the matthew Z project

Well I haven’t posted anything in a long while due to a broken wrist.   Typing is difficult.  Soon I’ll try to remedy that.  Perhaps at the minimum 2 posts a week.  Until then, please enjoy this short.  Until anon, matthew Z.

Shawn and Matt

I haven’t wrote in a while because one of my best pals was recently diagnosed with a lemon sized tumor in the center of his brain. Since Friday, things have happened extremely fast. He is, as I type this, undergoing surgery to have it assessed and for the surgeons to remove what they can. He’ll be in ICU for a few days and then it’s the glorious road to recovery! Feel free to follow is recovery here. I’ll set up a page soon so that friends and family will be able to donate to help with the costs and expenses Shawn will face in the near future. Thanks for all your support! matthew Z

Let me begin this post by saying the following applies to ALL men who have or are expecting children.  Although this is more geared towards men with daughters, you can imply it can be used for sons as well.  First off, whether you planned on becoming a parent or not, once reality sets in, being a daddy can be overwhelming, but with a few pointers it doesn’t all have to be stressful.

Following is a list of pointers I wish someone would have given me, but learning them on my own wasn’t all that bad.  And I know all children are different, but this should serve the purpose well and give a relative guide to being a better daddy.  Some of this will focus on mommy too.  After all, she’s a part of this just like you.

1. LOVE - Unconditional is best. No matter what, give your love unconditionally to your child.  Remember this even when your baby is screaming and crying at 3:10 in the morning after only about 30 real minutes of sleep.  They can’t talk so this is their way of communicating.  LOVE will make it all better. This also applies to situations where a child learns to provoke a response from you to gain all your attention.  They are testing the boundaries. Don’t over react and remember, you love them!

 

2. COMPASSION - This one leans a little more to the daughter bearing dads.  When your daughter comes to you obviously emotionally distraught about her dolly losing a dress…take the 3 seconds needed to compassionately comfort her that it’s okay and you’ll find it.  Or when she starts to cry after being told ‘NO’ in a stern voice…remind her of what rule was being tested and show her you love her and snuggle with her to prove it.  Showing her sympathy for her feelings will only strengthen your bond with her. Rule of thumb here - show them you understand and then distract them. Try using stories.  “Have I ever told you about the time the ducks landed in the pond and flew away with it?”  Anything will do here. Read more…
   

Ever think about what it means to be an organ donor?  Ever wonder how to do it?  Or even if you could donate, given the need?  At one time or another you will be faced with this decision.  Whether it’s at the time you recieve your license for the first time, or when you have a family, or perhaps if someone in your family becomes ill and is in need of a donation.  Here are my 5 reasons why you should think even more about it.

1. it HELPS!

Each organ and tissue donor saves or improves the lives of as many as 50 people. Giving the “Gift of Life” may lighten the grief of the donor’s own family. Many donor families say that knowing other lives have been saved helps them cope with their tragic loss.

Get Started

• Register with your state donor registry, if available.
• Designate your decision on your driver’s license.
• Sign a donor card and carry it with you.
  • Download a page of eight donor cards that you may print and sign.
• Talk to your Family. To help your family understand and carry out your wishes, sit down with your loved ones and tell them about your decision to be an organ and tissue donor. They can serve as your advocate and may be asked to give consent for donation or provide information to the transplant team. 

To learn more visit www.organdonor.gov

2. there is a huge NEED for donors

The waiting list is getting bigger and bigger.  The number of patients requiring a life-saving transplant continues to increase, and at a much faster pace then available donors.  Conservative estimates are that 300 new transplant candidates are added to the waiting list each month. Read more…