AT MY NOVEMBER AMPUTEE SUPPORT GROUP MEETING THE MEMBERS DONATED FOODS AND GAVE IT TO OLOL FOR A THANKSGIIVING BASKET...........

The November meeting of my Anchor Prosthetics Amputee Support Group gathered tonight at Brookfield's Restaurant on Madison Avenue for a holiday dinner to mark ThanksGiving.  At the September meeting it was decided everyone would bring foods to be collected into a ThanksGiving Basket for a needy family.  Furthermore it was decided by the others that they would give the foods collected to me, as a donation to Our Lady of Lourdes Parish, as a ThanksGiving Basket.  Two boxes of foods were donated by the two dozen adults who were present tonight, at what was a very enjoyable, interactive evening of sharing together.  As our support group coordinator Cruz, commented during dinner, this ids a very good group of special people, who make for an awesome support group.  From my initial, brief, interactions with them I can attest to the truth of that statement.  These monthly gatherings are a truly affirmative experience of mutual caring, encouragement, sharing, empowerment, and support.  I came away tonight, as I have before, feeling a greater sense of positive re-enforecement in learning to live with the challenges of being an amputee.  As in almost every endeavor, peer group support is an imperative ingredient of support.  I am grateful to Cruz and the other members of the group for their generosity and kindness to me and to OLOL.  Our chosen Christmas project for the December meeting is to, "Be An Angel", for the Children's Receiving Home of Sacramento.  Each of us chose one or two children's names and their gift requests for Children.  I have two - a ten year old girl, and a sixteen year old boy to Christmas shop for in the coming month.  May all of you who are reading this blog column, and who have need for a support group of any kind, find one; be comfortable in it; and experience the fruitfulness it can and does provide you...........May The Lord Continue To God Bless Us,   Fr.  Troy