Volunteer of The Quarter Award to Carmen Swick

Volunteer of the Quarter award to Carmen Swick

Drew Thank you so very much for your kind words!!! I cant express to you how it made me feel when I read this article! What an honor it is! I will not forget that. It really made me feel like I really know that all my efforts are will deserved and that it will make a difference some day! This will be a success, and I am so grateful to be part of such a wonderful team!!!
You all make a difference without all of you giving me the support and guidance as a team this would not be happening.

With Love
Carmen

Dear Members & Friends of the Denver FFB Chapter,
Carmen Swick, Richard Faubion & Parka, FFB (Left), Mark McIntosh, Colorado & Company, 9News
For their great support for our VisionWalk, we honored Walmart Vision Centers and all their managers for such outstanding support of FFB and raising over $27,000 collectively for the 2008 Walk. Thank you again!
The first quarter of 2009 has been a successful one as one of our newest members has come through in a big way. For all her efforts so far in the 1st quarter, our most notable of accomplishments has been accomplished in the planning and fundraising efforts toward our chapter event, The 1st Annual Blind Taste of the Rockies. This event would not be possible without the involvement from all of our volunteers. All of our volunteers are doing a splendid job this quarter, most notably, our new Fundraising and Events Chair, Carmen Swick.
It is my pleasure to present our Volunteer of the Quarter award to Carmen Swick. Carmen has been invaluable to the Denver Chapter since she joined us at the end of 2008. Upon joining the Denver Chapter Board, Carmen immediately stepped up to lead the Blind Taste event. Carmen is not only creative and personable, but she is also motivated in ensuring the success of the Denver Chapter and the mission of FFB.
Carmen’s son, Preston, has amblyopia, which is lazy eye, and she is committed to finding treatments, preventions and cures for all blinding eye diseases. Carmen is an author of children’s books focusing on bringing awareness to low vision in children and having these books be a tool for children to make eye patching fun. You can check her plans out at www.patchlandwritings.blogspot.com.
Carmen’s prior career was mainly involved in sales and marketing for Miller Brewing and a corporate travel agency and she modeled for commercials, print work and runways. Her passion and goal is to make a difference in the world and bring happiness to children everywhere. She has found a home in FFB in their mission and has become the VP, Fundraising for the local chapter.
On behalf of the Denver Chapter, I want to thank Carmen for her involvement and hard work this quarter and she continues today! Let us keep the momentum and make 2009 a banner year to remember for the Denver Chapter.
Sincerely,
Drew McLean

The Truck was Found

Truck was found

We received an email and phone call that our truck was located in Sterling Colorado. We were relieved and scared at the same time to find out what kind of condition it was in.
We had found out that the guy had taken the truck to Nebraska and that there was an officer that had a radar gun ready to clock him and noticed that he had a broken tail light, and that’s when the chase began, that lead him all the way to Sterling Co.
He had run the truck through a chain linked fence and hit some jet skis, and a couple of other things that I have not mentioned that he had done to the truck. The officer said that he had driven the truck for 1700 miles.

He got out of the truck when he wrecked it and jumped in to another vehicle and stole that one as well and has not been found since.
Amazing that this guy can break in to someone’s property that quickly!
The good thing is that there was someone in the passenger seat that was not in any condition to get out and run. Not sure what she was on at the time. She gave the name of the thief and now has a picture of him as well. Hopefully here soon they will capture him.

I am hoping to be able to see how much damage was done to the truck soon. They said he also had stolen a dirt bike that was in the back of the truck’s bed.
I was so excited to tell Preston the good news! I went to pick him up from school and told Preston about some of the story, he was very happy to know that his dad will be getting back his truck after the truck has all the work done to it that is needed.
Preston is looking forward to the summer and going camping with the truck.
I am sadden by what all has happened but we will get the truck back and be able to get it fixed. The best of all we are all okay!

Colorado's Spring Snow Storm

Colorado’s Spring Snow Storm

I have to say yesterday was a strange day. I was taking Preston to school in the morning and we always study his words on the way to school every Friday before his test, but it was hard to concentrate that day with the snow coming down we both were just mesmerized by the beauty of the big white snowflakes. We were able to do a couple of words and off he went running to get to class on time.
It was time to pick Preston up from school and let me tell you it was raining thundering and gloomy. By the time I arrived to Preston’s school it started snowing again and it looked like the sky’s opened up and was just dumping buckets on us. I have to say within the 15 minutes of Preston running to the vehicle the streets were already covered and it was hard to see with the wind blowing.
Preston opened the door and said gosh, mom I couldn’t even see with the snow in my face. Than he couldn’t wait to tell me that he got a 100% on his spelling words! I was very proud of him.
He was concerned that the birthday party he was invited to would be canceled and he was right it was. He was really upset; he was really looking forward to going.

