HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1987-11-18, Page 24Page 4A—CLINTON NEWS -RECORD, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 1987
'l'he Londesboro Exploer Girls for the 1986-87 year included (back row, left to right.)
Assistant Leader Lynda Horbanuik, Kelly Bosman, Pam Salverda, Kerrie Szusz, Erin
Horbanuik and Paul Allen. (Middle row) Angela Horbanuik, Erin Jameison, Mandy
Medd, Lisa Finch, Lindsey Salverda, Cheri Taylor and Leader Edith Taylor. (Front row)
Christy Scott, Mandy Hadenko, Lindsay Anderson and Rhonda Howatt. New members
are still welcome to join the 1987-88 group. Please contact Lynda Horbanuik.
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Kathv tills her story
By Kathy Bromley
BLYTH - Another year has quickly pass-
ed, yet so many wonderful things have hap-
pened to me in that time. This year, I will be
writing from a different aspect concerning
epilepsy, compared to what I have written
over the last two' years.
Thanks to Dr. Girvin and Dr. Rice of
University Hospital, London, my seizures
are now a thing of the past, after undergoing
successful brain surgery.
This year, my features will be based on
my life history - what caused the seizures;
being diagnosed as being an epileptic; the
life of an epileptic wife and mother; and how
my younger brother's death opened my
eyes, enabling me to be where I am today.
My Childhood Years
It has now been confirmed that my
seizures evolved from an incident that oc-
curred 30 years ago, while I was teething. As
all children have fevers while cutting teeth,
I was no exception.
Mom had put me to bed for the night and
she was ready to call it a day later on. I call
it the "mother's instinct" that comes
naturally to moms that caused her to make
one last check on me before she went to bed.
It was at this time that I was already in a
convulsion. It is not known how long I had
been in the convulsion prior to mom's
arrival.
I was then admitted to Alexandra Marine
and General Hospital in Goderich, where I
was closely watched and had the fever
brought down.
My convulsion is the root of all of the pro-
blems that I later faced in my life.
As I grew older, I was no different than
any other child...I loved getting dirty and I
continuously fought with my brothers and
sisters.
Unusual symptoms soon became obvious
to mom, though, as I suddenly became very
pale and w: s starieyed. Mom was concern-
ed and kn,:w it went deeper than me
daydreaming, especially when I had such a
frightening look on my face. Apparently the
feeling I had was an "Aura" or warning
signal, we learned later.
As a child who began school, symptoms
were becoming more and more obvious.
But, symptoms for what? What had once
began as paleness and staring, soon reveal-
ed more. Mom observed that I would pull on
my shirt, as I continuously made gagging
noises. On top of this, I would chew on the in-
side of my mouth, leaving the insides of my
cheeks red and inflamed. Salt was then ap-
plied to bring the swelling down...until it
struck again.
By this time, mom knew that I was ex-
periencing something unusual. Numerous
times, she took me to the doctors, stressing
that something was ailing me and she
wanted to know what it was and what could
be done about it.
One doctor finally informed her that this
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November
is epilepsy month
was all an "act" that I was carrying out,
trying to get the attention that I felt was
lacking. He went on to stress that if she did
not stop jumping tp bring me in so often for
such symptoms, "Kathy will soon be
diagnosed as a hypocondriac. The
psychiatric hospital was where I was to go
for special treatments.
Thank God, mom felt there was more to it
than that.
A Younger Brother
As all of this uncertainty was happening to
rne, dad and mom had their hands full. My
younger brother Pete came into the family
to even the score at three boys and three
girls.
I can clearly recall one specific time when
Pete experienced a household accident with
a heavy object, in his early years. An iron
fell onto the top portion of his finger, leaving
it partially disconnected. As Pete lay there,
getting ready for the hospital, I cried and
cried. He remained quieter than I did. This
may have been the beginning of the bond of
closeness that we shared throughout his life.
(It was stitched back on and healed well.)
Our closeness blossomed even more in a
few years time. Pete was experiencing his
own problems, as he was very late in being
able to walk.
Later on, Pete was admitted to War
Memorial Hospital in London under the
supervision of Dr. Nicholson. I too was
there, thanks to mom again. She had stress-
ed that she wanted things looked into
deeper. As I was there, the overactivity of
my brain was visible.
Just as we were finally getting to the root
of my problem, my life met the "fork in the
road". As Dr. Nicholson was a pediatrician,
I could no longer be his patient when I turn-
ed 16.
The results of my tests allowed him to con-
firm with us that he had suspicions. Through
a friend, we learned of Dr. McInnis, a
neurologist, who became my specialist
( after seeing him for 15 years now he will be
taking me off of the remaining medication
that I am on, later this month.)
Emotional Problems
I was finally diagnosed as an epileptic. My
outlook on life was as low as one could go, at
one point. Yes, suicide was even considered,
but, thank God, I was unable to carry it out.
Pete had earlier been diagnosed as having
Muscular Dystrophy. At least we now knew
what was ailing us, yet it was so hard for me
to accept.
The lowest point in my life, also proved to
'be a high point. I now knew for sure that this
was uncontrollable for me and that specific
medication was needed. It was no longer
considered mental problems.
I am safe to call this age one of the most
insecure stages in life that I experienced. I
felt so uncomfortable around anyone,
especially high school students, never know-
ing when the next seizure would strike.
This is where my concerns for seizures
differed from that of my parents, and later,
my husband. Naturally, mom and dad wor-
ried about me, concerning anything that
may happen during a seizure. As for me, I
wasn't worried as much of what happened,
but, rather who would see me in a seizure.
With these attitudes and examples, I final-
ly accepted the fact that I would remain an
epileptic spinster all of my life. Who would
ever want a girlfriend/wife, who took
"fits"?
But, changes and unusual events, I never
believed possible, did occur. I never dream-
ed of them happening to me.
I had actually been asked out for a day in
high school. Is it possible that I am con-
sidered the same as other "normal" people?
This so-called confidence balloon that was
rapidly being blown up, quickly burst,
though. I learned that my date was a bet - a
bet that he wouldn't ask me out.
I vowed to myself I would not budge to
allow this to happen again. I did not want
anyone to feel obligated to me.
This is where the tides turned though. Bev
came into my life and for once, I did feel like
the normal teenage girl, that I had once
dreamed of being. I enjoyed it while I could,
but deep down inside, I knew things would
change, and I was ready for it.
Since I attended GDCI and Bev went to the
Clinton high school, I assumed that he didn't
realize what he was getting himself involved
with.
It was a glorious -moment, one evening,
when he handed me his ring and asked if I
would go steady with him. It was here that I
had to admit to myself - "It was fun while it
lasted."
I went on to explain to Bev, that he had
every right to back out and refrain from the
question he had previously asked me. I ex-
plained that I understood - I am an epileptic.
To this, he promptly replied "I know"!
I discovered that he learned of my
physical illness through a friend, before our
first date.
This was like a scene from a fairy-tale,
featuring myself as Cinderella, one that I
never dreamed possible. Fifteen months
later, we became husband and wife, Bev
and Kathy Bromley.
Pete walked at our wedding, but shortly
afterwards, the cords in his legs had to be
cut due to muscular problems. Pete was
confined to a wheelchair. Little did I realize
how lucky I was.
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