Wednesday, January 19, 2000 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B3 Journey o f pain and self-discovery leads woman to health, new career By Claudia D'Souza SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER It took a life-threatening medical crisis to lead Florence M artinLanteigne to the career of her dreams as a Doctor of Naturopathy. The warm, upbeat New Brunswick native now shares her wealth of experi ence with others through her inspiring workshops, courses and public speak ing engagements. Martin-Lanteigne's journey of pain and self-discovery began in 1988 when she suffered a serious, debilitating back injury while working as a school bus driver in New Brunswick. "I did the splits on a sheet of ice damaging nine spinal disks and two vertebrae. The pain was chronic and excruciating and I became addicted to prescription drugs. My legs would just give out at any time. I did the standard conventional treatments of rehabilita tion, doctors, physiotherapists, psy chologists and pain clinics." For years, she floundered through multiple misdiagnosis, overmedication and lengthy battles with the insurance and compensation industries. By 1992, the mother of two was taking 38 pills a day to cope with the after effects of her injury. When her marriage failed, she hit rock bottom but then came a turning point. "I was making arrangements with a lawyer to look after my kids because I thought I was going to kill myself," she shares. "I thought I was losing my mind. I knew then I had to take charge and only I had the power to turn the sit uation around." With an overriding conviction she could cure herself and amazing endurance for pain, she refused to accept the advice of her regular doctor. Instead, she came to Oakville where her miraculous healing journey began. certificate in Therapeutic Touch, a degree in Reiki Natural Healing and is a member of the Academy of Naturopathy and Naturotherapists of Canada. She opened a business, Ansaloit Metaphysic Wellness in New Brunswick and doctors, who previous ly treated her years before, began refer ring patients to her. For the past five years MartinLanteigne has been an educator with a PhD pending in the Metaphysic Energy Method which integrates body, mind, emotions and spirit incorporating all the forms of natural healing she's learned. Her workshops and public speaking engagements are an inspira tion to all that experience them. The testimonials speak for themselves. "I used to be person with low self esteem and a negative mind. I really didn't like the person I was," wrote Roseline M. "Thanks to Florence's help, I see things more clearly. She has taught me to love myself and to believe I am a great person." "I was a workaholic but through Florence's course I became enabled to distinguish the difference between pos itive and negative energy," says Kenneth F. "I learned to channel my energy to positive things and spend more time with my family." This past summer, Martin-Lanteigne penned her first book, Strength fo r Our Journey , scheduled for April release. "The best diploma on earth is the diploma of the soul - the school of learning here on earth," she smiles. "I don't look at my accident as a negative event anymore. I had to get ill to get where I am today." Martin-Lanteigne is available for speaking engagements and is planning a series of workshops on meditation, self-healing, alternative menopausal treatments and stress management. Call 331-2044. Learn to cope with sibling rivalry The Oakville Parent-Child Centre understanding. "He hit me." "She hit offers parenting programs with practi me first." "You're not fair." Sound cal, effective strategies and informa familiar? Learn tips on handling sibling rival tion to help parents and caregivers learn new skills and to gain confidence ry and helping your children live together, join `Helping Your Kids Live in their parenting role. Parenting two or more children Together' on Monday afternoons, from introduces a new set of issues that 1 to 3 p.m. Childcare is available. Call 849-6366 to register. often challenges our patience