUCTION!!!

Thank you!!!


A programme of Cliftonville V Nantes September 20th 1979.

Auction starting online!!
Anyone wanting to start bidding just Email me!!
Good Luck!!!

UNDERSTANDING ME

There is an urgent need for Bio-Medical research into ME.

ME is a REAL illness!!

At present there is NO diagnostic test for ME.

ME is a potentially disabling and chronic condition affecting the central nervous system and immune system.

Here are some of the symptons:

Nausea, abdominal pain, IBS, muscle pain, joint pain, sleep reversal, chronic headaches & sore throats, inability to concentrate, memory disturbance, severe dizziness, severe chest pain that can only be described as having a heart attack on a nightly basis, night sweats, hot and cold extremities, mouth ulcers, hair loss, flu like symptons 24/7, heart palpitations, difficulty with vision and problems with balance.

This is just a few of the symptons that my 14yr old son David has to live with everyday!!

Can you imagine feeling there is nothing you can do??
Can you imagine feeling hopeless?
Can you imagine loneliness and isolation???
Can you imagine living 24/7 like this??

Can you imagine what this is like for ME sufferers??
Can you imagine being a carer of an ME sufferer??
Can you imagine not having a carer???

ME is still very misunderstood and often met with scepticism and disbelief by medics, other proffessionals and society in general!!

This illness has been around for centuries and has increased considerably over the past 50 years!!

To date there still is No Funding from the government for a diagnostic test therefore there is NO CURE!!

I as a mum am trying to raise awareness to this terrible debililiting illness and now have sent letters to Stormont to plead with them for HELP!!!!

My last words for today are if you know anyone with ME, Be there for them , Believe them and SUPPORT THEM!!!!!!!

Thank you!!!

Selection Box

A special Thank you to the Selection box in Castle Street for donating a Celtic and Liverpool picture.
Much appreciated
Thanks!!

Laurel Leaf Bar

A very special thank you to the Laurel leaf Bar for donating a Celtic and Liverpool clock and also sponsoring a table on my fundraising night.

Thank you!!!

Tyrone Top

A special thank you to Patsy Bradley who
donated a Tyrone top signed by Peter Canavan.

to be auctioned on 27th October in the Devenish Arms.

Many Thanks!!!

CATHY TONER WHO TOOK PART IN THE BELFAST MARATHON 2007 TO RAISE AWARENESS FOR ME!!

MANY THANKS!!!

Caroline Marley who took part in the Sponsored spin to raise awareness for ME. May 2007.
Many thanks!!!

Patricia,Bernie,Maire, Geraldine and Anne who took part in the sponsored spin for ME awareness MAY 2007.
Many Thanks!!!

DEVENISH ARMS 27TH OCTOBER DON'T MISS OUT SPONSOR YOUR TABLE NOW!!!!

Fundraising

Hi all, just to let you all know I am having a massive ME Fundraising Bash on 27th October in the Devenish Arms in Belfast. Anyone who can help with my fundraising efforts would be much appreciated.
If anyone can help me get a signed Tyrone Football it would be fab!!!
It's £6 per ticket or you can sponsor a table in advance for £50 for 10 people.
Tables going fast!!! Don't leave it to late!!!

BLACK TIE OPTIONAL!!

ME Video

Mairead ONeill Who ran in the Belfast Marathon, to raise awareness for ME>
Many Thanks

Chris Mc Farland with fiancee Colette Chilling out in the Davitt's After running 7.1 miles in the Belfast Marathon on May 7th in aid of ME Research.
Colette has volunteered to run the marathon next year.

Ian Davidson ME sufferer

Joan Mc Parland ME Sufferer from 1999

ME Sufferer

Eoin O'brien ME sufferer

John Greensmith ME Sufferer.

Devenish Arms

David's Dad Paul Sinead, assistant manager Jim Manager of Devenish Arms David's Mum Antoinette. Funds donated to MERUK. "Nov 2006

David's Great aunt Margaret who collected £400 On the Shankill Road Many thanks to all who donated!!

Fort Bar

Myself and xboxer can't rememder his name and my Dad in Fort Bar Springfield road Who generously donated our T-shirts for the Belfast Marathon. Thanks to Deidre May 2007

Sponsored Spin Cycle held in the Devenish Health and fitness to raise awareness for ME (Myalgic Encapalomyelitis).

Presentation of certicates

This is the blue birds without the wigs who ran the Belfast Marathon on May Day 2007!!!

Well done to Christine, Annemaire,Sandra,Kate,Myself, Gemma and Fiona!!

Don't they scrub up well!!!

Paul and Emma

A special thank you to my son Paul and friend Emma who raised £500 by holding a function in Spring and Airbreak Belfast in aid of AYME which supports children with ME.

NVTV

Hi all,

just to make you all aware everyone can view the Documentary on M.E on NvTv this coming wednesday.

The show will be repeated every 2 hours from 12 noon on Wednesday the 30th May - until 31st May.

The website is www.NvTv.co.uk

click on Watch NvTv Live.

You might need to download Realplayer to view it - it only takes a few minutes.