Yorkk said, should we all go out to eat tonight we could go down the street.
Yorkk had just bought a F350 White diesel truck, so he was excited to drive it to Old Chicago’s. his brother Craig also came along with us.
he dropped us off at the door and went to park the truck.
We finally finished eating dinner, Yorkk went outside to pull the truck up to the restaurant, only one thing he came in and had this horrified look on his face and said that his truck had been stolen! He was needless to say very upset; he has only had the truck for 6 days. We all went outside to look around and it was still snowing pretty well. Preston started to get very upset about the whole ordeal! He was frightened that someone would steal the truck and very sad for his father. I called my daughter Calla to come please pick us up and take us home. She was also very upset about the whole thing. We had to call the police and report it. It is just a horrible feeling all the way around! You feel violated! I had to explain to Preston a few things about how horrible the circumstance was; but that the good thing is that we are all okay!
I have to say we didn’t sleep very well and it is around 3pm the next day and we have not heard anything yet about the truck. We will keep our fingers crossed.
Preston got up in the morning and wanted to know if we had the truck back I said no we will hope for a good out come. Preston started to play his WII game and I asked him to please put his patch on, so we could try and continue our day as normal as possible.

2nd Graders Musical

2nd Graders Musical

Preston’s School had their end of the year musical on Wed. My daughter and Uncle Craig and my neighbor RJ came to see Preston perform with us. Yorkk was in charge of the video recording and I took pictures with my digital camera.
These kids did such a great job! I could not believe Preston; He was singing and moving with rhythm that surprised all of us. I could not stop smiling and laughing, in a good way. I was shocked I never knew that he could move like that. I was very proud of him!

Colorado 2009 Spring Blizzard

My Personal Journey as Preston’s Mom
Part 6


Colorado 2009 Snow Blizzard

Wow did Colorado finally get some snow! We needed the moisture but we
Just didn’t want it all at once.
Preston thought it was great when he looked out of the window and got to see the snow falling and accumulating on the ground.
Preston and his little friend Evan decided that they would go over to our neighbors house and shovel their driveway and make a little bit of money.
They worked really hard for about 2 hours and would not stop until he thought that they had done a great job.
I finally go them both to come in and get the wet clothes off of them. They had cold red cheeks and hands. I made them some hot Coco with milk and marsh mellows. They were able to warm up after that and relax for awhile until dinner time. They were excited for dinner because I made comfort food, homemade chicken and noodles and mashed potato.

Preston woke up the next day and asked me if he could build an igloo in the back yard. I told him of course but he would have to patch while building it.
He did such a great job! I was very proud of him. I took several pictures of him with the dogs. One that I took of him was with our little dog Dunhill in the igloo. The other picture is of Beau and him eye patching! I love it! Beau is such a good sport!
Preston was just beaming after I told him what a great job he did making the igloo while patching. I told him that I know it was a little difficult for him to patch while making the igloo, but that just proves the he can do anything!
Preston You Rock!

I posted a couple of those pictures on my blog.

Colorado and Company Show

Colorado And Company Show

I am so excited to share with you that Richard and I the Director of Foundation Fighting Blindness and his guide dog Parka where on the Colorado and Company show yesterday, Thursday March 19th. It was a great experience!
Mark the co-host and Tawnya really made the whole experience wonderful.
I was really nervous going to the studio of channel 9.
Richard and I arrived at the time that they had requested we went in and signed in. Patty one of the producers of the show came to greet us and explain the process she also was very nice
.
We went in to the studio and were able to greet Mark and Tawnya before the show and that it made it better for us. We also meet some other really great people that were also there to go on a segment. We watched as the show was being taped live.

It was our turn to go on!! I was not as nervous by the time we went on. I was glad we were able watch before going on. The hosts are fabulous!
Richard and I were able to share some facts about low vision, and some information on the Events coming up.
I also was able to mention about Preston’s eye disease and that I have written 3 children’s books and I am in the process of trying to get them published.
I love the non-profit that I volunteer for.
I also want to continue to bring awareness to Amblyopia. That is how our journey started.

Spring Break

Spring Break!

It is that time of the year; Preston is on spring break for 3 weeks. I told him that he would have to patch as much as possible while on spring break and take advantage of this time.
Unfortunately with school and activities we have not been patching as we should. I as his mother need to be on him about it. I am human and sometimes I do get upset with myself and say, how could have I forgotten to tell Preston to Patch. It makes me sad and I take on the responsibility of his eye getting better.
I have learned to say to myself its ok he will be just fine. Just have him put the patch on and see if you can have him extend the patching time.
Preston went to his physical yesterday and he had a great check up! He grew 6 inches in 2 years! Wow it looks like he is going to be tall. They did the hearing test and passed, and of course I had to say to him, Preston I Know you can hear me you passed the test. So when I tell you to clean your room you don’t have any excuses. I am sure he will find another excuse.
Preston is setting across from me in the office and he is trying to figure out what to write about in his journal. His Teacher Ms. Dey made him a journal and some topics that he could write about. He needs to practice. I just asked him what subject you would like to write about. He looked at me and said you know, and put his hand over his weak eye and than took off his glasses. So I asked him what is it to not have to patch your eye again. And he said no for my eye to get better. I said oh Preston it will get better soon each day you patch there will be a difference, keep it up! I know you’re tired of it, but it will be worth it. I just gave him a dollar for patching that his Mimi sent him.
Preston just decided that he wanted to write about aliens. He is now making his illustrations. It should be interesting. I love to listen to a Childs imagination. You can escape with them at times.