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THE FREE PRESS Thursday, December 20, 2012
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Chamber announces Sparwood's best decorated By Jenna Jensen Contributor
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n partnership with Black Gold Bus Lines, Lilac Terrace and Sparwood Futures Society the members of Sparwood Chamber of Commerce toured the town with Sparwood seniors taking in all of the best decorated homes. Many were in the holiday spirit and had homes beautifully adorned with lights and decorations. Winners are: Best Overall: Bob & Darlene Nickerson - 1247 Valleyview Drive Best House: 1st Place Bruce and Shelly Dingerville - 450 Mountain Ash Crescent, 2nd Place Randy and Charlotte Roberts - 126 Pine Ave, 3rd Place Mike and Deanna Chala - 1304 Wildwood Drive, 4th Place Rae & Colleen Morandini - 488 Pine Ave. Honorable Mention: Fudd & Pauline Krall Best Mobile Home: 1st Place Henry Volkman and Jennifer Egan - 113 Spardell, 2nd Place Wayne Magee and Family - 53 Spardell. Honorable Mention: Sheryl & Sam Stephenson Best Balcony: Verle Jones - Ponderosa Manor Best Business: Vantage Point - Whiskey Jack Drive Best Overall Basket: Vantage Point
Norma McDougall, Sparwood Chamber Manager and Tonda Redgwell, Director of Sales for Vantage Point present Darlene Nickerson with a gift basket donated by Vantage Point for winning the best overall decorated home. Submitted photo
Amber Funk’s journey to recovery By Jenna Jensen Contributor
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mber Funk is on her way to recovery after the October 2011 accident that almost claimed her life. Although she still has years ahead of her to relearn even simple tasks, her body has healed well enough physically that doctors and her family will now be focused on the other aspects of her injuries.
Funk has spent much of the first year healing, spending a month in an induced coma and dealing with the repercussions of her brain injury and seizures. She is currently unable to walk and has been coping with spells of intense anger and aggression, brought on by her brain injury and frustration in being unable to understand why she is in the hospital, and why she is unable to complete many day to day activities.
"Immediately after her accident she was in Foothills Hospital in Calgary. In February, something happened and things changed. She became really aggressive, and she ended up having to be strapped down to her bed. The doctors in Calgary agreed that her recovery was not moving forward and Amber was then transferred to Kamloops where they could better deal with her anger," said Amber’s mom Teresa McGillis. Since being in Kamloops things have been looking up. Amber is being medicated for her anger and beginning to cooperate. "We were in a situation where it was the only thing we could do to get her anger under control, so Amber would participate in some physiotherapy. It is better now than it was, but this is something that will most likely affect her for the rest of her life," said McGillis. Amber's family is now waiting patiently to hear if Amber can be
transferred to Ponoka, AB where they would be able to focus on her relearning day to day activities and deal with issues that arise from her brain injury. "Ponoka will be really good for her, there they teach everything without overdoing it. She really needs to be in a place where doctors can focus specifically on her brain injury," she said. "There are times where if she doesn't see me for a while, she forgets who I am. She remembers some old friends at times, but doesn't really recall her niece and nephew so it is clear that her memory, short term especially, has been affected. The doctors tell us she may never remember the week before her accident. She doesn't remember Victor or what happened and I'm not sure when that information will be worked into her life. For now, we try to keep her friends at bay, so too much info or memoires aren't unloaded on her at once, as that could be detrimental
Amber poses for a smile in the hospital in Kamloops. to her recovery." Despite all the trials and struggles, Amber’s mom is happy to have her daughter alive and on the road to recovery. "It's baby steps. This journey has been hard on everyone. Now, it is especially hard as Amber is so far away and I just don't have the money to see
Submitted photo
her. We are a really close family and are just trying to keep it together as best we can.” Donations can be made to Amber’s Wish at the Scotiabank in Fernie.
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