Supporting research helps those affected

I am 32 and in a relationship with a 31-year-old single mother. Her son, “Steven,” is 7. Her daughter, “Jessica,” is 15.

I am a stay-at-home dad. Both kids refer to me as “Dad,” as I have been a part of Steven’s life more than his (incarcerated) dad has ever been. Because I am a stayat-home dad, this means I take Steven to various professional appointments, doctors, including a psychiatrist for ADHD, the dentist and various sports activities.

I was informed three weeks ago that Jessica is pregnant. When I take our boy for doctor’s visits, they always want guarantor information, and I always sign. But after a recent checkup of his, I called for results and was outright lied to – “We don’t have the results back” – and Jessica’s doctor said they can’t release any information to me.

Abby, I’m in this for the long haul. If doctors will let me sign to pay their medical expenses but I can’t have the results, what can I do? – STAY-AT-HOME-DAD

DEAR “DAD”: A guarantor is different from a legal guardian or parent. Have their mother call the doctors and request the information so she can share it with you. And if you haven’t suggested to Jessica’s mother that her daughter should be put on long-acting birth control, I think the time has come.

My husband and I recently moved into our dream home and invited my family over to see it. My sister noticed that the house had been designed to be handicapped accessible. We confirmed that it had been built by an elderly couple. The doors and walkways are larger than normal, there are handrails in the bathroom, a seat in the shower, etc.

Stanley Bridge Hall has a new weekly ceilidh, and it promises to be both energetic and dynamic.

Louise Arsenault, Helen Bergeron and Jonathan Arsenault team up for the first time with fiddler Gary Chipman for the weekly series starting Wednesday, June 27, at 7:30 p.m.

The ceilidh will feature highenergy Acadian fiddle and song, a traditional Acadian sit-down dance, Don Messer-style fiddling, step-dancing, Maritime songs, Island stories and more.

It will run Wednesdays at the historic Stanley Bridge Women’s Institute Hall at 4897 St. Mary’s Rd., Stanley Bridge, 7:30 p.m. Doors open at 7 p.m. Advance tickets are available at www. peiceilidhs.com or can be purchased at the door. For information, call 902-314-1865.

Louise Arsenault has been

She went on to say that we shouldn’t have purchased the house because we were “taking it from someone who may have needed it.” Then she compared us to someone who parks in a handicap parking space without a permit.

The thought had never occurred to me. I loved the openness of the floor plan; it was a huge selling point for me. The house is within walking distance of my work and had been on the market for two years. The sellers were thrilled to have someone finally buy it. The community has been nothing but welcoming to us and seems glad to have a nice family move into a home that was built by much-loved neighbuors.

Should we have passed on it and continued our search? – DREAM HOME OWNER IN KANSAS

DEAR OWNER: Of course not! The house served the needs of the couple who built it. Now it is yours and doing the same for you and your family. Enjoy it! And the next time your jealous sister brings up the subject – we both know she will – hand her an antacid tablet and talk about something else.

I have a friend who I suspect has a mental problem. I wonder if it may be a disease of some kind. No matter what I talk about – what I’ve done, who I know or what I have – she one-ups me by saying she has done or had the same thing. It really grates on my nerves. Do you think it’s a habit or a disease? – OUTDONE IN WASHINGTON

DEAR OUTDONE: It’s not a disease, but an obnoxious habit. The “cure” may be to tell the woman how what she’s doing makes you feel. The result will be that she either stops trying to top you or ends the friendship. Either one will be a relief. playing the fiddle since an early age. She has toured in folk settings all around the world and is most noted for her part in the former group Barachois as well as her trademark foot stomping.

Arsenault’s son, Jonathan, will also join the group on guitar and sharing his vocal talents singing from a repertoire of country and folk music.

Bergeron, an acclaimed step dancer, is best known as a member of the former musical group Barachois. She is also the daughter of renowned fiddler, Eddy Arsenault.

