Charlene Project- The school

Long overdue post

2010-10-17T18:56:00.002+01:00

I'm sorry I am getting so bad at this blogging business :( but things have been kind of busy around here as I have been in hospital for the last two and a half weeks. Thankfully I am getting home tomorrow. Things have been kind of tough this time as I have been struggling with a stupid cough and my oxygen sats are being pretty stubborn and refuse to go past 85 which isn't great but I'm managing and cannot wait to get home and say hello to the world again. I already have loads planned for when I get out so it's going to be hard to remind myself to take it easy lol.
Things are starting to get VERY exciting with Hidden Treasure school. All the land has pretty much been handed over and purchased and this week Basil and Wenford are heading out to Uganda to meet Eugene and hopefully get the school building started. I'm actually so excited if a little jealous cause I really want to go out there so bad but both men have told me there is no room in any of the suitcases so think I'll just have to stay put.
Please pray for the guys as they head out this Thursday that they will have a safe and successful trip and that the ball will start rolling to get the building started.
Also if any of you are on facebook there is now a group called "Charlenes Project" which the men will be keeping up to date while they are in Uganda. If anyone is interested in joining.
Thanks again for all your love and prayers
Charlene

BIG BIG News!!!!!!

2010-08-27T19:11:00.002+01:00

Ok I defintley without a shawdow of a doubt think this is up there with possibly one of the best posts I have written. The land has been purchased and all the legal things have been handed over to Hidden Treasure so they will be able to start building really soon. I am actually so excited
I'm back in hospital and at half one last night (yes I'm quite the night owl,pity the same cant be said for during the day though lol) I got a text through from Dad to say he had just received news from Uganda to say everything had been signed over and they are now ready to plan the actual building of the school. Needless to say I was on top of the world.
Now that we are at the next step folk please just pray that things with the building and all of the school go smoothly and the children of Hidden Treasure will get their new school soon. Thanks again everyone for your love,support and prayers for this project. I could never have believed that when we had the dream in the pipeline of embracing all of this that things would actually take off. How AMAZING is God <3

Back to Blogging!!!

2010-08-16T14:21:00.002+01:00

Well it has been a while since I updated this thing so I apologise to anyone who has been logging on to read any updates and there hasn't been any.

Things are going really well for me healthwise and I have been able to enjoy the summer holidays. Once again the Barr clan packed up and headed to Center Parcs for ten days and a good time was had by all, with lots of fun competitive game playing and coffee drinking. I went into hospital prior to our holiday so that I would be well enough to travel etc etc and thankfully I managed the whole trip and felt as good as I had in a long long time. Even when I came home I was still really well so God really does answer prayer cause I was worried that I would come back sick and having lost alot of weight like I normally do but this time it was quite the opposite.
So as of now I am still on the transplant list and am still on IV antibiotics but to be honest they are keeping me well so I'm happy enough to stay on them. Also my weight is up to nearly 46kg (I have never been anywhere near this before lol) and my infection markers in my blood are really low as well so everything is going fantastic we just need that phone call to come.

Unfortunatley things haven't really moved forward on Hidden Treasure. There have been lots of phone calls and e-mails back and forward between Uganda and Ireland and right now we are just waiting on them purchasing the rest of the land that is required to build the school. However once this has been purchased the school will be built in no time so we just need to overcome this slight problem and then we can get the ball rolling again. I cannot wait to see Hidden Treasure built and all the children going into their brand new school. I also pray that I will be able to make it out there to see the school in person.

Right now we are just enjoying the last few weeks of "summer" it is so nice just having everyone around home and I'm going to miss that when everyone starts back to uni/school. Becks is in Swaziland at the minute and its hard getting all the texts back from her cause it's bringing back all the memories of Uganda :) but she is in her element out there and is having a fantastic time but please keep her and the whole Elim team in your prayers as they reach out to the people of Swaziliand. Thanks again everyone for your continued prayers and support.

Long Overdue Post

2010-06-07T17:49:00.002+01:00

Sorry I am only updating this blog now but I have been quite busy lol. I got home from hospital on Wednesday and seriously with the amount of stuff I gathered after a long 14 weeks I nearly needed a removal van. Things have been going really well since I got home and I have just enjoyed sitting out in the back garden sunning myself :) (long may it continue). I was kind of worried coming home becasue before I would only last a couple of days and I would be back in hospital again but this time I have been out nearly a week and am still feeling great and even have the energy to go out for wee cups of coffee and even a driving lesson. Yeah I know they told me to take it easy when I got home but when did I ever listen to sensible advcie :) )
The cyclists are due to finish sometime today and what a scorchr of a weekend they got. From updates and photographs on facebook they seem to have gotten on well but we will hear the full story soon I'm sure. Please if you would like to support them in their efforts please visit www.charitygiving.co.uk/timothyalexander. Thanks
We are still waiting for the beginning of the school build but hopefully this will happen soon. This week we had Barbara over from Uganda and it was lovely to have her over as I haven't seen her in 2 years and it was nice just to experience a wee bit of Uganda again.
The Barr house is now getting into full competiton mode with the World Cup only days away. We have all picked teams to support out of a hat (yes we are very competitive) so strangely enough I am really looking forward to the World Cup starting. Just as long as England go out in the early stages :)

Yet Another Update

2010-05-28T20:05:00.003+01:00

Thought it was time I updated this thing. Finally I have the news that I am getting home from hospital (after 13 VERY long weeks)it was getting to the point where I really was as well as I am going to be and therefore I was feeling frustrated because I really wanted to be home.I have coped ok being stuck in there the last 13 weeks but to be honest I think last weekend was really the straw that broke the camel's back I had been out home on the Friday night and after waking up to such a warm Saturday I really was aware that I was going to be stuck inside while everyone else basked in like 23 degress of pure sunshine. To say I wasn't happy on Saturday driving down the motorway is the understatement of the century.

