The following letter to Lois & Tom Pavalasek was in response
to a greeting card signed by the Summerlea congregation
on the occasion of the 35th annual Pancake lunch in March 2011, and sent
to Tom by the Pavlaseks.
Dear Lois and Tom,
What a delightful surprise to receive your letter plus so many kind greetings.
Since we moved from Lachine in 1988 (arrived in 1969) and
retired to BC in 1999, I was happy to see how many familiar
folk continue to be active in the life of Summerlea.
The Pancake Luncheon was the result of much planning and long
discussion. I don't recall being responsible for the idea,
but I do remember some of the questions: How can we provide
pancakes freshly prepared for a hundred people in ten minutes?
Where do we get a recipe? How many people with electric
frying pans would be needed?
Happily, Tom Pavlasek suggested Lois (a dietician) might provide a recipe
(she graciously did), and volunteer cooks with frying pans were recruited.
Wisely, Tom (the engineering professor) suggeested a practice run on a
Saturday morning. The first run blew several electrical
circuits (too many fryers in one area). Then there was a need for an
attempt to have the pancakes closer to a 'Summerlea' size
Finally, could we avoid washing dishes by using plastic plates.
Agreed - a donor offered to provide 200!.
Then came the great day. Everything worked. The pancakes
were served with dispatch. Buttered, covered with maple
syrup, eager diners bent to the task. But soon followed howls
of alarm. Maple syrup was running across the tables toward the laps
of hungry guests! As the pancakes were cut, so were the
fragile plates. The cooks continued to cook. Others, including kind
ladies familiar with the kitchen, soon had all diners provided
with solid, china plates. Pancakes and diners were joined once more in a happy union.
The china plates were later washed without comment.
In succeeding years, disposable plates were used, but only
after serious testing. (Ed note: With our current "Green Church"
policy, disposable dishes and cutlery are a no-no.)
Lachine was home for our family for nearly 20 years. Our
daughter and son went to Meadowbrook, then Lachine High.
Then off to university. Summerlea congregation provided friendship
and support, challenge and commitment, that enriched our
lives. You have a place in our hearts forever.
Tom Miles
Shona McLaughlan Sadler re MS
23/11/2010
Dear friends,
Greetings from home again here in Whitby...The procedure went flawlessly and
relatively painlessly. I was at the office by 10:00 am, spoke to Dr. Siskin
and Dr. Mandato, both very easy to talk to, ask questions of...then I was
taken over to the clinic side and 'prepped' for the procedure...given valium,
a saline intravenous and a local anaesthetic..
The nurse-practitioners, Michelle and Laura, were very kind as was the 3rd
girl, a very attentive blonde lady I saw again today during my follow-up
ultrasound, where I was pleased to hear all the veins had remained unblocked!
They will be checked again in 3 months by Dr. Sandy McDonald, a supportive
CCSVI-pro interventional radiologist in Barrie, ON (and a friend of Dr.
Siskin).
During the Liberation procedure, I lay on a hospital bed flat out and Dr.
Mandato put a wire camera object up through my groin artery into the jugular
veins, both left and right. When he saw the reflux blockage he used the
balloon angioplasty to 'blow open' the blocked areas...He would just say,
"Stay really still....breath in and hold your breathe"...Then I would feel a
bit of pressure, discomfort for about 2 minutes and it would be done...and
he repeated this procedure with the left interior and exterior jugular..I
think what he noted was he found my left jugular was more blocked than my
right. They use a camera to reexamine what they are unbocking as what he
sees during his procedure is not always consistent with what the original
CCSVI test result he viewed from my Barrie Vascular Imaging result of
Sept./ 17, 2010.
After he thoroughly checked and angoplastied the jugular bockage, he took
the camera wire / angioplasty balloon and did the same with my asygous vein.
At that point, when I was lying still, I could feel some real pressure
weighing down over the vein which is in our upper chest...but only
discomfort for a minute or two. With the unblocking of the jugular veins, I
think I even felt a kind of 'drip; drip'..as if something was passing
through the vein...blood rich in oxygen, I hope!
So, all in all, the procedure with Dr Mandato took about 1 1/2 hours at
most, then my lying quietly to recoup and let the valium wear off was
another 1/2 hour at least. No, I didn't suddenly feel I could jump up and
down...but I felt subtle improvements...my right hand, which has been
increasingly cold, stiff and less dextrous, felt warmer and more responsive...
Before I had the treatmet I was getting pretty worried as when I was standing
on 2 feet, I felt a wave of unsteadiness and felt I would fall over.Now,
post-procedure, I am happy to note that my balance seems much better. In
addition, my left leg, which was getting easily tired as I was relying on it
too much, is feeling more strong. So those are the subtle changes I have
noticed already. I hope and optimistically believe I will notice more
improvements as time goes on and the improved circulation can alleviate
unneccesary and damaging pressures in / around my brain.
