Saturday, December 14, 2013

happy Christmas





          Happy Christmas 2013
It will soon be two years since I moved to Point Cook. It’s taking time to get used to the weather change although I have to admit I have enjoyed the summers because it’s not humid. I do miss the hills as it’s very flat where I live now .

Thankfully I am still in touch with very nice people who bought our place out at Fernbank Creek near Port Macquarie. I’m grateful for the many photos they have sent of them and the kids on their horses in the house and looking very happy to be living there as we were. Thankfully also I am still in touch with Winifred the lady that Don and I bought the place at Fernbank Creek off and have just received her Christmas card. It’s nice to be able to let her know that the place she loved and lived with her husband so long, is being now enjoyed by one of the nicest families I have met.

Earlier this year our father’s sister Aunty Ruth passed away. I have to thank our Aunty Betty for her care for her in the last years. Up to this point all of our family appear to have had a reasonable year health wise and am looking forward hopefully to the same in the next year.

Not a lot of events to record this year really. I did get taken to the Cirque d Soleil by Alison and Andrew for my birthday and that was something special. If you can get to it I wouldn’t miss it.

In March my sister Veronica and I went to the Port Fairy Folk Festival three or four days and we had the best time ever just about. There were so many singers and bands from here and overseas that we were able to soak in the atmosphere there was something special. Average age about 60 so we fitted in pretty well. We are going again next March and looking forward to it I urge anyone who is able to get to the Festival just to do it once in a life you won’t be disappointed. I got down to  see Melissa and Chris a couple of times this year and always have a wonderful time when I do.  I am fortunate in living close to Alison and Andrew and we all keep in touch - it may be a small family but ours is a very close family.

I am so much looking forward to having Christmas with Melissa and Alison and family. Christmas time is always very special for our family as for others. Christmases past were always made very special by Don’s being who he was and making things very special for all of us. We try to remember his sense of fun and of the importance of the family when we all came together and this is what Christmas means to the girls and I.

I hope you will have had a good year family wise, health wise and in every other way. I’d like to wish you a happy Christmas and happy New Year and the best wishes for the future.


Sunday, November 17, 2013

some photos

It’s a really beautiful day to day. About 22° and a light breeze. It’s like a spring day and we are nearly at the beginning of summer. We’re going to be together this Christmas the girls and myself. And in some way I know Don will be there too. It’s hard to believe that there’s been six years no seven since I had Christmas with Don and the girls altogether. We had the best Christmas time; we took the best photos. It’s been a year since I’ve been back to where Don’s buried but even though it’s a cemetery it’s in a beautiful spot  - lovely and peaceful with lovely gum trees all around and wallabies lots of birds (Don would be pleased). Get there one day. Find
My sister and I at Altona

Mucking up at Altona

a good day


Campbells Cove

Campbells Cove

Me at home

 s Drinkies (she is a baaad influence - she's the eldest)

At Geelong - more drinkie (only one I was the driver)


being naughty at Geelong

My sister lost her glass of wine - I knew where it was
 but had fun at her expense and let her find it herself.



Right where she left it


the weekends hard especially on beautiful days like today.

My sister was down recently we took lots of photos... She does love those shops. I think the shopping gene missed me. I like to look for about an hour and finished. We went out to Altona on the pier which was really nice and had a glass of wine in a restaurant there looking over the street. And we went out to a  place called Campbell’s Cove which was really interesting -  there are all these little houses there like cabins all along the foreshore, different colours and designs -  in the middle of nowhere 0  I’ve put some photos of them.

It’s funny when I went to the end driving past this Campbells Cove there is a car park there and I just noticed that people were really friendly  - a lot of single older men sitting in their cars about ready to leave. I commented to my sister who wasn’t in the car at the time (she was taking photos). When we got home we did a bit of research on Campbells Cove and apparently round the corner there is a nudie bathing area. Might account for the mixture of people we saw  - was quite amused that we noticed a friendly they were.

Life goes on. I don’t seem to post much these days it’s sort of as if I have a brain fog since I moved to Melbourne. Hopefully the old brain will spark up again soon. I love living here but I do miss the hills. I do miss the birdsong and the lizards and insects and things that grow is to listen to crickets if required here.

