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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2005-07-21, Page 6PAGE 6. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, JULY 21, 2005. Alzheimer victim speaks at Huron meeting By Brenda Radford "The small rural chapter with a big heart?" That's how the Alzheimer Society ot Huron County refers to itself. According to Michael Jordan. "Heart is what separates the good from the great”. The dedication and caring exhibited by the local society’s small staff and many volunteers bring truth to that slogan. Associated uuh the Alzheimer Society of Canada, the mission statement for the Huron County branch is “to improve the quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s disease or related dementias and their caregivers”. Alzheimer's disease is one of the identified diseases that tall under the umbrella of dementias. Other dementias include Pick’s disease. Lewy body disease and vascular dementia. Once considered rare. Alzheimer’s is a disease that currently touches over 300,000 Canadians and their families. This number will rise in a society that, through advances in medicine, will live longer. PEOPLE AROUND LONDESBORO At time of reporting, both Mary East and Bruce Roy were patients in the Clinton Public Hospital. Villagers are encouraged to keep these folk and their partners in their prayers. Guest speaker at the outdoor service at the Fellowship Bible Chapel on Sunday, July 24 will be Louis Voyer. The Chapelairs will offer musical entertainment. Some months ago this column Sometimes referred to as a living death. Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive degenerative brain disorder that destroys vital brain cells resulting in impaired memory, thinking and behaviour. There is no known cause or cure for Alzheimer’s, but there are medicines now to treat some of the symptoms. As more is learned of the disease, help in the form of coping strategies can also improve the lives of the diagnosed patients and their caregivers. The Alzheimer Society branches are funded from the local, provincial and federal levels of government. However, as each day brings an affirmative diagnosis to families, monies for support for these families is always in short supply. Attending the 12th annual general meeting for the Huron County branch recently. I learned that this group raises funds locally through a Forget-Me-Not Auction, tag days, race days, walks for memories, theatre productions and the selling of raffle tickets. The society recently received a grant from the Trillium contained an item about the adventures Sam Dougherty has been having on the tall ship. The Bounty. Last October Sam rejoined the ship and its crew at Chicago for its journey through the Great Lakes. The ship made its way back to Greenport, New York by way of the Erie Canal to the Hudson River. This was the first time a tall ship had sailed the Erie Canal. The ship had to be lightened as the water depth in parts of the canal is quite shallow. Moreover one of the bridges along the way is only 20 feet above the water surface. Therefore everything had to be brought down to deck level. The rigging and masts were trucked to New York. The Bounty motor was powered down for this trip. In spite of the organizing and work necessary for this trip, it was a Foundation through the province's charity casinos. Education for the general public and those families struggling with the disease is a major thrust of this society. Helping families make difficult decisions for dealing with the disease is related to their mission statement. Huron County runs six support groups in the county for caregivers. You can access this support at their office al the Betty Cardno Centre in Clinton. There are several warning signs that are symptomatic of Alzheimer's disease. However, people fail to acknowledge them or to admit that they need hep. Il is easier to ignore these signs or attribute them to something else such as aging, tiredness and stress, etc. This was the case with Brenda Hounam of Paris, Ontario about eight years ago. She spoke to the annual meeting on June 28. A very busy industrial accountant with teenaged children at the time, she wasn't honest with her doctor initially about her memory fuel-saving measure and a great experience for the crew and folk along the canal and river. The Bounty was refitted for ocean travel in Greenport and began the journey to St. Petersburg. Florida making a stop for tours of the ship in Charleston and with some time for rest and recreation for the crew in Key West. In St. Pete's the ship was prepared for movie duty. Over the winter the ship spent time docked in St. Vincent, for shooting of a Disney movie, a sequel of The Pirates of the Carribbean. Family matters brought Sam home in early spring but he plans to return to the ship for its late summer trip up the Mississippi River, another first for a tall ship. Someone else who is pursuing an interest, this time a hobby, is Marjorie Duizer. Her interest in rug difficulties, her mood changes and her daily lapses. A year and a half later, she was diagnosed with early- onset Alzheimer’s. Now just 53, Brenda talks to groups about her struggles. On two different medications to help her cope with (he advancing symptom. Brenda is a rare example ol getting on with life in a changed way. She told how finally admitting she had Alzheimer's disease brought a sense of relief to herself, her f amily and her friends. Without the support of those same people for “the new me” she could not change. The average life span for a person with Alzheimer’s disease after diagnosis is 12 years and. knowing that. Brenda wishes to make the best ot the time she has. Unfortunately, with many people, not admitting to the disease makes for a lesser quality of life for them and those around them. Brenda detailed many of the little tricks she has had to incorporate into her life to-just get through each day. And. she laughs about and related some of the funny sad things that hooking has taken her on three jaunts since May to learn even more about the craft. She attended a traditional rug hooking teachers' class at Loyalist College in Belleville the weekend of July 8. 