Volume 4, Issue 6
Published by the Lethbridge Chapter Support Group
IMPORTANT NOTE TO ALL TNAC MEMBERS:
Membership Fees for 2004 are due NOW. If you haven’t paid up, please send your cheque ($25.00) to: TNAC, Member Fees; 1514 Lakemount Blvd. South; Lethbridge, AB T1K 3K4
IMPORTANT NOTE:
DUE TO THE MANY VIRUS THAT ARE FLOATING AROUND ON THE INTERNET, IF YOU EMAIL MARION, PATTY OR TNAC.ORG PLEASE PUT IN YOUR SUBJECT LINE: TNAC INFORMATION.
I hope everyone is enjoying a pain free spring. With the nice weather upon us, we tend to feel a bit better as long as the wind doesn't blow, and that’s just about unheard of in Lethbridge.
The TNAC Express has finally been completed as far as the Provinces are concerned. We have just received a membership from Prince Edward Island, the last Province in Canada to be represented. Welcome Aboard PEI.
We also have 3 Territories in Canada - Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and the Yukon. To this date we have not had any word that TN exists in the Territories, even tho’ there is a large population.
The Stanley Cup Finals are upon us and I for one, thoroughly enjoy watching the games. I think everyone out in Western Canada has got the Flame fever but I think all across Canada we share the same excitement. Even the note I received from PEI – so from far and wide we stand united and hope the Stanley Cup comes back to Canada. Lord Stanley would be ever so proud and Calgary would be absolute bedlam, along with all the cities in this great country of ours.
GO FLAMES GO !!!!
Until next month,
Marion
Hello everyone and happy upcoming summer. Our weather here has been either rainy or hot or windy. No happy medium at all. That’s southern Alberta for you though.
Just a little update on my daughter - her surgery went well and the doctor believes he got all the cancer. 30 is much too young to be worried about stuff like that. Especially when you are a single mom. Thanks for the prayers, I believe they helped.
I’ve had a bad bout of flu lately so I don’t have much to report this time. I hope you all keep checking out the web site - there are some good questions and answers on the bulletin board. Don’t forget to cast your votes for the Election. See y’all next month.
Have you taken a look at the web site yet? You can go directly to the forum and add your own comments by going to www.tnac.org/talk.
We have approximately 275 new visitors each month to our web site.
Let us know if there is something else you would like to see added to this site to make it more valuable to you. You can e-mail your comments to editor@tnac.org
Donations to the TNAC are gratefully received. Your monetary support helps defray the cost of TNAC News, copies, supplies, postage, etc. Please make your cheque payable to Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada and mail to: 1514 Lakemount Blvd., Lethbridge, Alberta T1K 3K4
One-Pot Spaghetti Supper (from Patty’s kitchen)
Very easy to make and tastes really good.
1 lb ground beef
1 clove garlic, minced
1 tsp each dried basil, oregano & paprika
1 tsp each salt & granulated sugar
1/4 tsp pepper
1/4 tsp hot pepper flakes (optional)
2 cups water
1 can (14 oz) tomato sauce
1 can (14 oz) tomatoes, undrained
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
3/4 cup (approx) fresh grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 lb. spaghetti, broken
In large deep skillet or shallow Dutch oven, cook beef, garlic, basil, oregano, paprika, salt, sugar, pepper & hot pepper flakes over medium heat, breaking up beef with wooden spoon, for about 5 minutes or until browned. Stir in water, tomato sauce, tomatoes, parsley and 1/4 cup of the Parmesan cheese. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 45 minutes. (Recipe can be prepared ahead to this point, covered, and refrigerated or frozen. Bring to simmer before adding pasta.)
Stir in spaghetti, making sure all pasta is covered with sauce. Cover and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 10-15 minutes or until pasta is tender. Serve in bowls and pass remaining Parmesan cheese separately.
Serves about 4.
Always remember to forget the troubles that pass your way. But never forget to remember the blessings that come each day.
BREAD FRESHNESS: (submitted by Marion)
When you go to buy bread in the grocer store, have you ever wondered which is the freshest so you “squeeze” for freshness or softness? Did you know that bread is delivered fresh to the stores five days a week. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Each day has a different color twist tie. They are Monday = Blue, Tuesday = Green, Thursday = Red, Friday = White and Saturday = Yellow. So if today was Thursday, you would want a red twist tie, not white which is Fridays (almost a week old)! The colors go alphabetically by color Blue - Green – Red – White – Yellow. Monday through Saturday. Very easy to remember. I thought this was interesting. You learn something new everyday! Enjoy fresh bread when you buy bread with the right color on the day you are shopping.
Happy Birthday’s To All With JUNE Celebrations.