But am close to one of my girls I wish to be close to both of them. I’m very grateful for what I do have  - and grateful for the life that I will have - and it sure beats being on the wrong side of the grass.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

All my photos from my whole blog back to 2005 have disappeared...has anyone else had this happen? If so how do you get them back?

Sunday, September 29, 2013

Steve Hughes on the Homeless



Sunday, September 22, 2013

The Bee Gees - Morning Of My Life



Saturday, September 14, 2013







Happy birthday Melissa...

Sunday, September 01, 2013



Here is to my father...I am ten years older than he was when he was killed...but sometimes it feels he has just left the room. Its amazing how much he was to us all - he grew up in a time when it wasn't all about him... a good thing to remember.














My girls today are no doubt thinking about their dad and what he was to them - doesn't hurt to reflect and appreciate. Not everyone has a good man as a dad but those who do or did are blessed.














Saturday, August 03, 2013

I haven't been posting in here a lot lately - which is something I wonder at as I enjoyed doing this. Since moving from my old home I don't think I have written one original thought . I guess it takes time to settle and all that and I am happy enough where I am - but I so much miss being able to see into the distance. 
Miss the sunrise over the frost





































Don't see any of these birds here












I guess it takes time to settle and all that and I am happy enough where I am - but I so much miss being able to see into the distance. I love it that I am able to see our  youngest often during the week. She is a lovely little soul. I wish I was able to be live closer to our eldest - Australia is such a big country.

Its a funny street that I live in now. The paling fences are higher than me all around so that once in your yard you can only see the roof tops of the houses next door. When i first moved here I thought that this privacy was a great thing, but am not so sure now. I think it would be a good thing if just in one small section of the fence (about 3 ft) the palings could be slightly lower so that we might just call "hello" to each other from time to time. It is so odd to be in my yard  hanging out the washing or mowing, and to hear neighbours on the others side only inches away doing something, but because you can't see them you just don't call our "hello" as you would if you could see therm. I don't think long term it is a good thing - as they are all pretty nice people but I can go weeks without seeing any of them. Sometimes if I look up and down the street there is not one single person walking or out the front doing something. With all these houses and kids etc - you wonder is everyone inside watching tele or using the computer? or are they always out...? Its a weird feeling almost like in the Walking Dead - its too quiet and one could imagine a band of Zombies coming out of one of the houses or from around the corner.

Health hasn't been so good of late but am working on it... Just my thyroid and Cortisol levels went really low I guess after all the stress from the past 6 years or so and I seem to lack energy and I feel I need something to give me drive again - am not unhappy, but am not anything much - this too shall pass. I don't recommend anyone living alone for too long - in winter the nights are just too dark and too  long.

But hey I am here and have the life so many don't have. I am going to see our eldest soon and that will be wonderful - 

Friday, July 26, 2013

WDHB - Fluoride re-visited



Wednesday, June 26, 2013

John Hill interviewed me today 26th June for Channel Ten News. It can be seen at this link - I look a bit rough around the edges as I was up at four flew to Sydney was with John Hill and John Kaye MLC till midday - then back to airport and back to Melbourne - But it was well worth it for the result which was seen all over NSW... http://ten.com.au/ten-news-sydney.htm?vid=2507528095001 Please can I ask if you feel able that you share this, as it is really hard to get such interviews. My aim is an independent Inquiry into all aspects of Don's treatment and death

