05/06/2009 "My Previous Post.. relates to Autism, because.. "

The previous post I posted connects with Autism in one specific way.. that way is that I once read a newspaper article and the mother of an autistic child said she was very disappointed with how rude people on this Earth actually were. She said she was in the doctor's office and her son was acting up, because he doesn't know any better and to her it's normal for him to act like that, but this other woman just kept staring and staring and it made the mother feel very uncomfortable. The other woman didn't ask any questions about why her son was acting like that or anything she just starred to the point where the mother felt the need to move to another section of the doctor's office. I think the previous article relates to this, because Connie Culp will get starred out for years to come because people don't understand why she has a disfigured face. It's 2009 now, people need to grow up and move on.. it's SO not about what's on the outside it's about what's on the inside!

05/06/2009 "NY TIMES STORY!"

Recipient of Face Transplant Shares Her Story and Results

CLEVELAND (AP) — Five years ago, a shotgun blast left a ghastly hole where the middle of Connie Culp’s face had been. Five months ago, she received a new face from a dead woman.

Ms. Culp stepped forward on Tuesday to show the results of the nation’s first face transplant. Her new look was far from the puckered, noseless sight that had made children run away in horror. Ms. Culp’s expressions are still a bit wooden, but she can talk, smile, smell and taste food again.

Her speech is at times difficult to understand. Her face is bloated and squarish, and her skin droops in folds that doctors plan to pare away as her circulation improves and her nerves grow, animating new muscles. But she had nothing but praise for those who made her new face possible.

“I guess I’m the one you came to see today,” Ms. Culp, 46, said at a news conference at the Cleveland Clinic, where the groundbreaking operation was performed. But, she said, “I think it’s more important that you focus on the donor family that made it so I could have this person’s face.”

Until Tuesday, Ms. Culp’s identity and how she came to be disfigured were a secret.
Ms. Culp’s husband, Thomas, shot her in 2004, then turned the gun on himself. He went to prison for seven years. She was left clinging to life.

The blast shattered her nose and cheeks, the roof of her mouth and an eye. Hundreds of fragments of shotgun pellet and bone splinters were embedded in her face. She needed a tube in her windpipe to breathe. Only her upper eyelids, forehead, lower lip and chin were left. She endured 30 operations to try to fix her face.

Ms. Culp said she wanted to help foster acceptance of those who have suffered burns and other disfiguring injuries.

“When somebody has a disfigurement and don’t look as pretty as you do, don’t judge them because you never know what happened to them,” she said. “Don’t judge people who don’t look the same as you do. Because you never know. One day it might be all taken away.”

05/06/2009 "BANCROFT"

So yesterday I went to Bancroft, it was a sweeeeet time like usual, however, I think it will be one of my last days there because next Tuesday I will be in Florida for Senior Trip. When I went there yesterday I made a copy of all of the hours I put in there and I had about 24 hours! I was really excited to count up my hours and see that because it just proves how dedicated I've been to this Senior Project class! I would absolutely love to go to Bancroft a few more times, but I just hope I get the opportunity too because these last few weeks are going to be extremely hectic!

05/04/2009 "FIRST POST OF MAY! AND ITS MONDAY"

Out of all the days of the week I must admit I hate Mondays. I don't know what it is about Mondays, but I absolutely dread them. I don't know if it's because I sleep in all weekend and them bamn I have to wake up early on Monday for school, or if it's because I know I have a FULL week off school ahead of me and Monday is only the first out of five days. Basically MONDAYS BLOW! Well I'm in English class and the period is about to end so I'll post later :)