Rellacafa 

23 creative works found

• back to the drawing board
  by Hayley Cafarella

  You may not know / But it is freezing in Melbourne / And I do not / Have central heating / So, you may not know / That it is freezing in my fl…

  You may not know / But it is freezing in Melbourne / And I do not / Have central heating / So, you may not know / That it is freezing in my flat! / But now that you do / You are truly informed / Don’t you feel better? I’ve been listening again / To an imaginaiad’s call / It happens to be one / I have heard before / Ada is her name / And she was the second / But she needed a makeover / (That’s what she reckoned) If you would like to / Follow her transformation / Simply go here / For illumination

• tying a knot and hanging on
  by Hayley Cafarella

  ok / I refuse to be down in the dumps Caf. / I don’t care if my face is falling apart. / I don’t care if my legs don’t work. / I don’t care i…

  ok / I refuse to be down in the dumps Caf. / I don’t care if my face is falling apart. / I don’t care if my legs don’t work. / I don’t care if my course will have to wait till next year. / I don’t care if I am cursed. / I don’t care if everything hurts. / (well, obviously I care but I’m overcoming here) I decided to indulge in some lazy art. Well, not that lazy, cause it took me a while to draw little Kymmy here but it’s recycled writing and computer colouring… A little instant gratification is helpful now and then / Lift the spirits and all / So for just a little waft of metaphorical upward heading air / Visit me at Rellacafa

• synesthesia....my world of colours
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Colours are something / I’ve always seen / Associated with / Unwarranted things / Like the days of the week…or the words of a song / I never…

  Colours are something / I’ve always seen / Associated with / Unwarranted things / Like the days of the week…or the words of a song / I never realised / I was not alone It’s quite strange to discover I have a ‘condition’ / a perceptual…disorder? / I think not / A diff-order perhaps / but whatever I’ve got / is made of pure awesome / and now I can explain… synesthesia…my world of colours

• well, here it is...my first video
  by Hayley Cafarella

  A fellow RSD sufferer, Sarah Rutgers, posted an amazing video=...

  A fellow RSD sufferer, Sarah Rutgers, posted an amazing video recently. It was amazing because she allowed herself to show the dark and lonely side of RSD. I felt like she was talking from inside my own head and I don’t think I am the only sufferer who found that comforting…not comforting to see someone in pain but comforting to know that I am not the only one who feels like this. Since watching Sarah’s, I have been feeling inspired to tell my story on video. I can’t delete and rewrite what I’m saying as I go, so you’re just getting me as I am…random blank pauses included. RSD is an evil, silent monster, it has also only become a recognised medical condition in the last 20 years. My aim as I set out on this Vlogging journey is to help bring awareness to this life debilitating problem and to hopefully create something that other sufferers can relate to. You can check out my first installment at my blog: / http://rellacafa.blogspot.com/

• my reflex sympathetic dystrophy (rsd) story part 3
  by Hayley Cafarella

  A little medical information / To help explain my situation / RSD is a constant curse / With pain that goes from bad to worse / And with so s…

  A little medical information / To help explain my situation / RSD is a constant curse / With pain that goes from bad to worse / And with so so much / That’s still unknown / The need for awareness / Is clearly shown Thank you for following my story. Please let the meaning of RSD be what you learn today… My Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Story part 3

• my reflex sympathetic dystrophy (RSD) story part 4 & some THANK YOU!s
  by Hayley Cafarella

  I was super honoured to find out that I was featured in a couple of groups this week. THANK YOU! It has made my week to have my work appr…

  I was super honoured to find out that I was featured in a couple of groups this week. THANK YOU! It has made my week to have my work appreciated like this… My poem The Dove was featured in Masterpieces: Literary Workshop / I am very proud to be amongst the other writers currently featured :) I would also like to say a huge THANK YOU! to the Uncoventional Artistry group for featuring my video journals regarding my RSD. It is no fun suffering from a condition that no one has ever heard of and so I am super grateful to the group’s lovely host Brianne for helping me raise awareness. And now I come to the little op / I needed when my hip went pop / Too bad the pain just didn’t stop / And so more suffering I did cop My Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) Story part 4 Merry Christmas! Hope your holidays are filled with magic and sparkles!!