Thursday, June 20, 2013

Foxymoron, for a long time I have not been feeling well, low energy, shortness of breath, pressure and at times chest pain - Rang my doctor one day about the abnormal ECG's I had had - and he said go straight to hospital - Sounds like you have a blockage - then he spoke to Ali on the phone and told her to take me there and grab things I needed because it might be that I needed to have a blockage cleared. he was being a good doctor - but with our family history I freaked...even for me to go near a hospital increases BP and pulse and I have panic attacks - But poor Ali was really upset and almost ran into the back of a van...she has never done that with me in the car. We let Melissa know because she is in Sydney and a part of our very small family. I was amazed how well they treated me...everyone was nice! They checked over some things and I was released but with a few more tests to follow - there is something wrong there but the doc thinks it might be Gall bladder or other...
I have been under a lot of stress for a long time I guess ...but its more easy to tell someone not to stress than to do it yourself.
A scary few days but am feeling calmer now... what will be...I guess I was scared when my GP said certain things because it was exactly what happened to mum who died suddenly only about 6 yrs older than I am now... and I know the girls have had enough to deal with. I know I must look after myself a bit better. Although I don't do too much wrong really. I think it was just the growing and constant tiredness which has effected my fitness...
I haven't been posting much for a while because I just don't seem to feel I can write anything of length or interest...am not depressed at all, and quite happy in my own way... will get a few things sorted hopefully and get myself back again

Sunday, June 16, 2013

Please take the time to listen to this right through. It is an excellent interview with the husband of Shelly Long a woman who walked into a hospital for Surgery and came out Quadriplegic. Its much more complicated than this and the interview explains what was done, and in the last part covers what should be done to change things. Its over an hour but I found this one of the best interviews on Medical Negligence and its effects I have ever listened to.

Danny Long as well has a web page which goes much further and is an excellent resource for those of us in this situation

Saturday, June 15, 2013

17 June 2013
Media Release
Health Minister Skinner and Deputy Premier Stoner give the okay for Medically Caused death of Disabled in NSW.

It appears that the NSW Health Minister Skinner and Deputy Premier Stoner support Human Rights Abuse leading to death of disabled man Don Mackay. By their weak response to questions on Notice by Greens Dr. John Kaye MLC they have given approval to the shocking treatment and death of one of the most vulnerable in our society (see questions and answers attached)

In NSW the disabled can be killed by gross medical negligence and there is nobody to stand up for them. In NSW you can have complicated surgery done on a disabled man’s fragile lungs in Royal North Shore hospital Sydney by Cardiothoracic Specialists who it is reported “assumed” testing had been done even though they did not possess these tests. If the pilot of a plane assumed there was enough fuel in the tanks but did not check that would be gross negligence – not so with this Cardiothoracic Surgeon.
As the admitting and operating Surgeon he is responsible because of the following -
·       Did no ECG prior to surgery although Don had Pericardial Effusion
·       Did neither blood tests nor any pathology done before surgery. There was no Coagulation Profile
·       Did no X-rays or Scans nor seen prior to surgery, (they were still in Port Macquarie). Cardiothoracic Surgeons would know that when a patient is transported by air the sudden changes in air pressure, from the unpressurised planes especially, affects the brain fluid and lung fluid, and can be life threatening. This should have been allowed for and makes it even more important that X Ray/ CT Scans should have been in front of the two Surgeons and the Anaesthetist
·       Saw no Anaesthetist until in the theatre
·       Not seen by his Cardio Thoracic surgeon before Theatre
·       Signed up by a doctor after a long night being flown down to the hospital on a routine Ambulance flight (not an emergency)
·       The person who signed him up the night before was not part of the surgical team. (met him later – he was almost impossible to understand)
·       No detailed physical examination - No one knew anything about his multiple conditions before surgery (Quadriplegia 25 years duration – serious health issues)
·       A Spirometry test done in Port Macquarie recorded a “Lung  Age: More than 100 years” Don was 56 – these results the Cardiothoracic Surgeon had but he proceeded minus precautions.
·       During Surgery (Pleurodesis) the Surgeon used Ungraded Talc known to be connected to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (which developed) was used. Since his death, they no longer use this. They were aware it was linked to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS).
·       His right lung was meant to be suctioned until all the fluid was removed at the gentle suction of 3KPA. RNSH admit that a transcription error caused his lung to be suctioned (vacuumed) at 10 times that value at 31KPA. This was left like that for almost 24 hours and was not spotted by Cardiothoracic Doctors, and the Spinal Unit’s nurses till 8am the next day.
·       Don’s Spinal Outreach Dr Leong recorded a month previously that Don had “low threshold for drainage of effusions...” this 31KPA mistaken drainage was a disaster.
·       I was not informed of this serious mistake till 7 months after his death – They all covered it up
·       Cardiothoracic Surgeons were totally ignorant of “Quadriplegic breathing” which makes it harder to breathe while sitting up when there are problems. They ordered him sat up in his wheelchair. He suffered three hours of extreme torture trying to breathe against gravity He rapidly deteriorated and had a Respiratory Arrest that night – the first of many. It is Medical knowledge and the Cardiothoracic Surgeon should have known not to sit up someone with suctioning of the lungs in progress as this can cause the Pleurodesis surgery to fail and can lead to Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome. (ARDS is in the medical notes). This happened
·       It was the responsibility of the surgeon to see that all procedures pre and post surgery are followed. Almost none of the regular procedures were followed
·       Spinal nurses, Doctors, and Cardiothoracic Surgeons were grossly negligent over the next days. He was treated badly as his condition became dangerous. He began to hallucinate and gasp for breath
·       On the night of the first of his respiratory arrests, he called my name for three hours according to his roommate and THEY DID NOTHING. I was five minutes away and had given them instructions to call me at any time if he needed me or things got worse
·       The next five weeks in RNSH’s Intensive Care Unit were horror-filled for him.
·       The filth and negligence caused sepsis
·       He was tied arms to the bed and gagged by tubes so much so he bled at times from the sides of his mouth.
·       Both lungs drowning and full of fluid. MRSA and Klebsiella Pneumoniae filled them with bloody mucus.
·       He was bought cruelly to Respiratory Arrests by their mismanagement of his air supply.
·       One time he was breathing 50 breaths per minute. An ICU nurse stood and did nothing. She said, “I think he’s trying to talk”
·       There is a list of his suffering and bad research far too long to include here – all documented.
It was a death caused by gross negligence, ignorance, stupidity, arrogance, filth and cost cutting. All this can be done and Health Minister Skinner says it’s all been thoroughly investigated by the “independent Health Care Complaints Commission, who declared all the above and more “acceptable”. 

