Two stories ran by the Eagle in 2014 surpassed expectations in online traction on our website.
The first ran May 8, “Lyme disease on the rise; diagnosis remains medical grey area” and the second ran Dec. 18, “Bill C-442 leaves Lyme sufferers hopeful for change”.
Combined, the Lyme stories were viewed 4,400 times on the Eagle’s website, cochraneeagle.com (this does not account for physical copy views or social media; the stories saw major traction on the Eagle’s Facebook page).
It would appear that the subject of Lyme disease is a contentious one in Canada — in North America — with the Western medical community largely in opposition to the research and data presented by the Lyme community (sufferers and researchers).
Lyme disease, caused by the bacteria on or in ticks, is largely believed to be on the rise in North America and is spread by migratory birds; CLD (chronic Lyme disease) is what the Lyme community stresses that the illness turns into following misdiagnosis.
Once Lyme becomes chronic, the community asserts that it can only be treated adequately with long-term antibiotic treatment (opposed by the medical community) and even then, it’s possible that those with CLD may never rid themselves of the terrible illness.
The Centre for Disease Control (in the U.S.) has around 30,000 cases of Lyme disease and now estimates that this is only one-tenth of the actual American Lyme sufferers.
The Eagle interviewed one local who battles chronic Lyme disease (CLD), 37-year-old Jimmy Richards, and one former local living with CLD, 20-year-old Connor Ware; both live with very serious, yet different, symptoms — including mobility impairment, vision issues, light sensitivity, brain fog, chronic headaches and fatigue and vertigo.
The Eagle also interviewed the Chief Medical Officer of Alberta, Dr. James Talbot, who maintains that ‘there are no known cases of Lyme disease contracted within the province (that all reported cases had, in fact, travelled to areas in North American known to have higher instances of Lyme).
Of all the sufferers the Eagle interviewed, including naturopathic doctors, Jim Wilson of CanLyme and PhD student researcher Janet Sperling, (whose son battled Lyme) the consensus was that the medical community had failed them — ignored them and misdiagnosed them.
The hope expressed by members of the Lyme community is that since the first piece of Green Party legislation has been passed, Bill C-442, the medical community would begin to open up to the Lyme community’s research and the two sides would begin to work together to develop a Lyme disease framework to improve testing, treatment and improve the quality of life for Lyme sufferers and their families.
One of Canada’s most beloved satirists, Rick Mercer, made his mark with some 739 views on cochraneeagle.com when the Eagle ran “Rick Mercer Report films in Bragg Creek” Feb. 20.
This number only accounts for views on our website, not our Facebook or Twitter accounts or physical views.
The Eagle put a call in to Rick Mercer, only to receive a call back from the famed, funny roaster of politicians within five minutes.
Mercer took his favourite co-host along with him to the nearby hamlet — Grammy-wielding artist and proud Calgarian Jann Arden — taking her up on her advice to dine on deep-fried dill pickles at the PowderHorn Saloon (which he ‘enjoyed very much’) and visit the miniature donkeys and discuss ‘Dogs With No Names’ with Dr. Judith Samson-French at the Banded Peak Veterinary Hospital.
Dogs With No Names is an innovative project seeking to reduce the population of feral and semi-feral dogs in First Nations communities through the non-surgical administration of a contraceptive implant in female dogs.
Mercer enjoyed feeding the miniature donkeys.
“They were different than any other donkeys I’ve ever dealt with,” said Mercer, noting the small stature of the small animals with large appetites. “I think donkeys are always hungry and that’s the problem with them.”
Benjamin Laslo, a 26-year-old Cochrane man, stirred up some trouble with Cochrane and Calgary police Aug. 17 during an incident that resulted in him being charged with two counts of ‘carrying a weapon for a purpose dangerous the public peace’.
Eagle reporters and photographer worked together to follow the event, which began around 5 p.m. near Mitford Park when Laslo, reported to be carrying a longbow (later identified as a crossbow) and a firearm (which was never confirmed) refused to put down his weapons when instructed by local RCMP.
The incident escalated, where Cochrane residents living in West Valley were advised to stay indoors as local RCMP were assisted by Calgary members and a HAWCS helicopter was deployed, working together to locate Laslo.
The man, who eventually barricaded himself inside his home on Quigley Drive, surrendered to officers around 9:45 p.m. with no further incident.
This was an example when social media was advantageous in keeping our readers posted with updates and the most accurate information possible.