It seemed to be a 'Canadian" weekend as all 4 patients Drs Siskin and
Mandato operated on were from Canada...and in fact we all stayed closeby and
ate together at the delicious Century House Restaurant. The other 2 MS
patients, Julie (42) from Guelph, and Mark (about the same age) were
debilitated differently from me..Julie, was in a wheelchair as her legs were
bad but her arms were fine as was her cognitition etc. Mark was very thin,
walked quite shakily with a cane ad his speech was a bit slow...Mark's
brother Larry, his companion for the trip (as Mark had left his wife and 6
children at home in Guelph!) was videoing us for opinions etc. . In the brief
post-op video, I got the feeling both other patients were disappointed with
the initial 'nothing changed for me' outcome but were assured it often
took time to notice even slight improvements..
I am just thrilled to have had this prodedure and to notice the small,
but significant changes I do...plus I sleep more soundly and awake with both
my hands able to do up laces, buttons etc...and believe me that is a plus...
and now I swear to myself less!
Jim has been amazing through this journey to Albany...beside me and
helping me all the way. And sadly, this has been a bad time to be taking me
to Albany, as his dear father Dr. Bruce Sadler, passed away quite quickly
and unexpectedly last Tues., Nov 16, 2010 at the Ottawa General Hospital,
where he had been tranfered from Brockville General only on Sat Nov. 13.
While a real shock to all, we are fortunate that we were abe to visit with
Bruce before he passed away and that he died peacefully, surrounded by loved
ones. We shall all be travelling to Brockville on Thursday for Bruce's
funeral service on Friday at 2:00 pm, Nov. 26, 2010 at the Irvine Funeral
Home in Brockville.
Thank you again everyone for all your ever- present love, support and
prayers as I continue to heal and improve from this Liberation procedure.....
"We shall overcome!"
xoxox Shona, Jim and the Sadler 'crew'
2010/11/15
Dear Summerlea friends,
I was speaking with Mum this afternoon after she had
been speaking with you at Summerlea Church. I was really
thrilled to hear a blurb about my upcoming Liberation
procedure in Albany had been included in your Sunday
church bulletin so I thank Susan Ippersiel and Summerlea
friends for that. I just want to say how overwhelmed I
feel by the amazing support and continued prayers I have
received from friends old and new all over the world
really...
I am so excited to be going finally for this
Liberation angioplasty in Albany this coming Sat.Nov. 20.
...I was actually totally impressed as I heard from both
their nurse practitioner working on my case in Albany
AND even the interventional radiologist who is
performing my Liberation angioplasty! He was so
informative and easy to talk to...and he wanted to make
sure I knew that this procedure he is doing is not
guaranteed to bring miraculous results or eliminate my
MS altogether..that in fact the patients results seem to
fall in basically 3 groups ...the first 1/3 have seen
amazing results from the angioplasty unblocking their
veins..the 2nd 1/3 experience some improvements and the
last 1/3 apparently see little change in symptoms at all.
I said I was very positive & optimistic but realistic
as well and I will be happy with any improvements and
more ecstatic the more symptomatic improvements I
notice with my MS condition. So we both understand our
expectations and I remain optimistic, and believing God
will be supporting me all the way...with help from my
many Christian friends like yourselves. I feel very
grateful and humbled by the caring support I have had
and continues to have from you and so many other so
THANK YOU!
Thank you again for your continued thoughts and
prayers...and please circulate this email to those
Summerlea friends whose email I don't have or who do
not have email contact. THANK YOU ALL!
xox and Blessings always,
Shona McLauchlan Sadler
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Gail (Jousse) Jean from Florida, 2006-02-13
----- Original Message -----
From: Gail Jean
To: Susan at Summerlea
Sent: Monday, February 13, 2006 9:12 AM
Subject: Copy of Marriage Certificate
Good afternoon Susan.
I was married on Saturday, November 2, 1963 at Summerlea United Methodist Church by Reverend
McFarland.
My maiden name was JOUSSE, Gail Elisabeth and I married JEAN, Charles Fletcher.
My address was 3435 Broadway, Lachine, Province of Quebec, Canada. I was born 10/10/38 in Lachine.
I wonder if you could tell me how to go about getting a copy of my Marriage Certificate from the church? I
am applying for US Citizenship and after all the hurricanes here in Florida, I lost a lot of my paperwork.
I used to attend Summerlea with my Grandfather in the 40's when it was a little wooden building out in the
middle of a field. We would take the street car from the corner of 34th and Broadway and ride up to 44th.
Then we had to jump on a little jitney affectionately known as "The Toonerville Trolley". That took us up
through all the fields to "Dixie", which was the name given to the area of about 48th ave. on. You had to
walk about ½ a mile up to the church and in the winter time it was quite an effort.
My grandmother was very active in the WCTU affiliate of the church and some of my best memories were of
the wonderful ladies of the church at that time. When I married Charles I was given 4 bridal shower by
various women's groups of the church. My gosh I sure am rambling, but those were wonderful days.
My current Email address is at my office. My home computer also took a beating with water damange.
Thanks for any information you might be able to provide.
Gail E. Jean
2680 Floridiane Dr.
Melbourne, FL 32935
From: Summerlea United Church
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 11:28 AM
To: Gail Jean
Subject: Re: Copy of Marriage Certificate
Hi Gail
It was nice to hear from someone from the past. These letters are always appreciated. If you know the
names of any of the ladies that you may remember, I can surely let them know that I heard from you.