Therefore it is now acceptable in NSW to butcher the disabled and no one is ever accountable. The Health Minister, Mr Stoner, the HCCC are a disgrace. Please tell me that in today’s civilised society there is somebody who will stand up to such shocking abuse of a disabled man bordering on Eugenics.

Please contact me for clarification. I have written proof of all I claim. It is a complicated story but in its entirety it must be exposedsee as well attachment emails of Mr Stoner’s support and footage of his launching my book in 2010 - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AfJ9oYqiiI
Therese Mackay


Thursday, June 13, 2013

Hello All,
Please after looking at this share as for me its just a lone voice and I need the help of relatives, friends and just good people to send this about. I am enclosing here the link to the interview on Fair Dinkum Radio done with me today - 
http://fairdinkumradio.com/?q=node%2F241 30mins
It is about the failure of the now NSW Deputy Premier to honour his word whilst in Opposition for an Independent Inquiry into the treatment and death of Don Mackay – as well covered is the role of the treatment of disabled bordering on Eugenics that is growing in the modern world...
As well if you missed it first time round an earlier interview was done last year athttp://www.fairdinkumradio.com/?q=WDC 1 hr



Monday, May 27, 2013

Family visit last week

Shopping till they dropped
almost done
Melissa visited last week and it was wonderful to have my little family all together. I can imagine that my Mum felt the same way. For just a few short hours those you love most on this planet are with you and you know they are okay - I guess some may not understand this feeling and see me as a worrier - but most going back generations seem not to die what you call a natural death and the rare few who have made their 80's are rare indeed. So when we are together I feel a sublime feeling of "All's right with the world". We had a day in St Kilda and went to our favourite place the Chapel St Bazaar. If you have never been there you have to go...there is anything and everything there. I came away with a book on the life of Red Skelton - one of my favourite old time comedians. Melissa got two antique - Retro tall coloured glass bottles and Alison ended up with a small gold brooch with her name on it  -  Alice (we call her Little Alice) .

A right pair of posers

































































































and more






















Then we hit the photo booth  we were mashed in together


scary stuff
Alison and Melissa
Lovely times - so short though
Melissa and hers
Alison and hers















































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