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Red Deer family needs a little support as toddler spends 3rd birthday in Children’s Hospital

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Article submitted by Roxzane Sisson Armstrong.

It’s time for:  💗Coffee for Codeigh!💗
This is a challenge I am starting for my sweet cousin’s fundraiser.
Please share, share, share and have some fun challenging others!
Details in the pictures attached.
Fundraiser can be found at:

From gofundme

It’s been about a month since our last update. When last we left you, Codeigh Mae was in the hospital for a “tune up” to her dialysis as we attempted to manage her ever changing sodium levels.

Her and Dad spent close to two weeks at the children’s hospital making changes to various medications and when we came home, Codeigh Mae’s hospital schedule was changed to twice a week – once for Albumin and bloodwork and once to get a shot to increase her red blood cell count, which seemed to keep dropping – a common complication of Congenital Nephrotic Syndrome and the secondary conditions it causes, such as blood clots and low iron.

We notice during this time home that Codeigh Mae doesn’t have the same energy levels, she’s puffy and she’s peeing less – even on Albumin days, when we’re used to getting very full wet diapers. After multiple instances of very high blood pressure, it was decided to send her back to the children’s hospital.

She’s now been there for a week and we’re not 100% sure what the going home plan looks like. She even spent her 3rd birthday in the hospital!

Codeigh Mae is really throwing these doctors for a loop. They’ve noticed her bloodwork will be dramatically different based on what time of day it’s taken at or whether it comes from her arm or her port. As soon as they get control of one set of numbers (for example, her sodium), other numbers will go crazy (like her potassium). Her blood pressure has also been hard to manage and on multiple occasions she has had what is called a hypertensive crisis, in which the blood pressure reaches dangerous levels. Her hemoglobin (or red blood cell count) has also been incredibly low – nearing transfusion territory, which we need to avoid for transplant reasons.

Yesterday, Dad met with the surgeon to discuss and get consent for a double nephrectomy. The actual term is Radical Bilateral Nephrectomy – radical meaning the whole kidney (not just a part of it) and bilateral meaning both kidneys.

Yes, you can live with no kidneys!

Essentially, her kidneys, which still function even though she’s on dialysis, are releasing a hormone that tells her blood vessels to constrict – which causes her blood pressure to rise. Remove the kidneys, remove the hormone and cascades that cause funkiness in her other numbers and you almost remove the problem. The dialysis becomes her kidneys entirely and we don’t have to worry about what the actual kidneys are doing and what role they place in the process.

While the surgeon feels comfortable doing the surgery while her hemoglobin is low, the team has ultimately decided to try to boost the hemoglobin as much as we can prior to surgery – which will hopefully negate the need for a transfusion during.

They expect at least another month before we go for the nephrectomy (hence why the title of this update includes May) and are optimistic that Dad and Codeigh Mae will get to come home before we’re admitted again for another undetermined amount of time.

So that’s what we know so far! Be sure to follow Caring for Codeigh Mae on Facebook for more regular updates as they happen:
http://facebook.com/codeigh.mae

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Alberta

Made in Alberta! Province makes it easier to support local products with Buy Local program

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Show your Alberta side. Buy Local.

When the going gets tough, Albertans stick together. That’s why Alberta’s government is launching a new campaign to benefit hard-working Albertans.

Global uncertainty is threatening the livelihoods of hard-working Alberta farmers, ranchers, processors and their families. The ‘Buy Local’ campaign, recently launched by Alberta’s government, encourages consumers to eat, drink and buy local to show our unified support for the province’s agriculture and food industry.

The government’s ‘Buy Local’ campaign encourages consumers to buy products from Alberta’s hard-working farmers, ranchers and food processors that produce safe, nutritious food for Albertans, Canadians and the world.

“It’s time to let these hard-working Albertans know we have their back. Now, more than ever, we need to shop local and buy made-in-Alberta products. The next time you are grocery shopping or go out for dinner or a drink with your friends or family, support local to demonstrate your Alberta pride. We are pleased tariffs don’t impact the ag industry right now and will keep advocating for our ag industry.”

RJ Sigurdson, Minister of Agriculture and Irrigation

Alberta’s government supports consumer choice. We are providing tools to help folks easily identify Alberta- and Canadian-made foods and products. Choosing local products keeps Albertans’ hard-earned dollars in our province. Whether it is farm-fresh vegetables, potatoes, honey, craft beer, frozen food or our world-renowned beef, Alberta has an abundance of fresh foods produced right on our doorstep.

Quick facts

  • This summer, Albertans can support local at more than 150 farmers’ markets across the province and meet the folks who make, bake and grow our food.
  • In March 2023, the Alberta government launched the ‘Made in Alberta’ voluntary food and beverage labelling program to support local agriculture and food sectors.
  • Through direct connections with processors, the program has created the momentum to continue expanding consumer awareness about the ‘Made in Alberta’ label to help shoppers quickly identify foods and beverages produced in our province.
  • Made in Alberta product catalogue website

 

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Alberta

Province to expand services provided by Alberta Sheriffs: New policing option for municipalities

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Expanding municipal police service options

Proposed amendments would help ensure Alberta’s evolving public safety needs are met while also giving municipalities more options for local policing.

As first announced with the introduction of the Public Safety Statutes Amendment Act, 2024, Alberta’s government is considering creating a new independent agency police service to assume the police-like duties currently performed by Alberta Sheriffs. If passed, Bill 49 would lay additional groundwork for the new police service.

Proposed amendments to the Police Act recognize the unique challenges faced by different communities and seek to empower local governments to adopt strategies that effectively respond to their specific safety concerns, enhancing overall public safety across the province.

If passed, Bill 49 would specify that the new agency would be a Crown corporation with an independent board of directors to oversee its day-to-day operations. The new agency would be operationally independent from the government, consistent with all police services in Alberta. Unlike the Alberta Sheriffs, officers in the new police service would be directly employed by the police service rather than by the government.

“With this bill, we are taking the necessary steps to address the unique public safety concerns in communities across Alberta. As we work towards creating an independent agency police service, we are providing an essential component of Alberta’s police framework for years to come. Our aim is for the new agency is to ensure that Albertans are safe in their communities and receive the best possible service when they need it most.”

Mike Ellis, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Services

Additional amendments would allow municipalities to select the new agency as their local police service once it becomes fully operational and the necessary standards, capacity and frameworks are in place. Alberta’s government is committed to ensuring the new agency works collaboratively with all police services to meet the province’s evolving public safety needs and improve law enforcement response times, particularly in rural communities. While the RCMP would remain the official provincial police service, municipalities would have a new option for their local policing needs.

Once established, the agency would strengthen Alberta’s existing policing model and complement the province’s current police services, which include the RCMP, Indigenous police services and municipal police. It would help fill gaps and ensure law enforcement resources are deployed efficiently across the province.

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