Just a quick update to let everyone know that the TV show 16 by 9 will be filming the fundraising segment of the Bake Sale at the Mall around 10:30 Saturday morning.  Hopefully lots of people come out to watch as it would be good to show that rest of Canada how a little community can come together to help a Family reach a very big goal for Rylan.  Once again I say Thank you to everyone!  Hope to see you all there.
The Johnstone's.

I have to say that I have been so busy that I have been tardy in updating Rylan's blog.  With this being such a busy time of year and doing the fund raising life has been action packed.  Today as I write Rylan is scooting around our Living room listening to Christmas shows and chasing a ball that has a bell in it.  It belongs to a Fisher Price toy we bought when he was a baby.  Before we knew he had very little sight.  But that ball has been a lifesaver.  He has always loved it.  Before it was just a noise maker.  Now it is part of a game.  He throws it and then listens to see if he can find it again. Most times he can.  Sometimes it gets wedged or rolls behind a piece of furniture and then Grandpa or Grandma will run to the rescue.  Patience is not his strong trait.  At times he is easily frustrated. 
This morning when I was helping him dress I noticed that he follows directions much better and although he can't dress himself he is a willing participant.  He will try to get his shirt on and helps with pants.  He doesn't fight or cry anymore.  After getting dressed he grabbed my hand and then touched my fingers and then said,"Grandma's Fingers".  For a second I almost couldn't breathe he had actually said a body part and picked the right one.  He knew what he was talking about.  I wonder if he would talk more if the Autism wasn't there but it is and we Love it when Rylan appears sometimes to surprise us.  I love the days that we have him.  Not all are easy but they are Rylan's days that he shares with us.  I would not wish for it any other way.  It's funny when you watch a child like Rylan.  You value every accomplishment that much more. 
Two weeks ago Rylan gave us another scare.  He had a Hypoglycemic episode.  He had not been feeling a 100% and had, had a little bit of diarrhea.  Auntie had been there and she knew something wasn't right.  He was crying and was inconsolable.  So Alicia came home from work.  He seemed fine then and they put it down to him just wanting his Mommy.  About an hour later Ryan came home and that's when it happened.  He stopped breathing.  Ryan yelled for Alicia to get his emergency shot and starting CPR.  They gave him the shot and he started to come around.  Alicia called 911 and the Ambulance was there with in minutes.  They took him to the hospital and by then he was awake and crying.  The Doctor said with him being a little sick he had just run out of his Cortisol.  This is a very frightening event but something that Ryan and Alicia know could happen on any given day.  No parent should have to do CPR on their child but thank God they can.  You start to realize that there is no certainty in the world and that life if precious.  Our babies are precious and with children like Rylan it is even more of a gift. 
 I would like to tell you that our fundraising is going really well.  Rylan has over $23,000 dollars in his account.  China seems so much closer.  We know of a few more donations that will be coming in.  So we are very happy about that.  We were hoping to get to $20,000 by Christmas but we have surpassed that.  Now are new goal is $25,000 or more.  Watch for our Bake Sale on the 17th of December.  We won`t be there in the morning.  We are going to be interviewed by the Global TV show 16 by 9.  They are going to do a segment on Stem Cells and asked Ryan and Alicia if they would participate.  At first they weren`t sure as they knew that they would be doing both sides and we know that not everyone agrees with this therapy.  We just wanted Rylan protected and the show guaranteed us that he would be protected and nothing would be done to harm him.  The show is also going to film some of the bake sale so I hope lots of people go out to it.  We will let everyone know when the show with Rylan will air. 
The Johnstone family is hoping that everyone has a very Happy Holiday and a Very Merry Christmas!

Rylan's fight for Sight Pub Night

Last Thursday night on November 17th we had a Burger and Beer Night at one of our local Pubs the Lighthouse pub in Sechelt.  We had a 160 ticket to sell, daunting to say the least and we had to come up with Silent Auction items as well.  That's where Rylan's Angel Pam cam in.  Without his

Angel I am not sure how much of this would have gotten done. I for one felt overwhelmed.  Pam and I pounded the pavement trying to sell tickets and find these silent auction items.  Dar as usual was doing the posters and anything else we asked of her on the computer.  Jeannie has always been there doing whatever we asked.  Catt Rylan's nurse who had been there the day he had his Adrenal crisis was there helping out, making her Jewellery to Auction and Judy was around for whatever she could and would do without a thought.  These are the ladies we call Rylan's Angels.  Without them Rylan would not get to China. 

 The St Mary's Radiology Department was out in full force.  What a wonderful group of ladies!

