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The Citizen, 1992-10-07, Page 25PAGE 26. THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 7,1992. HIV positive couple finds strength in God Continued from page 6 person has over 1000 cells per ml of blood. Once an infected person's count reaches a level of approxi­ mately 500 they start drug therapy. When your count hits the 200-250 mark, you are progressing into full­ blown AIDS. My count is 210, my husband's is 390. There are three different drugs they use to boost your immune sys­ tem. AZT is the drug of choice for doctors. Most people, including Don, experience morning sickness type symptoms which eventually pass. The only permanent side effect is fatigue. Other people, like me, get to suffer extreme side Current Statistics ALL2S.__HIV+(est.} World..........502,432...12 million USA...........230,179...1.5 million Canada............6560....50,000 Ontario............2811....20,000 Huron Cty.............6............14 (Statistics provided by the Huron County Health Unit. A person is consid­ ered to have AIDS when they develop one or more opportunistic infections, infec­ tions which take advantage of weakened state of the body with the two most com­ mon being kaposi's sarcoma and pneumo- cystis carinii pneumonia.) effects which include vomiting, diarrhea, migraines, extreme fatigue, pain, dizziness, difficulty forming words and expressing ideas. There are many more drugs we will have to take in the future. We were told once you are fully medi­ cated, drug expenses alone are Community opening Blyth Reeve Dave Lee and long-time village resident Luella McGowan officially opened the Community Play office at Memorial Hall last Thursday, with a ribbon untying ceremony New community play office opens at Blyth Festival The Grand Opening of the Blyth & District Community Play Office, held October 1, was attended by a gathering of 50 people. Blyth Reeve Dave Lee and long-time resident Luella McGowan officiated at the ribbon cutting ceremony. Play co-ordinators Karen Stewart and Fran Cook are excited to be able to welcome the community at the centrally located office in Blyth Memorial Community Hall. Over the past few months, many local members of the research committee have been delving into the memoirs of Huron County residents to devise a unique play of our village and the surrounding area. "You can supply a vital link in the making of this play by providing research material of your family history from which the play will develop," says Mrs. Cook. $2OOO-$5OOO per person per month. For us that will eventually mean $4000-$ 10000 per month. We can't pay for that. Eventually we will have to go onto full medical dis­ ability and rely on government funding. Lately, I've become especially aware how this disease affects women. The World Health Organi­ zation recently estimated that fully one-third of the adult female popu­ lation of the world will be HIV positive by the year 2000. Most of these women live in third-world nations. By the year 2000, more women will have AIDS than men whereas now, 80 per cent of the victims have been gay males. This is because it is nine times easier for a women to get infected than a man. This is due to the fact that semen has a much higher concentration of HIV than vaginal fluids and that our body structure allows us to incubate the virus much easier. For unknown reasons, the disease pro­ gresses faster in women and the opportunistic infections we contract are more deadly. This is a sobering reality for me and a difficult one for Don to deal with. As a mother, my children are of utmost importance to me. My biggest problem is when I start thinking about my children's future and the good chance that neither Don nor myself will be a part of it. The answer to me as a Christian is that God is more than sufficient to meet all their needs. God is easing my heart gradually. Already there In these times of such uncertainty and extreme confusion Ms Stewart feels "the health of the universe comes from the health of the community." Workshops in acting and mime, as well as a brainstorming session with the public have been taking place over the last few weeks under the direction of Jon Oram from England. This is Mr. Oram's 15th project of this sort and he is confident that Blyth has the enthusiasm and spirit to make this an event that will celebrate our community. Over the next few months organizers will be busy with fundraising and publicity. Everyone has something to contribute to this project and they want to hear from you. are very special people gradually becoming more involved in my children's lives. These people of course, include our families but also close friends, their guardians. To a large extent, people have continued to interact with us as before but are afraid to go further. Some are afraid of the disease itself. Others just don't know what to say to us. We understand. Fear is the big one, as much as you know you can't catch it through casual contact there is still that underlying., what if? Let me assure you, if there was any possible way you could transmit this disease by casual contact, I wouldn't be speak­ ing to groups. You might say, "well I have to think of my children." Well so do I. Daily, I am confront­ ed by the reality of my disease with scraped knees, bloody noses, cuts, bruises and the inevitable "kiss them better mommy." There would be no way I would be inter-acting with my children on this level if I thought there was any way to infect them. We do take extra precautions however. We bleach any area we might have dripped blood on, we wear band-aids on even minor cuts and we all follow strict hand-wash­ ing and personal hygiene. Again, we are in more danger from our surroundings than our children are from the virus. Molds, mildews, manure, cat feces, chicken viruses and swine diseases all pose sub­ stantial risks for us. People are awkward with us. Most of you wonder what to say. Say what you want, ask what you will and you can expect an honest answer. We almost know for sure how we got it but we're still trying to deal with it. It’s private and I don't feel called to share this with the general public. The face of AIDS is changing, my family is a prime example of that. The disease is infecting people of all ages, in every walk of life. I cope with all this through my faith in God. God loves me and is giving me sufficient strength to meet my trials. Writer's note: Don and Elma did give birth to another child, a healthy daughter, who is now five- months-old. She is being tested for the HIV virus but the results are not yet in. Both boys are HIV nega­ tive. Don is 30 and Elma is 25. Treat yourself to a delicious Dinner Sunday Oct. 11 and Monday Oct. 12 from 4 p.m. to closing 8 p.m. Celebrate Thanksgiving at Tim's Family Restaurant. You will find a scrumptious smorgasbord of food including: Roast Turkey Roast Prime Rib White Fish Potatoes • Vegetables Salad Bar • Fruits • Dinner Rolls • Tea, Coffee • Homemade Desserts All you can eat In one trip for $10.95 per person Reservations Recommended for Thanksgiving - Children's Menu - Take Out Orders - Fully licensed - Open 7 days Hours 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tim's Family Restaurant (formerly Grandview Too) Blyth 523-9623 fwst Tim & Atfiina Adamapoulos