9 and 10. Teachers from across Canada and the U.S.A, received instruction on methods of teaching Oriental-style hooked rugs. In May. Marjorie and Barb Kerr of Belgrave attended a week-long course at Niagara College on the art of hooking pictorial rugs. Six members of the local branch of the Ontario Hooking Craft Guild attended the annual meeting of the guild in May in Lindsay. Tom. who accompanied Marjorie 'for that weekend, was one of two husbands who went along. "There was a large display of hooked articles for viewing by those have happened. Many who hear Brenda relate to the circumstances in their own families and lives. The key to a better quality of life for persons with this disease is early diagnosis and the willingness to “handle” it. Her hope in struggling to speak to people about her circumstances is that she can help others to see that the diagnosis is not the end, but a bump in the road of life. Early in her battle, Brenda wanted to write a letter to her children to tell them of her love for them and to reassure them that this changed person is just that, a changed person who still loves them. She wanted them to remember that it is her mfnd that is leaving, not her and her love. She found she could not put those emotions on paper. However, young Sara Westbrook the daughter of a friend and a singer/songwriter did just that for her. Sara was at the annual meeting to sing her song. One More Memory. Proceeds from the sale of this CD will benefit the Alzheimer Society. in attendance. Marjorie was pleased to note that the local branch had the most items for show. The annual meeting and display will be hosted by the Huron County Branch of the guild in Stratford in April of 2006. The public can visit the display on Sunday, April 22 at the Stratford Coliseum. Traditional rug hooking is done by using strips of dyed wool that have been cut into various widths and applied to a fabric backing. Narrow widths are used for fine cut projects, while wide widths are used for a primitive-look rug such as those done by our ancestors. If you are interested in trying your hand at this new/old craft, give Marjorie a call. It’s a cinch you’ll get caught up in her enthusiasm. Hot beef A beef roast cooked in a steam engine was on the menu for the interclub meeting supper of the Backyard Railroaders/ Ontario’s West Coast Garden Rail Society/ London Garden Railroad Society held at the Londesborough-area home of Bruce and Harriet Shillinglaw on Saturday. On the job was Karrie Coxon. (Vicky Bremner photos) c 0 M E C E L E B R A T E W I T U S FRIDAY JULY 29 EVENTS 5-9 pm: Heritage Display, Ag Grounds 5-8 pm: Registration, Ag Grounds 5 pm-1 am: Entertainment Tent, Ball Diamond 7 pm: Arm Wrestling Ball Diamond, $2 Admission 8 pm: Beard Growing Contest, Entertainment tent 8 pm-1 am: CKNX Family Video Dance Ball Diamond - $5 per person or $20 for family with over 4 members. t Sponsored by Green Breezes Inc. 8 pm - 1 am: Seniors’ Dance Music by Sunrise, Ag Hall - $5 per person SATURDAY JULY 30 EVENTS 8 am-12 pm: 10 am: 12 pm-5 pm: 12 pm-4 pm: 12 pm-4 pm: 12 pm-8 pm: 12 pm-1 am: 1 pm: 2 pm: 2 pm-4 pm: 2 pm-4 pm: 2 pm-5 pm: 2 pm-5 pm: 4 pm-7 pm: 9 pm-I am: - ' ■ t"‘ DUNGANNON 150TH REUNION July. 29,30 & 312005 Check, out our website www.dungannonl50th.ca Breakfast by Auburn Lions, Hall ■ $6 per person PARADE Registration, Ag Grounds Tea Gardens by W.I , Ag Grounds Antique Vehicles & Machinery, Ag Grounds Heritage Display, Ag Grounds Entertainment Tent, Ball Diamond Official Opening, Ball Diamond Ongoing Music with Local Talent, Ball Diamond Soltra Lawn Tractor Races, Back Ball Diamond Kids Programs, Ball Diamond Progressive Euchre Tournament. Senior Citizens Centre. Adm. $2 Co-ed Volleyball, Park Bus Schedule for July 30th Bus #1 leaves Lucknow Arena 8 p.m., Pori Albert (Inn at the Port) 8:15 p.m., Goderich (Park House) 8:30 p.m. Bus #2 Leaves Lucknow Arena 8 p.m.. Auburn (Supertesl Garage) 8:30 p.m., Nile Church 8:45 p.m. All buses leave Duncannon a! 1:15 a.m. Cail for more information Robert Kay 529-7939 Fish Fry by Shriners, Hall, $12 per person Dance featuring MacAdam Road, Ball Diamond, $5 per person. Age of Majority Required. Sponsored by OMNI Insurance SUNDAY JULY 31 EVENTS 8 am-11 am: 11 am: 12 noon-2 pm: 12 noon-2 pm: 12 noon-4 pm: 1 pm: 1 pm: 1 pm: 1:30 pm: 1 pm-1 am: 1 pm-4 pm: 2 pm: 2 pm-4 pm: 4 pm: 5 pm-8 pm: 7:30 pm: 9:30 pm: 9*40-1 am: Breakfast by Auburn Lions, Hall - $6 per person Nondenominational Church Service. Rev. Robert Roberts Dungannon United Church Luncheon Courtesy of Northern Cross in the Northern Cross Pavilion, Ag Grounds. Registration, Ag Grounds Tea Gardens by W.I., Ag Grounds Horseshoe Tburnament. Register at 12 pm, Admissior $2, Ag Grounds Heritage Display, Ag Grounds Memorial Garden Dedication, Ag Grounds Cemetery Service Entertainment Tent, Bal) Diamond Antique Vehicles & Machinery, Ag Grounds Tug of War, Ag Grounds Kids’ Heritage Games, Ag Grounds Toilet Bowl Races, JoseplfSt. West Beef BBQ by Lucknow Lions, Hall. $12 per person Teddy Bear Parade, Start at Insurance Building Shirt Tail Parade, Start at Insurance Building DJ • Karaoke & PJ Dance, Ball Diamond, Age of Majority Required Wide Variety of Dungannon 1-5-0 SOUVENIRS cookbooks - hats - golf shirts beer steins - T-shirts - more Available at Dawson’s General Store and during the Reunion Weekend ‘Times subject to change at the discretion of the Dungannon Reunion Committee”