By CRIS LEYKAUF “He broke her heart by » NEARL YEARS ago not replying,”’ said John, « they eon pen pals and Peather’s he band CONVERTING me A ae oR — , Sweethearts. Now, afler 42 © Heather married John in i ice” . years of no conlact, Richard 4954, Coincidentally “Professional investment Advice SWE ETH EARTS NEVER MET Set your sights high! The Canadian Help blind adults and children Institue Pen pals reunite 49 years later : Petersen and = Heather | Bares sit on opposite ends ofa sofa, occasionally inter- . mupting each olber as they ‘re-live old memories and ’ letters. Richard's wife and Heather’s husband sit across the room from them — grin- ning at the reunion they helped create, Richard and Heather be- came pen pals in 1948. - Richard was Living in Vic- toria at the time when 4 friend of his moved to En- gland) and oseithd in Heather's village. The friend gave Richard’s name to Heather, who was 15. - Heather sent the first letter and for two years she and Richard . wrote regularly, sometimes every week, it just seemed like we were old friends, right from the minute _we wrote each other.”’ “Tt was serlous,’’ quips - Dianne, Richard’s wife. “We wrote about every- thing we were doing and, ‘thought we'd be doing,’” “It stands for sweethearts ’ were old friends, right from “It was the first time we'd _ forever til] sometime,” said. ihe minute we wrote cach ever spoken to one anoth- ff Sharing a TERRACE, B.C. V8G 5KI MON. - THURS. # 9am-épm / FRIDAY * Fam-9pm : Richard. _ other,” said Richard, er,’ said Heather. im thi TEL: 250 635-8148 SATURDAY © Pa cpm SUN a l1am- am Spm Heather knit him a sweater He credits his wife for Since Christmas the two canner oe a ee < which he sale ue wed be being supportive, and en- couples have planned to Future * e when he P : : : on He couraging his friendship meet and four weeks ago “moved to northern Ontario. inn Fosther. P they finally did. Richard a pannh eat ® And he sent Heather a fancy = pichara’s first wife had a Dianne and their two sons [L— ' ' ' ‘ ‘ i] ' ‘ f] 1 + ‘ ' 1 ' ‘ 1 FY ‘ ‘ ' 1 t ' ’ t ‘ ’ + 5 “ iy a i said Richard, He was 17! : when he first started writing . to Heather. He used io sign. his letters, ‘“S.F-T.S.” satin pillowcase. They also exchanged phatos — pictured below. Richard planned to save money to visit Heather in England, but then his ‘mother fell. ill and be was. - forced to suddenly retum ' home to Victoria, '. Then the Korean war. broke out and Richard signed up for training and shipped out overseas in De- cember, 1950. 7 was all for voluntecr- ing. Anything that would ‘get me into trouble,” he said, Before he went to Korea. he wrote a final letter ta Heather — the last she'd get for 42 years. "Y -didn’t know what had ‘happened to Richard,’ said Heather, He didn’t tell her he had joined the army. ‘In the last letter Richard hinted to Heather that he'd : be happier if she gave upa ‘boy she had started dating. Richard married his first wife the same year. Just nine weeks’ time separated the two weddings. . In 1990 John and Heather came to Canada for a vaca- tion. Heather made an at- tempt to find Richard but he and his immediate family no longer Lived in Victoria. So they retumed to En- gland, but Heather wasn’t willing to let it drop. In the fall of 1991 she put an ad in the Victoria paper with an old picture of Richard. But that was the year Richard and Dianne, whom he married in 1986, moved to Terrace. So it wasn’t until 1992 that Richard finally received a copy of the ad from a cousin living in Vic- toria. ‘7 thought man, its 40 years since I’ve written to this girl But Dianne wouldn’t let sleeping dogs lie,” Dianne was the one who first replied to the ad, and for the next few years the two couples wrote back and forth. Richard and John tumed oul to have a lot in common — both are in the building trade. *“T think you sort of go for the same sort of guy,’” said Heather. “It just seemed like we slightly different attitude, RICHARD FETERSEN and Heather Barnes look back over old letters they wrate each other 49 years ago. The two met for the first time last month. picked Heather and John up THESE ARE the photos Richard and Heather ex- changed nearly 50 years ago. - and bad thrown away his old pictures and letters from Heather. Richard has two young sons now, and Dianne says they’ve . enjoyed teasing their father about Heather, asking him when his . girlfriend was coming to at the airport in Edmonton. They travelled together back through jasper and to Terrace, “The only thing I ever wanted to do was see Richard,’” said Heather. Then she hugged Dianne. “But I wouldn’t want it to The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, August 13, 1997 - B3 in your community - today! BC. - Yukon