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• Wednesday, April 6,1994 "H0u5t0n Times-Journal Page 10A Jr ■> * I * * UHKm Perry Middle School eighth graders Curtis Flournoy (far left) and Rosalyn Nunez and Katie Stephens (far right) were among the thousands of area students who attended last week’s teen health forum. Here, the three pose with Kathy Smith of the Peachbelt Medical Alliance, event sponsors, and emcee Mary Therese Sikes of 99 Ways Radio (center). Houston teens moved by health forum BY BRENDA THOMPSON Staff Writer Although it’s true that they were required to be there, the 1,500 teenagers that attended a teen health forum at the Georgia National Fairgrounds and Agricenter Thursday morning weren’t required to be so moved by the event. They weren’t required to shed tears at the moving stories of Richard Gallaspie of Decatur, a man who has been wheelchair bound since a drinking and driving accident left him paralyzed 16 years ago at the young age of 19, or Kathryn Harris, a student at Paine College in Augusta, who spoke about teen pregnancies with a realistic flair. And, they weren’t required to award any of the speakers their undivided attentions or to give them standing ovations. But, they did! Sponsored by the Peachbelt Medical Society and its Alliance and appropriately dubbed the “It’s Subscribe Today Call 987-1823 Edwards-Harper 909 Carroll St. • Downtown Perry • 987-2391 sdmf Wiß Your •fwV Cooling .Systen* JMpSurvive The Summer? Think About It. With hot summer days ahead, now’s the time to think about your cooling system. Let the "Inside , ~~~ Guys” repair your existing unit or replace it with a new Carrier high efficiency air conditioner. Don’t risk a breakdown on the hottest f day of the year. Call us today. We make it better inside. Carrier 38TR Financing Available • We Service All Brands We Recommend Carrier. Perry Heating & Cooling, Inc. 2128 Hwy. 41N, Perry, GA 987-2335 • Jimmy Holland WreThe Inside Guys. Up To Youth” Teen Health Forum, Thursday’s event was the third of its kind in as many years. It was at tended by eighth graders from not only all of Houston County five public middle schools, but also by many of their peers from Sacred Heart and the Bleckley County school system. Topics covered at the event in cluded teen sexuality, alcohol and drug abuse, emotional disorders, teen abuse and victimization and violence and crime-the very five ar eas of concern that have made ado lescents the only segment of to day’s society whose health has not improved in the last 30 years, ac cording to the sponsoring group. Presiding over the event was Mistress of Ceremonies, Mary Therese Sikes, radio disc jockey and public service director for 99 WAYS and WMAZ AM 940. Sikes shared the stage with Mrs. Kim Sanders, President of the Peachbelt Medical Alliance; Tony It’s Prom, Time At Edwards- Harper For Best Selection Come In Now! Hinnant, Superintendent of Hous ton County Schools; Dr. Harold P. Katner, the chief of Infections Dis ease and Associate Professor of In ternal Medicine at Mercer Univer sity’s School of Medicine; Frank Simons, Perry Police Chief; as well as Richard Gallaspie of the Arrive Alive Program and performer Kathryn Harris. 4-PC SHAKER STYLE BLACK BEDROOMif?/ • jVJff J .1 | I JI GROUP WITH MAPLE FINISHACCENTS Biff A f , i-i T/m 11 "f I 14-PC GROUP INCLUDES: SAVE 101 ftVUFaTBM I • QUEEN/FULL BANNISTER HEADBOARD QIJ 4_pf I• 6-DRAWER DRESSER WITH MIRROR W . —L " ■ Unightstand CROUP Jf Lf JRICYCLE living) GET 2 FREE LAMPSsJ ROO M GROUP WITH lIFRK LAMPS K |A#| h, (jfc I WITH PURCHASE OF THIS GROUP! fid SAVE \\ IJf jf 1 5-PC GROUP INCLUDES: M *3l I II !X i T 111 SOFA • LOVESEAT • 2 END TABLES • COCKTAILTABLE SAVE *$ | W(H jl FARMERS FURNITURijSI ( 1010 Main Street * Perry • 987-3058 ‘ X*With approved credit Terms & prices do not apply to prior purchases All items in limited quantity & subject to prior sale. Interest accrues from date of contract. Ask for details r *lp JIIJ flflrll Y 7, Perry resident awaits lung transplant By PAULINE LEWIS Staff Wrltar “Don’t take your organs to Heaven.... Heaven knows we need them here!” Thus goes the slogan of the trans plant program of the University of North Carolina Hospital at Chapel Hill, where Perry resident Wanda Williamson is awaiting a lung transplant. Wanda has Alpha I Anti-Trypsin Deficiency, a genetic disease for which there is no cure. First diagnosed as having adult on set asthma, she tested positive for Alpha I Anti-Trypsin Deficiency in 1987. Since that time, she has been on medication that puts an en zyme into her system that her body does not produce. A resident of Perry since the age of 10, Wanda graduated from Perry High School in 1963. Her first job was with Houston Medical Center in Warner Robins. When Perry Hospital opened, Wanda transferred there as insurance clerk. Later, she was employed at Coliseum Medical Center as insur ance supervisor. Her latest employment has been as medical transcriptionist with Doctors Neal, Shirley, Shirley Jr., May, Rodenberry, Brown and Pridgen, Obstetrics and Gynecology Specialists in Macon. Since her condition had worsened, she took medical retirement last July 1. About 18 months ago, Wanda’s doctor sent her to the University of North Carolina for evaluation for a lung transplant. She was re evaluated in April 1993 and was told to be prepared to move to Chapel Hill when they called. The call came on December 26. She has now moved to Chapel Hill and wears a hospital pager. When she receives the call that a lung is available, she will have two hours in which she must report to the hospital. For this reason, she cannot leave the area. Wanda attends exercise classes at the hospital four days a week. She is also involved in a support group meeting of 15 persons who are cur rently awaiting transplants. At a recent meeting each attendant was asked what they wanted to do first after their transplant Wanda said, “I just want to be able to sing in church.” Although her health insurance will cover the costs of the trans plant in excess of $5,000, she has above average living expenses and insurance premiums. Friends have established a benefit fund to help with these costs. Gifts may be made to the Wanda E. Williamson Benefit Fund, 316 iy • : JJp#: ? -* >: Siß®^® V/anda Williamson N. Lake Drive, Perry, Georgia 31069. For further information, contact Peggy Chancy, 302 Sandefur Road, Kathleen, Georgia 31047, (987- 5021). Clean Your Closets & Make sss Call 987-1823 To Place Your Classified Today!