Let me know what you all think

Antoinette

DAVID’S STORY

David first became ill in October 04, aged 11. Doctors thought he had Addisson’s disease, although he was diagnosed with a really rare skin condition called P.L.E.V.A.

In March 05 David started to become more ill, it was then put down to an unknown virus. Of note PLEVA can be caused by the Epstein Barr Virus which is also noted to be a possible cause of ME, although David was never diagnosed with this virus.

David never really picked up from then. He was a bright, articulate little boy and had completed and passed his 11+ and had commenced Grammar School. He did have a vaccination around this time. He loved Rock climbing, took the Irish National Champion Title in Jujitsu in 2002. He was a member of the boy scouts for years and loved Trampolining and going to the cinema with his friends.

From March 05, David started to find it increasingly difficult to manage in school. There was a repeated cycle of sending him to school and then the school would phone to say he was ill and I would have to go to the school to bring him home. He started to deteriorate from then and ended up in hospital for a few weeks, test after test and as usual everything came back clear. He was referred to a rheumatologist and she said he was fine and to send him to school. I was dismayed by this as me and my family could all see that David was a very physically ill little boy. I wish she could see him now!!

I can remember around May 05 David had started to complain of severe chest pain. The only way I can describe David’s pain was like someone having a heart attack on a nightly basis, his colour changed drastically going grey with white lips.

I remember bringing him to a locum doctor in the middle of the night and he practically told us there was nothing wrong with him.

The ignorance of so called proffessional medical staff is a disgrace.

In desperation my sister asked the consultant paediatrician she worked for to have a look at David and he was referred to a consultant anaesthetist. David was re-admitted to hospital for a nerve block into his chest, but the doctor was unable to do this as swelling had appeared on the right side of David’s chest. He had an urgent bone scan which again came back clear.

David was finally diagnosed with M.E in October 05. We thought we had struggled before, we were unaware that really David’s battle with ME had only just begun. He started to get all different symptons ; severe hallucinations, memory lost, concentration difficulties, aches and pains all over his body, unable to wash and dress himself, problems with his stomach, mouth ulcers, headaches, sleep disturbance. The list goes on and I am sure are well known to all his fellow sufferers.

Home tuition was put in place I think around the end of Feb 06, I was anxious that David did not miss out on his eductation. Initially this was three afternoons a week. In hindsight and with the knowledge I have now this was too much for David to cope with and therefore had to stop. His sleep pattern had completedly reversed, with him being up all night in pain and eventually getting to sleep at 7am and then sleeping most of the day.

Now April 2007, David has never recieved home tution again as he is physically not able.

David had his MRI of the swelling in his chest which came back clear as far as ME is concerned, although they say his sternum is growing over to the right side and pushing onto his ribs, but this would not be causing the pain David is in with his chest! So my question still is WHAT IS IT ???

Now the latest is psycology WHY??. Don’t get me wrong but at this present moment my main concern for my son is PAIN!!

My son David at present would not be physically able for psycology.

This is a boy who had everything going for him, now he’s left with NOTHING. Who justifies this?

David is totally isolated to the outside world, NO friends, NO idenity

NO Life. Does he choose to live like this? I definetly say NO!!

Know one knows unless they’re living with it 24/7. Medical Proffesionals only know the half of it.

No-one knows how hard it is to sit desperately by and watch your child in pain, and watch life pass him by!!

This illness changes your self image and your personality.

I truely believe I as a mum am greiving for the son I once had and has already metaphorically died.

I remember christmas 2005 thinking maybe David will recover and return to school. It is now April 2007 another year of loneliness isolation and Pain again.

As a family are lives have been turned upside down we no longer live we just exist. No planned days out, No planned holidays.

So to all you out there who still do not believe in this illness.

And people who think they are just lazy this is an insult to all those sufferers.

Remember ME doesn’t pick and choose who it comes to.

I hope and pray it NEVER comes knocking on your door.

Today things have not greatly improved. Pain is a constant in David’s life and a challenge for him, his struggle continues.

This story was written by David’s mum and dad, who continue to fundraise for ME Research.

Antoinette

---

Kahsi of the Indian Ocean who collected money in aid of ME.

ME Poem by David's Brother Paul

You're a threat to peace, The one that will cause a war. You're the one that has no mercy. You will steal his life from him. Waiting patiently in you're victim, You've been there since birth. Waiting patiently to strike him down, An unexpected time is best. You've forced you're victim into another world, It's cruel and unwelcoming. Time is not of the essence, Do you know how long you'll keep him there? Rally Round! Help! Fiercely raise you're finger. Give it to those who don’t believe. How can this be in someone's head? Are they blind? Or just brain dead? My brother, where art thou now? Living each day in a 'conscious coma', Disabling your right to live your life. Fight back my friend, fight back.

Sponsored Spin for ME

Don't give up spin on!!!

Blue blokes

Belfast Marathon

Go Girls go

ME blue birds

Hi birds thank you,
Maire,christine,Angela,kate and annemaire

Blue birds and blokes

• 

  Hi Blue birds and blokes

• maire,christine,angela,kate,moi, sandra without wig, ,fiona,gemma,annemaire, sean,paul and the one without the wig David's brother Conor.
• Well done you lot
• Thanks