Helen Goerzen
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Helen Goerzen - Secretary
In 1969, I got married, attended University
of Manitoba and
shortly after in1973, my husband and I began teaching. I stopped teaching about
7 years later to have two kids, then resorted to substitute teaching for many
years while the kids were growing up and
eventually going back to full-time teaching.
After years of sore
hands with digital ulcers, heartburn, esophagus, stomach and bowel issues, I
was diagnosed with CREST and systemic Scleroderma in 1997 but managed to do
most of the things that I wanted to do in spite of Scleroderma. But In March
2007, Scleroderma was the cause of the end of my teaching.
My doctor had been
suggesting that I stop teaching several years before that, but, I was not listening
to him. One of my Grade 2 students told me, "You have to listen to your
doctor!" Eventually, I did. I have had extensive problems with finger
ulcers, toe and foot ulcers and all of the other Scleroderma stuff. Right now,
I am doing OK or it is "as good as it gets".
I feel I have a positive attitude with lots of determination,
a strong faith in God, an amazing support base from family and friends, plus
competent and caring doctors.
When I was first
diagnosed with Scleroderma I attended a few of the Scleroderma Manitoba chapter
meetings but..... I quit going to meetings because I was too depressed with what I saw
was coming for me when I looked at the other people who were attending the
meetings.
What has changed my
mind is this: Over the past years, I have been involved in the Relay for Life
Cancer Walk. When I saw all of the support that Cancer patients, survivors and
their families receive, I became very jealous!!! Why them and not me and
others who have Scleroderma? I decided that I could try and change this - both
for me and for others who have Scleroderma. That's why I want to volunteer. I
want to do my part. In a small way, serving on the Board of Directors with the
Scleroderma Society of Canada is my
way of helping others who are dealing with Scleroderma.
Here is a list of
several areas that I have been involved in over the years:
A member of the
local teachers’ Professional Development Committee organizing PD days, secretarial work for monthly local teachers' association
meetings and compiling minutes
for our monthly school staff meetings,
member of Literacy Committee for our local teachers' association, plus just
teaching my class - mostly I have taught Grade 2 with a bit of Grade 1 plus
anything up to Grade 4 - Wherever! Whatever! Whenever!
Volunteering as a
secretary for our church council meetings, volunteering as church chair for our church
council meetings, teaching Sunday
School and being the superintendent for Christian Education in my church, Grace
Mennonite in Steinbach as well as volunteering as a member of the
board for our local Jake Epp Library.
Then in November,
2009 all of this came crashing to a halt as I suffered a major heart attack
plus a cardiac arrest. Thankfully and miraculously, doctors in Steinbach and Winnipeg were able to
save my life and put me back together
again!
The past several
winters, my husband and I have followed what most Scleroderma pamphlets tell you to do about Scleroderma -
"move to a warm climate!" We have spent some time in Texas and for the past 3 years, we spend winters at The
Good Life RV Resort in Mesa,
Arizona with my identical twin
sister and her husband. She has Scleroderma as well. (Hey, maybe I can get her to volunteer!) We both do much better in a warmer more temperate climate.
Hope that this helps
you "to put a face to my name".
Helen Goerzen