Disease can't keep man down
 

Disease can't keep man down

Kim Conners gets by with a lot of help from his friends
Mon Aug 25, 2008

By Parvaneh Pessian

http://media.newsdurhamregion.com/im...ce556d923.jpeg
Photo by Michael Jurysta OSHAWA--Bob Crone has helped make a difference in the life of Kim Conners, an Oshawa man who suffers from ALS (or Lou Gehrig's disease). Wed, July 30 2008.



DURHAM -- Kim Conners has been blessed.
At least that's what the licence plate on his van reads -- "BINBLEST" -- and what the people who drive it for him say.

The 50-year-old Oshawa resident was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, in 1995 at the age of 37. The disorder attacks muscle-controlling nerve cells in the spinal cord, typically leading to paralysis and death within three to five years of diagnosis.

Though at one point he was only expected to live for six more months, Mr. Conners has survived for more than a decade.

Throughout the years, he's endured the anguish of watching the disease rapidly rob him of his mobility, leaving him almost entirely paralyzed. Today, Mr. Conners can only communicate with his eyebrows.

He gets around in a wheelchair suited for his specific needs and has a lot of people pushing for him.

Mr. Conners' friend Paula Wineck -- a long-time champion by his side -- was the person who motivated him to keep going when he was feeling alone and useless. After the sudden death of his wife, Mr. Conners gave in to Ms. Wineck's encouragement to leave the long-term care facility he was at and return home because his sons, Darren and Adam, needed him.

"Instead of focusing on dying, he started focusing on living," she said. "I told him, 'If you chose to live, then all your decisions can be made from there.' "

Ms. Wineck acquired a van for his transportation and together they purchased Acres of Blessings Mennonite Meats in Whitby. She runs the store to create an income for Mr. Conners to rely on for financing his needs and to go toward a trust fund for his boys.

To fulfill her "lifetime commitment" to him, Ms. Wineck has had help from many community members, including Robert Crone from Whitby. Mr. Crone -- who Ms. Wineck calls "the angel Bob" -- became involved with the efforts after reading a 2004 article about Mr. Conners in Guideposts, a magazine featuring true stories of inspiration and hope.

After finishing the story, Mr. Crone received a phone call from his sister in Florida who had also just read it. She asked him if he knew the family the article was about.

" 'No,' I told her. 'But I will,' " he said.

Mr. Crone reached Ms. Wineck and volunteered to be a part of her team. He began helping by driving Mr. Conners' van around to places like his son's hockey games.

Mr. Crone, 94, has been involved in volunteer work throughout his life, including years of dedicated effort for Community Care Whitby. "I've been busy," he said. "I get vibes about where I'm needed for the day . . . this is what my life is all about."

Mr. Crone then met Neil and Cathy Smith, who own Winvalley Contracting, a construction company in Whitby. The couple had just gone through the death of Ms. Smith's mother from ALS and offered to pay to make accessibility improvements to Mr. Conners' home, which he shares with his sons and three care workers.

"We were extremely aware of the huge challenges of people with ALS," Ms. Smith said. "When Bob approached us, it was a perfect fit."

They spearheaded the project and got other companies from the community involved, who were all eager to make donations.

About $25,000 went toward the renovations, including installing an elevator, remodelling the kitchen and bathroom and building a ramp for easier access from the kitchen to the back of the house.

"Kim is a man who's really faced some hardships in his life and any support he can get from the community while dealing with this disease and keeping his family together can go a long way," Ms. Smith said. "We were really happy to help."

Mr. Conners has come a long way from feeling like a burden to others because his will to survive has inspired so many people and led them to feel he has a purpose to serve, Ms. Wineck said.

"To me, that is crucial to why he's still around today."



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