Things are stable I am going home on IVS and have to go into hospital for 3 days every two weeks just for a change in antibiotics and some physio, but I can live with that. With my bloods being at 29 (the lowest they have being in like FOREVER) I am feeling great and cannot wait to be released properly.
This weekend they are letting me stay home both Friday and Sunday night so I can't really complain. So tonight I just enjoyed a chinese with Bethany and Serena and it really is lovely just to be at home doing normal things with my wee sisters (well sitting on the sofa)
Things have been held up with the building of Hidden Treasure but we are hoping to start building soon. Fundraising is continuing to go well and I think we have hit in and around the £90,000 mark which is just fantastic. Also a big Thank you to the three boys who are in their final stages of training for their end to end cycle next weekend. Please encourage them by visiting their website www.charitygiving.co.uk/timothyalexander
Thanks folks
Charlene
x

Please have a look

2010-05-24T20:15:00.002+01:00

I will update the blog more indepth later but just wanted to ask you guys to have a look at this link and to please give what you can.
These three men are going to cycle a total of 387 miles from one end of Ireland to the other in 4 days for Charlenes Project. Please show your support for these guys. Thank You
www.charitygiving.co.uk/timothyalexander

A Wee Update

2010-05-18T23:10:00.003+01:00

Just a quick update to say that finally starting to feel better. The last two weeks I haven't been feeling great and my bloods shot up to over 100 but now my new IV antibiotics have kicked in and my bloods are down to 50 (still high for a normal person but as we all know by now I am far from normal and so they are good for me :)) Last weekend was my best in ages with me managing a trip to Nandos(i'm beginning to see a trend throughout this blog!!!) and then home for my first BBQ of the year on Sunday. It was MUNCH. So they are now happy to let me home for a few nights a week. SO excited!!! I am getting home tomorrow night until Thurs and so get to sleep in my own wee bed again. :) The only thing I have to be careful with is that I don't make myself sick again because when I am at home I find it SO difficult to sit there and do nothing and then I get tired and as a result make myself sick so I am just going to have to take it easy, something which I find very frustrating.
Also for all you facebook addicts out there, Charlenes Project has now got its own cause page so please search for it and join and get it around as many people as you can. www.causes.com/4883303?m=266f5cf . Anyway that is all I have to update you all on now
God Bless
Char

A Quick Update

2010-05-07T19:56:00.002+01:00

Just a wee quick update to let you know where things are at. I am still in hospital 8weeks and counting :) but things are pretty stable and I am still on that list which is good. They aren't too keen to send me home cause me being me likes to try and do too much when she goes home and shall we say maybe pushes the limits a little bit, and they are worried that if I go home for good I will just detoriate and end up back at square one which I so don't want to happen. Whereas being in hospital I am forced to sit here and do nothing. I don't like to admit this but I do kind of see their point. So we reached a compromise and I'm going to stay here as long as I get home one or two nights a week and then maybe we can look at being home long term. So pretty much I get out for good behaviour lol.
This week has been a good week with me weighing in at 42kg(can we say OBESE!!!!) and then on Tuesday night I was allowed to get out for the evening to go and see my boys (Westlife) I even took Dad along but secretly I think He really enjoyed it (though he would never admit that :)) It was a brilliant night and I must say Shane just gets better looking every time lol. Also my inflammatory markers in my blood went from being like 200 to 42 in the space of a few days which is really good. So that pleased us all. Lets hope it stays there!!
Got home overnight last night and slept in my own wee bed for the first time in weeks. AMAZING.So Im looking forward to my next wee outing home.To be honest its what keeps me going. This morning we had our first Newcastle scare. Mum, Dad,David Poppa and me went out for coffee and didn't mums phone go off with a witheld number, sure enough it was Newcastle so there was Dad and me looking at each other trying to piece together what they were saying to mun on the phone. Turns out they needed a blood sample from me and that was it. To be honest thats ok cause at least it means they are working at my stuff over there and keeping me in mind, and anyway it wouldn't have suited me anyway I was out enjoying coffee thank you very much :)
On Hidden Treasure front things are going really well and we are now up to about £94,000 which is awesome but keep it coming people cause I have an orphange to build afterwards. Also Dad was talking to the folks at Fields of Life yesterday and they are going to start building within the fortnight how awesome is that. God is just amazing and I am so excited to see the things that are achieved through this wee school and all the little kids that will hopefully get the chance to get to school thanks to all you guys. Thank you all so much. You are all legends. God Bless you all <3
Char

A New Chapter Begins

2010-04-20T19:14:00.003+01:00

Ok so as you guys know I have been working to get my weight up to the necessary 39kg so that I could be placed on the transplant list.Well yesterday was weight day and I am pleased to say my weight is 39.7kg( I know Im a wee Fatty but aw well) I know this probably sounds strange but I am actually thrilled, I know this probably doesn't say alot for my faith in God but there was alot of time between September(when I was first placed on the list for all of...a week) and then with the stupid abcess and me losing a load of weight I honestly doubted whether or not I would actually get to this stage because for months and months the weight just wasn't going on. Although I was sick when I was away I only lost like 0.4kg which was really good(probably all the good food at Center Parcs) so if anyone from the NHS is reading this Center Parcs trips are fantastic forms of treatment lol :).

