Page 14 - April 2007 The Game

14 The Game, April 2007 Canada’s Thoroughbred Racing Newspaper
A Blog for Canadian Racing
The word blog is actually a short form for 'weblog', which, according to new Collins Gage Canadian Dictionary is "a website where users can post a journal entry of their thoughts."
Fans of Canadian Thoroughbred Racing will probably enjoy the blog created and run by Toronto handicapper and writer Jennifer Morrison. It's called Thoroughblog and is a site where she expresses her opinions and provides daily news and information on the Canadian racing scene.
"I felt we were not getting enough racing coverage in the newspapers and my brother suggested a blog," explained Jennifer about her reasons for developing the site.
Jennifer is passionate in her writings of the local racing scene and says there aren't many places where you can read daily tidbits and news on Canadian racing. The information on the blog is comprised of her own opinions and views and sometimes readers respond with alternate ideas, which makes for some good debates.
"I love to get people’s opinions," says Jennifer. "It makes it interesting."
The site is updated daily with comments, news and related video links. For fans of Canadian racing, Jennifer
has provided a site where you can read daily news and opinions and respond with your own thoughts.
She has also created a great opportunity for you to boast to your teenage children that you are now an official "blogger"!
Visit www.thoroughblog.com
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Ira’s Story
By Michele Brewster
Imagine that you are born with a debilitating, chronically
painful disease. There is no history in your family, and no subsequent family members have it. Now imagine being told that there is no cure – that the disease will be fatal, and very likely at an early age. A strong will, infinite emotional strength, and unconditional support are what have brought Ira Donald through a struggle that has threatened his life since childhood. Diagnosed with cystic fibrosis at the age of five, Ira has learned to live the best life possible – and to become the person he is today: a personable, appealing man who laughs easily and often, sees the good in others, who understands the power of friendship and family, and who has achieved satisfaction of spirit. Unlike most of us who take good health for granted, Ira has had to discover a different way of living. His story is amazing. It is a testimony of courage and will, and without question an appreciation for the value of life.
Maidstone, Saskatchewan is home for Ira. Born in 1952, and raised on the family farm, a mixed operation with cattle and grain, Ira grew up with what little was known of cystic fibrosis at the time. He knew he could not digest fats, that his lungs needed daily draining of fluids, and that he had constant abdominal pain. He ate his first hamburger and milkshake at fifteen. Ira slept in a mist tent until he was twenty-five, and took a handful of pills with every meal. The medication tasted terrible, doctors were mystified by the disease and there was no cure. Cystic fibrosis was the one constant in his life, and was at all times life threatening. Most children diagnosed with the disease did not live beyond twenty. During his school years, Ira became an avid participant in sports. He played hockey and was a member of school intramural teams. Ira attributes his survival to his active lifestyle – his lungs retained elasticity.
A neighbor, Secretary of Racing at Hastings Park Lorne Mitchell, frequently asked Ira to help him with his horses. This was his introduction to thoroughbreds. When he was sixteen, his father bought a horse, and Ira rode constantly. That year, Ira rode in his first race at the Annual Sports Day. He won that race, and the experience would have a major influence on his life. It was a small but significant beginning.
Ira attended the University of Saskatchewan and graduated with a Degree in Education. Along with many other graduates, Ira began to apply for employment. Three positions were vacant, and one hundred and fifty new teachers lined up for the jobs. Needless to say, Ira wasn’t hired. The next option was to apply for work in the Northwest Territories, where teachers were needed. Fate intervened. Ira needed money, and one afternoon heandafriendwenttoMarquisDownsinSaskatoon. Heended up with a job. He later worked at Assiniboia Downs, and in 1978, came to Alberta to work for Bob Wattie. While working at the Wattie farm, Ira met “the Colonel” Dale Saunders, who would become a longtime friend. Shortly afterwards, he began
galloping thoroughbreds at Stampede
Park in Calgary and Northlands Park in Edmonton. In 1980, Ira found himself in California, where he trained four horses while galloping for Tim Casey. It was a terrific winter, and he was to meet and spend time with Jack Klugman, the star actor in the television series Quincy, M.E. Klugman rode the stable pony and they had great discussions while riding. Ira spent time at Santa Anita, and had the opportunity to watch great horses as John Henry, Flying Pastor and Spectacular Bid. Always an avid reader, Ira was learning much of the history of the sport of racing. In the spring of 1981, Ira returned to Alberta and worked at Conrich Thoroughbred Park. Galloping horses was excellent exercise for Ira – it kept his lungs healthy, and he did not visit a cystic fibrosis specialist for eleven years. A back injury ended his ability to gallop, with the consequence that his lungs began to rapidly lose elasticity.
Ira returned to physiotherapy, but his health continued to deteriorate. In 2002, while a patient of the Cystic Fibrosis Clinic, a decision was made to consider a double lung transplant. That fall, Ira spent several weeks in hospital, followed by two years of constant oxygen use. When another severe relapse occurred in January, 2005, requiring more weeks of hos- pitalization, Ira’s options had run out. He was put on the organ transplant list at the University of Alberta Hospital in Edmonton. Six weeks of orientation were needed before surgery could be considered, including many hours daily of physiotherapy and psychological preparation. During the orientation, Ira’s mother Cynthia moved to Edmonton as his support person and companion.
The knowledge that an organ donor must lose his or her life raised moral issues for Ira. Ultimately the gift of life is linked to another family’s loss of a loved one; that in the midst of profound grief there is hope of life for others. Ira underwent double lung transplant surgery in June. This is an extremely intrusive, high risk surgery, but after a successful convalescence, Ira returned to Maidstone. He received an anonymous letter from his donor family, then wrote one in return, and found this to be a profound experience.
Ira has joined a theater group, “The Great Pretenders”, which raises money for the community hospital. He spends time in the summer on the golf course (fresh air inspector), and at the curling rink in the winter. He will have to take anti-rejection medication for the rest of his life, and is mindful of maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Ira is a friend to many. His sunny personality and unfailing optimism are without doubt the reason that he is one of the oldest cystic fibrosis survivors in Canada. In the summer of 2006, Ira was a participant in the Organ Transplant Games. He won four medals - two gold, one silver and one bronze. Ira has trained a lot of horses, but says that galloping was his favorite part of the sport. He says that he will always be grateful for the unwavering support that he received from his clients over the years – that they contributed so much to his life, many becoming good friends. In Ira’s words, “I’ve
had so much fun”.
There is magic to Ira’s story – and a lesson for all of us. Live
your best life.
Definition: cystic fibrosis (noun); a hereditary disease char- acterized by abnormal mucus production which affects espe- cially the lungs, pancreas, and gastrointestinal tract.
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