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20 Comments

  1. Alison Grant-Preville
    March 12, 2014 @ 5:00 am

    You’re amazingly entertaining for someone in the position you are in!! A true inspiration, Jill.

    Hang in there, girl. You know we are all rooting for you. I was just watching an interview on Youtube about the compassionate brain and neuroplasticity (Rick Hansen, Ph.D.). The researchers found that people new to meditation needed only 7 hours of contemplative compassionate meditation over the course of 4 weeks (about 15 minutes a day) for their brains to change. The researchers also stated that they found evidence of those people having a positive impact on people around them toward which they directed their compassionate energies. I will put in my 7 hours for you, Jill! Maybe all your readers will. ( I think it’s called prayer, but contemplative practice works, too…) Anyhow, I may have the details of the research a bit messed up, but it makes the point, all the same.

    You can make it
    ! We love you.

    Ali, Marcel, Amelie and Xavier

  2. Ildiko
    March 12, 2014 @ 7:55 am

    You are amazing Jillianne! I am afraid to leave my long “philosophical” (so I thought until I re-read it) message here as it sure sounded “Hunglish!” 🙂 So, deleted that one.
    We will talk, I’ll cook for you nice healthy, heart friendly pretty meals, you will let me spoil you and I can take in your beautiful smile, we will have tea and laugh soon. Much love, Ildiko.

  3. profjanniaragon
    March 12, 2014 @ 8:11 am

    Awwww! I recognize Nurse Mike. Jill–hope that you get to the Van asap.
    Sending positive energy and will work on photos of our UVIC athletes. Go, Vikes, go!

  4. Lisa, Paul, and Arden
    March 12, 2014 @ 10:43 am

    Love you, Jill. You are so amazing: positive, funny, and strong!!!! We are sending you and your heart lots of love and light and good vibes. xoxo

  5. Jill
    March 12, 2014 @ 10:54 am

    I love you and will be thinking of you everyday. Please fb msg me your mailing address. Xoxo

  6. Chelli-man
    March 12, 2014 @ 2:24 pm

    Jillianne,

    You only have ten f#@&ing hours to go – that’s a blink of an eye or a skip of the heart in earthing terms. So hang on as we send you speeding down the road with all our love and zanny thoughts to have you skidding into the Wally World sign and hitting it just hard enough to have it fall over with the usual 10 second delay!!! Oh yea, the two “kids” in the back, well that’s me and Nick — Are we there yet? When we do get there, just know in your heart of hearts that we are right there with.

    Amour,

    Chelli-man and the rest of la famille Préville

  7. Donna McGhie-Richmond
    March 12, 2014 @ 4:05 pm

    Oh, Jill/Wally…Thinkin’ of you – ‘we’ all are back at the U – thinkin’ of you and sending positive thoughts! And we’ll be expecting an update as soon as you are out of surgery! NOT! Big HUGS, Donna M-R

  8. Liam Shanahan
    March 12, 2014 @ 7:13 pm

    I have been a little slow in picking up on what has been going on as of late as it was only today that I became aware of your blog. This evening I read through it while channle-surfing and noted that Vacation was on TV. I flipped to it and the movie was the right at the end of the scene linked above. Coincidence? A sign? It was my background as I read the rest of the blog archives. The movie ended happily. Here’s hoping for another coincidence.

  9. Natalee Popadiuk
    March 12, 2014 @ 9:24 pm

    Jillian!!!! I absolutely love and appreciate your positive attitude and sense of humour about this, despite the seriousness. You are truly a role model for all of us who know you. And we all know that at least part of the best medicine is laughter — think Robin Williams in Patch Adams or laughing yoga. Maybe we should have someone into a faculty meeting to get us all laughing! I’m sure you have everyone smiling down at the hospital — I mean, Batman and Robin (photo and all) — you’ve got to love it!! You have so many people around you who love you and care about you, Jilliane! I’m sending you healing thoughts, positive wishes, and BIG hugs!!! Natalee xoxo

  10. Val Stewart
    March 13, 2014 @ 2:40 pm

    Wow! Destination time in your journey! Add me to the list of people who are sending love and healing thoughts to you!

  11. jenn
    March 13, 2014 @ 5:23 pm

    Its been a long time Jill and first i have to tell you that you are one of the most inspirational, beautiful woman I have ever met. I thought that in high school, and I am more inspired now by you now than I have ever been. I wish you love and good vibes, hon.
    Planning a trip out that way this summer and would love to see you and meet that husband of yours. I hope he also knows he’s fantastic. It takes a strong and dedicated person to stand by through tough times.

    Lots of LOVE…
    Jenn James

  12. Miranda
    March 14, 2014 @ 11:45 am

    You are such an inspiration to those around you, Jillianne! I’m sending nothing but positive thoughts your way! Seeing all the comments people are leaving for you is truly heart-warming!

    Miranda

  13. rdzdefrance
    March 14, 2014 @ 10:37 pm

    Dear Jillianne, I have been thinking about you and your family….. especially your Mother…

    In my class on Monday, my students and I talked about poetry and how it helps some of us make sense of the world around us, and find meaning. I shared with the students the fact that my son came home from school a few days ago with a broken heart because the girl he likes told him she is not interested in him ( he is only 9 years old…). Then I learned you had been admitted to the hospital because of your “broken heart”. So for the past little while, I have been thinking about “Broken Hearts”, and what one can do to help them mend….
    This humble poem is inspired by you and Alonzo, my son, and by the experiences of loved ones around me ( my dad included), who have experienced open heart surgery or the feeling of not being loved…

    Heart-broken

    It beats, it feels
    it breaks.
    It Loves, sustains,
    and mends…

    It stays alive
    though black and blue
    it speaks the words no mouth can do

    It beats
    it fights
    wins battles too

    those of the Heart
    the hardest woes….

    With Love for who you choose to Be!
    Carmen

    • jenn
      March 15, 2014 @ 7:42 am

      That is a beautiful poem. 🙂

  14. Michelle Hiebert
    March 15, 2014 @ 6:18 am

    Dear Jill,

    Praying that all will go well with your surgery, and that you will have all the energy you need to live life the way you want to live it. Be strong, knowing you have a whole lot of people wishing you nothing but the best. So sorry to hear from Valerie that your procedure was delayed, but very happy that you are finally getting the help you need.

    Rest and be well!
    Michelle

  15. Michelle Hiebert
    March 15, 2014 @ 6:21 am

    Oh…one more thing…Valerie sent me his when I was going through a tough time. Maybe it will help you, too? I dare you not to smile and be HAPPY when you see this! 😉

    Michelle

    http://youtu.be/y6Sxv-sUYtM

  16. ruthdon
    March 20, 2014 @ 5:50 pm

    Hi Jillianne, I am cheering for you and your family too as you go through this hugely courageous complicated thing. I am heartened by your posts as a I know many of your friends and colleagues at UVic have said. Missing your spirited and an oh-so-enthusiastic drop-by visits.

    Thanks so much for setting up this blog and letting us be a small part of your journey. You are on one of my lists now –The Hero List

    Affectionately, Ruthanne

  17. Donna McGhie-Richmond
    April 10, 2014 @ 9:00 am

    We’re working away on a paper, in Donna’s office and our thoughts have turned to YOU! Heard you had a bit of a set back – that sucks! Hoping you will be out of ICU very soon and before very long back on your blog sharing heroic stories that made us laugh (and sometime cry). You have a strong cheering section here, Jillianne!
    BIG hugs, Donna & Ruthanne

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