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THREE former Kelowna Rockets were picked for Team Canada and a fourth will be playing for Sweden in the upcoming Sochi Winter Olympics.
MAXINE DEHART tells us how the art of the apple box has come back in a business that features sturdy new boxes with apple box logos reproduced from the 1920s and ‘30s.
ACTOR turned director Peter Berg wrangles Mark Wahlberg, Emile Hirsch, Ben Foster and Eric Bana in a new movie about Navy SEALS on a mission in Afghanistan called Lone Survivor, reports Capital News movie columnist Rick Davis.
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THURSDAY Jan. 9, 2014 The Central Okanagan’s Best-Read Newspaper www.kelownacapnews.com
▼ HEALTH RISK
▼ SHOW OF HEARTSTELETHON
H1N1 claims Making a huge difference for local family the life of local woman BRENDAN
Wade Paterson STAFF REPORTER
Kathy Michaels STAFF REPORTER
The H1N1 flu that killed one Okanagan woman and is continuing to send others to area hospitals isn’t expected to peak for two weeks, says an Interior Health official who is urging area residents to take precautions as the virus continues its spread. “Influenza is circulating widely and the situation will still get worse,” said senior medical officer Dr. Rob Parker. “The risk of exposure will increase in upcoming days or weeks.” At last count, there were 35 confirmed cases of H1N1 in the Interior, while the number in other regions in B.C. rose at a similar pace. A number of those infected were recently admitted to intensive care units in hospitals across the province. It’s not a cause for panic, but what’s different about this flu outbreak, Parker explained, is its impact on otherwise healthy, young people. “This year the H1N1 strain seems to be hitting preschoolers and working age adults with more serious presentations,” he said. Strains of the virus have been circulating for decades, Parker explained, leaving the elderly with a unique advantage over young people. That said, those with compromised immune systems are also at higher risk for serious complications. Vaccines are key to keeping the virus at bay, said Parker. And, despite reports that there’s been a run on vaccines at area pharmacies, Parker said he’s been informed that local health units still have a fairly healthy supply. “Call up the health unit and find out what they have,” he said, noting around 95 per cent of the area’s 140,000 unit supply has been used up. Parker wasn’t able to add any details to the circumstances faced by the woman who reportedly died of the flu earlier this month. He cited Interior Health’s policy to respect the family’s privacy as the reason for relative silence on the matter. The virus has claimed the lives of six people in Saskatchewan and 10 people in Alberta.
Kristine and Don Ritchie first realized their son had a serious health issue in November 2012. Brendan—four years old at the time—was walking to school with his parents when he suddenly collapsed and had a seizure. “I had no idea what was going on,” said Kristine. She and Don drove their son to Kelowna General Hospital’s emergency department, where several tests were done on Brendan. On Dec. 12, 2012, Kristine and Don learned their son had primary pulmonary hypertension. “The arteries between his heart and his lungs are constricted. It causes enlargement of the heart as well, because his heart is working pretty hard to pump the blood through the arteries,” said Kristine. Brendan’s condition is terminal; Kristine said she and Don don’t know what to expect, long-term. Additionally, Brendan has to make sure he doesn’t overexert himself at any point. “He can’t run and play tag with other kids… he can’t do competitive sports, because of the oxygen requirements.” Kristine and Don take their son to Stollery Children’s Hospital in Edmonton every three months for
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Ritchie will be featured on the upcoming Variety Show of Hearts Telethon. Variety has helped pay for some of the medication the five-yearold—who has primary pulmonary hypertension—is required to take. CONTRIBUTED
check-ups. When asked how Brendan’s condition has affected her and Don, Kristine paused for several seconds. “That’s hard to say. “It’s not easy.” Variety the Children’s Charity has helped make one part of the Ritchies’ journey easier. One type of medication Brendan has to take is Viagra: A drug not initially covered by Kristine’s insurance plan. “It is unusual, but when Viagra was first developed, it was in trials for pulmonary hypertension. During trails, it was found
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HE CAN’T RUN AND PLAY TAG WITH OTHER KIDS…HE CAN’T DO COMPETITIVE SPORTS, BECAUSE OF THE OXYGEN REQUIREMENTS Kristine Ritchie Brendan’s mom
to have this wonderful side effect. “So when I told my insurance company this
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was going to be our method of treatment, they said because my employer doesn’t cover erectile dysfunction drugs, they would not cover it.” At that point, a hospital social worker in Vancouver put Kristine and Don in touch with Variety. When the Ritchies returned home, they found money was put in an account at Dyck’s Pharmacy, covering the total cost for the medication. Variety’s B.C. chapter has raised more than $170 million since it was established in 1965. That money has gone to children who have spe-
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cial needs, and their families, throughout the province. The 48th annual Variety Show of Hearts Telethon takes place Jan. 25 and 26 on Global TV. Money raised through the telethon will go toward assisting families throughout B.C., who have children with unique medical challenges. The Ritchies will be one of the families featured on the telethon. Kristine said they are looking forward to being part of an “amazing” charity’s fundraiser. wpaterson@kelownacapnews.com
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