Chipman started playing the fiddle at eight years old on the Don Messer Live Shows and has since toured with Anna McGoldrick and Stompin’ Tom Connors. He is known for his trademark Don Messer/Down East-style of fiddling.

Two individuals were recently recognized for their contributions to Farmers Helping Farmers.

The recipients were Nancy Russell, for her continuing efforts in strengthening the organization’s social media channels, and Kenyan Jennifer Murogocho, who has ensured that the organization’s volunteers have the appropriate professional connections and safety while working in small rural communities.

The awards recognize the organization’s volunteers, supporters and members.

The Honorary Life Membership Award was presented to the two women.

Russell was recognized for her efforts in significantly increasing the visibility of Farmers Helping Farmers by establishing and maintaining blog and Facebook sites and revamping the website.

Murogocho, who lives in Kenya, has facilitated the construction of most of the cookhouses sponsored by Islanders. She is a catalyst in Kenya for the work of Farmers Helping Farmers’ members, including veterinarian and education students and others, ensuring that the necessary contacts, partnerships and materials are in place.

Maxine Delaney was recognized with the Volunteer of the Year Award. Delaney was instrumental in ensuring that the social media feeds from this year’s trip to Kenya were filled with photography and written observations.

Kate Westphal, owner of Graphic Detail Inc., was presented with a Farmers Helping Farmers Award, which recognizes individuals and businesses who are not members of Farmers

“I have five sisters and two brothers, and as of today, there are five out of the eight kids that are diagnosed with Huntington’s disease,” said Robinson, while noting Marie and another sister, Cathy, have succumbed to the disease.

There is no cure, but there is hope, thanks to fundraisers like the annual P.E.I. Indy Go-Cart Challenge held at the Burlington Amusement Park on Saturday morning.

Last year the P.E.I. chapter of the society raised $10,000 to help support those affected, as well as fund research.

“My one brother, John, lost his family through the disease because of his aggressive behaviour. He was a self-made guy at 40 years old, a mechanical engineer. He travelled the world in Nancy Russell, left, receives the Honorary Life Membership Award from Colleen Walton, president of Farmers Helping Farmers.

Helping Farmers but who have made a lasting and extending contribution to the association. For the past 10 years, Westphal has designed posters for several of the organization’s fundraising campaign. The campaigns have raised funds for water tanks, school kitchen gardens, mosquito nets, school books, solar lights and dairy cows.

Lydia MacDougall and Katie Carter Doiron were the recipients the mining industry and was financially set. He now lives with Scott, my other brother, who renovated his house for him.

“John is incapacitated. To see him walk, you would think he was drunk,” he continued.

Symptoms of late onset Huntington’s typically don’t surface until the ages of 30 to 45, but the disease can first appear in children as young as five and gradually worsen over 10 to 15 years.

“For Dad to raise eight kids with what he had is unbelievable. I see now it is pretty easy to forgive Dad and move on with our life now,” said Robinson.

“It makes you look at people in a whole different way, and you certainly don’t take them for granted.

“Mom turned 80 this year and still lives at the homestead

of the youth award. They were recognized for the significant contribution they have made to youth engagement over the past three years, ensuring youth in Canada and Kenya continue to have the opportunity to connect and learn about each other. They ensured the school twinning program continued to strengthen and grow, looking at new ways of connecting students and teachers in Kenya and P.E.I. where we grew up. She was the backbone of the family and made sure Dad was OK, even though they were separated.”

Despite having Huntington’s, it was cancer that caused the senior Robinson’s death.

All proceeds from the Indy Go-Cart Challenge go directly to the Huntington Society of Canada to support families impacted by the disease, as well as find a cure.

Robinson, who has chosen not to get tested so far, says despite the outcome of the disease, his siblings all made a huge impact on society within their work. He says support from family, friends and faith have been a coping mechanism and he concluded that everyone should be given a chance at life.

For more information on Huntington’s disease, visit www.huntingtonsociety.ca.