Despite illness, neighbourhood light show a go

Mon, December 22, 2008

ALL IS BRIGHT: Even an ALS diagnosis can't stop Jozsef Barany's annual holiday display

By KATE DUBINSKI



For years, Jozsef Barany has been brightening up his London neighbourhood at Christmas.

His handmade Christmas displays on the front yard of the Millbank Drive bungalow he shares with his wife of 46 years have been a labour of love for the retired Ford worker.

Throughout the year, he tinkers in his backyard workshop, coming up with new things to make, and then, to the delight of passersby, decorates the front lawn of the house with his handiwork.

But that tradition was threatened this year when, two months ago, the 72-year-old Barany was diagnosed with Lou Gehrig's disease, or ALS.

"It's hard to make things now," Barany, who describes himself as a jack of all trades, said yesterday. "What took me one hour before now takes me two days."


No worries, though. Barany's daughter Diane stepped in and put up the Santa sleigh and eight reindeer for him -- and for the neighbourhood.

"He's always loved Christmas, but this year he's been down because of what the doctor told him -- that he was going to die," Diane said.

"He wasn't going to put the decorations up this year, but I told him and my mom, 'No way, we have to.' It took my mom and I three tries, but we did it."

While his daughter did the work, Barany "directed" from the car, occasionally rolling down the window to set her straight.

ALS is a fatal disorder caused by the degeneration of nerve cells in the central nervous system that control muscle movement.

The disease has made woodworking harder for Barany -- who moved to Canada from Hungary on a frigid Christmas Day in 1956 -- because his right hand isn't as steady as it used to be.

Barany's yard is also decorated with his creations at Valentine's Day, Easter and Halloween.

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