The Times Advocate, 2006-10-18, Page 18because she
never took the
time to take care
of herself, which has changed, although it took a huge
wake-up call.
"I survived although they fully expected me not to. You
don't have to wait to change your life," says Luther -Hiltz.
Luther -Hiltz speaks to interns, nurses and groups
across Canada focusing on breast cancer awareness and
the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
For more information on the Canadian Cancer Society
visit www. cancer. ca
Curves forWomen speaker — Breast cancer sur-
vivor and co-ordinator of the Cancer Patient Family
Network in Nova Scotia Emmie Luther -Hiltz spoke to
the women at Curves Oct. 10, sharing her experience
beating breast cancer.Above from left are Curves manag-
er and Luther-Hiftz's cousin Sid Reaburn, Luther -Hiltz,
Crediton resident Barb Dunlop who lost her daughter to
breast cancer and Exeter resident Sylvia Smith whose
daughter is a breast cancer survivor of three years.
(photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
A GOOD MIX
KEEP some old - ADD some new
RE-ELECT
PETE ARMSTRONG
Ward 2 Exeter
For your convenience, come to 385 Main St. with your
quesions or concerns. (Check open times in window.)
HEART///,„„„„,,Th
LAND
CREDIT UNION
a division of UNITED COMMUNITIES CREDIT UNION LIMITED
Heartland Credit Union is undergoing
a banking system conversion.
In order to complete this in a timely
manner our Exeter Office hours
will be affected as follows:
Wednesday Nov 1 - CLOSED
Thursday Nov 2 - OPEN
(11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.)
All Heartland ATMs will be functioning during this time.
You can also access your account from any
financial institution ATM. To avoid service fees
visit those ATMs that display the AccuLink® &
THE EXCHANGE® symbols.
INTERAC° direct debit transactions using
your Member Card® will be operational.
We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
heartlandcommunitycu.on.ca
17
TIMES–ADVOCATE
Wednesday, October 18, 2006
Breast Cancer survivor speaks at Curves forWomen
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
EXETER — "I was 33 and I had breast cancer," says
cancer survivor and co-ordinator of the Cancer Patient
Family Network in Nova Scotia Emmie Luther -Hiltz to a
full room at Exeter's Curves for Women Oct. 10 for
breast cancer awareness month.
When Luther -Hiltz first discovered something was
wrong, she noticed a lump in her breast.
"It was as big as a goff ball. It didn't hurt. It was very
hard, but it didn't hurt," says Luther -Hiltz.
"It was a large lump on my breast. I think I knew right
away something was wrong," Luther -Hiltz adds.
Both her grandmother and mother had had breast
cancer and knowing it ran in the family Luther -Hiltz had
it checked immediately.
The next few days would be both overwhelming and
terrifying for Luther -Hiltz. After making an appointment
to see a doctor, they were almost positive she did have
breast cancer.
"I think you have breast cancer." Luther -Hiltz said
those words ran over and over in her head.
After the initial appointment Luther-HIltz went grocery
shopping, buying items she's never bought before as
well as buying four or five of the same product.
Luther -Hiltz says when she reached the check-out, she
realized she hadn't paid any attention to her shopping
after hearing that there was a good possibility she had
breast cancer.
After getting diagnosed with cancer the following
Monday, Luther -Hiltz said she couldn't make any sense
of it at first.
"I was happily married with two little boys and a new
home. Everything in my world was going well," says
Luther -Hiltz.
She was also in shock after being told, "You do have
breast cancer. We'll admit you to the hospital today and
remove the breast tomorrow."
She says after telling the news to her family members
and friends, their reactions varied.
Her husband Bill was devastated, worried she would-
n't be around to see her children grow -up. Her eight-
year-old son Dane didn't want anyone to know that his
mother had breast cancer and five-year-old Seth being
so young didn't quite understand what it meant, telling
strangers frequently that "my mom has breast cancer."
Her mother Betty and sister Gwen flew out east to see
Luther -Hiltz.
