SIX - Heppner Gazette-Times, Heppner, Oregon Wednesday, March 30, 2016
MS ACTIVISM
Oregon’s 2 nd District Representative Greg Walden with (L-R back) MS Oregon Chapter
delegates Merilee McDowell, Carol Choutka, Brie Stoianoff, Lisa Roth and Pamila Hussie
(front). -Contributed photo
-Continued from PAGE ONE
Society, MS is an “unpre-
dictable, often disabling
disease of the central ner-
vous system that disrupts
the flow of information
within the brain, and be-
tween the brain and body.”
The cause of MS is
still unknown. Many sci-
entists believe the disease
is triggered by unidentiied
environmental factors in a
person who is “genetically
predisposed” to respond.
Two to three times more
women are diagnosed with
MS than men.
That wasn’t the case
with one of the Oregon dele-
gates, however; Stoianoff’s
husband has MS. He’s also
a veteran, and McDow-
ell said they learned there
might be a link between
the two.
“(We learned that) Sta-
tistically, there are a high
amount of people from
Desert Storm who have
MS, and they’re trying to
igure that out,” she says.
And iguring it out—
talking about research and
coping strategies and fun-
draising plans—was part
of what excited McDowell
about the opportunity.
“I wanted to talk to
some of the doctors who are
doing the research. I met a
woman who is doing won-
derful research. I shared
some spiritual things that
have helped me, and she
shared with me things she’s
found that have helped. We
helped each other. Positive
reinforcement is so impor-
tant to all of us in our lives,”
McDowell says.
She wasn’t at the con-
ference because she’s a
rookie, though. Rather,
McDowell, the only Oregon
delegate from east of the
Cascades, was instrumental
in starting the Eastern Or-
egon Walk MS in Heppner,
now in its 18 th year. She has
also chaired or co-chaired
the event every year. She
believes she was asked
to attend the conference
because of the success of
Eastern Oregon Walk MS.
“Our small commu-
nity has raised such a large
amount of funds compared
to other, larger areas,” she
says. “They have said we
are their example to other
walks of how to put a walk
together.”
McDowell, of course,
says she jumped at the
chance to travel to the na-
tion’s capital and speak
about her passion.
“I felt very privileged
that I was even asked. I saw
it as an opportunity to share
my story with a broader au-
dience. And just the chance
to go to DC!” she says.
And share her story
she did. Aside from meet-
ing with other MS activ-
ists and hearing speakers,
conference attendees also
underwent training for one
of the biggest pieces of
the event—going up to
Capitol Hill to speak with
legislators. As resident of
Oregon’s 2 nd District, Mc-
Dowell met with Rep. Greg
Walden.
“I’m a constituent of
Greg Walden, so I told my
story to him. Everyone had
certain legislators to talk
to,” McDowell explains.
McDowell added that
not everyone at the confer-
ence got to speak with their
legislators; Congress was in
session that day, and some
had to content themselves
with sharing their stories
with congressional staffers.
However, “Greg Walden
came off the loor to speak
with us, and I got to tell him
my story.”
She also says she had
the chance to speak brief-
ly with Sen. Ron Wyden,
though not share her story
as she did with Walden.
McDowell says she felt
the visits to her congress-
men were successful.
“Everybody was very
receptive and considerate
of us. I felt like I was really
heard by my congressmen
and their staffers,” says
McDowell.
While the visits to the
Capitol were unforgettable,
McDowell says other parts
of the ive-day trip were just
as memorable in their own
way. Choutka made it pos-
sible for delegates to tour
some of Washington during
their stay.
“I was able to, because
of Carol Choutka, see the
Washington Monument, the
Lincoln Memorial—which
was awesome—and the
relecting pool. I got to see
the World War II memorial,
Vietnam memorial and Ko-
rean memorial.”
It was during that por-
tion of the journey that
she says she had her most
notable moment.
“I stood in the Lincoln
Memorial and I looked over
the relecting pond to the
Washington Memorial and
thought of Martin Luther
King standing there and
giving his speech, the ‘I
have a dream,’ speech,” she
recalls, “and I was think-
ing, ‘He stood right here.’
I would hope we all have
that dream.”
“I really had a new
appreciation of being an
American and what that
means. Way too many peo-
ple died for our freedom.
You realize what a gift it is
to wake up in a free country
and be able to do whatever
it is I would like to do,”
she says.
But, with all the emo-
tions contained in the trip,
there was also a lighter—
and quite surprising—side.
“I was walking out of
my hotel in Washington,
DC my irst day and saw
someone in front of me
with a t-shirt that said ‘Hep-
pner,’” recalls McDowell
with a chuckle. It turned out
to be Jeff and Christine Bai-
ley of Heppner, who were
also in DC for a conference.
“I had to stop and say, “Am
I in Washington, DC? Did I
really ly here?” she says.
“Then I was in the air-
port to leave and come
home, and Jerry Healy came
and sat beside me and said,
‘How are you doing?’” she
adds. “I said, ‘I can’t get
away with anything!’”
Despite the humor,
though, McDowell re-
mains serious about being
an MS activist and inding
a cure for the disease she
has lived—and struggled—
with for nearly four de-
cades. Her goal?
“To end MS,” she says,
adding that when she was
diagnosed there were no
treatments, let alone a cure.