As the night approached I was getting worried and then everything started to fall into place.  Tickets started selling, businesses starting calling with donations and other little miracles starting happening.  Some of Ryan's friends from Powell River messaged me asking for tickets.  I started to feel more confident.  Maybe we would have a good turnout. 

I have to say it was more than a turnout!  It was a Sellout!  We sold all of the tickets and got 91 silent auction items. 

The night of the 17th all of Rylan's Angels turned up to set up and make sure that everything was done.  We were so excited .The Lighthouse Pub was very accomidating the food was awesome and the staff were great.  Duane Burnett was the MC and as in Duane style he rocked.  Thank you Duane.  Candy Harrison did the music and it was great.  Thank you Candy.  But I have to say the highlight of the night was when the Slow pitch team from Powell River got up and donated $1000 to Rylan for his trip to China. One of the members  of the slow pitch team named Romy and his wife Helena donated another $500 To Ryan's cause.  Ryan and Alicia couldn't even talk, Both were speechless. Wonder if there was a dry eye in the place.

We also did a 50/50 draw.  Laurie Tyson and Rylan split a $900 pot.  Awesome!

Then after that the new owner of a business that had moved into town  "Sound Attraction" offered to donate a 32 inch TV to the first person that donated $200 to Rylan and introduced themselves.  Rain thank you for being so quick. Hope you enjoy your new TV.  I found out later that the Sound Attraction people had already donated $50 to Rylan`s cause when they had first came in.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.  People have asked what was the biggest donation.  Well there were a couple ...One from Medi chair.  A recliner worth $999 and a Hot Water Tank donated by Bruce Hayter worth $800.  A ring donated by Anne Lewis an Orginal Oil painting by Donna Stewart. Tools a quilt a hunting jacke,t appliances and on and on.  So many other items that were so  unbelivable. I could go on and on but just know that we won`t forget any of the generosity that was given to Rylan`s cause. 

We arent finished getting all of the money yet from all the silent auction items but we believe we have to date received close to $8000.  How awesome is that for a small community.  How do you ever pay it back.  I have come to realize you can`t! You have to pay it forward

What a great success!  One that won't be forgotten for a very long time.

How much have we fund raised. Well I will tell you.

$21,500.  

Absolutely Unbelievable. 

Thank you to All the Sunshine Coast.  Gibsons, Roberts Creek, Sechelt, Pender Harbour and Powell River.  What a great and beautiful place to live.
For those who have asked what is next so far we have organized a Bake sale on the 17th of December at Sunnycrest Mall and of course the after Christmas Bottle Drive on the 7th of January.  Please if you have any extra baking to donate let us know and please save your Drink bottles for us.  Thank you from the bottom of our hearts.
The Johnstone's and Rylan's Angels.  

Today we met with Harvey Metz the President of the Gibsons Legion.  He presented Rylan with a Cheque for $1000 for his Fight for Sight!  Thank you to all the Legion Members for their Contribution.

Wheatberries.

Last Thursday we had our 1st official Fundraising event, For Rylan's Fight for Sight.  To say it was a success is an understatement.  It was a sellout.  We could have sold at least 30 more tickets.  It was an amazing night.  The owners of the Coffee house where we had the event were extremely accommodating.  They had everything set up so that when we arrived all we had to do was set up our Silent Auction. Thank you Andrew and Leslie.  Our wonderful Fundraising team was there and pumped.  I could tell that this was going to be a good night.  People started arriving right on time and they were treated to beautiful desserts and wonderful coffee.  Kathy and Paul were our entertainment and they did not disappoint.  Kathy has a wonderful voice and Paul plays a mean guitar.  Rylan was loving the music.  It's his favourite thing in the whole world.  He was bopping his little head to the beat of the music.  He was most upset when they stopped for a break.  Cohen was just as enthralled.  He was trying to sing along with Kathy.  She told me later that she had to look at something else as every time she looked at him she started to laugh.  Maybe Cohen is going to be a singer.  Grandma got Rylan up to dance.  He has this cute little thing he does with his foot.  I can't do it but he has a very different dance move that makes us all laugh.  He was quite a card and he didn't disappoint everyone.  

Karen Webb made a presentation to Ryan and Alicia.  Seems her Grade 1 class had been having penny drives and had raised $170 for Rylan's Fight for Sight.  I don't think there were many dry eyes in the room 

thinking of those little ones, raising money for another little one.  I do believe that they could teach us something about generosity and selfless love and acceptance. When  we pulled the 50/50 draw April Seward had won and she donated the money back to Rylan's cause.  Thank you April.  

