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adda ee LL in iu Se EE LSE Ei GE SEE aan bi LEE RL ia iki ik lsd bad we -- Re 8 - PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, March 15,1994 "Scugog's Community Newspaper of Choice" Seagrave boys meet From page 1. As for his favorite player, well, that meeting was to be spe- cial and rightfully so was saved for last. Last night (Monday) Jeffrey was to return to the Gar- dens from 7-10 p.m. to play some one-on-one hockey with his idol and the Leafs' superstar Doug Gilmour. Jeffrey was diagnosed with A.L.L. Leukemia on January 24 of this year and friends of the family set up the Gardens tour as a way for the two families to aE Be. spend some memorable time to- gether. Jeffrey, who is the oldest of three children of Robert and Marilyn Blair, of Seagrave, has long been a fan of the Toronto hockey club. A few weeks after Jeffrey was diagnosed with leukemia, fami- ly friend Donna Herold wrote a letter to Bob Stellick, the Direc- tor of Business Operations and Communications for the Leafs, explaining Jeffrey's illness and his admiration for the team. Two days after mailing the KELLY LOWN/PORT PERRY STAR Felix Potvin took some time out from practice at the Gar- dens on Friday to meet with Jeffrey. Jeffrey, spent the day with family and friends and the Toronto Maple Leafs. All At Guaranteed Low Prices UNITED CARPET? Largest Carpet Selection in Scugog Township and a member of the largest carpet buying group in Canada Ce se HOMESTEAD by Ballard & Carnegie n HWY. 7A EAST - PORT PERRY 985-2451 or 985-2157 2. FAMOUS BLINDS VERTICALS « VENETIANS PLEATED SHADES Kelly, Zuly, Greenway, Bruce Barristers and Solicitors Motor Vehicle - Criminal - Personal Injury Wills - Real Estate - Family Law Corporate & Commercial EVENINGS AND WEEKENDS BY APPOINTMENT 114 King St. E., Oshawa 723-2278 letter, Mrs. Herold received a telephone call from Mr. Stellick, to set up a time for Jeffrey to vis- it: Last Friday Jeffrey, his par- ents, younger brother Kyle, Mrs. Herold, her husband Tony and their son Paul, arrived in Toronto, to share in Jeffrey's day. Upon arriving at the Gardens the three boys were presented with Gilmour T-shirts, Maple Leaf hats and yearbooks. After a quick tour of the Gardens, the group watched the team's op- tional workout from the red and gold seats, before heading to the players' bench to greet the players as practice ended. Jeffrey, who still tries to stay awake long after his bedtime to watch his team play on televi- sian, was a very active boy prior tothis January. Jeffrey, became ill about one month before he was diagnosed . Mrs. Blair said at first she could not believe what she was being told, confident there must be some other reason for her son not feeling well. Now, although it is still sink- ing in, the family has accepted what fate has dealt them, and are learning to deal with it. "We have accepted it. We KELLY LOWN/PORT PERRY STAR Jeffrey received two sticks as souvenirs, one from Peter Zezel, the other from Drake Berehowsky. COMPL have gotten through this far KELLY LOWN/PORT PERRY STAR Jeffrey Blair, left, was diagnosed with leukemia in January. Friends of the family organized a day at Maple Leaf Gardens for him to meet his idols. Brother Kyle, centre, and friend Paul Herold are shown with Jeffrey and Leaf forward Dave Andreychuk. and will get through it until the end of his treatments. It has been rough and tough, but we have made it this far," Mrs. Blair told the Star. The Blair family does not look too far ahead at the present time. The only way to deal with Jeffrey's illness is to go one day at a time until his treatments are complete, Mrs. Blair said. With the three years of treat- ment, Jeffrey has a 90-per cent chance of being cured. The hardest part for Mrs. Blair was watching her once ac- tive and so full of life son liein a hospital bed. Jeffrey, she said, was a very active, popular boy, and it is hard for her to not see him that way. He plays baseball and hockey and excels at the latter. A centreman, like hisidol, in the Novice league in Sunderland, he was moved to the centre posi- tion after scoring 85 goals as a defenseman the previous year. The treatment has taken its toll on the entire family, but Mrs. Blair said even though her children were close before, it has brought her three children, Jeffrey, Kyle, five and Stepha- nie, two, closer together. The bond between Jeffrey and Kyle is most evident. The two brothers arrived at the Gardens wearing matching toques, and since the visit Kyle asked to receive a brushcut to have his hair look just like his brother's. Jeffrey, who was a Grade 2 student at Mariposa Elemen- tary School when he became ill, will be catching up on his school work with a tutor following the March Break. While at The Hospital For Sick Children in Toronto, Jef- frey was receiving one hour of schooling a day, a reduced + Insurance Assignment Accepted + Senior = Evening App nts ATIENTS WELCOME ~~ ™ amount of schooling which brought a huge smile to Jef- frey's face when it was men- tioned. Jeffrey, like others stricken with leukemia, undergoes his treatments in five phases, with maintenance as the last phase. He will undergo chemotherap treatment for three years. Jef- frey spent the first five weeks af- ter his diagnosis at the hospital and has been home for the past two weeks. "We are doing well. We just have to go day by day. That is the only way you can do it," Mrs. Blairsaid. She also credits her family, friends and neighbors in the family's subdivision for the sup- port they have all thrown be- hind them. As for Jeffrey, he is handling his illness with optimism and bravery. "If there was ever a bravery award, it would be for Jeffrey," his mother said. He has not let his illness get him down, Mrs. Blair said, and he is doing much better now. At one point his mother stat- ed Jeffrey was "back to the boy they knew before, smiling and cracking jokes." That was evi- dent in the smiles he brought to many of the Toronto Maple Leaf player's faces last Friday. A benefit dance is being orga- nized for Jeffrey Blair to help offset the costs for the family. The dance will be held on Satur- day, May 7 at the Sunderland Arena. The Township of Brock has donated the arena for the evening and Port Perry IGA has also made donations of pop and food. Tickets for the dance are $10 per person and can be pur- chased by calling Donna Herold at 985-9872. BUSINESS SERVICES Computer & Upgrades Local Area Networks (LANS) Consultations, Training, Business Plans, Strategy WILLIAM SANDIFORD (905) 985-1877 TT IN ry Cla > ; 1 f I T---------- oT,