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”