The founder of a Kelowna charity says she has a new lease on life and is vowing to move full steam ahead with her organization, aimed at helping mothers and children overcome the impacts of poverty.

Shannon Christensen of Mamas for Mamas will return from a trip to Ixtapa, Mexico with her husband this week, with memories of a tragedy averted, after she was pulled into the ocean by a rogue wave as she walked along the beach, ankle deep in the surf.

香蕉视频直播淚 just can香蕉视频直播檛 wait to hold my kids again,香蕉视频直播� she told the Capital News in a message from Mexico today. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 still feeling really shaken up but ironically incredibly positive and like I have a new perspective on life.香蕉视频直播�

Christensen, 31, and her husband Dylan have two boys aged four and seven. On a trip to Mexico, the couple are still recovering from a scary incident that saw Christensen pulled into the water and forced to fight through waves for at least an hour, before finally reaching solid ground, four resorts down from where they were staying.

Once pulled into the water, Christensen says she first tried to swim back but then focussed on staying afloat. She was eventually found by her husband about an hour later.

香蕉视频直播淚 swam for the first few minutes but I started getting tired really fast,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 so grateful my mom taught me swimming as a kid. We were always taught if you think you香蕉视频直播檙e in danger in the water stop fighting or you香蕉视频直播檒l cramp up. Fill your lungs with air when you can and hold it, and you香蕉视频直播檒l float.

香蕉视频直播淚 couldn香蕉视频直播檛 tell which way I was facing, I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 find sand or anything to anchor myself to push back to shore. I honestly don香蕉视频直播檛 know how I got back to shore through those waves.香蕉视频直播�

Christensen is no stranger to losing a parent. At the age of 22, a day after her wedding, her father died suddenly. Keeping her kids from having to go through something similar, kept her fighting for life, she said.

香蕉视频直播淚 just knew I had to keep my head up and get home for everyone there waiting for me,香蕉视频直播� she said. 香蕉视频直播淚香蕉视频直播檓 taking a full day when I get home to hold my kids and my family, and then truly live each moment like it香蕉视频直播檚 the best one yet.香蕉视频直播�

Christensen香蕉视频直播檚 Mamas for Mamas is a registered charity that began as a grassroots organization in Kelowna and West Kelowna and has taken off, connecting mothers who share items, with no money exchanging hands.

Mamas for Mamas has expanded to more than 30 chapters across Canada and was moving forward with plans to move into the USA at the time of Christensen香蕉视频直播檚 vacation.

Her experiences in Mexico, beyond her ocean survival, have made her think more about the possibility of helping moms suffering in poverty in Mexico. On a shopping trip the day after the incident, she was shopping when three kids came up to her selling trinkets.

香蕉视频直播淚 saw their mama sitting behind them breast feeding her baby, none of them were wearing shoes and their mama looked so tired. I chatted with the kids for a moment and they were just so sweet, I couldn香蕉视频直播檛 help drawing a parallel and wondering how we may be able to give back here as well,香蕉视频直播� she said.

Regardless of the future plans, there will be a happy reunion when Christensen returns to Kelowna.

香蕉视频直播淲e are so thankful she is OK and can香蕉视频直播檛 wait to give her a big hug once she香蕉视频直播檚 back,香蕉视频直播� said Shevaune Battiston, Mamas for Mamas chief operations officer.

香蕉视频直播淚 feel like I want to hug each of my mama teammates for about an hour when I get home,香蕉视频直播� Christensen said.

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

kparnell@kelownacapnews.com
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