HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Huron Expositor, 1995-11-29, Page 22 -.TME HURON EXPOSITOR, November SS, 1IHIS
Close-up
Christmas Seals hold special meaning
BY TRISH MacGREGOR
You probably found an
envelope in your mailbox
recently from the Lung
Association containing a
package of Christmas Seals.
And while you were opening
that package you were
reminded that the Lung
Association is once gain
appealing for donations
through the Christmas Seal
campaign. And maybe the
appearance of the Christmas
Seals got you thinking about
the upcoming season with its
parties, preparations, shopping
trips, etc. However, the
significance of Christmas
Seals holds a different
meaning for me, as it was at
Christmastime that lung
disease was no longer
something 'that happened
only to people who smoked
or were bom with asthma' as
I once believed, but it was
now my reality and a new
way of life.
At that time and the months
prior to that Christmas, I
became increasingly ill and
short of breath. Things that I
had always taken for granted
such as running, dancing,
aerobics and even climbing
stairs were becoming
incredible challenges for me.
The outcome was that I
needed to move back to
Seaforth with my parents
since I was no longer able to
cope with my illness alone. In
hindsight, returning to
Seaforth was the smartest
think I could do as it was Dr.
Ken Rodney who recognized
the seriousness of my
condition and referred me to
a specialist at St. Joseph's
Hospital in London where I
spent the month of December
1989.
After undergoing several
procedures, tests and finally
open lung surgery in order to
obtain a lung biopsy, I was
diagnosed with a rare
condition called 'Necrotizing
Sarcoid Granulamotosis'
which was pretty strange
since not only had I never
heard of it, I couldn't
pronounce -it! Without _going
into great detail I will tell you
that after six years of steroid
therapy, inhalers and other
medications I am once again
running, dancing, doing
aerobics and climbing stairs.
As long as I keep on top of
my asthmatic symptoms with
the help of inhalers, I am
living a 'normal, healthy life.'
Hazardous
driving conditions
for Huron County
BY J.C. MARSHALL
COMMUNITY SERVICES
OFFICER -HURON
Inconsistent weather
patterns pose a hazard to
Huron County drivers in
winter.
Sun, fog, snow, rain, slush,
freezing rain, blowing snow,
no matter what time of day. a
driver should always take the
elements into consideration,
drive accordingly by watching
their speed and increase the
stopping distance to prevent
highway collisions.
'Speed Too Fast' is the
major contributor of motor
vehicle collisions in winter. A
speed limit of 80 km/h is for
a roadway with normal
weather and road conditions.
Snow, ice and slush change
the condition, therefore your
driving habits must change
accordingly.
Keeping your headlights on
during the day will not help
you see, but it will help you
'to be seen especially in
whiteouts and fog. Headlights
must be on during rain and
snow storms, blowing snow -
including whiteouts, fog and
one half hour before sunset to
one half hour after sunrise.
When the weather
conditions deteriorate and
roads are closed, this
information will be passed on
to CKNX 920AM/102FM and
CFPL 980. For road report
information call 1-800-265-
5407.
Hensall rejects
development officer
Hensall Council unanimously
rejected a motion to hire a full-
time community development
officer at its Nov. 13 meeting.
Coun. Jeff Rcahum said the
residents he's heard from don't
think the economic benefits of
the position would outweigh
the estimated annual cost for
the village of $40,(X)0 to create
the job.
GREGOR CAMPBELL PHOTO
JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS - Trish MacGregor,
Huron -Perth Lung Association board member, presents
Seaforth mayor Irwin Johnston with Christmas Seals to
kick off the 1995 campaign.
But I don't ever forget that
Christmas years ago when I
was unable to enjoy the
holiday season because I was
living from day to day. Many
Canadians who suffer from
lung disease know that 'when
you can't breathe, nothing
else matters', not the
Christmas parties, not the
cards, presents or even the
turkey with stuffing. The only
thing that matters is taking
that next breath. One in five
Canadians has some type of
breathing problem. More than
27,000 people (12 times the
population of Seaforth) die
each year fromrespiratory
diseases such as emphysema,
asthma and lung cancer. Lung
disease is the third largest
cause of death in Canada. It
appears that inhalers are
becoming more and more
common in , our . society.
