I have just heard the news that my nephew was in a horrible car accident.  The car was going very fast, around a sharp corner.  The driver lost control and my nephew was thrown out the passenger-side window, several feet from the car.

The good news:  he’s alive and able to walk.

The bad news:  he has suffered serious brain injury and is recovering in hospital.

By the grace of God (and his Guardian angel) he is alive and not a quadriplegic.  Really.

The other person in the car had their seatbelt on and suffered a minor concussion.

Over the course of the last few days, I have wept for my nephew and how this injury and life-altering experience may affect him in the days, weeks, months and years to come.  And my heart  has gone out to his wife and young children.  She is a strong woman, who is handling all this right now with a strength and spirit that is amazing, but the time will come when all that has happened will really hit her.

I am thankful to the doctors and emergency teams that helped him and I am thankful for his guardian angel.  When he’s feeling better, I’d like to smack him (though not on the head) for not wearing his seatbelt.  This was a close-call.

* Please * buckle-up:  yourself and your children.  Do it all the time.  Do it properly.  Do it today.

“Unbelted occupants of a motor vehicle can, in essence, become projectiles in a collision, seriously injuring themselves and others. In almost 60% of all car accident fatalities, the victim was not wearing a seat belt” (  Source ).

If this isn’t enough, here is some additional information:

Statistics - U.S.

To Immunize or not … for H1N1.

I believe in getting immunizations for the BIG ones, but I don’t believe in the flu shot, we’ll take Chicken Pox when it comes AND I have no intention of getting the vaccination for H1N1.

We eat whole foods that are mostly organic.  We take our vitamins (especially the C in winter). We wash our hands.  A lot.  Especially with the heightened awareness of H1N1.

Imagine how glad I was to receive these articles sent to me, outlining that you can protect yourself and your family as effectively (or moreso) with Vitamin D.  Now - I’m not a doctor or a health professional of any kind.  But (for those who know me - you know … ) I do like to pass on information and *sometimes* give advice.

So - here goes:

Increasing your daily intake of Vitamin D (and still eating good foods, and your other regular vitamins) will exponentially strengthen your system against H1N1.  Yes.  Really.

” … people with the worst vitamin D deficiency were … more likely to suffer respiratory infections {like H1N1} than those with sufficient levels, according to the research in this week’s Archives of Internal Medicine…”

You can get Vitamin D from some foods - but it’s virtually impossible to get enough of this powerful vitamin to protect you and your family this cold season.

The sun also gives you Vitamin D - but one of the disadvantages of living in Canada is that we do not get enough Vitamin D, year-round, from the sun, to do the job.

What to do?  Take it orally.  It’s quick.  It’s easy.  Your kids will take it.  It has the added benefit of helping you build stronger bones.  Check it out today at your local health food store and read up online and get informed!~

Vitamins vs. Vaccine for Swine Flu

Canadian Rearch on Vitamin D and H1N1

Vitamins to avoid Swine Flu

H1N1 - Vitamin D Council Report