Well anyways as of now although I am still in hospital I am on the list and the only thing we are waiting on now is THE CALL which really could come at anytime, which means for once in our lives the Barrs will have to be organised and once I get home I'll have to pack that bag ready to drop everything and go once the phone rings.

I swear people God truly works miracles. To consider that I have went from having a lung abcess(which is pretty serious) to being placed on the lung transplant list all in the space of 6 months is pretty amazing and something tells me He is not done working miracles just yet.

God Bless you all and thank you for your continued prayers
Char
xx

Back After A Lovely Break

2010-04-15T17:05:00.003+01:00

Just a quick blog entry to let you know after a LONG 6 weeks in hospital I managed to get away to The Barrs favourite place in the World (Center Parcs) It was so nice to get away with the family for a while and just to chill out and the weather was FANTASTIC. However all I really managed to do was sit and drink Starbucks (who's complaining lol). We got back on Tuesday and I ended up back in hospital the very same day, however things aren't too bad and I think a few days of good physio and rest and I will be flying. On a postive note my weight hasn't budged which is good and now it is starting to go up again. We are getting oh so very close to the necessary 39kg.

On the school front there isn't really much to report other than we are still waiting for them to begin building which we are hoping will begin really soon.

Sorry for such a quick update

Char
x

Back on This Again

2010-03-28T17:43:00.003+01:00

Oh my goodness I have just looked back on my blog and it has been a month since I have updated. Oops. There has been a lot happen in that month but one thing that hasn't changed is that I am STILL in hospital.
I came in orginally feeling generally unwell and therefore knowing that I needed rest and a change of antibiotics. However, the doctors and everyone thought it would be best to keep me in here to get my weight up to a suitable level so that I could get back on the transplant list, as I had been sitting steady for like the past 6 months with no progress being made. I agreed to this just because I'm just sick of sitting with nothing happening so I knew if I stayed in it would give the team time to look at different ways in which I could put on weight. This is where the problems started! You may remember way back in October the time I had the abcess after my Portacath got infected I had a PICC line put in my arm for easy administration of my antibiotics, well the doctors thought we could use this to put through TPN which is basically just nutrition that goes straight into the blood stream. This worked well for all of em 48 hours and then my PICC line decided it had had enough and that it would pack in. GRR!!! So I then had to come off my IV antibiotics and I swear I must be addicted to them because the minute I came off them my chest started to go downhill so quickly.

So then last week the decision was made to put in another Portacath but until then they would try and get a long line into my arm so that I could recommence with the IVS because by this stage I was feeling yucky and my weight gain just wasn't happening. So I waited and got my new port in which surprisingly went in with no problems at all (lets just hope it stays there). This means I have been able to have IVS again and the difference is unbelieveable I feel so much better than I did when I was off them. However we had to dump the idea of TPN as the infection risk with a Port is too great. This means I have stepped up my feeds through my peg tube so that I am getting about 2800 calories through it a day and also they have increased the dose of the tablets they give me to stimulate my appetite because before this I was eating nothing and just feeling sick. So finally the weight is starting to creep on and I am now at 37.2kg which I know is still a good bit away from 40kg but its a step in the right direction. It has been hard being in hospital for so long but they have let me go home overnight for one night every weekend and to be honest I think it is those litte trips home that have kept me going and back in to the crazy ways of the Barr household lol

On the project side of things, it is progressing really well with our total now being just over £80,000 WOW. Also a meeting was held with Fields of Life both in Portadown and Uganda (the joys of technology egh?) and originally they were going to build the primary one to three block and then the rest but from the meeting the decision was taken to build it all together in wait for it... TWO MONTHS!!!!! This means that we should hopefully see a nice new Hidden Treasure Primary School in as little as FOUR MONTHS!!! WOOHOO. Its all very exciting. Thank you so much to all of you that have contributed to the project it is truley amazing the response that I got.
Anyway I think that is all of the news from the last month. Promise to update the blog sooner next time and hopefully from the comfort of my own home. HAPPY EASTER everyone
Char
xx

Back In

2010-02-28T19:07:00.002Z

Just a quick blog to let you guys know that I have been back in hospital for the last week just generally feeling rubbish and my weight down to 35.9 kg . However I was able to get home for the night last night so that is always a positive. Don't really know when I will get out however they are talking of keeping me here until I put a sufficent amount of weight on so that I can get on the list. As much as I dont like that idea part of me is telling me to go with the idea because at the minute we are sitting in limbo with my weight not going anywhere. So if it was to move things forward I might just do it for a while. Anyway I will keep you all up to date anyway and thanks again everyone for your continuing support and prayers

Char

Hello

2010-02-13T13:26:00.002Z

Sorry for lack of updates.

Things are going well. I am just out of hospital yesterday after just being in a week. I just hadn't been feeling great at the end of last week so with some precusion from mum and dad I rang and they were able to see me rather than waiting and maybe getting worse therfore having to spend longer in hospital. So all and all it worked out well and I even managed to get out for a wee while both on the Sunday and the Wednesday. So I can't really complain :)

Everything is remaining steady with the main issue still being my weight but we are working on it. I am still on IV antibiotics but to be honest I think that is just going to be a way of life for me at the minute because as soon I come off them I just go down hill rapidly and to be honest I want to be able to stay as well as I can so that I can work on gaining weight and getting on that list. So now my new hobbie is just going to have to be to eat all around me lol :)

Seriously though thank you so much to you all out there who I know are remembering us and praying for us. I actually do not think I could get through any of this without you, God or my amazing family. Trust me as I have learnt in the last few months it's times like this where you really feel God's hand upon you.

