Haunting therapy By Angela Blackburn OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF 7 · OAKVILLE BEAVER Thursday, October 29, 2009 Halloween couldn't have come at a better time for Oakville resident Stacy Saman. The Grade 2 teacher and mother of two young tots is taking the passion for Halloween instilled in her as a child and using it as therapy as she battles a mystery illness. After repeated colds and flus that seemed to give rise to mobility issues over the past year, the west Oakville mom recently found herself in Burlington's Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital for two weeks with nothing to do, but wonder what is wrong with her. As she -- and doctors -- searched for what may be the culprit, Saman turned her passion for Halloween and all things spooky, into a coping mechanism. With not much available to her, she began sculpting foam white pumpkins into artistically ghoulish gourds. So great was the response -- word spread quickly through the hospital such that people in the lobby were talking about the carving work of the woman on the third floor -- that Saman believes she may be sitting on what could be a significant cottage industry business. Perhaps next year when she's feeling better, she says. For the Oakville woman however, it was simply something to do while waiting for a diagnosis. Saman was experiencing lots of mobility challenges and suffering a great deal of pain. While she continues to have appointments with various specialists, she's now back at home with a walker and wheelchair -- and preparing for the day that to her and her family, could be more significant than Christmas. "I'll have to tell you the Halloween story," begins Saman, embarking on a tale of how one year when the threat of razor blades in apples was so great, her mom and dad, Nancy and Roger, decided the kids -- Saman, and twins Christopher and Sloane -- would not trick or treat, but stay home and have fun. In efforts to offset their disappointment, the Samans decorated the house. It was so much fun, the tradition continued and grew -- until the time that the barn of the family's 100-year-old farm in Woodstock was transformed into a spooky house. According to Saman, more than 500 people and firefighters were on hand to help manage parking. The tradition has burned brightly in Saman and her siblings -- they frequent Halloween stores, order ghoulish goodies from stateside and host an annual Halloween party, in addition to exchanging cards and gifts. "It's just about remembering what fun we had as kids and about feeling like a kid again," said Saman. "Whatever illness is affecting me, having Halloween and feeling like a kid is so keeping me going."said Saman. LIESA KORTMANN / OAKVILLE BEAVER However, once she began carving pumpkins, it appears Saman has more talent than she NO IDLE HANDS: While waiting for a diagnosis of a mystery illness at the Joseph Brant Memorial Hospital, thought. "I thought people were just telling me that to Oakville resident Stacy Saman began carving intricate jackmake me feel better," she said of the positive o'-lanterns from foam pumpkins. feedback. Anyone interested in contacting Saman can e-mail her at gothicgourds@hotmail.com. www. oakvillebeaver .com WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? 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