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Wednesday August 8, 2001 THE OAKVILLE BEAVER B1 'IjWGfST G W W H O f HD&NG P IA N T SW M H ' · Annuals · Perennials · Shrubs · Waterplants * Tropkm Plants · Floral Plants G i i ' tX i __________ 5558T ra fa lg a rR o a d (905)878-0722 OFFICIAL MEDIA SPO N SO R O F TH E OAKVILLE WATERFRONT FESTIVAL Focus j G cik viU e' W a te r frc m t fe tttv d l FOURTH LINE AUTO GOODYEAR For All Your Car's Needs Drive Clean Emission Testing Government Safety Inspection Tune-Ups · Brakes · Exhaust · Cooling Systems CAA Approved Shop 559 Speers Road (9 0 5 ) 842-3001 Oakville Beaver Focus Editor: WILMA BLOKHUIS 845-3824 Ext: 250; Fax: 337-5567; Email: blokhuis@haltonsearch.com Cancer survivors beacons of hope Couple strives to inspire others, build Rebound Centre in town By Wilma Blokhuis BEAVER FOCUS EDITOR Andrew and Jill Sprawson make a lovely couple with two beautiful boys, Spencer and Peter. What makes these parents special is their story of survival from childhood cancer. Both Andrew, 38, and Jill, 27, have suffered from brain tumours, and today live with the effects of the cure. Although both are cancer free, they've been permanently damaged by the high doses of cranial radiation and chemotherapy they endured. Being disabled by way of being "slowed down mechanically," didn't stop Andrew from running his own company and later establishing Rebounders Canada, a national support group for childhood cancer survivors. Through it, he met his soul mate and wife Jill. They met at a Rebounders confer ence in 1993, got engaged in 1995, and were married in 1997. "We got married at my parent's cottage," said Jill. "My sister also got married there. It's a very special place for my fami ly-" The two met after Andrew acted on his father's suggestion to write to dif ferent hospitals looking for former childhood cancer survivors to join his group. "Jill was one of the first to respond," said Andrew. "She's my strong helper." By age 29, Andrew had problems with his balance to the point of requir ing a walker. "My ability to walk was affected, as was my ability to co-ordinate my hands, and my speed at sustain my own business. At age 29, the long term effects really hit me." After shutting down Tree House Toys, Andrew established Rebounders Canada Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer. For Jill, the first major noticeable change was her hair. "I lost my hair and it grew back thinner." She also admits to having a slight balance problem, "but it's not notice able to other people - but my family notices." She also struggled with math in high school. "In elementary school, I was a straight A student. But, in sec ondary school, my grades went down every year. I couldn't keep up with math. I failed Grade 11. There just seemed to be something missing. It just seemed like a road block - it was very frustrating." Nevertheless, she persevered and went on to university, graduating in sociology in 1997 - she year she got married. "Jill and I are pioneering this selfhelp group to deal with the problems facing adult survivors of childhood cancer," said Andrew. "Our long term effects are especial ly from having brain tumours and the cranial radiation, which results in a slowness," explains Jill. "We've been slowed down at doing everything we do. Our process of thinking . . . the ability of the neurons getting through is greatly slowed down." Andrew has received a disability pension ever since he came out of the hospital; Jill was recently tested and approved at the end of July to receive a disability pension. (See `Charity run . . page B3) Photo by Brent Foster A ndrew an d Jill Spraw son w ith th e ir two sons, Spencer, 3 in Septem ber, and Peter, whose first b irth d ay is Aug. 13. Andrew was diagnosed in 1973 at He encountered difficulties in up." age 10, and after surgery, received 26 school. But not to knock his teachers, cobalt radiation treatments every other "My major problem was math. It Andrew was quick to point out that day. Jill, diagnosed at age seven in was like an iron wall came between "cancer survivors in high school were 1984, was treated on a daily basis. "I my thought processes. I could not get very rare (at the time), and the teachers had my radiation on a broader area," certain maths . . . abstract math and just didn't understand." explains Andrew. "Jill's treatments algebra . . . my mind could just not Andrew finished Grade 12 and left were more focused." figure it out. school. "I had enough." Andrew remembers noticing the "And, I got ridiculed by my teach He started Tree House Toys, and side effects of his treatment immedi ers and other students. I got tested at produced wooden playground equip ately. "The after effects were felt but Sick Kids and my dad and brother ment for 12 years, working 12 to 16 hot seen at first, but as I got older, they went to my school to tell the principal hour days, until the effects of his treat became long term effects." and my teachers, and that shut them ment forced him to stop. & FURNITURE 15-YR. Warranty 20-YR. Warranty Mis-Match REGULAR SUPPORT 25-YR. Warranty Orthopractic EXTRA FIRM -niTy uijiT i 25-YR. 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