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www.oakvillebeaver.com The Oakville Beaver, Friday July 13, 2007 - 17 Inspiration is alive and well at Oakville Y T wo years ago, an Oakville man was diagnosed with cancer. He doesn't talk a lot about it, simply because he's the type of man who leaves the worrying details to the experts and he chooses not to let any negative thoughts enter into his life. Let's call him `Ed' to protect his identity. What Ed can tell you is that he has the same cancer that Terry Fox had. That, and the doctors have cut away half of the muscles of his right thigh and replaced his right femur with a titanium shaft. What we have learned about osteogenic sarcoma through Canadian hero Terry Fox's story is that even amputation does not eliminate all of the risk -- those cancerous cells spread to eventually affect Terry's lungs, and take his life. Ed has maintained a great sense of humour throughout his battle. Following numerous operations and subsequent infections, he recalls the day he was to be released from hospital: "The on-duty nurse came by for one last check-up. She lifted the covers, took a quick look, and told me everything was looking fine and wished me good luck. It was at this point I felt compelled to tell her it's the other leg -- the one that was half-missing, with 73 stitches!" Sixteen months ago, on his own power, and with a cane in each hand, Ed walked through the front doors of the Oakville YMCA. He met with various members of the staff, and was introduced to all of the technology and equipment that would be available to him. Together, they worked out a program that would help him regain his health and he remarked on how helpful and courteous everyone was. Ed is very grateful to one trainer in particular, Bill Joyce, who has shown a tremendous amount of patience and persistence; who was always there to tell him "three more." In the end, it was concluded that Ed simply could not build any more strength on muscle that no longer existed -- this was as good as it was going to get. But he is very thankful for the extra chance he has been given, and he now appreciates completely that each new day is a gift. Something Ed highly recommends for the soul is to take even a small amount of time and actually visit a hospital one day. If it is only to sit in a waiting area, it is the greatest reminder of how lucky we are, and to actually value what we have. Each day is still difficult for Ed, and different from the next -- deciding between one cane, or two, and on really bad days, a walker. Today, Ed makes it a priority to do whatever he can to maintain his general physical health. And, to do so he has continued his visits to the `Y' almost without fail -- at least five days per week! Throughout these last 16 months, whether he is to be found walking laps around the indoor track, or swimming lengths in the pool, it has been with the greatest of pleasure for all of us at the YMCA to get to know such a courageous individual. And, that each day this younghearted 68-year-old man walks through our front doors, carrying a cane in each hand, and a smile ­ not unlike Terry Fox himself -- he is truly an inspiration to us all. -- Submitted by YMCA Volunteer John Brockett GUARANTEED LOWEST PRICE Group Bookings LOCATION frankfurt $ Hotel Name $ Taxes taxes $000 $194 1 week all inclusive 1 week - tour Self Drive Tour/Car/Htl LOCATION amsterdam Hotel Name $ Taxes taxes $000 $191 1 week all -inclusive 1 week tour the netherlands LOCATION Amsterdam Hotel and Tour 1519 000 000 927 000 797 $ 000 629 000 677 000 597 $372 $185 $185 $325 $372 Air/Hotel Ibis 2nts $ $ May 6, 1336/ath August sq/5g May 6, 29/ath August133 sq/5g Hotel Name Taxes taxes $000 $191 1 week all inclusive 1 week - tour 000 1449 000 727 000 597 May 6, 133 sq/5g July 25/ath Weddings LOCATION cozumel Honeymoons Allegro Cozumel Hotel Name $ $ taxes $000 Taxes $277 1 week all inclusive 1 week - All inclusive LOCATION cayo coco $ $ Krystal Name Hotel Laguna taxes $000 Taxes $187 $210 1 week all inclusive varadero LOCATION cancun/mayan Woman wants people to know $ $ Sandos Caracol Hotel Name taxes $000 Taxes $276 1 week all inclusive Continued from page 13 "You're still handing out temporary passports and people are still getting stuck. Why are you doing this?" Coletta is also angered by the fact that the European countries, which so adamantly refused to accept her temporary South African passport when she was in South Africa, had no problem accepting it when she departed Canada. "I was allowed to go through Frankfurt, but not allowed back," she said. During her time at the airport, Coletta saw that she was not the only South African to fall victim to this trap. "There was a family on their way to Israel. They were going via Frankfurt because that was the flight I had and they wouldn't let them on," said Coletta. "I don't know whether they got out of that predicament or not." Fortunately, due to a family connection in the South African Opposition Party, Coletta's permanent South African passport was located and its renewal sped up. Coletta was able to return to Oakville, but today is dealing with more than $400 in penalty fees that resulted from the multiple rebookings made with Air Canada during her ordeal. She is also coping with the ramifications of having missed her citizenship ceremony. "I'm going to get a Canadian passport in the next two or three weeks and when I do I will take that South African passport and burn it," she said. "You just don't need this. You're an honest, decent, senior citizen and you're treated like something bad." Coletta hopes Oakville's sizable South African popu- lation will take her experience to heart and avoid traveling with a temporary South African passport, even in an emergency. "I want people to know about this because no one is going to tell you." Family Vacations European Getaways OAKVILLE: (905) 842-4999 146 LAKESHORE RD. 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