and Sale on now until Jan.25th! Florence Martin-Lanteigne "I used to live in Oakville 17 years ago and something led me back here," she says. "I came back looking for a former doctor but he was no longer here. I went to the Argus Medical Centre and that's where I found my medical miracle with natural remedies. Six months later I was completely off all prescription drugs. I hadn't felt this good in years." The newly married MartinLanteigne and her family permanently moved back to Oakville last fall. With her newfound health, MartinLanteigne began studying towards earning her diplom a in Adult Psychology. While studying she redis covered herself and realized her revela tions were life changing. "It was an awakening of myself," she notes. "I realized I'd been abused as a child and had buried the anger, guilt, shame, fear and depression. I saw that my negative emotions were manifest ing themselves physically. At one time you wouldn't want to bump into me - 1 was a very angry person. I learned for giveness is the key. You must find a way to forgive if you really want to heal. It only eats away at you." Martin-Lanteigne went on to earn a W-l-D-E BROADCLOTH-CHAMBRAY & OXFORDS ·LIGHTWEIGHT POLYESTER SOLIDS ·MONACO SUITING ·DENIM ASSORTMENT ·NOVELTY SPORTSWEAR I IS-l50m POLYESTER PRINTS ·POLYESTER/COnON PRINTS ·FLANNELETTE PRINTS ARCTIC i LAMBSKIN FLEECE SOLIDS-ASSORTED CHRISTMAS PRINTS & QUILTS W-l-D-E BRUSHED PLAIDS · "AMES" WOOL & WOOL BLEND COLLECTION CORDUROY SOLIDS-TRIMS BY THE SPOOL · VELCRO PRE-CUTS ANTIQUE SATIN DRAPERY ·"GEMINI" POLYESTER SHEERS-"SORENTO" PRINT COLLECTION 'CHADWICK' DECORATOR PRINTS` HOME DEC PRINTS & SOLIDS ·DISCONTINUED DRAPERY Entire In-Store Stock! E E n i m * s i burdci IndM duatypriced. HIT 1 a t M.S.R. Price. PATTERNS GET 1 FREE! | (of equal value or less) Offer void Jan. 10-25. 2000. Not I void w itri any other dscounf offer. I S a le in e f f e c t J a n u a r y 1 0 -2 5 , 2 0 0 0 , o n s e le c t e d in - s t o c k m e r c h a n d is e o n ly . S o rry , n o s p e c i a l o r d e r s . M o s t ite m s a v a i l a b l e in m o s t s to re s . L o o k fo r t h e r e d s a le ta g s . P le a s e n o t e : th e t e r m ` r e g u la r p r i c e ' r e fe r s t o F a b r ic la n d 's r e g u la r c h a in - s t o r e p r ic e . S U N D A Y S 1 2 -5 14 0 R e b e c c a S t. O A K V I L L E 8 4 4 -7 7 2 8 In fo lin e : 1 -8 8 8 -7 8 0 -0 3 3 3 W e b site : w w w .fa b ric la n d .c a H ere's a com forting thought: c L . ealy sleep sets A ll S e a ly sleep sets a re o n sale. S e a ly sleep sets o ffe r q u ality , c o m f o r t a n d u n p a r a lle le d s u p p o rt. P lu s, i t 's lik e t h e r e 's N O G S T A D D E D * o r u se y o u r S e a rs C a rd a n d d o n 't pay 'til J a n u a ry 2 0 0 1 * * o n a ll sleep sets. Sale prices end Sunday, January 30, 2000. Some items may have been on sale during the past week Store Hours: Mon-Fri. 10:00am-9:00pm furniture & appliances store whoIe(^uDh omc. c o o r d in a t e d fu r n it u r e C a n a d a '· la rg e s t s e le c t io n o f m a jo r a p p lia n c e s Sears furniture & appliance store M is s is s a u g a Sat. 10:00am - 6:00pm Sun. 12:00pm-5:00pm 3050 BlvJ , M ississauga, Ontario V is it o u r w e .s e a r s .c a (9 0 5 ) 8 2 0 -6 8 0 1 *'lt's like there's NO GST ADDED' offer Sears w ill deduct from th e item p rice the sam e d o lla r am ount as the GST you w ill p a , GST equivalent reduction does not apply to purchases m ade under tax-exem pt status. , O tter does not apply to defe rra l fees, delivery, m aintenance agreem ent o r in stallatio n charges. O ffer ends Sunday. February 1 3 ,2 0 0 0 . NP0138400 "Don't Pay' o ffe r On approved cre d it, w ith your Sears Card. M inim um $ 20 0 purchase. $ 35 defe rra l fee and a ll applicable taxes and charges are payable at tim e of purchase O ffe r ends Sunday. January 3 0 .2 0 0 0 . A sk lo r d e ta ils. Both offers: A pply to sleep sets in S ears F urniture, Sears Furniture & A ppliances and Sears Furniture, A ppliances & Home Im provem ents Stores. Exclude C atalogue purchases. Copyright 2000 Sears Canada Inc.