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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1995-10-11, Page 6g.i I. tirlirMa t MW7a6 11"WIT - • ' w • • -it a ! RAI , . pierli MITCHELL CO MPU T E R ir Ft SEFIVICE OFFICE SUPPLIES 8. STATIONERY MORE 1-1-4.4N1 JUST .4 COMPUTE R STORE IBM APTIVA MULTI MEDIA COMPUTERS 486 DX From $1999.91 SVGA Colour Monitor Included TEL.: (519) 348-9336 63 Ontario Rd., Mitchell, ON NOK 1NO FAX: (519) 348-4413 Help protect the environment Reduce, reuse and recycle NATURAL GAS IS HERE NOW IS THE TIME TO HAVE YOUR HOME CONVERTED TO ECONOMICAL NATURAL GAS CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE HOME CONSULTATION LET US SHOW YOU THE BENEFITS OF NATURAL GAS BLYTH STORE- BRUSSELS STORE- LONDON OFFICE- 523-4862 887-9962 1-800-265-4173 Union Gas Energy For You PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 1995. LIVING WI By Janice Becker Three men with very different lives and experiences share one common thread. They are all living with AIDS. Their stories will be told in a three-part series, telling how their lives and that of their family and friends has changed since the realization that they were carrying the HIV virus, which will eventually lead to AIDS. Each man told his story during a recent meeting of the Huron County HIV/AIDS Network which meets in Clinton once a month. Russell is the veteran of the trio. He has lived with the virus for more than 13 years with very few problems. Then, four years ago, he began to develop allergies. Not just the common sort which anyone may have to deal with. Russell became allergic to his own hair. To be able to cope with the problem, Russell sports a very hip bald head. His other allergies actually changed his life for the better as he began to eat better, he said, patting his pleasantly plump midriff. Unable to consume beef, colouring, flavouring or preservatives, Russell must be extremely careful where his diet is concerned. A visit to a restaurant requires a long list of questions for the waitstaff or cook. In recent months, Russell's symptoms have become more difficult to cope with. He had a headache which lasted the entire summer. "It was quite vicious at first, but has eased off lately," he says. For a young man, Russell would like to stay active and participate in the many activities which his friends "do. But for him, a trip up and down the stairs,, a couple of times a day to do the laundry, will bring on fatigue which can only be overcome by two or three days of rest. It was this complication from the virus (along with allergies to paint products), which has affected Russell's life the most. He is no longer able to work as a self-employed handyman, a job he had truly come to enjoy after leaving a stress-filled job at a financial institution. "I thought I was on top of the world. I had gotten where I wanted to be in my life," says Russell. After struggling to maintain his business for a year, his physician told him to retire. Now, meeting his needs with government assistance and a pension plan, Russell says nofhaving family responsibilities has made his life easier. "I don't have to explain if I am too tired and I am not forced into activities because the children need to be looked after. I can use my time as I need it and sometimes that means turning off the phone and just resting." Through his 13 years of living with the disease, Russell has found a new philosophy in life. "We all know one day that our time will come, but we must all expect to grow old. When (a person) is first told they are HIV positive, it is like a death sentence. But, then you realize you must do everything to the fullest, do everything you ever wanted to do and just keep going." In learning to deal with being HIV-positive, Russell also works at teaching others about the facts of the disease, through telling his story. "When I first was diagnosed, I saw people flee (from me) in all directions. Friends were upset because I did not tell them immediately and they feared for their children to have contact with me. It took time for them to learn about HIV, to realize it was safe to use my china and forks." "People are still afraid today, but they are learning. By my being open, they are learning to accept and ask questions," says Russell. No one knows yet how long someone can live with AIDS, but doctors hold little hope for more than 15. Russell has survived for 13. Solo parenting, focus of support group By Bonnie Gropp The challenges facing a solo par- ent are the focus of a new program beginning at the Brussels Health Unit. Marguerite Thomas, the public health nurse says, "The whole idea for the group was to get single par- ents together and talk about how to deal with the same situations that face two-parent families." With one information night already past and a second to be held tonight (Wednesday) at 8:30, Thomas says the big focus is on communication and "thriving rather than just surviving". "That is a real interest these days because there seems to be so much going on in people's lives." The reason for starting the pro- gram was due to public pressure. "I had so many single parents calling me and asking what there was available for them," Thomas says. Yet, despite the abundance of sin- gle parents, Thomas was surprised to discover that while there were social groups, support groups were almost non-existent. "Since I started this one, howev- er, I have noticed a few more beginning." For parents the program doesn't promise any miracles, Thomas says, but she hopes it gives them skills and support that will make parenting easier. One of the things the participants will discover she says, is the resources that are available to them, from tapes and books to handouts and kits. The group will touch upon the concerns that face separated and divorced adults and help them establish positive coping skills. While raising children is a chal- lenge for any parent, for the solo parent it is quite different, though not always negatively. Thomas says, "In some ways begin solo can be easier because you're the only one there for consistency. On the other hand, you are missing that other person for support." Obviously, the children of solo parents have a great deal to come to terms with as well, which is anoth- er area that will be discussed by the group at some of their sessions. As the idea is primarily group support, Thomas says the format will be left pretty much to the par- ticipants. "The group will decide how much they want to focus on any particular issue. My role is as facilitator. The group gets support from each other." Anyone raising a child alone, who would like to share their con- cerns and ideas with peers is invit- ed to attend the meeting Oct. 11. This will be the final open session, after which the group will meet on an on-going basis.