"Every joy is gain. And gain is gain, however small." 

 

Beverley has been a practicing counsellor for over 30 years. She has worked extensively in Canada, Australia, Japan, and Thailand. Beverley currently has a full-time practice on the North Shore. Beverley has a highly intuitive ability to help people uproot core issues that are holding them back from moving forward to where they want to be in terms of their own self-growth. She works extensively with couples and families and individuals with numerous presenting issues.

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I know that I have felt alone at times, and I am guessing that you have also felt alone. If there is anything that I have truly learned in life, it's that we are not alone. The sense of community that we develop at home and all over the world is very moving. We support one another in such beautiful ways. Our capacity for love and compassion is one of the most beautiful parts of life. Our true essence is love. Our mind and its worries certainly give us a run for our money, but behind all of that is love.

 

Have you felt a sense of community and support that has touched you on a very deep level?

 

A beautiful moment that I hold is a memorial for my mother in law who died at the age of 92. She lived with us for 8 years here at our current home. She was English and knew no one here in Canada other than us. She had reached the stage of needing care, so instead of a home in England, she came and lived with us. When she passed, we planned a celebration of her life. I was secretly worried that no one would come because she was old and her friends had died, and she didn't know many people here. I thought this is going to be tough celebrating her to an empty room.

 

Was I ever wrong! Forty people showed up!!!! People who just guessed that this was a time of honouring one another came...some of my clients came, a family brought all their kids, her doctor came, and of course beautiful friends came. The room was full of energy and joy. She would have loved it!! We are not alone!!!

 

Another memory is related to my caseload when a family were desperate to see me, but I was fully booked. I had to say no. Two days later I received three calls from three families on my caseload saying they wanted to step back and give all of their booked appointments to this family. They wanted to keep their times for another time, but right now they all stood by one another as a sign of support and love. Beautiful!!!!

 

In this newsletter there are two amazing contributors...one is giving a kidney on August 18th, and the other is asking on behalf of her friend for a kidney donor. I think you will find them both very moving.

 

Remember: WE ARE NOT ALONE!!

 

Best Wishes,

Bev

I am a long time friend of Bev's, having met up in our undergrad years on Toronto and continuing our friendship over the decades and across continents.

 

I have just been accepted as a match for a childhood friend of mine who needs a kidney.

 

My friend was diagnosed with kidney disease. She has now been on dialysis for 4 years.

 

Potential donors were sought. Some people, even complete strangers, have offered, but they were rejected for one reason or another. The assessment procedure is very protective of donors, being careful to not put them at any risk themselves. Read More

 

This isn't a plea for a new boyfriend.  It's a heartfelt hope that the as-yet-unknown person whose blood type is just right for my friend will come forward for testing. I tried and was not the perfect match. Maybe you are.

 

For Teresa Atkinson, being a great fighter isn't always a plus.  I've known Teresa for over 10 years and since our first meeting at The Kidney Foundation where I worked and she volunteered, I was struck by her ability to overcome obstacles, fight back when things or situations needed changing, and strategize solutions to problems.  A tireless worker on any committee she joins, she is also lots of fun to work and be with - all while enduring the many challenges of being a kidney dialysis patient.  Teresa was one of the first in BC to train for home dialysis and for the past decade her bedtime routine includes face washing, teeth cleaning and night dialyzing - a system whereby she hooks herself up to a dialysis machine that cleanses her blood overnight while she sleeps. Read More