Below is the OCR text representation for this newspapers page.

Page 14 THE SOUTHERN ISRAELITE December 5, 1986 Sammy Lee Rnaanharg ‘Tough times don’t last’ for young Atlantan by Caroly n Gold “Look out. world, here comes Sammy Lee!” That’s how Sammy Lee Rosenberg ended one of his poems and that's how he starts every day. After fighting his way back from two near-tragic setbacks, Sammy, who suffers from Tour- ette Syndrome, says he's feeling better and better. Tourette. or TS. is a rare neurological dis order which is characterized by repetitive jerking movements called "tics” and sometimes by involuntary vocal sounds. It may cause inappropriate language and behavior. The etiology of the disorder is neurochemical. The condition, once thought to be emotional, is purely physical, but its effects can be socially and emotionally painful. Sufferers often complain of exhaustion from the sheer ex penditure of energy in trying to hold back tics. TS does not affect intelligence, and though there is no known cure, medica tion can help control the symp toms. Sammy’s personal philo sophy is possibly his best medi cine. This handsome college student, soon to be 21, is quick with answers, humorous observations, and mottos to live by. He recites his own special motivation: “Life goes on it never stops; tough times don’t last, but tough people end up on top.” To his idol and best friend at college, Marc Coopersmith. he attributes the inspiration that has helped in the hardest times, “You must never surrender.” A year ago Sammy spent more than six weeks in the hospital but in January he was back in school, Curry College in Milton, Mass. Mark Fisher of Atlanta’s Jewish Vocational Service recommended the small liberal arts school to Sammy. The young student now' describes Curry as “a little heaven w'ith a big family.” “It’s a place where you can be yourself, be comfortable and go at your own pace.” And go he has—Sammy was class president for his first 2Vi years. After his illness he resigned, thinking it would relieve him of some pres sure, and he became a represen tative to student government. Curry has a support program for students with learning dis abilities. Sammy declares that “it I WANT TO EARN YOUR BUSINESS!! Leasing makes more sense today than ever before because of the new tax laws. Give me a call. Let’s Talk! HENRY MASLIA SALES AND LEASING European Travel Packages Available VOLVO OVER Sl OVER 5260 Peachtree Industrial Blvd./Chamblee, Georgia 30341 (404) 452-0077 North America's Largest Volvo Dealer To Stanley the Y SAT wizard, (Excerpts from actual letters* Stanley H Kaplan has received from satisfied SAT prep takers.) ". . . I never imagined 1 would get an 1110 on the SAT, an improvement of 250 points over my last SAT..J.E. ... My verbal score went from a 530 to 710 while my math went from a 610 to a 740.1 could never have done this without the skills and confidence which the classes gave me..M.P. " . (My sons) score went up 220 points thanks to your course. You were there whenever he needed help and guidance. Thank you so much!”—DM W^nt a chance to up your SAT score 150, 200, 250 points, or more? Call the "quicker-picker-upper"— Kaplan. Weve been the best and most expenenced, in test prep for nearly 40 years! -originai u i krs onmt 1KAPLAN SUNUY H K API AN EDUCATIONAL CINTfR LTD To Prepare for April 1987 SAT classes begin at: 1776 Peachtree St. - January 17 AJCC/Zaban - January 25 Etz Chaim, Marietta - January 25 DeKalb College - January 17 CALL NOW FOR DETAILS 876-2111 lifts your morale to go there because it’s such a good school.” Besides his family and friends at home, Sammy thinks Curry “played the most vital role in getting me well last winter.” The Southern Israelite re ported at the time how Sammy's room was filled with greeting cards. People he didn't even know became interested in his illness. A benefit dinner was organized for Tourette Syndrome. Sammy was honored by a proclamation from Gov. Dukakis and the mayor called him an asset to his school and community. Everything went fine with his studies during the remainder of last year. But as summer ap proached Sammy says he became nervous and anxious about his friends graduating and leaving. The anxiety caused more tics and by summer he felt a relapse com ing on. In addition, the medica tion he was on was making him weak. A counselor’s job aw'aited him at Camp Barney Medintz. Sammy attended orientation week and found the staff very supportive. However, he hesitated. “I was to work with young children and I didn’t want to upset or scare them.” He came home and went to his friend. Dr. Lyndon Waugh, and said he needed to go to the hospi tal. During his first setback Sammy’s tics had been so com pulsive he caused cataracts in his eyes from the trauma of uncon trollable hitting. “This time I had experience to know what to do." A three-week nightmare then began in which he spent as much as 12 hours a day in restraints. The medication, at the same time, was acting like a poison, making him lethargic and tired. He had become immune to its benefits and had to find a new medicine. The episode was worse than ever before. Sammy recounts that EKGs were being done every day and everyone feared he would not live through this. Finally his doctors and family found out about a doctor in Rochester, N. Y., who was treating a patient the same age with an MAO in hibitor. It worked! This, in com bination with another medicine that had been used in Europe, resulted in Sammy’s starting to get better. Sammy says he began spend ing an hour at a time out ol re straints. “It was a very traumatic time. I needed a lively environ ment and 1 wanted to go back to camp.” After he was out of the hospi tal for three days, Sammy went back to “Barney.” He now re members, “It was very anxiety- provoking. Should I do it? Is it going to happen again? Will this When Joan or Susan Go To Camp/Trip They Mean Business SCAT A is a FREE advisory service SCATA personally visited over 250 camps this past summer. SCATA makes a complete check of facilities and programs. SCATA holds an annual meeting of its affiliates to discuss and evaluate all camps and trips. SCATA holds one-to-one interviews with prospective campers, so they can match the right child to the right camp or trip. NO CHILD OR PARENT SHOULD BE PLACED IN A POSITION WHERE THEY DON’T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT Joan Weiner 252-2255 Susan Schwartz 951-8747 Student Camp and Trip Advisors HartuJen, C7 • Prouidente, Rl • l.nrvjmeuiUnv. MA • Notthbtook, II • Atlanta, GA • Montreal, Canada ( ontinued next page. luiiiif— JAGUAR # “Over 35 Years Experience yy l offer all my new Jaguar customers... • Free loaner while your new Troncalli Jaguar is serviced • 4 years free oil changes (limit 12) • Saturday Service • 24-hour emergency road service • Over 35 years experience at Atlanta’s oldest Jaguar dealer Nobody but nobody ever underleases or undersells me 1 ' i w i ■ VVI III 1625 Church St., Decatur, GA 30033 Irving Silver Salesman of the Year 1985 Fleet Manager Sales & Leasing Personal sales of over -51,000.000 Days: 291-3SS3 Night: 391-95*7 When you buy your Jag from Irving Silver, it’s like having an uncle in the business!