The Silent Auction was a great Success.  We appreciated all those bids.  Thank you to everyone one who bought the items.  We can't do this without you.  So I know everyone is wondering how much we raised. Well we raised almost $2500.  Rylan has about $12,000 in his Trust Account.  Amazing!

Thank you Everyone from the bottom of our hearts.  

Our next event is November 17th at the Lighthouse Pub.  It is a Burger and Beer night. We will be having another Silent Auction and 50/50.  

Hope we see you there.  China is getting closer and closer.

This last weekend was the bottle and Penny drive for Rylan's Fight for Sight.  Pam Duffy a friend of mine took on this huge event.  She arranged all the bags and pick ups and all the thousand little things that need to be done to make this a success.  People started dropping their change off to me almost immediately, as soon as the posters went up and word of mouth got around.  It was jaw dropping.  I have to say that I was so humbled.  The day before the event Jeannie and I went to the Bank of Montreal and had a look at the new change counter that they had there.  It is so much fun.  You put the change in and the machine whips the money around and counts it.  No more counting and rolling for this girl!  The day of the bottle drive we couldn't believe how many people stopped to drop off cans and money.  Rylan the star of the show kept smiling and I do believe showing off a little.  One Dad came by with his boys with some cans and he explained to Alicia that, that morning he had read the boys Rylan's story and explained the best he could about all of Rylan's diagnosis.  Each of the boys handed Alicia some money.  Alicia said they were just the cutest little guys.  At the end of the day all these wonderful Volunteer's and the community had helped us raise over $1700.  People are still dropping off change and asking when we are going to do another bottle drive.  Pam said after Christmas.  So please everyone after Christmas remember us.  We also still have a can up at the Gibson's Bottle Depot, so if you want you can just drop your change in the can if you are recycling your bottles there.  We truly appreciate it.  

Rylan's Therapists were at the house again yesterday.  As usual the little guy never seems to amaze them with his newly acquired skills.  He is walking by just holding on to one hand now and he is so much more curious.  The visitors took Rylan to meet his new Principal that he will be having at Cedar Grove next year.  Rylan was quite curious as to who this new person was.  It just so happens that the Principal has two Grandchildren with special needs.  One is Visually impaired and the other one has Autism.  I think Rylan will have a friend indeed.  While they were there the recess bell went.  All of a sudden there was a wave of children coming from every which way.  Cohen hid behind his Mom but Rylan Ang told me, Had the biggest smile on his face.  He loved all this noise.  This is a far cry from the scared little boy of a few months ago.  Oh how far he has come.  After the first kids went back to school the special needs kids came out to play.  They were quite taken by this new little face.  Rylan was having a great time listening to the chatter and the questions they were asking.  Some how I think this little boy of ours is really going to like school.  I think we need not worry if he will like it.  

Thanksgiving

It was our Canadian Thanksgiving this weekend and I had everyone over on Sunday night for our big dinner, as my Mom, Rylan's Great Grandma was here to celebrate with us.  I love Thanksgiving as I think it is a wonderful day filled with family time and good food.  

Everyone arrived it seemed at the same time, which makes my house a little chaotic and noisy.  Rylan was hungry and so I quickly made his special dinner.  Ground up turkey, potatoes, sweet potato, peas, corn and gravy.  Alicia tried to feed him  and it was a no go, then Auntie Ang tried and still a no go.  Ryan thought that it was because he wanted him to feed and still Rylan's little nose went up in the air.  This supper was not what he wanted.   We were perplexed.  Suddenly Auntie Ang came out of the dining room holding the cranberry jelly and added some to Rylan's dinner.  If you could have seen his face.  He got the biggest smile and just opened his mouth and ate.  It was hilarious.  I have to say that I would not have believed it if I hadn't seen it.  

Now I know I have written about how much Cohen and Rylan care about each other and how the little cousin has been a true God send to Rylan, but on Thanksgiving I witnessed something that I will never forget.  Rylan and Cohen were sitting on the couch beside each other, watching their favourite TV show.  Rylan was doing his rocking thing and Cohen was occasionally looking at him.  He seems to check on Rylan to make sure he is okay.  Suddenly Rylan reached over and gently grasped Cohen's hand.  I was amazed.  Cohn just looked over at Rylan, then looked at his hand and just continued to watch his TV show as if it was a normal event.  Rylan held Cohen's hand till the end of the show.  I felt almost breathless.  I felt like I had witnessed a small miracle.  Rylan seems to be reaching out more and more.  I think I see him more and the Autism less.  I have much to be Thankful for this Thanksgiving.