14 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday January 21, 2009 www.oakvillebeaver.com Woman hopes surgery will return life to normal Continued from page 13 with my kids. I want my life back," said Shallhorn King, gazing out her living room window. She apologizes for the presence of the commode. "I can only wear a nightgown or a dress and a slip," said Shallhorn King who does sport rings on her fingers and an anklet around one leg. At five feet tall, Shallhorn King speaks about how, through overeating, she has forever altered the original shape of her body. The Halton Youth Justice Steering Committee is accepting applications from Community Agencies interested in managing the administration of The Youth Justice Committee Program The Youth Justice Committee Program involves trained community members who meet with victims, young people accused of minor non-violent, first-time offences, and their parents, and determine the appropriate way for the young person to make amends for his or her conduct. The successful Agency will oversee the Youth Justice Committees and report as directed to the Steering Committee. Applications should address the following: · Reasons for interest in the program · Proposed organizational structure for administering delivery of the program · Experience in delivering justice-related programs, or Alternative Measures Programs · Experience with youth · Experience with volunteers · Experience with victims · Experience in co-ordinating and delivering training · Experience and/or expertise in dispute resolution · The facilities to accommodate the administration of the program within Region. Applications are due by February 2, 2009, and should be directed to: Attn: Mary Ward Ministry of the Attorney General Crown Attorney's Office 491 Steeles Avenue E., Milton, Ontario 2008 She mentions other addictions and said as a binge eater trying to avoid thoughts of food, she must dance with the devil at least several times a day by simply having her meals. It's not easy. While binge eating has been a problem for Shallhorn King since childhood, dealing with its results are proving as frustrating as the disorder itself. Shallhorn King's knees have given up the ghost under her weight. She said her left knee is grinding bone against bone. She uses a walker and is DENTURES tarting at S 379 905-815-8208 $ LIMITED TIME OFFER This FREE public education seminar is presented in partnership with: Canadian Cancer Society Smokers' Helpline 1.877.513.5333 www. smokershelpline.ca Refreshments provided by: Living Healthy Smoking Cessation: You Can Do It - We Can Help! E. Gagne, HHS Respiratory Therapist & M. Bennett, Smokers' Helpline uncomfortable sitting as her stomach presses down on her knees. Her knees are what prevent her from tackling the stairs to use her home's only bathroom and instead she turns to the commode. She said she takes 13 pills every morning to regulate her condition and another five at night. She has a string of doctors in Oakville whom she sees regularly -- her family doctor, an endocrinologist, a psychiatrist and a sleep apnea specialist. Her psychiatrist, Dr. Nadim Zamar, who she said specializes in eating disorders, has twice applied to the province seeking provision for Shallhorn King to have the lap band surgery instead of the gastric bypass and an exception made for the funding issue. "Lap band surgery, which is reversible, has few complications, is gentler on the body and allows for con- Tuesday, January 27, 2009 6:30 pm 7:00 pm Displays/refreshments Presentation Oakville Trafalgar Memorial Hospital 327 Reynolds St., Oakville email elittle@haltonhealthcare.on.ca To reserve a seat please call 905.338.4379 or SALE Thurs. Fri. Sat. Sun. Jan. 22 Jan. 23 Jan. 24 Jan. 25 4 DAY 10-9 10-6 10-5 12-5 tinued absorption of vitamins and minerals. Gastric bypass is much more dangerous, cannot be reversed and the patient must take special supplements for the rest of their lives to absorb vitamins and minerals," said Shallhorn King. Nothing much has come of the efforts, so, more recently, Murray-Hayes appealed to Flynn to take up her parishioner's cause. "Debbie is a gifted writer/editor with a lot of strength and drive and a very soft heart. She has fought this health battle all her life, having a crisis, which took her on this downward spiral in the midst of other family troubles. I have a great deal of respect for her intellect and her compassion. We have tried to be helpful as a church over the years, but have not been able to help with her health," said Murray-Hayes, when asked by The Oakville Beaver about her parishioner's struggle. "I believe Debbie is in critical need of care that she cannot afford. Lap band surgery is, I understand, minor in comparison to gastric bypass. I am frustrated with the time lapse, which has placed her in more jeopardy. And I can't help thinking that she would be less of a burden on the health care system if she were treated quickly," said Murray-Hayes. Recently, Shallhorn King filed a letter to the editor, which drew our attention, entitled, "I'm dying." Admittedly, Shallhorn King suffers from depression and it appears her situation is an aggravating factor to that. With the paperwork seeking an exception to the funding filed by her psychiatrist in December 2007, King said she had contacted Flynn's office for assistance in seeking an exemption to the provincial rules. The application had been turned down and a subsequent application was not answered, she said. When contacted by The Oakville Beaver, Flynn said he was unable to speak to specifics of a certain individual, as prescribed by law. However, the MPP did outline the situation and options currently facing those who are morbidly obese and what action the government is taking. "We want to help everybody, including this person," said Flynn. The provincial government has invested in two Centres of Excellence, one at Humber River Regional Hospital in Toronto and another at St. Joseph's Healthcare in Hamilton. 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