• well, hello there! (the profile overhaul)
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Hey Guys, The internet is a huge and confusing place and so I have decided to stop confusing myself by letting Rella run my RB page…...

  Hey Guys, The internet is a huge and confusing place and so I have decided to stop confusing myself by letting Rella run my RB page…she’s got her place in the gallery and now I am taking the wheel! Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!! So….yeah…role playing over, you can call me by my name now and if you need to talk to Rella, just let me know and I’ll relay the message ;) I hope you had a Merry Merry Christmas and I wish you all the best for a bright and sparkling New Year!! Thanks for all your support, looking forward to another year of sharing creative adventures with you :) -Caf xoxo

• Welcoming 09 With a Bang and a Mic
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Shedding off 08 involved / The problem of my pain being solved / With a glass of wine / Or maybe more…. / With enthusiastic sing stars / And…

  Shedding off 08 involved / The problem of my pain being solved / With a glass of wine / Or maybe more…. / With enthusiastic sing stars / And a loony dance floor Watch highlights at my blog Rellacafa Now for the rest and recovery! Happy New Year Bubblers! Bring on the sunshine 09!!!

• Random Holiday Weirdness & Some Leftovers
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Summer is a funny time of year / Everything seems a little weird To me, anyway. Random Holiday Weirdness & Some Leftovers...

  Summer is a funny time of year / Everything seems a little weird To me, anyway. Random Holiday Weirdness & Some Leftovers

• Living With RSD #1: The Hand Flare
  by Hayley Cafarella

  A sidestep from my story vids / Because my hands have hit the skids / A little look inside the pain / To where I’m waiting, hoping again ...

  A sidestep from my story vids / Because my hands have hit the skids / A little look inside the pain / To where I’m waiting, hoping again Living With RSD #1: The Hand Flare

• My Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) Story part 5
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Just as I was recovering in the hip / My body took another slip / This time striking me in the jaw / With I not knowing whatever for! Tha…

  Just as I was recovering in the hip / My body took another slip / This time striking me in the jaw / With I not knowing whatever for! Thanks so much to all of you taking the time to watch these clips, it means a lot to me to be able to get the word out about this horribly debilitating yet unknown condition…thank you xx My Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Story part 5

• Living With RSD #3: From Crap to Crappier
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Feeling tired / And uninspired / Nerves have fired / Far too much pain / I’m so tired / Of just dealing / Again “*Living With Reflex Sympat…

  Feeling tired / And uninspired / Nerves have fired / Far too much pain / I’m so tired / Of just dealing / Again Living With Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy (RSD) #3: From Crap to Crappier But a few days ago / A happier post / Out in the country / Where I love it most A Spa, A Massage & A Wish

• Survival
  by Hayley Cafarella

  The warm wind blows / As though it knows / The way I long for / Rain

  Seems like just way too much to deal with lately… This came with a melody again. I don’t know what’s up with that, but I think I need to learn to play an instrument and find out…When I say ‘it came with a melody’ I mean I wrote it, then I read it back and I usually read poetry back out loud to get a hold of the pacing and what not…and sometimes when I read it back out loud I just sing it and it just has a melody to follow that I didn’t realise I had put there…or something. Even I don’t understand my brain!

• Pictures of RSD @ Rellacafa's New Home!
  by Hayley Cafarella

  I’ve worked pretty hard / And I’m finally done / The battle with code / I eventually won / Now for my troubles / I have a brand new site / A pl…

  I’ve worked pretty hard / And I’m finally done / The battle with code / I eventually won / Now for my troubles / I have a brand new site / A playground of sorts / For anything I write / And though I still have / Very much updating to do / I couldn’t resist / Sharing what I have done with you! http://rellacafa.com The latest post / More pics than most / Of my little / Swollen toes Hope you like it :)

• Stumbled Upon & Some More Excitement From My Life With RSD
  by Hayley Cafarella

