its kate... need some advice/help

[Rokiss12]

so i know people come on here alot for help with their projects or w/e, who don't have CF, but most of you have prolly seen me on here for quite a bit...

so next spring, my school has set up a date for me to do a whole assembly on CF... IM SO NERVOUS! basically, i wanted to see if y'all had done this before, and if you had any advice on what you wuold've done better/differently, or not done.

im planning on just putting together an informitive, but personal, power point. later on, when the time comes, i'll prolly ask everyoen if i can use their picture, w/e, but thats not till next spring... i'll prolly put it together this summer though.

so just some starting advice from anyone would be awesome? or maybe just ideas that you guys have heard of before? i've written/spoken speeches before, but never a power point! thanks everyone!!!

 

[anonymous]

Hey Kate,
That is awesome that you are going to do that. I never did a speech in front of my entire school, but I have spoken about CF and my life with CF at CF Foundation functions.

I think you will do great speaking about it. I would not only talk about CF I would add some stuff about the CF Foundation. I know that they are just high school kids, but maybe if some of your teachers and stuff hear about the CFF it will give some people a place to make donations.

I also wanted to add. When I was in school I convinced our school to have some school groups and organizations walk in one of the local Great Strides walks. We had a great time, everyone raised money and learned about CF. Maybe that is something you could ask your school admins about.

Congrats on getting the school to let you get the word out.

Lindsey

 

[anonymous]

Great idea Kate! Good for you for being open about your illness.

A few years ago my school let me have a CF awareness week. It corresponded with GREAT STRIDES and fundraising for that. Every day we had video clips on the morning announcements showing people living with CF. The MA/RI CFF gave me some copies of videos they had to use.They can be a very helpful resource.

Ask your social worker or nurse from clinic for ideas. We had a great nurse from Mass General who gave an inservice workshop for our teachers. Power points are great too, I'm sure everyone here will help you collect photos. Don't forget to put the beautiful one from your semi! See if you can get free stuff to give away. There are lots of companies who will donate stuff for CF awareness events. All kids like free stuff!

All of us will help! LOTS of support here! Good luck!

 

[anonymous]

<div class="FTQUOTE"><begin quote><i>Originally posted by: <b>anonymous</b></i>

Good luck!</end quote></div>

oooops, that was me, Jane<img src="i/expressions/face-icon-small-smile.gif" border="0">

 

[Wipeout]

Wow Kate, you have a lot of Balls (no, that's not right), courage, character, what-have-you.

When I was in high school I did EVERYTHING I could to prevent anyone from knowing about my health. I was hyper-concerned about being treated "differently," which was, in thinking back on the matter, stupid, as we are all individuals and relate to on another in part on the basis of our differences.

In any case, I commend you heartily.

Peace

 

[Mockingbird]

I did something like this when I was in the fifth grade, except there were two of us who had CF, and we only did the presentation to the fifth grade class, not the whole school.

We compared what was going on inside the body of a normal person to what was going on inside the body of a CFer. It must have been effective, because when I moved away 6 years later, it seemed most everyone still had a pretty good idea about the basics of CF.

 

[JazzysMom]

I think this is awesome. I used CF for many of my English projects etc in school. That was only for the class, but I would have jumped at the chance to educate the whole school. It was always important to me for people to know why I coughed or was thin or was in the hospital for a few weeks at a time. Its also great to let them know (especially the older kids who will likely be having families sooner then the younger ones) that they might be a carrier of the CF gene! Its good that you start working on the basics now & then as Spring approaches maybe replace some of the info with more updated info. I suggest you touch on the basics of CF (how you get it the chances & basic treatments) making sure to explain how it does vary from one person to another. To me this is important so they dont look at you & think "OH it cant be that bad. She looks great, standing up there talking about it etc" Then the fundraising & of course your personal experiences so they have a better idea of what you deal with & maybe will be more open to learning more! I am proud of you!

 

[Momtana]

Kate, Very exciting opportunity! There is a slide show prepared by Burn, who posts on this section: <a target=_blank class=ftalternatingbarlinklarge href="http://www.verzend.be/v/7686945/1_CF_Slide_Show_1.wmv.html
">http://www.verzend.be/v/768694...Slide_Show_1.wmv.html
</a>It might be a great introduction to your talk. I do a lot of health education programs in my work and would be glad to help you.

 

[anonymous]

Hey Kate .. It's Lindsey (coltsfan) again. I just thought about this.

I don't know if you have a local CF Foundation chapter in your area or if you know the number or anyone in the office. I know the office here is pretty close to our home and they NEVER turn down an opportunity to go out and speak to people about CF. Thay came out to our school when we were organizing the teams for the Great Strides walk and they talked to the kids that were going to be walking answered questions and told them about CF and what the Foundation does too.

I was thinking of that in case you wanted someone there with you that would be knowledgeable about CF and how far things have come, maybe someone in the office near you (if there is one) would be interested in going with you the day that you speak.

Just a thought,
Lindsey

 

[anonymous]

Kate that is sweet!! I have always spoke to our biology classes about CF and have always filled in all of school people about it.
I will definately be here if you need to ask any questions. I have a powerpoint that I play at my benefit everyyear with pics of CF'ers that I gathered from here and locally.
I also have my Detroit Rocks CF cd's that I can send you so you can pass a few out. All proceeds go to the CF Foundation. I would definately talk a little bit about the CF Foundation and Great Strides so people can get involved in helping you can us with CF.
Rock on dude!!
em

 

[anonymous]

Something that has been effective at large meetings. Buy a bunch of plastic or paper straws. Give them out to everyone at your group. Tell them to breathe through the straw and tell them that is what is like to breathe when you have trouble with your lungs (difficult to get air in large amounts). Now after a few sighs, tell them to place their finger lightly at the end of the straw and inhale, tell them that is what is like to have severe lung disease. When they are breathing in through the straw this will be a lasting memory for the students. They just might start to appreciate their breathing as most people take that for granted

Risa

 

[anonymous]

I've seen this straw thing done with the little cocktail straw/stirers. They have folks put them up their nose and then walk around to get the "feel" of COPD.
Not sure the "up your nose" idea is a good one for a school tho'.
-LisaV

 

[EnergyGal]

I never heard of that presentation being done with a straw up the nose. yikes. The mouth alone is hard enough.

Wow very creative people
Risa

 

[anonymous]

That is a neat idea. I have never heard of that presentation with the straws before.
That would definitely stick with you.

Lindsey- Coltsfan715