After living in Bella Coola for two years, Corrine McIntyre hopes to start a support group for people with kidney disease and rare diseases.
“I see a lot of people in the community that have these things,” she said, noting she has met people with Lupus, Graves disease, and she thinks she can help them because of what she has been through.
At this point she is putting out the information to see if anyone in the community is interested.
The meetings would be once a month, she hopes, adding the meetings would give people the opportunity to talk about their health issues.
“Sometimes when you have a rare disease you cannot discuss it with your family. For one thing it is very complicated and scares people. A lot of us tend not to say anything, and keep it inside.”
Eight years ago she was diagnosed with small-vessel vasculitis, a rare disease characterized by inflammation of the blood vessels, which can restrict blood flow and damage vital organs and tissues.
She dealt with it for many years before the diagnosis. She also has kidney disease and said small-vessel vasculitis impacts the kidneys, brain, lungs, eyes and ears.
“I know people with rare diseases often go through the same things and I know that people with rare diseases are often forgotten about it. It is an invisible disability.”
Through her own experience she has learned if you don’t talk about your health you don’t get better.
People who might not be comfortable talking with healthcare professionals, may enjoy talking with people in a support group, she said.
One of her plans is to get doctors involved who can come in to give a talk on a specific topic or people who have had something such as a kidney transplant share their experience.
“There are other people in the community that I can use as a resource.”
She did put a post on Facebook and had five people respond, saying they were very interested.
“A lot of people don’t know that colour therapy works to help fight depression even. I’ll be using some of that.”
For example, she said, different colours make you feel differently.
Dressing all in black can be gloomy but if you wear bright yellows, pinks, blues, colours that are comforting it can help, she added.
“That’s why children like cartoons, because of the colours.”
McIntyre moved to Bella Coola with her husband to work.
“It’s a job that was pretty-much made for me. We bring in Amazon (packages) to Bella Coola and I work for Hodgson Freightways Bella Coola Division.”
She and her husband, Jim McIntyre run the freight yard in the community.
Anyone who is interested to learn more about the support group, can call her at 250-644-2759 or through Hodgson Freightways on Tuesdays and Fridays.
“Most people in the valley know who I am because I deliver freight and Amazon. I made a big splash when I got here and I will continue to do so,” she said smiling.
Originally from Fraser Lake, her grandmother lived in Usk, a small community just off Highway 16 northeast of Terrace.
Before Bella Coola she was living at Buffalo Creek near 100 Mile House for 20 years.
“My husband was a city guy.”
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monica.lamb-yorski@wltribune.com
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