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th ei fp .c a Th e IF P -H al to n H ill s | T hu rs da y, Ja nu ar y 2, 20 20 | 2 BOXINGWEEKSALE! UP TO UP CONTINUES! HURRY IN! 55"4K SMART $698 SAVE $500 43" - $598 #119586 #119588 - 4HDMI - 60HZ FROM MSRP Promo Valid till Jan 9 list goes on. She has been to over 50 specialists and endured countless tests and proce- dures. Yet she still doesn't have an overarching diag- nosis for her degenerative condition. "It's kind of like a war zone in my body. It's affect- ed every aspect of my life," she said. "It's funny how when you're younger, you have all these plans for yourself, but as you get old- er, you realize you're really not in control of life at all." While most families were hustling about get- ting ready for the holidays, Stephanie and her father, Peter, were driving to a specialist appointment at McMaster Children's Hos- pital in Hamilton. Since the Georgetown native, who currently lives in Milton, can no longer drive or even grocery shop, she spends a lot of time with her par- ents. "It's hard to take time off work, but you want to be there for your child all the time," said Peter, during the hour-long trek to the city. "This has been going on for so long, and we still really don't have any an- swers. All you can do is be there for your child." With 2020 upon us, the Bartolacs hope this is the year their daughter's con- dition finally stabilizes or, better yet, that a doctor can diagnose and cure her con- dition. "At this point, I'm just very proud of her because she is so strong, and it keeps my hope that some- one will have a break- through and we will have a definite answer," said Pe- ter. Stephanie recently de- cided to go public with her ordeal in the hopes that a medical professional out there can help put a name, and ultimately a treat- ment, on the increasing symptoms that have tor- tured her for so long. "I don't know where I'll be in six months (health- wise)," she said, noting there's talk of a feeding tube in her future as her di- gestive abilities decline. "Timing is really of the es- sence." NEWS Continued from page 1 BARTOLACS HOPE DIAGNOSIS, CURE COMES IN 2020 Stephanie Bartolac, pictured with father Peter, is going public with her critical health issues in the hopes of finding a doctor who can diagnose her rare condition. Stephanie Bartolac photo See DOZENS, page 3 New Patients Welcome Family and Cosmetic Dentistry We love meeting neW people marketplace Dental Centre Georgetown Marketplace Mall 905-877-CARE (2273) • www.georgetowndental.com HOURS: Monday & Wednesday 8:00am - 8:00pm • Tuesday & Thursday 8:00am - 6:00pm • Saturday 8:00am - 3:00pm Proudly Serving Georgetown Since 1994.