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Kombi guyBRONZE Member
HOP OM
225 posts
Location: HOP Central, New Zealand


Posted:
Hey all, wavehello

I received a few emails recently from a lady named Leah. Now let me just say that normally answering the support emails here at HOP I do get to meet a whole bunch of you via email and hear some interesting stories and receive alot of positive feedback about the site etc etc. We do also respect the fact that the emails are classed as confidential between us and you and treat your privacy with the utmost of respect.
I emailed Leah and asked her for permission to place her story and life experience on the discussion board for you all to see, as her story moved me to the point of wanting to share her experience with you all.
She agreed and didnt mind that her name was used in this post.
Below is part of the email that Leah sent to me here at HOP.
(Chris)

I am very grateful for your website and have spent lots of time learning about fire safety, proper procedures, etc. I’m a relatively new “burner” (only done 3 burns) and have taken safety as my #1 motto. I even carry a fire extinguisher in my “burn bag” and I have purchased entertainment liability insurance for fire dancers.

The art of poi has been a tremendous help to me physically. I am a 6-year breast cancer survivor. Following treatments in 1998 my left arm had been affected with lack of strength and no flexibility due to nerve damage from surgery and muscle atrophy from radiation treatments. I have been swinging poi now for 11 months and am thrilled to say that I now have full range of motion in my left arm and almost full flexibility back. I love it!! I’m the oldest member of our poi class (51 years old and a grandmother of a 2 year old) but art knows no age limit and some of my now closest friends are people I spin with, fifteen to twenty years younger than I. My tutor has said I’m an inspiration to her as she has watched me regain what I thought was lost forever.

Thank you and Happy Holidays to all,
Leah


When I asked Leah to post the above article Leah was more than happy to share her experinces with you all and replied to me with the below email
(Chris)

Surviving breast cancer is more than just breathing…it has always been my hope that I can show others that you can not only survive, but really live. It wasn’t until after I had experienced breast cancer that I embraced activities that would ultimately be healing to my body in ways I never imagined, but would bring about confidence, peace and self-esteem to a bruised psyche. I began taking belly dancing lessons 2 years after the cancer because I was feeling like a “couch potato” (an American term for no energy level). Soon I found myself performing in restaurants, fairs and shows. I joined a singing group of breast cancer survivors and we became the first group of its kind in the USA to record original music and sing songs of hope and inspiration to others. In January 2004 I started twirling and the rest, as the saying goes, is history.

Though sometimes I feel as though I’m very slow at learning new tricks and feel a little behind my poi-mates, I love twirling!! I’m close to getting a backwards weave and just this past Monday night in class I was able to do a take-out with both hands for the first time! I can’t describe the feeling I get when spinning. There is an endorphin-rush…those “feel good” chemicals in your brain that get released into your bloodstream. The art of poi makes me happy! It’s an extremely positive art form.

Chris, I think you’ve made my day! If there’s anything else I can write or send your way, just let me know.

Most kindly,
Leah


Working here at HOP and receiving emails from fellow twirlers like Leah really lets me know that we are on the right path as to what we are doing here, and shows me the good that we are passing on to people from all around the world.
Happy to be part of the process. smile
(Chris)

nearly_all_goneSILVER Member
Pooh-Bah
1,626 posts
Location: Southampton, United Kingdom


Posted:
biggrin what a wonderful story. Good on Leah, and thanks for sharing!

What a wonderful miracle if only we could look through each other's eyes for an instant.
Thoreau


Pink...?BRONZE Member
Mistress of Pink...Multicoloured
6,140 posts
Location: Over There, United Kingdom


Posted:
Thats a really amazing story.

It's lovely to hear what great things poi has done, and can do to people.

hug

Never pick up a duck in a dungeon...


BirdGOLD Member
now available in "advanced"
6,086 posts
Location: Cornwall, United Kingdom


Posted:
Thats the first thing I have read in a long time that has moved me to tears!!

Thankyou for sharing that Leah (and you for posting Chris)

My state of mind is not yours to define!

There is a very fine line between "hobby" and "mental illness."