DONATIONS FOR MAY
John & Terry Scully – Glouchester, Ont.
Clara Greenberg – Montreal, Qu.
Marilyn Najm- Banff, AB.
Robert Dunlop – Ottawa, On
Nora & Norman Kudrenecky – Kitchener, Ont.
Rev. Frank Stone – Nepean, Ont.
NEW MEMBERS FOR MAY
John & Terry Scully – Glouchester, Ont
Gordon McCarville – Cornwall, PEI
Sandra Arangio – Markham, Ont.
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GRANDMA STORIES (submitted by Jan Williams)
An elderly woman and her little grandson, whose face was sprinkled with bright freckles, spent the day at the zoo. Lots of children were waiting in line to get their cheeks painted by a local artist who was decorating them with tiger paws. "You've got so many freckles, there's no place to paint!" a girl in the line said to the little fella. Embarrassed, the little boy dropped his head. His grandmother knelt down next to him. "I love your freckles. When I was a little girl I always wanted freckles, she said, while tracing her finger across the child's cheek. "Freckles are beautiful!" The boy looked up, "Really?" "Of course," said the grandmother. "Why, just name me one thing that's prettier than freckles." The little boy thought for a moment, peered intensely into his grandma's face, and softly whispered, "Wrinkles."
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A grandmother was telling her little granddaughter what her own childhood was like. "We used to skate outside on a pond. I had a swing made from a tire; it hung from a tree in our front yard. We rode our pony. We picked
wild raspberries in the woods."
The little girl was wide-eyed, taking this in. At last she said, "I sure wish I'd gotten to know you sooner!"
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My grandson was visiting one day when he asked, Grandma, do you know how
you and God are alike?"
I mentally polished my halo while I asked, "No, how are we alike?"
"You're both old," he replied.
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I didn't know if my granddaughter had learned her colors yet, so I decided to test her. I would point out something and ask what color it was. She would tell me, and always she was correct. But it was fun for me, so I continued. At last she headed for the door, saying sagely, "Grandma, I think you should try to figure out some of these yourself!"
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When my grandson, Billy, and I entered our vacation cabin, we kept the lights off until we were inside to keep from attracting pesky insects. Still, a few fireflies followed us in. Noticing them before I did, Billy whispered, "It's no use, Grandpa. The mosquitoes are coming after us with flashlights."
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When my grandson asked me how old I was, I teasingly replied, "I'm not
sure." "Look in your underwear, Grandma," he advised. "Mine says I'm four.
CALGARY, Alberta:
We are pleased to report that Phoebe Kesteven and Carolyn Frisz have had good recovery from their Balloon Rhizotomy done in April. Best wishes and prayers for Marilyn Najm who is having heart surgery in June.
Monthly meetings are held on the third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. The next meeting will be on June 15th, 2004. at Confederation Part Senior Centre. Please mark your calendars for this date. Contact Jan Williams at 403-295-0987 for more information or email tnaccalgary@hotmail.com.
Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada – Calgary Chapter
Is pleased to present a seminar
Trigeminal Neuralgia and other facial pains: Diagnosis and treatment by
Dr. Zelma Kiss Functional and Stereotactic Neurosurgeon, Foothills Hospital University of Calgary, CIHR Clinician-Scientist, AHFMR Clinical-Investigator Saturday June 19, 2004 2-3 pm Brentwood Co-op Auditorium 4122 Brentwood Dr. NW
Admission is free. Donations to TNAC will be accepted.
The Auditorium is inside the co-op. Turn right when you enter the main door. The entrance to the auditorium is beside the bakery. It is one flight down on the lower level.
Everyone is welcome. For information contact Jan Williams at 295-0987 or jan.williams@shaw.ca. |
TORONTO, Ontario:
The Toronto Support Group will meet on Sunday, June 27th, at 3:00 p.m. at the Thornhill Community Centre, 755 Bayview Ave. Thornhill, Ontario. Please Note New Time, and mark your calendars for this date. For more information, please contact Dana Lavrence at 905-886-756
LETHBRIDGE, Alberta:
The next Lethbridge Support Group meeting will be on Saturday, June 12, 2004 at the Lethbridge Senior Centre, 500 – 11th Street, South, Lethbridge, Alberta. Please mark your calendars for this date. For more information please contact Marion Guzik at 403-327-7668.
VANCOUVER & RICHMOND, B.C:
The Richmond Support Group will meet on Saturday, June 19, 2004 at 1:30 at the Public Library, Lower Floor, Oakridge Shopping Centre, 41st and Cambie, Vancouver, B.C. The Public Library is located next to Kim’s Fruit and Vegetable Market. For more information, please call Cy Saltzman at 604-273-9060 .