People oT all ages have lung
disease and it effects
nonsmokers such as myself as
well as smokers.
The Lung Association
provides education to families
of asthma patients through the
Airforce Family Asthma
program. Last year 4,000
chool children in
Huron/Perth received a visit
from the Lung Lady as part
of our Lungs Are For Life
school program which is
designed to stop children
from picking up their first
cigarette. These two programs
are created to educate people
about maintaining healthy
lungs.
Breathe Easy is a new
educational and social
program for those suffering
from chronic obstructive lung
disease, such as emphysema.
Participants learn to cope
with and live more fully with
chronic lung disease. The
Lung Association also has a
wide range of literature on
subjects related to respiratory
health. Incidentally, it was in
my search for more
information about my
condition that I first became
involved with the Lung
Association. Since then I have
worked with them as a client,
volunteer and now a board
member.
The Lung Association
promotes and funds medical
research to find ways to treat
and prevent lung disease. In
July 1994 my case study was
presented in a medical journal
called 'Chest', a research
paper similar to those funded
by the Lung Association. The
Lung Association is proud to
support projects at local
hospitals. Recently the Huron -
Perth Associate of the Lung
Association donated the funds
for a blood gases machine at
the South Huron Hospital in
Exeter. It has also donated
money to assist with start-up
costs of a pulmonary
ehabilitation program at
Stratford General Hospital.
The Christmas Seal
Campaign is the major source
of funds for the Lung
Association. When opening
that envelope filled with
colourful seals, please don't
throw it out. Use those seals
on your Christmas cards as a
symbol of your understanding
of what the Lung Association
does in our community and
how it helps people like
myself who are living with a
lung disease. It is thanks to
the good work of many
doctors and the efforts of
people at the Lung
Association that many of us
will be home for Christmas
and enjoying our holidays.
AWARD WINNERS - Seaforth Homecoming '95 Co -Chairs
Joe Steffler and Carolanne Doig received a special award
during the citizenship awards at the BIA Christmas party
on Saturday night for their work organizing the summer
reunion. A plaque was presented to the pair from recre-
ation director Marty Bedard and Seaforth mayor Irwin
Johnston. The co -Chairs presented Trudy Broome of the
Seaforth Library with a cheque for $1,000 from the
Homecoming 50-50 draw. Bob Beuttenmiller of the Lions'
Club also accepted a cheque for $1,000 for the club's
organizational work with tale Travel the World lottery.
Remaining profits from Homecoming will go to the Bill
Pinder Bursary at Seaforth District High School.
01111111111
MID -WESTERN ONTARIO
Farm Toys, Dolls,
Miniatures, Crafts,
6 & Sports Cards !!!!
SHOW & SALE
YYYYYYY YY Y-1
Breakfast
8 a.m.
Sun. Dec. 3
at the Seaforth
Curling Club
1.-A. �j} A__
Seaforth Agrlplex, High School & Arena
Seaforth. Ontario
Admission -10 & over - $3.00
F,ee Skating for Everyone
CANADIAN TIRE PRESENTS
5
1
OPEN HOUSE
Thursday, Nov. 30th
. - 6 pm till 9 pm
Every Senior with a eniors' Card
0 saves 15% on every purchase....
even sale priced items
Take advantage of extra services offer.ed...
by the First Presbyterian Youth Group
• GIFT WRAPPING •
, • GIFT CONSULTING
(for those "hard to buy for"
grandchildren)
• HOT CHOCOLATE
&
COOKIES
• CARRY
PACKAGES
TO YOUR CAR
"Donations to the
First Presbyterian
Youth Group will
be accepted"
AT
52 -1350
CANADIAN TIRE,
SEAFORTH •
1
(F(pV014
WAGONS
Christmas Special
Drop into McGAVIN'S
TOYLAND and see
, , our full selection of
quality toys
21
1 pyo SELECTED
IT CE TOYS
OFF till Dec. 24
Winter Skits
Available
McGAVIN FARM EQUIPMENT
Walton, Ont.
(519) 887-6365, (519) 527-0245
'Your short -line specialists"
Established in 1936
SERVICE WITH A
SMILE
1
527-0245
FARM SUPPLY LTD. _1 MWISCIIINO
WALTON 887.6365
1,