Project wise things are continuing along nicely. We are still pushing towards the £100,000 and I firmly believe that we will reach our new target. Also we are in talks with Fields of Life in Uganda to begin the building of Hidden Treasure. It is actually so exciting and I would defintley say that with in a few months we will start to see the new school coming together!!! Isn't God good?

I Can't believe I'm Posting This!!!!!

2010-01-25T20:55:00.004Z

Ok I'm not going to waffle (probably the first time ever :)) but what I do want to say is never in a MILLION years could I have seen myself writing this post in January 2010. Let me just tell you a little of how this came about. As a lot of you know my health has detoriated greatly over the last eighteen months or so. April/May 2009 was a particulary bad time and the whole transplant issue had just been brought up (something which I personally really was not expecting) So anyway one evening mum dad poppa david and the girls came and took me out to Nandos @ Victoria Square(seriously in the Barr household food makes everything better!!!) and basically the topic came up of building a school in Uganda for the kids out there that don't have the luxury of going to school. Well let me tell you I went back to the City Hospital that night and could not sleep at all I was that excited about the plans.

July 2009: I was unable to go to Uganda with the rest of the family and instead spent a lovely summer in the city hospital. This is where they found the school Hidden Treasure and between facebook, emails and telephone calls between us we knew that this was the right school to build. I mean just take a look at the classroom

So I then started this blog at the end of August with a view to keep people up to date with my progress healthwise but also with the fundraising efforts and the building of Hidden Treasure Primary school.

So at present I am just home from hospital today after just a ten day stay and am feeling really good. Thanks to everyone on this blog it is thanks to you that I am feeling as good as I am because I was coming home to the news that....

Charlene's Project has raised the necessary £70,000. I actually do not know what to say apart from a MASSIVE thank you to every single one of you for your prayers, donations and support I could never in all my life have imagined that we would have the money in in the space of just five months. Isn't God great. Thank You. Thank You. Thank You.

So what now? Well we have been in talks with Fields of Life who are ready to start building right away. However we have been advised that it is best for the school to have a well so that the children and community can have an outlet for water and also teachers accommodation so we have moved the goal posts and are now aiming for £100,000 to meet these extra requirements and I know we can do it.

Thanks Again to absolutley EVERYBODY

God Bless as the Ugandans would say God is good all the time All the time God is good.

A Quick Hello

2010-01-20T23:00:00.001Z

First of all thanks to my dad for finishing the blog that I had started before I went back into hospital.

I am indeed back in for a little while but cannot really complain as I enjoyed a lovely 2.5 months out of the place :) My best record in well over a year. Unfortunately I had to come back in as after just a week off IV antibiotics my lungs decided they didn’t want to play that game anymore and enjoyed the way the IVs made them feel. I was quite hopeful when I came off them but unfortunately my chest declined rapidly without them which is a bit disappointing but I guess it just means I’m going to have to stay on IV antibiotics pretty much until I get my transplant. Also in that week that I was unwell I lost a load of weight so I have been working on that and am as determined as ever to reach that 40kg.

I do have to say that the time I enjoyed out of hospital was fantastic and I had the BEST Christmas ever with my family even managing (as dad has said) to get to Center Parcs which right up until we were due to go was looking doubtful but I managed it and had a fabulous time.

The school project is just going from strength to strength with the total at around £62,000 seriously a MASSIVE thank you to each and everyone of you out there when I was starting this project I could have never imagined it would come together like this. God truly works miracles. We recently had a meeting with Fields of Life with the view to start building pretty soon. I am seriously so excited and just have a mental picture of all these little children walking into a proper building of a school for the first time ever and its thanks to the generosity of you guys.

Ok its probably time I headed to bed but as I leave you tonight I ask that you please remember the people of Haiti. These people had nothing to start with and there country has just been turned upside down by such disaster. Just please pray that they will continue to find more survivors. Thank you and goodnight

Love

Charlene

Christmas and much more

2010-01-12T20:36:00.017Z

Firstly I am SO sorry that this blog has not been updated in what seems like forever.I promise with the new year that my blog will be updated more frequently. However the reason for this is not that I have been in hospital but that I have been busy with Christmas and that.

I am just looking back on the blog and realising that my last entry was the night before the Dolly Walk.

Well what a success that was with 150+ women turning out to walk around Lurgan at midnight with over £12,000 being raised on the night.Thank you so much to everyone who participated in the walk and I think it is safe to say a good night was had by all. Also a big thank you to Lurgan college hockey teams who on the morning of the Dolly Walk postponed their scheduled matches in order to the their own walk. Thank you.

Waringstown Primary school also hosted their own successful walk which rasied over £5,000. Amazing.

So many other individuals, schools, churches and businesses have supported me and sent donations or done fundraisers.
Christmas has come and gone and we had a lovely Christmas at home.

I was even well enough after Christmas for us to make the trip to England with the family. We all love Center Parcs and the weather was brilliant with plenty of snow making everything beautiful. We had a great time.

I cannot thank you all enough for all your support.
All your help in so many ways is appreciated more than I can say. God bless you all.

PS Charlene was readmitted to hospital after writing most of this. She had her longest spell out of hospital in well over a year - 8-9 weeks. She only had about a week off intravenous antibiotics after being on them 3 months and unfortunately was getting more chesty again and all the hard work of getting her weight up was quickly being undone. She is back on intravenous antibiotics so hopefully will pick up again quickly. Thanks for your ongoing thoughts and prayers. Dickie

A Good Day All Round

2009-12-12T00:49:00.002Z

Just a quick update on how my appointment with the transplant folk went today.