  One of my poems was Stumbled Upon recently and seems to have received a lot of thumbs up…when I logged in and saw my views had suddenly…

  One of my poems was Stumbled Upon recently and seems to have received a lot of thumbs up…when I logged in and saw my views had suddenly jumped into the tens of thousands, I was thoroughly confused. I thought it must have been a glitch, but no, apparently it must have been getting a lot of thumbs up as the hits keep coming…It’s nice to know those old words of mine are able to reach people like that! How exciting! I’ve been blogging again at my shiny, new domain / I’m supposed to be in hospital / But at home I still remain! Rellacafa I do hope the ketamine will work, especially after all this extra anticipation time… Speaking of, in a blow to RSD sufferers in the US, Germany is no longer taking US patients for ketamine comas. There was a complication recently in which an unfortunate American woman contracted an MRSA infection 2 days into her treatment. MRSA is a common infection that could be caught in any hospital, anywhere in the world. The reason that this would stop them running a program that is giving sufferers their lives back is a little unclear…I’m hoping to hear more about this soon as it really doesn’t make much sense right now. The idea that RSD treatment would take a backwards step because of a common infection is pretty distressing…we need MORE treatment opportunities, not less…and by we I mean sufferers world wide, it’s all of our problem.

• 

  Marjorie
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Meet imaginaiad #6 (watercolour on paper) Her name is Marjorie. Marjorie is pretty quiet, but that doesn’t mean she’s not bursting with inspiration, she’s just deliberating carefully. I rather like the ambiguity in her expression, from a distance she appears to be pouting or bored, but up close you’ll see she’s smiling…Marjorie doesn’t like to show you all her cards, all at once, she likes to keep you guessing. For an imaginaiad, she’s pretty controlling, rather than spew forth her colours and let her artist sort them out, she likes to tease her artist with multiple plans and ideas that she won’t inspire action on until she’s planned out all the kinks. She’s kinda cheeky that way. Marjorie inspires Michelle Read & Subscribe to associated blog updates at: / http://rellacafa.com

• Imagine Living With RSD....
  by Hayley Cafarella

  The morning comes and you open your eyes, the light filters softly in around the curtains. You slowly stretch out your body over an exces…

  This is a piece I wrote to try and explain what it’s like to live with RSD. It’s a choose your own adventure piece, only you don’t get to choose your own adventure because when you live with RSD, you don’t get to choose much of anything at all! I hope this can help give you an idea of how much of your life is stolen when you are forced to spend every day in excruciating pain. I’m not looking for your sympathy, simply your understanding. To read and subscribe to associated blog updates, please visit: / http://rellacafa.com For more information about RSD please visit: / The Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome Association

• The God of Irony and Why He Had Me Punished
  by Hayley Cafarella

  It seems no matter why I try / Irony is always standing by / To thwart me as I try to stand / And send me crashing back to land I tried t…

  It seems no matter why I try / Irony is always standing by / To thwart me as I try to stand / And send me crashing back to land I tried to go out and have one drink in a bar to celebrate with friends…I got stomped on…right on my ankle…right where the initial injury that caused my RSD happened. It hurt. A lot. You can read the whole story here: http://rellacafa.com

• Why I Am Lucky And Will Be OK...With Sketching
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Despite days since my stomping on / The pain is flaring just as strong / But I’m trying to turn this mood around / Keep these swollen feet o…

  Despite days since my stomping on / The pain is flaring just as strong / But I’m trying to turn this mood around / Keep these swollen feet on solid ground And remember how lucky I am. This is the latest imaginaiad, Leni, she’s just a sketch right now but is looking forward to getting her colours… Rellacafa

• Waving a White Flag at Reality
  by Hayley Cafarella

  There is no use denying / Bad happens to good people too / There is no use in crying / That bad shouldn’t happen to you

