The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

B2 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER Wednesday, July 7, 1999 A few words to say thank yo u 4 By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR Every May 1st, Dave Reimer receives a card from his sister thanking him for his gift of life. This year, it arrived via the Globe and Mail. Rather than send another card, she wrote an article published on the Globe's Facts & Arguments page on May 31st. His sister, Liz Morgan, wrote about her closeness with her big brother, and what his gift of a kidney three years means to her. It freed her from 13 years if dial­ ysis, three times a week. She became ill with kidney failure at age 37, before she moved with husband Ron Morgan to the Edmonton area from Oakville about 10 years ago. For the first 12 years, she soldiered on, hop­ ing a donor could be found. Then, her bones became brittle and began to break, a side-effect of her weakness. "She was in very bad shape. She was losing the calcium con­ tent in her bones . . . losing her bone density. She was getting very fragile." The search for a suitable donor was made more difficult as her blood carries rare antibodies that were not compatible with Tribute article replaces card for gift of kidney 90% of the population. Three members of her family came for­ ward to be tested, among them Reimer. 'Tve been wanting to give her a kidney ever since she became ill," said Reimer, who was tested at the time and was found to be a 'questionable' match. When she took a turn for the worse, Reimer insisted he be retested, and thanks to medical advances and new anti-rejection drugs, it was felt that he would be a suitable donor. His testing was done at the Toronto General Hospital. Fearing time was running out for his sister, Reimer told doctors "to 'cut the crap' and hurry up because my sister doesn't have much time." As a result of his insistence, the testing time was reduced to about one-third of the normal three to four month, or even six month testing period. Reimer convinced doctors to complete the testing in about a month to six weeks. "My sister wasn't sleeping at the time because she was afraid she wouldn't wake up in the morning." Dave Reimer and sister Liz Morgan: his kidney saved her life. The testing done, Reimer, now 57, flew to Edmonton and checked into University Hospital for removal of one of his kid­ neys. She received the new kid­ ney on May 1, 1996, at age 50. Five days later, her new kidney began to function, producing a few drops of urine. The operation was a success. He was in hospital for only four days, but it took a year before his muscles were com­ pletely healed from the incision made to remove the organ. "They had to cut my whole left side open. I went back to work exactly one year of the day she received the kidney." Reimer, a commercial diver, explained his muscles had to be completely healed before he could resume what he describes as heavy work. "I carry heavy gear and a dive helmet. I do underwater dock and pipeline maintenance. A lot of people would be able to return to work after three or four months, but not if you're classed in the same (heavy work) category as a bricklayer." Reimer, who has four broth­ ers and two sisters, is close to Liz. "I was her big brother. We were always close. I was the one she looked up to, and she knew she could always call me if she needed anything. I would always take her and her best friend roller skating every Saturday." "My older brother has always looked out for me," wrote Morgan in the Globe and Mail article. "Dave was the energetic president of our youth group, rounding up stray teens and giv­ ing them a sense of belonging. As a shy 14-year-old, I avoided social gatherings. He wanted to know why I refused to go to youth group events; I said I had nothing to wear. "'Come on, sis, we're going shopping.' Wow! He knew the way to a girl's heart. He spared no expense to help me acquire several nice outfits. I felt won­ derfully cared for by my brother when he escorted me to each event," wrote Morgan. "Little did we realize how profoundly Dave's generous nature would affect my life 35 years down the road." She also mentioned a diary Reimer gave her to record her experiences of the surgery. "Dave brought me a lovely cloth-bound book where I can write my transplant memories. His tender thoughts over­ whelmed me." The article, written as a thank-you letter, came as a sur­ prise to Reimer. "A friend of mine called and told me about it." He was deeply moved by her thoughts. "That article was writ­ ten as a tribute to me." Today, she's "doing extreme­ ly well," he says, despite a recent setback. About a month ago, she had a breast removed due to cancer. "Because of the transplant, her immune system has to be kept at low level to not reject the kidney, making her more susceptible to other things. She's kept under very close scrutiny." The biop­ sies taken following the surgery were negative, which means she does not require chemotherapy. "She considers herself very fortunate," concludes Reimer. SALE PRICES START THURS., JULY 8 AND END SUN., JULY 11, 1999, WHILE QUANTITIES LAST 4 days on ly Saves60 ALL 6 ,0 0 0 BTU HORIZONTAL WINDOW MOUNT AIR CONDITIONERS Save$200 CRAFTSMAN® 12V 3 /8 " DRILL/DRIVER Sears reg. 499.99. 