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in si de ha lto n. co m O ak vi lle B ea ve r | T hu rs da y, F eb ru ar y 6, 20 20 | 2 Furnace, Plumbing or HotWater Emergency? Fastest emergency service in Oakville Fixing Furnaces since 1932. Call 289-205-3443 Cosmetic Dermatology Surgical Lesion Clinic GraceMed | Olde Oakville (ODA) 445 Ingelhart. St. N. Oakville ON GraceMed | Olde Oakville is happy to announce that Canadian Board-Certified Dermatologists Dr. Carr and Dr. J. will be providing cosmetic dermatology lesion removal clinics. If you have amole, skin tag, cyst, or seborrheic keratosis, it might be possible to have it removed at GraceMed | Olde Oakville. Appointments available now. Assessment and surgical removal on SAME DAY, no referral necessary. Call or email to inquire about availability or requestmore details. Office: 289-837-4624 Email: nicole.mccarty@gracemed.com whatever Leonard faces together and not in isolation from the world around them. "I knew something was wrong; I just didn't know what it was," said Leonard, who is in the early stages of dementia. "It's dif- ferent than anything I thoughtferent than anything I thoughtf dementia was about." Leonard doesn't babble inco- herently or shuffle along with a walker as some would assume, but there has been deterioration, said Naome. The disease is unpredictable, and Leonard is prone to cogni- tive fluctuations. Four years into the disease, however, people don't imagine that her husband doing pull-ups at the gym, charming house guests or tending to his toma- toes, has progressive incurable dementia, she said. "From time to time I'm going to ask you what we're talking about because I don't know what we're talking about, or I'm going to stop in mid-sentence and you're going to pick it up and fin- ish the sentence," said Leonard. "Leonard's very transparent anyway as a person so that makes it easier for other people. It is an invisible condition, like you can't see what's going on, so if people (sufferers) are uncom- fortable sharing it, it makes it re-fortable sharing it, it makes it re-f ally hard for everybody," said Naome. The couple has an inspira- tional way of looking at the dis- ease which has infiltrated their lives and, according to the Alz- heimer Society, more than half a million other Canadians.' "Every time there's a new symptom you have to figure out a way to face it, assess it, re-stra- tegize and deal with it," said Leonard. "What's the alterna- tive? I do have a disease that eventually in the longer run, is going to take me, so to speak." "I'll get up one morning and the world is just a wonderful place and the next morning, or even two, it's not that easy to sort it all out and you're not interest- ed in sorting it all out anyway. Sometimes you jump up and you click your heels and you think, 'Hey I've got this thing,' but you don't have it." The former business execu- tive doesn't feel he has faced much stigma, perhaps because of his disarming openness, but Naome has a different take. "My husband is not trying to be slow, to be confused or be con- fusing or to make your day morefusing or to make your day moref difficult. A little kindness can go a long way," said Naome. "Leonard is incredibly intelli- gent. He's always been top of his game, an amazing manager, strategist, executive and this Le- wy body dementia is affecting all frontal lobe (function) - execu-frontal lobe (function) - execu-f tive functioning, information processing; the things that he ex- celled at are the things that are being affected now." For those facing a dementia diagnosis, whether it be Lewy body or Alzheimer's disease, "don't be afraid if you can help it because it adds nothing," said Leonard. "To the extent I can, I'm going to continue to live my life in ways that look like how I've lived before." STORY BEHIND THE STORY: In an effort to reduce the stigma associated with dementia, the Alzheimer Society of Canada re- cently held its I Live With De- mentia campaign. Oakville couple Leonard and Naome Howe were more than willing to participate and share their inspirational story of love, acceptance, transparency and determination. NEWS Continued from page 1 DEMENTIA 'DIFFERENT THAN ANYTHING I THOUGHT': HOWE There is still no cure; however, growing evidence shows that adopt- ing four or more healthy lifestyle habits can help reduce the risk by Eating a heart-healthy diet Staying socially active and connected Lifelong learning Incorporating regular exercise into your daily routine Managing your vitals like high blood pressure, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, weight and stress 60% Reducing Your Risk of Dementia Torstar graphic