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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2000-07-19, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 19, 2000. Area man recovering well from lengthy brain surgery The sign of wellness Pete Cook with two of his sisters Dianne Josling, left, and Connie Tasker as well as nephew Nathan Tasker gives the two thumbs up he used to reassure his mom and his sister prior to the six-hour surgery which of his head, July 6. By Bonnie Gropp Citizen staff Pete Cook, like many others has a summer haircut. What makes it dif­ ferent for this Blyth man. is that the first phase came at the beginning of a six-hour surgery. Diagnosed last November with a primary brtin tumour, Cook under­ Walton parent says thanks THE EDITOR, On behalf of the Walton Public School Parent Council, I would like to thank you for your special June 21 insert about our “Small School With the Big Heart”, ar.d the coverage you provided from our community cele­ bration. With the school closing this year, it is interesting to read about the wonderful memories that many peo­ ple have of the school. We felt, as a parent council, that we wanted to “celebrate” the years that Walton Public School has been such an important part of our community. Our school really has meant a lot to all of us in the Walton area and it will be greatly missed. Thank you for all of your support over the years. Dianne van Vliet, Chair Walton Public School Parent Council. fu Can Make Difference HUNTINGTON DISEASE HUNTINGTON SOCIETY OF CANAOA 1-800-993-7398 lie underwent to remove a prime went the procedure July 6 at University Hospital in London. The troubles began Oct. 29, 1999. A sudden seizure left Cook uncon­ scious and with brief numbness in his face. At London’s University Hospital a CAT scan turned up an abnormality. RN Pat Doyle, a nurse with the hospital’s neurological divi­ sion arranged for Cook to see COUNTY OF HURON Request for Expression of Interest PROVISION OF AMBULANCE STATION FACILITIES The County of Huron is requesting Expressions of Interest with respect to the provision of ambulance station facilities. The County has recently completed an Ambulance Services Deployment Strategy Study, which identified the optimal locations of ambulance stations in Huron County. Expressions of Interest offering the use of existing buildings or the development of a new station(s) are being received. Interested parties may wish to propose alternatives in terms of leasing or ownership of the facilities. The Ministry of Health has defined specific requirements for the ambulance station facilities. These are contained in the document General Specifications for Ambulance Stations (draft. April 1995). Expressions of Interest must include the proposed location and a detailed description of the facilities. Interested parties should review the County’s report and the Ministry of Health specifications. The report and specifications can be obtained from the Office of the Clerk-Administrator, Corporation of the County of Huron, Court House, Goderich, Ontario, N7A 1M2. telephone 519-524-8394. Expressions of Interest are due to the Clerk-Administrator’s Office no later than August 2. 2000 at 4:00 p.m. Office hours Eire 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Municipality Clerk-Treasurer Ashfield Linda Andrews Colborne Judy Kay Goderich Linda Cranston Grey Brad Knight Hay Janisse Zimmerman Howick Valerie Przybilla Hullett Rhonda Fischer McKillop J.R. McLachlan Morris Nancy Michie Stanley Ansberth Willert Stephen Larry Brown Tuckersmith J.R. McLachlan Turnberry Dorothy Kelly Usborne Sandra J. Strang Wawanosh E.Winona Thompson Wawanosh W.Liliane Nolan Clinton Richard Harding Exeter Elizabeth Bell Goderich Larry J. McCabe Seaforth J.R. McLachlan Wingham John Stewart Bayfield Pat Graham Blyth John Stewart Brussels Donna White Hensall Luanne Phair Zurich Charlene Overholt In accordance with the Weed Control Act, Statutes of Ontario, 1990, Chapter W5, Sections 3, 16 and 23, that unless noxious weeds growing on lands are destroyed by the Property Owner throughout the season, the Municipality may enter upon the said lands and have weeds destroyed, charging the costs against the land taxes, as set out by the Weed Control Act. The co-operation of all citizens is earnestly solicited. J.A. Murray Clerk-Administrator, County of Huron t brain tumour on the right side Dr.Megysi, a neurosurgeon. “That’s when we first saw that something was there,” said Cook’s sister Connie Tasker. An MRI, a pro­ cedure that shows cross-sections of the brain, determined the existence of the tumour. The fact that it was a primary tumour, they learned, meant it had originated in the brain. At this point, patient and doctor came to a sort of impasse. “Pete just wanted it gone and the doctor wanted to do a biopsy,” said Tasker. Cook smiles when he recalls the doctor’s reaction to his eagerness for surgery. “My first words to Dr. Megysi were ‘Take it out’, but he said that even though as a neuro-sur­ geon he likes to cut, in this case he didn’t want to at this point.” A second opinion was sought from neuro-oncologist Dr. McDonald of the cancer clinic, and the decision was to follow the tumour as it hadn’t shown on the MRI that it was fast growing. Hearing the diagnosis, Cook said of course, he was alarmed in the beginning. “But I had too many peo­ ple on my side to be worried.” At first the treatment seemed to be right, as a second MRI in February showed no growth. However, the results of the next one were not so promising. On June 23, Cook was told by Dr. McDonald that there had been growth so he was sent back to Dr. Megysi, July 4. “He explained to me exactly what he would have to do, then said, ‘Oh, by the way I have an appointment open this week.’ I said, ‘I’ll take it.’” Tasker feels her brother got really lucky that way. Another man in the room with him waited a year before his surgery could be done,” she said. Cook on the other hand, was in the hospital two days later. Throughout the lengthy surgery, Cook would remain awake, though sedated so that he could communicate with the surgeons. He had to lay perfectly still on his left side as the tumour was located on the right side of his head. “They talked to me through the NOTICE TO PROPERTY OWNERS RE: DESTRUCTION OF WEEDS Notice is Hereby Given To all persons in possession of lands within the municipalities of the County of Huron as follows: operation, asking me to move a spe­ cific part of my body. The only thing that bothered me was when they first started.” Tasker tells of a recent incident when someone was using a paper shredder and her brother looked at her with a strange expression and said, “They can stop that any time.” The noise was similar to that of the saw used to open his skull. It took 35 staples to close the inci­ sion, and from there his recovery has been nothing short of remarkable to his supportive family. Sister Dianne Josling recalls seeing him an hour after the surgery. “He was actually out of recovery when we were still talking to the doctor. Then when I went in, he was just beaming, smiling from ear to ear.” Though he was supposed to remain in ICU until the next day, Cook was ready to be moved the fol­ lowing day and was actually sent home just three days after his sur­ gery. “I remember the day they said I could get up and walk, I jumped down from the bed and the nurse said that maybe I should wait until they lowered the bed,” he smiles. In a few weeks, Cook will return to Dr. Megysi to find out if the tumour is benign. There is a strong likeli­ hood that the results will be good. “They tell me that 90 per cent of the time these types of tumours are benign, so I'm not too worried,” said Cook. Laughs Josling, “He’s just won­ dering why they didn’t go ahead and do this when he first said.” “Right now I feel great. I’m glad to be able to get up and go,” said Cook.