Question: PET vs MRI
It seems Calgary is getting a new PET (positron emission tomography) machine. The question is whether the PET is a better diagnostic tool for TN than the MRI? If you had a choice, which one would you prefer to use?
Dr. Kaufmann's answer
Regarding PET vs MRI for diagnosis of TN: The diagnosis of TN is completely based on the history provided by the patient to their doctor. There are no signs on examination or test available to confirm the diagnosis. However, if there are aspects of the pain condition that are "atypical" of classical TN, then diagnostic imaging is advised. Therefore patients with any degree of numbness, constant pain or other neurological complaints or abnormalities on neurological examination should have an MRI. PET imaging is not useful in the diagnosis of TN. There is a 1% chance that patients with TN will have abnormalities on their MRI that may influence management decisions. Therefore, this test should be done at some point in time, especially when the medical treatments become less effective and the surgical options need to be considered. For more details on diagnosis of TN and related conditions, see our web site at: http://www.umanitoba.ca/cranial_nerves
Question regarding Referrals to Winnipeg and Dr. Kaufmann's clinic
In the past, patients could contact your clinic directly or through their family doctor. Now one of our members believes there is a change and that only a neurologist can refer patients to you. Is this true? What should we tell new patients who wish to contact your clinic in Winnipeg?
Dr. Kaufmann's answer
Regarding referrals "out of province": People in Canada are becoming more thoroughly informed about the options they have to treat their medical conditions. Several sources of information are available, including support groups, internet, and published materials. Some forms of treatment may not be available in every medical center, and other reasons may also influence a patient's decision to seek treatment in a different province from where they live. Ideally, the patient's local doctor(s) should provide formal referrals to specialists, including those out-of-province. However, sometimes this is not practical or even possible. Many clinics, including our own, do accept referrals directly form patients, although then make efforts to have the local doctors involved, if the patients agrees. Based on the Canada Health Act, Canadians are entitled to "portability" and "universality" of their health care coverage. Therefore, individuals are not charged for any usually covered health care (including procedures for TN), regardless of where in Canada they receive this care.
THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF TNAC
The Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada is seeking candidates for the Board of Directors to serve a two-year term from June 2004 to June 2006.
Are you a person with skills and motivation who is prepared to place your name in nomination for one of these positions? Now is the time to make your decision if you would like to be part of the TNAC Board.
Please note:
Only those who are members of the Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada and are in good standing, may nominate a candidate, or individuals may declare their desire to seek election.
Candidates must be 2004 members of the TNAC and agree to serve and adhere to the procedures of the TNAC, if elected, and to serve on one or more committees as appointed by the president.
You must complete a nomination form and a candidate profile form (individuals seeking office please use Candidate Profile Form as declaration of your willingness to serve).
Candidates will be listed in the August Newsletter.
TNAC will be holding elections for a president, secretary/treasurer as well as three directors. Please remember ALL positions are open to any member in good standing who would like to run for election.
Our second Annual General Meeting will be held on August 14th, 2004 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lethbridge Senior Centre, 500 – 11th Street, South, Lethbridge, Alberta. Election of Officers will be held. Please forward your nomination form to Trigeminal Neuralgia Association of Canada, 1514 Lakemount Blvd., Lethbridge, Alberta, T1K 3K4 by the 15th of July, 2004.
Your present Board: President: Marion Guzik
Sec./Treas.: Don Brewer
Board Members: Mona Leslie
Patty Moyer
John Edwards
This was sent to me by a friend and I thought seriously about it. Just a little humor to help ease the pain of your next trip to the pump….
Think a gallon of gas is expensive? This makes one think, and also puts things in perspective.
Diet Snapple 16 oz $ 1.29 ……………..$ 10.32 per gallon
Lipton Ice Tea 16 oz $ 1.19 …………… $ 9.52 per gallon
Gatorade 20 oz $ 1.59 …………… $ 10.17 per gallon
Ocean Spray 16 oz $ 1.25 $ 10.00 per gallon
Brake Fluid 12 oz $ 3.15 $ 33.60 per gallon
Vick’s Nyquill 6 oz $ 8.35 $ l78.13 per gallon
Pepto Bismol 4 oz $ 3.85 $ 123.20 per gallon
Whiteout 7 oz $ 1.39 $ 25.42 per gallon
Scope 1.5 oz $ 0.99 $ 84.48 per gallon
And this is the REAL KICKER…
Evian Water 9 oz $ 1.49…….$ 21.19 per gallon ?! $ 21.19 for WATER – and the buyers don’t even know the source.
So, the next time you’re at the pump, be glad your car doesn’t run on Water, Scope, or Whiteout, or Heaven forbid Pepto Bismal or Nyquil
Marion.