SkulduggeryGOLD Member
Pirate Pixie Crew Captain
8,428 posts
Location: Wales


Posted:
Thanks for sharing your inspirational story with us Leah and welcome to HoP! hug

Feed me Chocolate!!! Feed me NOW!


filthy 23BRONZE Member
member
136 posts
Location: USA


Posted:
Hey, that's my Leah! wow! yay! smile
She has the biggest excitement for poi and for life. She's full of exhuberance, love ubblove and wonder. I think of her when I get discouraged as a teacher. Her story is definately affirming.

ubbrollsmile
heart

I AM working.


filthy 23BRONZE Member
member
136 posts
Location: USA


Posted:
and another thing, she bakes cookies and brings them to share with the class!


smile

I AM working.


mycoBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
2,084 posts
Location: melbourne, victoria, australia


Posted:
that story brought tears to my eyes: so full of hope and joy! thank you both for sharing such a beautiful thing with us all.

I've often wondered about physical benefits poi can bring for people with illness/disability. I work with people with physical and/or intellectual disabilities, and have been curious how poi can help my clients as both a form of enjoyable excercise as well as stimulating left and right brain activity. It's encouraging to hear about someone with physical limitations that has benefited so much from poi.

flash fireBRONZE Member
Sporadically Prodigal
2,758 posts
Location: Sydney, NSW, Australia


Posted:
bless...

HoP Posting Guidelines
Is it the Truth?
Is it Fair to all concerned?
Will it build Goodwill and Better Friendships?
Will it be Beneficial to all concerned?
If you can answer YES to these 4 questions then you may post a reply.


ado-pGOLD Member
Pirate Ninja
3,882 posts
Location: Galway/Ireland


Posted:
thats lovely

hug

Love is the law.


SymBRONZE Member
Geek-enviro-hippy priest
1,858 posts
Location: Diss, Norfolk, United Kingdom


Posted:
That is amazing....I may well pass that on to a good firend who is coming though breast cancer at the moment.

hug

There's too many home fires burning and not enough trees


DuncGOLD Member
playing the days away
7,263 posts
Location: The Middle lands, United Kingdom


Posted:
wow that's awesome! Wouldn't mind some of them cookies too wink

hug

Let's relight this forum ubblove


Bretchenthusiast
247 posts
Location: Cork, Ireland at present


Posted:
Cool banana's. hug2

They say there's a silver lining behind every cloud.. this is the sunny in the blue sky.

I used to be indecisive, but I'm not so sure now.....


peles_paynimSILVER Member
member
80 posts
Location: the fascist states of amerika, USA


Posted:
thank you so much leah...i've been struggling with an anxiety disorder for about a year now...every once in a while my brain misfires and i feel overwhelmed with feelings of anxiety...sometimes poi is the only thing that takes that mis-created energy and directs it out of your body...the feeling of release and relief after a sweaty poi session can't be matched by any drug in thr world!!!

real eyes
realize
real lies


Hanzveteran
1,328 posts
Location: Bendigo, Vic, Australia


Posted:
wow... thats amazing, I love hearing stories about how things like this help people to become stronger and all of that.
leah, you're such an insperation, keep enjoying yourself and dont let age stop you.

If anyone else has any stories like leahs or peles_paynim I would love to hear them, and I am sure that others agree

Gri-griMember
84 posts
Location: Richardsbay, South Africa


Posted:
Absolutely. Inspirational stories like that can help get you by the day.

Well done Leah, not only for what you've achieved but also how you've achieved it. I got the impression that you mainatined a positive outlook on your whole situation throughout your ordeal.

Which to me (li'l ol' me), that's worth a bagazillion words

Well done beerchug

Where the mind goes,
The body will follow...


SocksBRONZE Member
Arf! Can I have a biscut?
288 posts
Location: North America, Mid West, USA


Posted:
Leah? YOU ROCK!

And coming from someone who dresses up like a dog for kicks, that says something. Quite WHAT it says, I'm not sure...

Socks

I'm weird. Just work through that and we'll all be fine.

