Posted by Mary on July 27, 2009
Working in health care gave me a slight advantage when coordinating my Dad’s medical care last summer and as I roll out my first newsletter I’m focused on the main question, do you need occasional support with an aging parent or family member? Eliza One will provide occasional or routine support for you while you balance a busy schedule, Eliza One provides a trilogy of services:
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Private medical care coordination, nursing communication and documentation for physician office visits, medication assessment and determination of additional needs or services to maintain independence.
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Holistic healing using Reiki, Healing Touch, essential oils and additional complementary approaches to medicine as desired for relaxation.
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End of Life steward; contributing aid between hospice care and the funeral home; managing the communication, documentation and coordination of tasks that define the personal, financial or legal affairs of your loved one.
l listen to my friends share their stories of aging parents: juggling clinic appointments, follow up on personal needs or placement in senior living accommodations and the eventual transition through end of life. I marvel at how we do this while balancing our careers our businesses and meeting other family needs. I can help, if you know of anyone who needs a helping hand I’d be delighted to talk to them.
These past few months I’ve had an opportunity to crystallize my vision and purpose for Eliza One, Inc. As I launch my first newsletter I am grateful for the experiences and the gifts I have to offer to those who need a daughter for an hour or a day to help them through transition. I look forward to meeting new friends and sharing life experiences, stay in touch as I share more stories, tips and tidbits. 
In memory of my father David,
Mary
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Posted by Mary on July 9, 2009
I was reminded of a valuable community resource yesterday when I received an electronic newsletter from the Center for Spirituality and Healing announcing the latest updates and events. I attended one of their educational workshops last spring on Holistic Health &Healing at the Woodwinds Health Center in Woodbury and the week was a special treat for me. I encourage you to explore and sample their website at http://www.csh.umn.edu/, I find it to be rich with information for you as an individual or as a practitioner.
As a health and healing practitioner experienced in both traditional and complementary medicine I appreciate the breath and scope of our local resources. Minnesota is fortunate to be recognized for many of the community based resources we have in the area of Integrative Medicine and as I build a practice I am reminded to look for what’s available locally; there are too mnay to list but one more resource I like is located at http://www.becomingwell.org/index.html.
I recently did a search for energy healing videos that I could post on my site to help demonstrate a form of energy healing sessions and I found the following item, at least until I can film my own work. This one is available from the Healing Touch Program out of Colorado, I am still looking for a specific video I like using the reiki healing techniques.
Healing Touch Program: An Introduction to Healing Touch part 1of 2
Enjoy!
Mary
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Posted by Mary on June 30, 2009
Mom - An Independent Woman
One of my mother’s key values was the importance of “Choice,” her underlying principal was for women to be independent, strong and employed. “It’s important to work hard and get an education” she said, typical values growing up in Minnesota during the 1950’s and 60’s. I lived my life believing this until I became a Director several times over and learned that budget cuts are painful choices and that we let people go even though they had an education and worked hard. It’s been two years since I “chose” to leave my corporate job and reinvent myself, I’ve moved away from health care management and sales management in private industry back to healthcare but from a holistic health and wellness perspective.
I’ve made lots of choices, trying on different ideas based on a holistic perspective and building from my healing practice foundation. I’ve experimented the past two years thinking through what type of business I wanted to create until something became clear and the clarity came through personal discomfort. What are my strengths, what work is satisfying and can I evolve the business into an eventual retirement practice?
After my father died last fall I realized I used my nursing skills to manage his medical care over several years, I did the same when my mother died from cancer and subsequently other family members requested my support. When my sister died recently I organized the work that needed to be done with my remaining sisters, closing out all her final affairs. Having assisted with end of life activities for both parents and a younger sister I learned a lot through very different experiences and it became clear that being a daughter, sister and friend with a health and healing background could be helpful to others.
Some choices are obvious and other opportunities come to us unlooked for but life is an interesting journey and I have a myriad of choices. I consider myself a strong independent woman, I learned from my Mother.
Mary
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Posted by Mary on June 18, 2009
Healing Pup
I’ve been reading and working on “This Thing Called Grief – New Understandings of Loss” by Thomas M. Ellis, the book and the center he directs in St. Paul was recommended by my friend Leslye. As I let go of the daily work I was doing to close out my sister’s affairs I begin to rest, reflect and rebuild my life after loss. Being kind to myself and creating beauty around me meant doing some much needed gardening, adding plants, pulling weeds, replacing grass and admiring my gigantic hostas makes me smile. I won’t mislead you I’m not a real gardener but every little bit has been an improvement and I have found a profound sense of joy and peace as I stoop, bend and get my hands dirty bringing color and beauty to my yard.
In March we added a new member to our family and this little guy has provided a lot of love and comfort for us during the past several weeks. “Buttons” is a rescue poodle that I aquired from Picket Fence Poodles in Elk River, he had a history of being abandoned but we found he was a perfect fit for us and our family is now complete.
So my friends I share a couple of things that can add joy and peace during your healing journey, taking a step at a time I listen to music, admire art, read poetry and write in my journal and of course being with family and friends will help you mend.
Blessings,
Mary
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Posted by Mary on March 29, 2009
Another Sunday and it’s been a very full week with numerous life events including my sick dog, an interview, educational conference at Mayo, a car accident, a close friend carrying a heavy burden and a note from another dear friend that I am choosing to share. I met Sherry less than 5 months ago but somehow sharing our stories it seems like we’ve been friends for ages and that’s how it has been for me the past 2 years on this journey. I don’t want to digress but this is my message from Sherry as she celebrated her last day of radiation treatment last Friday:
“You’re being pinked on what is the last day of the radiation treatment for my breast cancer diagnosed on 11/5/08. In this long winter of my soul, each of you has been the medicine which contributes to my victory today. For your love, your willingness to be my cheerleaders, my listeners, my confidants and my hope, I thank you with a heart that overflows with gratitude. Most of all, so often, you carried this challenge for me when its weight threatened to buckle me. Because you were willing to reach within yourselves and care for a fellow life traveler, I emerge victorious today. I realize fully that the future requires my vigilance to maintain the health my treatments have yielded, but one of the primary lessons on this journey is to stay vigilant for my own well being. I hope that is a lesson for your lives, as well. In reality, all anyone ever has is the moment. Let’s live it fully!
I stand now with new direction and meaning for my life. I am determined, with the help of each of you and so many others who care about integrative medical care for our community, to bring a breast cancer center to the Chippewa Valley. We deserve no less than integrative care which honors our hearts, minds and spirits. Our job is to hold to the vision and to each other because it is in that sacred space that change happens. Together, we are a force of life that will make the way better for our fellow travelers.
Do your breast exams, listen to your inner voice and know that this disease cannot rob us of our dignity as we stand united in support of one another. Thank you for sharing the journey. With all my love, Sherry”
As I reflect on this week and think about my friends and family and hold them near I happened to notice an article by Michael J. Fox as he writes about his life with Parkinson’s disease and he states, “It’s the courage to look at something and say, however bad this is, it isn’t bad infinitely. You can make choices in a process like this and turn in the direction of the condition or disease and give it permission to take over” He is choosing to face in the direction of Life. Listening to the news on the state of the economy and the life problems that go on in the world and right here within my circle of friends and family, I want to be brave like my friend Sherry and always choose life, choose compassion, love and gratitude.
Wishing you a week of generosity,
Mary
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