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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1987-05-27, Page 11THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1987. PAGE 11. After 6-hour operation Kathy hopes for a norma! life Continued from page 1 tions as they monitored her slightest response to their prob­ ings. The decision took an overwhelm­ ing amount of courage, but then courage is what everyone had come to expect from this spunky woman who had broken the tension during an earlier procedure in which half her brain was frozen during testing, by making the remark which has since become a classic at the University Epilepsy Unit: “I’ve got half a mind to get up and leave.’’ But long before that, they all knew that Kathy Bromley had what it takes. Part of the lengthy procedure leading up to her mid-May surgery involved exhaus­ tive sessions with psychiatrists and other doctors, all of whom must be totally convinced that the patient really wants to go through all this, really wants a chance at a better life, and really has confidence that the procedure will work. Twice she even had to go before a roomful of 60-75 medical students interns and doctors, allofwhom had gathered to hear her case, to question her and to listen to her answers, to see just what stress she could endure. “So many people are turned down because they just can’t handle it,” she explains. “It’s a matter of how badly you want to get rid of your seizures. ’ ’ She adds that there are people, incredibly enough, that become so “depen­ dent” on the lifestyle dictated by their seizures that they are consid­ ered a poor risk for surgery, and are turned down. Kathy Bromley wasone ofthe first epileptics recommended for the new program at University Hospital, and within a year was accepted for further testing. Last January, sheenteredthe second phase of the program, admission to the Epilepsy Unit where she was hooked up to an electroencephalagraph (EEG machine) which is used to record brain wave activity on a computer­ ized tape before, during and after an epileptic siezure. In this way, neurologists can collect the data which will enable them to pinpoint the area or areas of the brain affected, and to decide if surgery is recommended. Although she was in hospital this time for more than seven weeks, and suffered some20 doctor-in­ duced epileptic seizures, the data required did not show up on the EEG as clearly as the neurologists had hoped. In late February, as a result, Mrs. Bromley underwent a four-hour operation in which eight sub-dural“leads” were implanted in her head between her skull and herbrain, providingmuchmore precise monitoring of both normal and abnormal brain-wave activity during a seizure, more of which had to be induced by lowering her medication. When the doctors had finally pinpointed the area of her brain which was affected, tests had to be madetodeterminewhat, if any, effect surgical removal of the affected part would have on Mrs. Bromley. It was at this point that she underwent the brain-freezing procedure, in which she proved that removal of part of her “memory bank” would have no discernable affect on her mind’s skills, and the stage was set for the final surgery. Both Mrs. Bromley, and her mother, Isabelle Doherty of Port Albert, insist that Kathy was never in any greater danger than that encountered in any major surgery: the extensive testing the patient undergoes is to determine just what chance of improvement there will be to the epileptic’s lifestyle. “They never go ahead unless there is at least a 50 per cent chance that the seizures will be either fewer or less severe,” Mrs. Bromley says. “In my case, they said there was at least a 75 per cent chance that I would be completely cured.” Although the doctors confident- lypredictthatshe is completely cured and unlikely to suffer any further seizures, the next year will be a long one for the Bromley and Doherty families, and for the legion of friends and neighbours who have endured the agony along with them, and who have helped so much through it all. If no seizures occur between now and May 13,1988, Kathy will come off her final medications entirely, and will be considered cured of the evil plague which has until so recently been hidden away in the closet by anguished families, but now stands revealed as the help­ less illness it is by the bravery of people like Blyth’s Kathy Bromley. Surrounded by the family whose love and support helped her make it through her long ordeal, Kathy Bromley is glad to be home again - this time for keeps. Sons Scott, 7, and Chris^ 9, flank their mom, while parents Isabelle and Frank Doherty of Port Albert and husband Bev stand close behind. Ashleigh Rock, 3, of RR 1, Ethel got a surprise Thursday night when her father Rick brought home 27 balloons he found on the roadside. The balloons were released by school children of the Yale, Michigan Elementary School as part of Michigan’s sesquicentennial celebration. 160 attend Pro Life annual meeting Over 160 people attended this dinner meeting, held at St. An­ drew’s Presbyterian Church in Wingham. An excellent dinner was served by the ladies of St. Andrew’s Church and entertain­ ment was provided by Sacred Heart School Choir. Don Pennell of Burlington spoke about the new Family Coalition Party. Mr. Pennell explained the reasons why Ontario needs a new political party. At the federal level, the “Christian Heritage Party” represents the pro-life, level, the “Christian Heritage Party” repre­ sents the pro-life, pro-family point of view, but in Ontario, none of the parties represents this view. The Ontario Family Coalition Party emphasizes three main points: (1) the “deity”, i.e. the spiritual values, including belief in God, which are the foundation of society; (2) the family, which it will try to defend against the encroach­ ments of secular humanistic values and “alternative life-styles”; and (3) morality in politics, in govern­ ment and in society. “Religion and politics DO go together,” said Mr. Pennell. “Even though church and state may be separate. The principles on which our government and society are based are spiritual, Judeo- Christian principles.” “Living in a changing world” was the theme of President Jim Bakelaar’s brief address. “Chris­ tian moral values are being replaced by humanistic reason­ ing,’’said Mr. Bakelaar. “There is a growing prejudice against child­ ren, especially the unborn.” LETS GO FISHING ••• OLDFIELD’S IN BRUSSELS HAVE ALL THE FISHING GEAR YOU’LL NEED TO CATCH THE BIG ONE! 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