12 - The Oakville Beaver, W ednesday January 18, 2006 'I'm v e ry fu n c tio n a l' Continued from page 11 w a y to P o c k e t Press Printers W e s a lu t e y o u f o r y o u r o u t s t a n d i n g c o n t r ib u t i o n in s u p p o r t o f o u r f u n d r a i s i n g a n d p u b l i c a w a r e n e s s e ffo r ts . "Everyone is a victim of life because of bullies in school and other people. The greatest sta bility in life is being victim free." He dug deep into his mental and physical resources "to become who I am. Although I'm not 100 per cent, I'm very functional." He has learned to live with his handicap, an acquired brain injury, resulting from the coma. "I lost my memory. I still have some of my long-term memory but my short-term memory is very dicey. I have a lot of trouble with my short term memory." He gives himself pep talks "perseverance, effort and patience to eat my pound of dirt in life." For Lamb, recovery meant more than just surviving, "it's thriving to survive." He defied all odds. Having been given only a three per cent chance of survival by his doc tors, with fears of becoming totally dependent, Lamb mus tered the physical strength and iron will to regain control of his life. On the Glasgow Coma Scale that measures the severity of a coma on a sale from one-15, Lamb was a four. Anything under a nine is considered cata strophic. He's been able to return to work with the Ministry of Correctional Services, a job he's held for almost 20 years, "but I always wanted to be an author," he mused. Another book, a chil dren's book, is in the works. "Writing is a great passion of mine." His articles have appeared in newspapers and magazines.. "It's not the event but the perception of the event," said Lamb of the accident that changed his life. "Had I given in to my injury, I would still be in a wheelchair. I would not be working, and not have written a book. "I' ve gone from despair to repair'and I've used the strate gies I've developed to create the man 1 am today." Lamb will be signing copies of his book at Chapters, Oakville Town Centre, Dorval Drive and North Service Road, on Saturday Jan. 21 at 1 p.m. The book sells for $19.95. For more information, see www.paullamb.ca. Walk for Memories at Oakville Place T o h e lp u s k e e p c o s ts a s lo w a s p o s s ib le , P o c k e t P re s s p r o v id e s U n ite d W a y o f O a k v ille w it h in - k in d p r in t in g s e r v ic e s . U n ite d W ^y o f O a k v ille Throughout January's Alzheimer Awareness Month, Alzheimer Society chapters in almost 30 communities across Ontario will host Manulife Walk for Memories events to raise funds for local services. The Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton will host three walk locations on Sunday, Jan. 29 from 9 - 1 1 a.m., including one new loca tion, Oakville Place. The other two walks are at Lime Ridge Mall, Hamilton and Mapleview Shopping Centre, Burlington. Participants and their supporters can use an online feature at www.walkformemories.ca to register for the local Walk for Memories, create personalized web pages where they can review all of their donation activity and send e-mail invita tions to friends and family to sponsor them or participated the event themselves. In turn, friends and family members can make pledges through the secure Web site in sup port of individual walkers. Pledge forms are also available online or by calling the Alzheimer Society of Hamilton and Halton at 905-529-7030 and registration can take place the day of the event. It is estimated that currently more than 12,000 people in Hamilton and Halton have a diagnosis of Alzheimer disease or a related dementia and that for everyone with a diagnosis, at least 10 others around them (family, co-work ers, friends, neighbours) are affected. Alzheimer disease touches the lives of most citizens of Hamilton and Halton in some way and this impact will steadily increase as the popula tion ages over the next 20 years. All money raised directly supports local servic es and programs. United Way of Oakville invests in more than 30 agencies annually, and works to make our com m unity a better p la c e to live. Please give Together, we ca n build a stronger and healthier community, for us all. 10%Off All Nursery Furniture 20% Off Crib Bedding Introducing Caramia Cribs at Special Prices Take Advantage of Our 30-Day No Interest Lay-A-Way Program MISSISSAUGA 801 Mafheson Blvd. W. fWesf of MavisJ mm 2423 Trafalgar Rd VISA fSouth of DundasJ STi OAKVILLE 905-270-4679 W . 905-257-5775 www.ouaccanada.com iNg^AcljusttTl^tgnlgi^iQuslKurcnasesj