Regarding your copy of marriage certificate, the chuches in Quebec no longer issue them. They are not
recognized as legal documents by the Province of Quebec. What you have to do is apply for a marriage
certificate with the Director, Civil Status, in Quebec. There is a website that you have access to,
www.etatcivil.gouv.qc.ca where you can download a form called "Request for Certificate or copy of act".
It will need to be filled in, and attached with the appropriate fee indicated on the form, and sent to the
address indicated on the form.
Good luck with this. There is also a phone number in Montreal, 514-864-3900 where you can obtain more
information. I believe the website has a lot of information as well.
From: Gail Jean
To: 'Summerlea United Church'
Sent: Tuesday, February 14, 2006 1:28 PM
Subject: RE: Copy of Marriage Certificate
Thank you so much for your reply. I have downloaded the forms and will send them off today. I had a grand
time browsing Summerlea's Webb site. There was a picture of a Sunday School Class that had been given
by Mrs. Anderson and her daughter Marilyn was in the picture. I recognized one of the teachers in the
picture as Mrs. Phyllis Guyton. Her daughter Sandra and I went to Lachine High School together. I
recently saw Marilyn Anderson (Stocker now) last October at an LHS 50th Class reunion. We had such a
great time and I am going to tell her about the Web-Site. Maybe she can identify some of the children in
the picture.
I do remember that the Pastor was Reverend Hurst at the time I attended as a little girl and the organist was
Mrs. Isabel Benson. Her daughter Nancy Benson was the premier soloist at the time.
The ladies that I knew have long since passed on because my grandmother raised me and was in her 50's
back then. Another picture showed Mrs. Ada Midgley and I believe Elsie Pennock. What great fun. The
next time I am up in Lachine I am going to come and attend a service.
Thanks again for your help.
Gail Jean
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Sinclair Harris from Inukjuak, 2004-11-01
From: Sinclair Harris
To: Marg Lynn
Sent: Monday, November 01, 2004 9:01 PM
Subject: First impressions from Inukjuak
Hi Marg, nice to hear from you.
It was good to sit down and try to record some of my first impressions while they are still
fresh... I am afraid I have run on a bit, and could have gone on and on .....
Sinclair.
PS if you want to place Inukjuak on the map, it is about half way up the Hudson Bay coast....
South of Puvurnituk. It is at about the same latitude as the north of Scotland, and I am in
many ways reminded of the Orkney islands, maybe because the lighting and colours are
similar.
First impressions from Inukjuak.
Although I had been here to visit our daughter Nansi about 3 years ago, my first impressions
as a resident (albeit a temporary resident) are very much more vivid.
This little town of over 1500 Inuit people is full of contrasts and contradictions.
The village is situated on the edge of the Inuksuac River on the East coast of Hudson Bay.
It is a beautiful setting amidst low-lying hills and coastal islands. As part of the tundra,
there is little ground cover other than scrubby grass and dwarf willows. As one walks
around the village one sees low houses built off the ground on timber blocks to allow for
the melting snow in the spring. There are no gardens and around the houses you will see
dogs and children playing, Honda ATVs parked haphazardly and snowmobiles still covered
awaiting the real arrival of winter. It is still hunting season, so many people are out on the
land, and along the coast large working canoes are to be seen with their outboard motors
still in situ.
Although part of Quebec, I see several Canadian flags draped in people’s windows. The
spoken language is Inuktitut, with English as the second language. Conversely nearly all
the Qallanat (southerner) staff at the CLSC is francophone.
As far as I can tell, there are three centres of activity. The two stores (one of which houses
the post office) the CLSC that provides all health and social services and the school. The
school has over 400 students and there is a daycare with 70 pre-schoolers. It will be no
surprise to learn that the average age of the population is only 25. Most young women who
graduate will do so with a baby on their back.
The “Maternity” is part of the CLSC. There are two community midwives and two local
student midwives who together handle between thirty and forty low risk births each year.
My role is to support the community midwives, and to help teach the students. Formerly
all birthing women were required to leave their families for six weeks in order to give birth in
the “safety” of a Montreal hospital – with often disastrous results for the community.
The church appears to have a prominent place in the community. There are two services on
Sunday, plus an afternoon Sunday school and at least one bible study during the week. It is
Anglican, and all services are in Inuktitut. I was going to attend last week but after a night
up I was not quite ready for a two-hour service in another language!
Although this community has a history of violence and abuse, so far I have found the people
warm and friendly. Every-one smiles at me as they race by on their ATV. I have seen as
many as seven people (including two babies) on one vehicle! Definitely scary: I prefer to
walk!
In the twelve days I have been here, the weather has been very varied. I thought winter had
really come when I woke up to three inches of snow, but then the next day it poured with
rain, all the snow disappeared and the resulting slush was dried by a fierce wind. Today is
cold, sunny and crisp, and I notice the water at the edge of the bay is starting to freeze.
With the changing of the clocks last night, it was dark today soon after 4.00pm….. I wonder
what it will be like in another month or so?
Regards to every-one,
Sinclair.
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