"If you are a dog and your owner suggests that you wear a sweater suggest that he wear a tail." - Fran Lebowitz


KatBRONZE Member
Pooh-Bah
2,211 posts
Location: London, Wales (UK)


Posted:
Well done Leah. What an inspirational story!

"If you think about disaster, you will get it. Brood about death and you hasten your demise. Think positively and masterfully, with confidence and faith, and life becomes more secure, more fraught with action, richer in achievement and experience."
- Swami Sivanada

Come faeries, take me out of this dull world, for I would ride with you upon the wind and dance upon the mountains like a flame.

- W B Yeats


colemanSILVER Member
big and good and broken
7,330 posts
Location: lunn dunn, yoo kay, United Kingdom


Posted:
thank-you for sharing that with us all leah. hug

with massive respect,


cole. x

"i see you at 'dis cafe.
i come to 'dis cafe quite a lot myself.
they do porridge."
- tim westwood


duballstarSILVER Member
slack rating - 9.5
2,216 posts
Location: Suburbiton, Yoo-Kay, United Kingdom


Posted:
biggrin that's wonderful... hug

It is our fantasies that make us real. Without our fantasies we're just a blank monkey' - Terry Pratchett


filthy 23BRONZE Member
member
136 posts
Location: USA


Posted:
Written by: Dunc


wow that's awesome! Wouldn't mind some of them cookies too wink

hug




Ok, here ya go Dunc!

Non-Https Image Link

I AM working.


JauntyJamesSILVER Member
Carpal \'Tunnel
3,533 posts
Location: Hampshire College, MA, USA


Posted:
three cheers for Leah!
hip-hip, huzzah!
hip-hip, huzzah!
hip-hip, um.... what was i talking about again? oh, yeah, Huzzah!!
hug

-James

"How do you know if you're happy or sad without a mask? Or angry? Or ready for dessert?"


Flame BoyGOLD Member
veteran
1,508 posts
Location: Out, United Kingdom


Posted:
Wow, Leah sounds like a pretty amazing gal, Im meeting her tomorrow. She lives in Salisbury and a bunch of us from soton-firespinning are meeting up at the Mill Pub (all other peeps welcome).

AAARRRGGGHHH!!! My giant stick broke!!! In two!!! My stick broke in two!!! ubbcrying


PukSILVER Member
Sweet talented nutter
2,615 posts
Location: Brisbane Oz, Australia


Posted:
Im copying that for my mum a breat cancer survivor

that shrewd and knavish sprite

Called Robin Good Fellow ; are you not he that is frighten of the maidens of the villagery - fairy

I am the merry wander of the night -puk


PsychoTronicstranger
80 posts
Location: Greece-Samos-Athens


Posted:
so nice.Leah you are so strong.Be always like you are now:) cause its nice

"For once there was an unknown land, full of strange flowers and subtle perfumes,
a land of which it is joy of all joys to dream, a land where all things are perfect and poisonous."
"Put out the torches! Hide the moon! Hide the stars!"




CeCeMonetmember
25 posts
Location: Phoenix, Az


Posted:
Yeah Leah! We love you so much sweetie! I am glad that your story is out there for others to see and share smile See you tomorrow!

NicNac (Hot Shot)


wave weavesmiley biggrin

Her Ladyship Hot Shot


NateBRONZE Member
Groovy ga watashi no namae desu!
1,530 posts
Location: Oxford, Oxfordshire, England


Posted:
story's like that make me really apreciate poi and all it does to
the body

amazing story, keep up with the spinning leah

I like Languages.

Educate your self in the Hazards of Fire Breathing STAY SAFE! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/hug.gif" alt="" />


enchantressnewbie
1 post
Location: AZ, USA


Posted:
i think you missed the part about her living in the usa, tho it is sweet of you to want to meet her. she is sweet and loving to all that she meets and she has filled my life with happiness and hope for all of those that have survived breast cancer.

She has done so much for help raising funds for breast cancer reasearch and i am proud to know her and call her my friend.

Thank you Leah for all that you have given me *hugs* hug


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