Obviously I have been suspended from the list since I got that stupid abcess about three months ago and the risk of it bursting during the operation would have been too great to take(trust me to do things in style huh?) The team from Newcastle wanted to review me to see what the situation was with the abcess and my weight.

All and all they were pretty happy with me and although the folk from England had not seen the results from my repeat CT scan the general feeling from the doctors here is that the stupid thing has decreased significantly in size. So what they are going to do is go back over to England and discuss the results with the rest of the team but certainly he can't see why if it has decreased I won't be put back on the list in the next few weeks as long as I continued to put on weight. On that front things are going well and I am at the 38kg mark which considering the way I was a few weeks back is a miracle. Seriously if there is anyone out there that doesn't believe there is a God take a look at my story. He is seriously just working miracle after miracle in my life now.

Things are now all set for the dolly walk which takes place tomorrow night and a BIG thank you has to go out to all the staff and pupils at Waringstown Primary School who had their own walk today THANK YOU SO MUCH

Char xx

Busy Busy Busy

2009-12-10T00:14:00.001Z

Sorry I'm only getting around to blogging now but things have been hectic (well for me anyway)

I am now out of hospital five weeks today and my dream of avoiding being in before Christmas is beginning to look more like a reality. Now that I have been doing so well I am enjoying more trips out which I am really enjoying and I am defintley getting into the Christmas spirit. I had my CT scan today however I will not get the results until Friday when I have the clinic appointment with the transplant team from Newcastle. Please pray that the abcess will have significantly decreased in size/disappeared as this will be the main factor on whether I make it back onto the list or not.

Project wise things are going fantastically well with the total now over £31,000. The dolly walk is coming up this Saturday night and so I am looking forward to that. So any women out there who fancy a good night out we will be meeting at Dollingstown from 11pm and setting off to walk to Lurgan and back. On the dolly walk I have been busy getting it out there as I can and was lucky enough to have the lovely Tara Mills from BBC newsline come down and film me for a piece ( terrifying!!!!) and then on Monday morning I set off nice and early (well 10am :)) for an interview on U105 with Pamela Ballentine which was an experience lol actually seeing inside a radio studio was pretty cool. I will try and get both interviews up on the website

So all and all things are going well. Thanks so much to everyone who is continuing to support the project and I promise I will do an update sometime over the weekend after the Dolly Walk.

Char
x

Sorry For Lack of Updates

2009-11-28T20:09:00.004Z

First of all sorry for the lack of updates recently. I really have no excuse.

Healthwise I am really feeling as well as I have done in a very LONG time. The only problem is one of the IV antibiotics I was on was making me very sick hence I have lost the best part of 4kgs so I am working hard to try and get it back on as I have an appointment with the transplant team on the 11th December and I am hoping that they will list me again. It would be a perfect (early) Christmas present to be honest. However Chest wise I'm doing great and my energy levels have been great(well for me anyways!!!)

A big Thank You to all of you who are continuing to support the Project. Things are going EXTREMELY well with the total well over £27,000. Also thank you to those organising different events in support of the project.

Don't forget for all you Dollys out there the plans for the Dolly walk are coming along nicely but there is still plenty of room for more to join on the 12 of December with registration being at 11.30pm.

Also final call for those still looking Santa letters this is the final week to order them.

Thanks Again to everyone for all your support and prayers

Char

x

Video

2009-11-22T22:55:00.004Z

I will do a full blog tomorrow as it is getting late but I just wanted to get this little video up. We are going to use this video to promote the project. Hope you like it and sure let me know what you think. If you think you can use it within your church or whatever contact me and I will get a copy to you. Thanks
Char x

Bad Blogger!!!

2009-11-14T21:40:00.003Z

First of all sorry to everyone that I haven't updated this in a while.

Since I got out of hospital things have been going ok. I'm still on IV antibiotics and had an appointment up at the hospital on Tuesday and they were VERY keen to keep me.To be honest I was just exhausted. They told me they wanted to change my antibiotics so I managed to convince them to let me try the new ones at home and I would come up again on Friday.

So Friday came and I was feeling SO much more energised and better so much so that I managed a driving lesson, lunch out and a wee trip to the shopping centre with Bethany and Serena on Thursday. Now I couldn't have done that last week. So I have to go back down to BCH on Wednesday but there was NO way I was staying :)

On the project front there is only one word to describe it:WOW!!!!

The Craft Fair at Jethro went really well bringing in £1000.

The Dolly Walk is fast approaching and there is still plenty of room so if you are interested check the website. Waringstown Primary School are also hosting their own walk the Friday before so yesterday the walk was launched from there with the help of Paddy Johns and David Humphries.

So check it out as the pictures and press release will be in the papers soon.

Thanks again everyone for your continued support.

Char

p.s BIG NEWS!!! We have raised over the £27,000 mark Thanks so much everybody

No Rest For The Wicked!!!

2009-11-03T22:37:00.003Z

Thought it was about time I updated this blog (I'm getting good at this game!!!)

After a long 2.5 weeks in hospital my bags are packed and I'm going home tomorrow!!!!! Thank goodness. Other BIG news is that I saw the X-Ray for myself today and the little annoying abcess is significantly decreased in size. Thank you all so much for your prayers they have really worked as I'm not really sure it should be as small as it is in such a small space of time so Thank You. God is truly AMAZING.

