north shore news Anna Maria D’Angelo News Reporter dangclo@nsnews.com MELISSA Badger recently received a care award from the Girl Guides of Canada. The 13-year-old | North Vancouver girl received the Fortitude Award. The pin recognizes Melissa’s “courage, determina- tion and faith” shown throughout her life relating to her disability. Melissa has Mietachromatic Leukodystro- phy (MLD) which is a degen- erative disease that affects the nervous system. Melissa is cur- rently in a wheelchair. Girl Guides of Canada Chief Commissioner Elaine Patersen said Melissa was a “a shining example to all who come in contact with you." Said Melissa’s mother, Jeanette, “Is so nice. for Melissa who has struggled through the years. It was nice of them to recognize that.” Melissa’s Guide leader Celia Schroeder of the Eighth Seymour Guides described the youngster as an amazing little girl, “She manages to enjoy things in spite the fact that she can't really participate in the same way as everyone clse,” said Schroeder. Schroeder and two other people wrote letters to the Girl Guides’ national office recom- mending Melissa for the award. Melissa and her older sister Rachel, 15, both have the extremely rare and usuaily fatal MELD. The girls were born without a needed enzyme caus- ing deterioration of the white matter or myelin found in the brain and nervous system. The genetic disease was the result of inheriting recessive genes from both parents. Jeanette recalls that when seven-year-old Rachel was diagnosed in 1991, doctors saying “Don’t expect niuch beyond 10.” Melissa was diagnosed at EALTH H Guides award NY 9g the same time, although she did not have outward signs of MLD. Rachel is currently very weak, blind, has no voluntary muscle control, is fed by a rube ands receives oxygen. She requires 24 hour care. She has trouble breathing. “She has an incredibly strong will and determination to just pull herself through,” said Jeanette. Rachel communicates by moving her mouth. Jeanette said that Rachel can still hear and understand. “One sound she has learned again which I find quite touch- ing is that she has learned to say ‘mom again,” — said Jeanette. “I'll hear her go, ‘Mom, mom, mom’.” Jeanette has used Canuck Place about once a month to take care of Rachel so Jeanette can rest at night. Rachel went from a normal See You page 24 Local reelected as BCLS president NORTH Vancowver’s Barry Mottershead was recently reelected presi- dent of the British Columbia Lupus Society (BCLS). The BCLS is a non-profit organization that provides education and support to peo- ple affected by Lupus, and supports advances in treat- ment and research of this dis- ease, Mottershead is 2 chartered accountant. He was first elect- ed BCLS president in 1998. Other BCLS board mem- bers include: Ingrid King, Shelley Crawford, Lynn Dequanne, Debbi-Jo Matias, Craig Fitzsimmons Penny Bradshaw; and Renuka Sunday, June 27, 1999 — North Shore News — 23 Scotia Total Equity” Plan Everyone has 2 dream. That's why we created the Scotia Total Equity” Plan. It’s a totally new way of borrowing that gives you the freedom to turn your home equity into the things or experiences you want out of life. Scotia Total Equity Plan lets you combine your mortgage, line of credit and other products into a single comprehensive borrowing plan — giving you the flexibility to borrow funds when and as you want at significant savings.* in effect, you get the advantage of secured borrowing rates to finance not only your house, but your dreams too. Call or visit us today! For details contact your nearest Scotiabank Branch or call 1-800-575-8888 www.scotiabank.ca/living ™ trademark of The Bank of Nova Scotia. * Subject to mamntaining satisfactory credit history. ie Organic and Natural Food Store Effective Dates Jume 28 - Aug 4 MON TO FRI 3AM TO SPR 3636 Lensdale Ave. Neri Vancouver rax: 987-6155 SAM TO 7PM TEL: 987-6644 {