  I’ve really had to put a lot of effort into learning to accept things over the last couple of years…I suppose this poem is a little about that and a little about extremism…I don’t believe you have to always see half glasses of water as half full or half empty, although logic would have me think if it was originally empty then it’s half full, if was originally full then it’s half empty, but mostly I simply accept that half of the glass is filled with water, for better or for worse, that’s just the way it is and I’ll find a way to work with that much liquid ;) I absolutely believe in having hope and being optimistic about the unknown, I just perhaps don’t feel the need to work myself into a state of denial that doesn’t let me prepare myself for if things don’t go so well. I hope and I dream, but I try not to expect…closed expectation can be very, very dangerous. Expect that things might turn out differently to how you expect them too…lolz…that’s probably the most balanced form of expectation. Perhaps this is a long winded way of saying ‘take it as it comes’? Hope for everything, expect nothing. Read & Subscribe to my blog updates at: http://rellacafa.com

• One Breath After The Other
  by Hayley Cafarella

  It’s like a constant waiting game / With each and every day the same

  Sigh…this is just life with RSD…there are not guaranteed treatments or cures. Sometimes my body flares up in such pain that I can’t even believe I stay conscious and yet there is nothing I can do about it, I cannot take a painkiller and make it go away… I hope that by sharing my story and experiences I can help educate people about RSD/CRPS…suffering from an unknown and invisible disease makes it extremely difficult to get by in a society that judges on appearance. It’s not like having a condition that people understand, like Epilepsy or Multiple Sclerosis. RSD sufferers have to explain their condition constantly, even to the doctors and nurses they rely on and often are met with looks of disbelief and suspicion. Please understand that this is not ‘phantom pain’, this is REAL PAIN, our nerves are firing pain signals constantly, there is just not a known reason for them to be doing that. Please be aware, when you are out there in the big, wide world, that there are medical conditions that you might never have heard of, degrees of pain that you might not understand…just be aware and maybe don’t got ramming people out of your way and stomping on their feet, you might be causing a lifetime of pain. Thanks for taking the time to read this, thank you for listening, by simply listening you have helped my cause…thanks again. If you are interested in learning more about my situation, please subscribe to my blog at http://rellacafa.com

• An RSD Update & An Exciting Double Feature!
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Howdy Bubbletrons, These days pass in a blurry haze / I’m trying not to be all phased / Been suffering with a dreaded cold / That’s tryin…

  Howdy Bubbletrons, These days pass in a blurry haze / I’m trying not to be all phased / Been suffering with a dreaded cold / That’s trying to force me to fold Extra discomfort is just not what you need on top of RSD! Finally catching up on my blog / Updates got a little lost in the fog / But now I’m feeling back on track / And up to helping share the facts Video style. http://rellacafa.com In other exciting news, for the first time ever a piece of mine was featured in two different groups…thanks everyone at the Core and All Out Emotion groups!! The piece is: Waving A White Flag At Reality Hope all is well in your world!! / xx

• Pain Removed Me From The Bubble For A Bit....Hi Guys
  by Hayley Cafarella

  Hey Bubbling Buddies, I am so terribly sorry for neglecting you over the last month or so. I went in for a ketamine infusion in Februa…

  Hey Bubbling Buddies, I am so terribly sorry for neglecting you over the last month or so. I went in for a ketamine infusion in February, it kind of went badly and then I got really sick with a virus turned chest infection that would not quit…since then I have been dealing with flares that are more violent and restricting than usual. I am, sadly, not able to do much drawing or painting in this condition, having more trouble with my hands than I used to. I am looking at moving to a bigger place so I’m hoping if I can have all my art things set up then I will still be able to get there, a little bit at a time. I am still trying to keep my blog updated, spreading awareness is hugely important to me right now as I have tried most of the treatments available in Australia and yet my RSD/CRPS worsens…I really need a miracle right now! I noticed after I filmed my ketamine story that I had featured JC Saint Po’s 2009 calendar in the background, his work is awesome, loving having a new piece on the wall each month! http://rellacafa.com I will try and update this journal when I’m able and if my medicine rattled brain spews out any little poetic pieces I shall share them with you too. Hoping to catch up on your updates and artwork asap, I miss the way you keep me inspired! x