As the title suggests things are going well and I have the pleasure of welcoming the GMTV cameras once again tomorrow evening just when I am out of hospital lol

On the fundraising front there is a wee Christmas Craft Fair in the Jethro Centre, Lurgan on the 11th November at 7pm. If you need directions just give me a wee email

Thanks Again Everyone (on my last post from JAIL!!!)
Charlene
xx

£20,000...I Think So!!!

2009-10-29T21:15:00.003Z

First of all the big news is we are now over the £20,000 which is actually AMAZING!!!!!! Also with fundraising activities really starting to take off I'm quite sure it not going to stay around that mark for long :) Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed so far.

Again I will mention that Santa letters and wordsearches are still available so if you would be interested in either just give me a wee e-mail at charlene@charlenesproject.org .

The sponsorship forms for the Dolly Walk are ready and are looking fabulous, so again if you are interested in taking part either in the Lurgan/Dollingstown area one or holding your own wherever in the world you maybe again e-mail me and I will get the sponsor forms to you. Thanks

On the health front I am starting to finally feel better and I am sure that that is due to the news of reaching the £20,000 mark. I ate today for the first time in three weeks ok so it was a starbucks(probably not the most nutritious but its a start!!) No but seriously guys thank you so much for all your kind messages and prayers they have really been what has gotten me through this last few weeks. Mum and Dad have literally been living up here with me so thanks also to everyone that has been kind enough to help out with the rest of the crew with lifts, meals etc. we all appreciate it so much.

Today the whole crew came up (well bar Dave) and literally took over my room but that is the way I like it and it was so good to see them all again.

Anyway I had better go here but Thanks Again everyone
Charlene
x

The Only Way is Up

2009-10-25T22:37:00.002Z

It has been a tough weekend health wise with learning I have an abcess and a clot on the lung and with my peg tube also falling out but thankfully has been re-inserted today. While I have had the frustration of lying in here I have been picked up by people out there fundraising for the project.
A big thank you to The McDonald family in Dromore for the coffee morning which they held in Dromore Non-Subscribing Presbyterian church.

Also to Barbara Bingham and my Auntie Tena who both had birthdays but instead of receiving presents asked that donations be made to the project.

As you can see thanks to these events and other donations made in recent days my total has nearly reached the £13,000 mark.

Thanks to all working hard out there as Im kinda stuck in here for a long time (but if I have my way it wont be like that)
Char
x
p.s The icing on the cake was when Liverpool deservedly beat Man Utd today. Perfect

Fundraising Really Taking Off

2009-10-24T22:37:00.003+01:00

A big thank you to everyone over the last wee while that has held various fundraising events for the project. These have all been really well supported and the donations made have really helped us in reaching our goal as we are now over the £11,000 mark.

Thanks Again
Char

Coffee Morning

2009-10-23T15:56:00.003+01:00

Just to let everyone in know that there is a coffee morning being held tomorrow morning (Saturday 24th October). It is being held by Donna McDonald and her daughter Kerry ( who plays hockey with our Bethany & Serena). It is being held in Dromore Non Subscribing Pres. Church from 10am-12pm. All money raised will be going to the Charlene project.

Unfortunatley with still being stuck in hospital I will not be able to make it but guys if you around the area please drop in and say hello.
Thanks Very Much
Char

ps If you need directions check out the link below
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?sourceid=navclient&rlz=1T4HPEB_enGB311GB301&q=dromore%20non%20subscribing%20pres%20church&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wl

I'm Back

2009-10-22T22:34:00.003+01:00

Just a quick update to say that I am beginning to improve. I think I can honestly say that this last week was probably one of the worst I have ever experienced. Sure there is still a long way to go but put it like this I'm already pestering the docs to let me home so that can only be a good thing!!

Thanks so much to everyone who is praying for me and the family,facebooking,us and texting us Mum and Dad have been sitting with me most days and I always love when they read out all of the texts that they have received Thanks so much folks they really do help.

On the fundraising side of things we have hit the £10,000 mark so keep it coming folks Thank you so much. Also if anyone else is interested the santa letters and wordsearches are still available

Thanks Again
Char
x

Improvement and Thanks

2009-10-20T23:07:00.004+01:00

Dickie again:
We are in so much a better place tonight than last night. Yesterday was very, very difficult but today Charlene has picked up the baton and fought and battled back against all the odds. The central line has been successfully removed and Charlene has a little bit more energy today and tons more fight than we could ever have hoped for. There is clearly a long way to go, and we have often been going two steps forward and two steps back, but things are again pointing and moving in the right direction - a real answer to the prayers of so many. Thank you to everyone who has been praying for and thinking of Charlene.

Sorry we have not been able to answer all the texts and messages, but your love and support means just so much to Charlene and all the other Barrs.

God is always good. God bless.

Ill

2009-10-20T02:09:00.002+01:00

Dickie writing. Charlene has had a really difficult day. Has been very ill - antibiotics changed again, other medication added in and minor surgical procedure scheduled for tomorrow. Please remember her and if you pray, please pray for her. Thank you.

Yet another admission

2009-10-17T23:30:00.004+01:00

Charlene got out of hospital on Monday past but unfortunately took very ill again during the week with high temperatures, chest pain and vomiting. She eventually agreed to be readmitted again yesterday (Friday). She looked so ill and the hospital changed her antibiotics yet again - she is now on a 3 antibiotic combination (this is her 16th course of intravenous antibiotics this year).
Today thankfully there is amazing progress. She is still not well and looks so weak but she wanted to come down to meet her Mum at the front of the hospital as I had brought down an Amazon package Charlene had ordered - it contained Michael Buble's new cd which Charlene had bought for her Mum. What can I say.