439.99 Reg. price from our 1999 Our Biggest Sale of Spring Catalogue. While quantities last. Portable and window mount air conditioners are available in most stores Includes charger, variable speed drill, 2 battery packs, two double ended bits and storage case. Sears reg. 299.99. 99 .99 Hardware not available in our Yorkdale or Gerrard Square stores 1/2 Price Save40% Save40% Save$110 W E A TH E R B E A TE R * D E C K & S ID IN G S T A IN Linseed o il base. Over 60 colours. 3.78 L. *26200series. Sears reg. 33.99. 16.99 Paint not available in our Yorkdale store 'P L A T IN U M ' A L U M IN U M JE E P * 'L A R E D O ' A L U M IN U M F R A M E C R A F T S M A N 5 .5 -H P G AS M O W E R 7 -P C . PATIO S E T C LEAR AN C E 2 1 -S P E E D M O U N T A IN B IK E 2 -in -1 rear bagging m ower w ith 2 1 " cutting Consists o f: 4 chairs, table, umbrella and *27289. Sears reg. 399.99. 239 .99 path. Sears reg. 399.99. 289 .99 base. Sears reg. 1469.97. 8 79 .99 Sporting goods not available in all stores. Plus, all lawn mowers on sale While quantities last Bicycles may require some assembly Lo o k for th is sym b ol and shop by phone to ll free 1-888-607-3277 When you see this phone symbol on an item, it means you can buy it at your local Sears store, or order it over the phone by calling the above to ll free number. If you shop by phone, you can pick up the item at any store or, for a nominal fee, you can have it delivered to your home NP0711599 Copyright 1999. Sears Canada Inc. Come see the many sides of SearsTM Insurance man takes elderly p couple to OWF By Scott M acArthur SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The annual Oakville Waterfront Festival is intended to unite surround­ ing communities for a weekend of fun and entertainment. And for John McCormack and his wife Coralie of Burlington, one man's community spirit made their weekend one to remember. A1 Gregory, of the Prudential Insurance Company, took time on June 27th to take the couple to the festival. McCormack, 88, who is battling Parkinson's Disease, became interested in attending the festival after reading the promotion magazine he received in the mail. However, he could not find an organizer's phone number, and he con­ tacted Prudential, who he saw as one of the weekend's sponsors. "Prudential has always been very close to me," McCormack said. "When my two brothers and me were young boys some 80 years ago my mother insured us through Prudential for a penny a day, so I've lived my whole life being familiar with the company." It was then that McCormack spoke to Gregory over the phone. Gregory promised to try to find an organizer's number and when he failed to do so, offered his own services to take the couple to Coronation Park. "I wanted to visit the Health Pavilion, because I'm battling Parkinson's and my wife is a cancer survivor," said McCormack. "A1 came right to our door and took us to the fes­ tival, and then spoke with organizers there who provided us with a covered golf cart to shield us from the rain." Upon finding out that McCormack has a pacemaker, Gregory offered to drive him to Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital the next time he has a checkup. "I can't believe what a wonderful man A1 Gregory is," said Coralie McCormack. 'To give of his time like he did for two complete strangers was not necessary, but he did it out of the kindness of his heart." Women's Civitan Club charter night Friday Visit S ears Oakville P lace Mon.-Fri. 9:30 am-9:00 pm. Sat. 8:00 am-6:00 pm. Sun.11 am-6 pm. The Halton Women's Civitan Club will receive its charter at the Oakville Ramada Inn on Friday July 9th at a gala dinner and dance. Chartered by the Civitan Club of Oakville, the new club has 27 members eager to make good things happen in Halton Region. The dinner will be attended by Civitans from across Southern Ontario. Governor Don Caldwell from the Barrie Civitan Club will present the charter and install the new executive. Christie Langevin is the charter presi­ dent. The rest of the new executive includes secretary Shannon Coles, trea­ surer Denise Hogg, and directors Julie Conway, C. J. (Cathy) Martin and Sue Ellen Slater. Darlene McLean was the president 'pro tern' until the club reached charter strength. The members will be initiated by Governor-Elect Vickie Scudds. The banner, bell and gavel will be present­ ed by Bob McCannell, president of the Civitan Club of Oakville. Mayor Ann Mulvale will be the guest speaker, and will be made an honorary member. For information, call Christie Langevin, 844-0982. £ By Wilma Blokhuis 4 days only Saves60 Save$200 By Scott MacArthur Women's Civitan Club charter night Friday