"My sister nearly drove me to drink. My mother was
very reassuring," says Luther -Hiltz.
Luther -Hiltz says when it comes down to it, what is
needed most from family members and friends is to let
them know you are thinking about them.
"Just by passing the Kleenex to someone who's cry-
ing," says Luther -Hiltz.
Luther -Hiltz says something else of importance is
respect. She remembers when getting first diagnosed
with cancer, someone from the hospital saying, "That's
advanced breast cancer," talking about Luther -Hiltz but
leaving no explanation.
She says after hearing that comment she became quite
concerned but no answers followed for some time.
Luther -Hiltz underwent chemotherapy for six months.
"I had terrible vomiting from chemo. It hurts, it pains.
Your stomach hurts physically," says Luther -Hiltz.
One night, she remembers Dane was pounding her
back as she vomited and Seth was holding a washcloth
to her face, helping her.
Luther -Hiltz says her children have told her they love
her more because of what she's gone through.
Luther -Hiltz did six months chemotherapy and several
cat scans for years.
She is now 46 years old, healthy and has a brand new
outlook on life.
Luther -Hiltz says a main reason why she developed
breast cancer was
Entertainment a main focus for pub
By Nina Van Lieshout
TIMES -ADVOCATE STAFF
ZURICH — With a new
owner and some new ideas,
Smiley'z Pizza and Pub in
Zurich is undergoing a few
changes.
Owner Mike Houle, who
reopened the restaurant in
July, is sticking to the same
recipes, with pizza the main
meal, but he is trying out a
couple of other ideas like
steak sandwiches.
He's also switching up the
specials daily and enticing
customers on weekends with
a personal pizza and wings
special.
Houle, who has run a cou-
ple of hotels in London previ-
ously and has "been in the
entertainment industry
almost my whole life" is
bringing bands
to the forefront
at Smiley'z, hop-
ing to include
groups that
spark the inter-
est of all ages
like the
Roadhammers
and the Shelley
Rastin Band. He
is also planning
to have a one-
man -band enter-
tain at the pub on the week-
ends, extending his weekend
hours to accommodate bands.
Houle who has a lot of
experience in the music
industry "playing and engi-
neering different acts," has
"worked with B.B. King and
the late great Ray Charles,"
just to name a couple.
He was also previously an
engineer for London's
Bluesfest working with Pierce
Sound and Lighting.
Houle says he was starting
to get tired of London and
after getting to know Smiley'z
previous owner Riley
Vanderwheel, realized taking
over the restaurant could be a
good next step.
"I was interested in doing
something new," says Houle.
Although Houle is no longer
as extensively into the enter-
G.I.C.'s
426%
•
amp Gaiser
`."t s. BrokerMc.
Kneale
EXETER - 235-2420
GRAND BEND - 238-8484
CLINTON - 482-3401
Pub brings entertain-
ment — Smiley'z Pizza
and Pub in Zurich is in
the midst of undergoing a
few changes since above,
owner Mike Houle took
over the business in the
summer.Although the
menu will continue serv-
ing pizza as its main meal,
Houle is planning to put a
huge focus on bringing
entertainment to the
Main Street restaurant.
(photo/Nina Van Lieshout)
tainment business, he is still
part of the Kelly Wright Band
of St. Thomas, playing bass
and acting as engineer and
sound advisor.
They are six songs into an
album, with Houle doing the
music and Wright writing the
lyrics.
"I've always got something
on the go," says Houle.
A huge Halloween event
coming up which Smiley'z is
sponsoring at Maverick's
Paintball is a night with
London's Bobnoxious,
HallowBob's Eve Oct. 31.
Also on the bill is Trole, Left
Intact and Zurich's
Renaissance.
The doors open at 7:30
p.m. Tickets can be bought at
Smiley'z or through
Ticketmaster for $15.
RE-ELECT
JIM
DIETRICH
Councillor -Ward 1
South Huron
519-237-3225