Thanks to Lynne Strong for doing a coffee morning today for Charlenes Project. Over £500 raised - thanks to all who supported.

Santa

2009-10-14T20:09:00.002+01:00

I have been in contact with the big man in the North Pole and this year he is sending letters to all boys and girls before Christmas(just to check they are behaving themselves). He told me that he would be very grateful if for every letter he sends the children's Mummy and Daddy could donate £4 to the Charlene Project or £10 for a family with 3 or more children.If you are interested and would like me to pass your details onto Santa please let me know

Thanks Charlene

Home Again

2009-10-12T22:20:00.002+01:00

Just a quick post to let you know that I got home again today which feels amazing although Im still on IV antibiotics.

Fundraising continues to go really well and some of the events are really starting to take off.

On the transplant front I got my letter in the post today to notify me that I am now on the list so the waiting game begins. Lets just hope it's not too much of a wait

Thanks Again
x

Word Search

2009-10-06T19:10:00.004+01:00

Charlene has been unwell today and her blood tests would suggest it is further infection in her chest. Clearly if she were to get the call at times like this she would not be well enough to go for transplant. Needs to see progress with things again so appreciate prayers. She sends her regards to everyone following her site.

Sunday Life ran another article last weekend and Craigavon Echo featured her on the front page today. http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/sunday-life/lurgan-girl-given-goahead-for-lifesaving-procedure-as-sunday-life-readers-donate-to--her-uganda-school-project-14521631.html

We appreciate this publicity so that money can be raised for Hidden Treasure.

A Word Search sheet is available to sell at £1 per sheet. Please get in contact if you can help Charlene by selling some for her.

Thanks

Chest Infection

2009-10-02T22:41:00.003+01:00

This is Dickie, Charlenes Dad updating her Blog. She has been on IV antibiotics for over a week and unfortunately over the last few days she has been feeling things are going down so today she was readmitted to hospital again. Tonight when we were with her she was in reasonable form, her IV antibiotics have been changed and thankfully her weight hasn't dropped, still being 39.6kg.
Hopefully things will pick up quickly - we still haven't heard officially that Charlene is on the transplant list - hopefully we will have that confirmation early next week.
Thanks so much for being with her on this journey.

Interview of GMTV

2009-09-29T19:02:00.003+01:00

Here is the wee clip from GMTV

Good News

2009-09-25T19:23:00.001+01:00

So today was the big day where I would find out whether or not I would be put on the waiting list for a lung transplant. So as mum and I walked into the room I was rather apprehensive as to what was going to be said particularly as I was working so hard to reach the necessary 40kg. So off I went and stepped on the scales and the final number was 39.3kg/6st 3 lb (which they were happy enough with provided it continued to increase) Apparently the average weight for my height 148cm /4ft 8.5in is 45kg-55kg.

So basically the consultant from Freeman Hospital, Newcastle said that there were a couple of things to consider.

Initially there had been a query over my liver as it was a bit enlarged. However after exploring this they were not too concerned. Phew

Next was getting the right mix of antibiotics that would work best for me afterwards if i was to receive a transplant. So the microbiologists in Newcastle have found a couple of good mixes and have just to find the BEST one that will work.

At the assessment back in August they had to check my blood type and it turns out that I am O+ so as this is the most common it will work in my favour if I was to be listed.

So at this stage I was feeling pretty ok about the situation as they had not said anything that made me feel like it wasn't going ahead. However they then proceeded to tell me that there are antibodies in my blood that would mean that 20% of organ donors would be a no go. At this point i was not sure where the whole thing was.

Then after giving me a quick summary the consultant basically told me that if I continued to progress with my weight gain they were happy enough and that I would be placed on the list by… THE END OF NEXT WEEK.

Will Keep You Updated

Tomorrow is the Day!!!

2009-09-24T22:30:00.002+01:00

Ok so tomorrow is the big day where I will find out what the craic is with the whole transplant issue and whether or not they are going to list me for a double lung transplant. To be honest Im feeling quite mixed about the whole thing as after working so hard to get my weight up to what was required I want them to give me the go ahead.

The fundraising for the project is going really well and my new target is to reach £7000 by the end of Septemeber. Also if anyone would like to hold a fundraiser for the project please let me know as I would be only too delighted to pass on any info about the project that is required.

GMTV went well the other night oh and look out for the Sunday Life this week as I may make a wee appearance.

GMTV Interview

2009-09-21T19:32:00.003+01:00

well just got out of hospital there this afternoon to complete my IV antibiotics at home. The good news is that my weight has reached the 39.8kg mark so the 40kg necessary for friday's appointment is within reach

Jane and Nicola from GMTV interviewed me this afternoon about the school and my fundraising I was dead nervous but the girls were great and put me right at ease (even if one of them was a Man U supporter!!!!) It goes out tomorrow at 6.35am, 7.05am and 8.05am (how inconsiderate, they clearly are not aware that Miss Barr does NOT do mornings)

On the publicity front had a phone call from Sunday Life and they coming tomorrow to do an article. Who knows next I'll have my own reality TV show

Hope with all this publicity I get more of the funds needed

All My Love
Char

p.s website is now up and running and can be found at http://www.charlenesproject.org/ so be sure and visit :)

Quick Update

2009-09-19T17:38:00.005+01:00

Ok so I let the old man take over the blog last time lol :) but now I'm back. Got home for a little while today (so glad to see normality again). I'm feeling really good actually however I am still on Iv's but to be honest I'm ok with that as it means we nip things in the bud quickly. Im getting home for good on Monday.Thank Goodness! On the weight front things are good as im sitting at 38.4kg so me thinks a week at home with mum's cooking and I will be flying past the 40kg mark lol.
On the project side of things everything going well. Can't believe I will be welcoming GMTV to the house this week lol. Talk about being petrified but to be honest my attitude is it will be over soon lol and lets hope if I pass my first media challenge it will mean that there will be many to follow. Thanks guys for all your love and Prayers
Char
x

Portacath back in

2009-09-16T10:49:00.003+01:00

This is Charlenes Dad, Dickie updating her Blog. Charlene is back in hospital and disappointed that she does not currently have internet access.