“Some progress rapidly. I
haven’t, and I’m very grate-
ful for that.”
McDowell says there
are now 13 FDA-approved
therapies for people with
relapsing/remitting MS,
and the FDA is currently
reviewing a drug for pro-
gressive MS.
“It’s not hereditary but
I’ve seen it happen in fami-
lies. I have a grandson, and
I don’t want him, or my
daughter, to be diagnosed
with MS. Anything I can
do to keep that from hap-
pening, I will.”
The Eastern Oregon
Walk MS is planned for Sat-
urday, April 23, in Heppner.
Registration will begin at 9
a.m. at All Saints Episco-
pal Church, with the walk
beginning at 10 a.m.
Pre-registration is ap-
preciated and can be done
at www.walkms.org or by
calling 503-445-8342, but
walk-ons are welcome and
may register the day of the
event. There is no registra-
tion fee; donations of any
amount are welcome.
Starbucks will be serv-
ing coffee, and fruit and
cinnamon rolls will be pro-
vided, and a hosted lunch
and door prizes will follow.
The 5k walk is wheelchair
accessible. A route map will
be available for the 5k Run
and 10k Run. For more in-
formation, contact Heppner
MS Walk Co-Chairs Barb
Orwick at 541-256-0455
or Taylor Disque at 541-
256-0295.
A View from the
Hill
By Doris Brosnan
Everyone at Willow
Creek Terrace leaped from
February into March with
some symbolic menu items:
“rabbit” legs, “wallaby
spuds,” “frog-eye” salad,
and grasshopper cake. It
was tasty fun to be silly,
but maybe not as much fun
as the paper airplane com-
petition on Aviation Day,
Feb. 23.
Most residents joined
in as spectators or com-
petitors for the flying of
paper airplanes down the
hall. One resident who
expected to simply watch
even became a late entry
by building a plane on site
and giving it a heave-ho.
Winning, longest flights
were those by the planes de-
signed by Bud Wilson and
newcomers Millie Hanna
and Caroline Hall.
March began with a
conversation about the
Peace Corps, which became
a reality on March 1, 1961.
Several residents remem-
bered that former resident
Liz Beuhler had joined the
Peace Corps after retiring
from her career.
Several Residents ob-
served the World Day of
Prayer on the fourth by
gathering privately to add
their prayers to the effort.
And everyone gathered
two days later to enjoy the
foot-tapping music of the
Ol’ Time Fiddlers, the en-
tertaining musicians always
welcome on the Hill.
When Daylight Sav-
ings Time began on March
13, residents were reminded
to “spring forward,” wheth-
er or not individuals agreed
with the state on fiddlin’
with time, which can be
confusing for a day or so.
That day is also chosen by
staff for the replacement
of batteries throughout the
Terrace’s common areas
and residents’ apartments.
Heppner’s annual St.
Pat’s Celebration was again
a hit with some residents.
Nine individuals attended
Fr. Condon’s new drama
on March 17. They enjoyed
the thought-provoking play,
and they appreciated the
Father’s reserving them a
table near the stage. (The
gunshot ending startled
everyone and caused some
to shoot out of their chairs a
bit!) The Big Green Parade
on the 19 th was, the eight
attendees agreed, an espe-
cially good one, and they
appreciated the cooperative
weather.
Last Friday, residents
hosted some children and
grandchildren of the staff
for Easter-egg coloring, ac-
companied by some treats,
of course. And then, on
Sunday, the residents had
an Easter-egg hunt, accom-
panied by some laughs, of
course.
March’s special days
will end on the 30 th , which
is Doctors Day. The Terrace
honors and thanks their
doctors and other health-
care specialists by taking
trays of healthy treats to
the clinic and the hospital.
Residents and staff view the
medical attention available
to the Willow Creek Terrace
Community as a definite
bonus for living there.
They view the avail-
ability of one apartment as
an opportunity for someone
to join their Community on
the Hill. Interested parties
should call 541-676-0004
for information.
Boardman to sponsor
spring clean up
The City of Boardman will sponsor a community-
wide clean-up the month of April.
The city has garbage vouchers available, with a $50
limit, to residents of the City of Boardman. The vouch-
ers are valid during the month of April at Finley Butte
Landill and the North Morrow Transfer Station. The
garbage voucher program is meant to encourage citizens
to clean up their residences by disposing of yard debris.
City residents may pick up their vouchers at Boardman
City Hall at 200 City Center Circle beginning March 31.
For more information on this program, call Boardman
City Hall at 481-9252.
ADVERTISING
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HEPPNER GAZETTE-TIMES CALL MEGAN
at 541-676-9228 to get started today!
THIS FRIDAY- APRIL 1ST
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LAST SEEN: LURKING IN YOUR HOME...
UNDER THE SINK, IN THE GARAGE IN THE BASEMENTS
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APRIL 1ST, 2016
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Lexington Road Department Yard
365 W. Hwy 74, Lexington, OR 97839
Gasoline, used motor
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ACCEPTED DURING THE EVENT:
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Propane Tanks (smaller than 25 gal.) Oil based paint, Paint thinners and solvents, Roof and
asphalt patch, Adhesives, glues and contact cement, Caulks sealers and joint compounds,
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