She went back into hospital on Tuesday for insertion of her portacath (the central line - that allows her to get her intravenous drugs easily when they are needed).

We all were a bit concerned as we didn't want her to have a GA with her chest as it obviously could have put her back weight wise with her appointment with the transplant sugeons coming up in about 10 days.

A lot of people prayed as she went down to theatres yesterday and the line went in easily under local.

Charlene was back in the ward and enjoying pizza last night. Her and her Mum had ordered so much pizza, there was even some left for me and Natalie when we visited later in the evening.

Although over all the medical staff are pleased with things, Charlene's white cell count is up a bit, so she has been started back on intravenous antibiotics again.

Her weight is over 38 kg so we are hopefully still on target for the 40 kg mark for her big appointment coming up with the transplant doctors.

The other big news is that GMTV want to interview Charelene - you can imagine the panic she is in - lol

We still need offers for coffee mornings, sponsored walks, table quizzes etc etc by many good folk to start the ball rolling well and truly with the fundraising.

Over 12,000 hits on this Blog - please please pass on about Charlenes blog site to all your friends and work colleagues so we make this all happen for her in Uganda.

Thanks, thanks, thanks for all your support and prayers.

Sorry For Lack Of Updates

2009-09-13T17:18:00.002+01:00

Sorry I have not updated the blog in a while :(
Things are going really good and I am keeping well having been off IV antibiotics for about three weeks now (trust me that is a long time lol). I am still waiting on the transplant team coming over from England at the end of the month so until then I am continuing to work on getting my weight up to the 40 kg mark (who would have thought it would be so hard) Although I am currently well at the minute I am going into hospital tomorrow for a small operation this week so hopefully that will go well and I will be out soon. Things have been busy at home with everyone back to school and the likes so I am now really starting to get into the swing of things with the Charlene Project.

On the project side of things, it is all going great with the money continuing to come in (thanks folks) and also I have a few fundraising events in the pipeline. So it is all very exciting. I would ask that you guys keep praying for the teachers and pupils of Hidden Treasure Primary school and also the wee community that it is in as they literally have nothing. Thanks again guys for your contunied support and prayers
Charlene
xxx

Time For An Update

2009-08-30T21:46:00.003+01:00

Thought it was time that I updated this thing. Since my last post things have been going really well and I have been feeling great with the main focus being on getting my weight up to the necessary 40kgs. I have also come off my IV antibiotics after 10 very long weeks and so far so good. I can't believe the "summer" is over and I have really enjoyed having everyone around home so it will be strange when they all go back to uni, school etc but hey.

On the project front things are going really well and the fundraising is fantastic (thanks to everyone that has visited my Justgiving page) Also a number of people have volunterred to hold a few coffee mornings for it so we will see how that goes. If anyone has any other fundraising ideas please do not hesitate to e-mail me on charlenebarr15@hotmail.com. Thanks again to everyone
God Bless
Char

Thanks Everyone

2009-08-21T17:58:00.001+01:00

This is just a wee update to say that I am feeling much better and am home from hospital (hopefully for a little longer this time :)) Also just want to thank everyone for their interest in both the blog and the just giving website I really am amazed at all the interest that the project has received in such early stages so thanks everyone. I will try my best to keep this blog updated with any news or developments on the school so keep checking in :)

Thanks again

Charlene

p.s If i have not updated this blog I also have a twitter page for the project. The link is www.twitter.com/charleneproject

And so the dream begins

2009-08-18T21:03:00.000+01:00

Well have finally got around to starting this blog. It is here that I aim to keep you guys up to date with what is happening with my plans to build a school in Uganda and also my journey as I prepare for a lung transplant.

I have recently just completed a series of tests in Newcastle England to test my suitability for a double lung transplant and if everything goes according to plan I hope to be on the list within the next few months. God willing.

As many of you know I have been unwell for quite sometime now and as a result had to leave school early . It was then that I came up with the idea of building a school in Uganda. I had been out previously once before and was due to go out during this summer however couldn't due to ill health. The need of the children shocked me and I saw that they were even been deprived of something as small as an education. Something which in this country we take for granted and children complain about going to school. As a result I want to make a difference to a small number of children in Uganda by providing them with a chance to go to school. When the Love For Life team were out in Uganda this summer I sent them with strict instructions to try and find me a primary school that they thought could do with help. they viewed a couple of different schools and found Hidden Treasure Primary, it is simply one little room made of sticks and mud where all of the children are taught together. I really do feel like this is the right school to be starting my project with and I pray to God that it will be the first school of many that the Charlene Project has helped to contribute towards. Thanks to everyone for your continued support and prayers.

Charlene
p.s. below are a few pictures of what Hidden Treasure Primary school currently looks like.

The ChalkBoard used to teach the kids

Outside the School

Here are some of the kids in the school and just look at what they are expected to sit on all day