Division David B. Madsen, CIM To arrange an appointment in Terrace 635-2261 / In Kitimat 632-6191 Scotiabank & please call TERRACE INN % ENTERTAINMENT 4712 KEITH AVENUE Red Tab JEANS Assorted Styles "STORE HOURS YOU BE THE JUDGE CanaChildRefusethe = Doctor for Religion? “Mummie, I’m dying.” Sophie squeezed the hand of her daughter iying in the hospital bed. “Allison, you're not dying, Thirteen years of age is tao young to dle. You're just weak, Pray, darling. Pray to God and your prayers will be answered,” There was a soft knock on the door. Before Sophie had a chance to respond the young nurse glided In, wheeling in the bioed pressure equipment. Allison opened her eyes, The nurse wrapped the blood pressure pad around Allison's frail arm. At the same time, she gently pushed a thermometer in her mouth and pressed the stethoscope on her heart. A look of alarm changed the features of the nurse. The results were coming in fiom the three sources, There wasn't much time. The nurse raced from the room. Five seconds later the emergency team BY CLAIRE BERNSTEIN BASED ON ACTUAL COURT CASES tumbled out straight into the hospital's medical administrator's office. “Mr. Hartford,” sald the senior resl- dent. -“You've got to go to court to get tem- porary custody of the 13-year old patient In Room 303, As long as she is in her moth- er's custody she will not get the treatment she needs, and she will dia. “I'm calling the hospital jawyer. Come, ae we'll all jola him In court.” med In court, the medical team sat tensaly 2 pe as the Children's Aid lawyer argued. “Your Honour, Allison's condition has worsened considerably lately. She will die without these blood products. There are no other ta Sald T'd give him ap it visit. be any other way.’ ran Into Allison's room, The two attendants treatment alternatives. She will nét get ‘ wanted me 7 i in is bip- $ room, s es. ' Richard really wa m Last Christmas John sur Now the friendship is big with them were pushing a stretcher on treatment as long as she |s in her mother's . to. 4 back prised both Heather and ger than , Heather and wheels. custody, Please give us temporary custody i But she never heard back Richard by amanging a Richard, It’s grown to in- “Mrs, Mason, Allison Is in a lifethrea- of her so that we can prevent the loss of a from him. - phone call clude their families. tening situation. Her condition has wor- young life." 0 a sened considerably, She neads a bone mar Allison's mother argued with cenvic- t : row transplant and a blood transfusion, We tion: “Your Honour, Allison said she ' must do It immediately.” doesn’t want the treatment. Furthermore, 5 An attendant started to transfer Alison as her primary care-giver, and a Jahovah's : from her bed when Sophie shoved him Witness, | don't want her to have the trans- : aside, fusion elther. By giving the Society and “You can't. It's against our retigion. Hospital temporary custody of Allison you ai AL CE We're Jehovah's Witnesses. Tell him, are Interfering with my rights as a parent to AUGUST 1997 AUGUST 1997 Allison.” make decisions for my child and Interfering a me, Tes : ars Allison could barely ralsa her volce. with our-fraedom of religion. _ SUHIDAY MONDAY TUESDAY ME EONESDE FHUREDS FRIDAY = "No, } will not have this treatment. God will Should the Hospital and the Scclety be take care of me.” given temporary custody of Allison? 3 Bheens Canadian 2 The medical team rushed out, jammed You Be the Judge, Then Look Below for Junior Paraplegic Totem eT into the elevator, pushed the top button and the Decision: Tia CBee | CRALY Secondary Nisga’a Tribal | Sctiool Councl Ter. Skating Cub @ TOONEY &£ SPONSORED BY ott & G R 'T 2 : SUNDAYS AT E Eq - 3 Skeena 4 5 6 Terrace 7 se ) Terrace : GIGI’S aw Ce a wuior | Torso | Kerade |“ Conmutty | Teroe [_gagsines | vaso |] MM iciontah OM o> LAWYERS _ Seconday oe roe Volunteer atte Theat Nisga'a Tribal |__Kinette Club _| acy Bam with the bes cance musttin ‘ ca ureau fer, Anti Councl =f Ter, Skating Club : 7 1 Y —_ A “Helping People Cope with the Legal System” 10 thorn 1 12 13 140 1 — 1Gonci» #2 4623 Lakelse Ave Terrace, B.C. Junior errace Kermode Terrace Purple poke Asse._[-— San — : 7 a ® Criminal Law Secondary Minor Friendship Blueback Tert. Paaka Nisga'a Tribal | Royal Canadian « Divorce & Family L School { Baseball Society Swim Club] Gymnastics Club] Council Logon #13 With the * © Child Custody ly Law Knights Jazz Poachers 9 * Personal Injur 1 Toweconia 18 19 20 . 21 race 22 cain 23 of Columbus x at Augies. * Adoptions y Senior Terrace Canadian | Terrace/Kitimat } Ringette ‘ 3 ee Mee The bast Jazz i town. | ; . Ls i, — mpaired Driving Secondary Minor Paraplegic {Shrine Club#18 Nisga’a Tribal | payeare Society | ; . . Schoo! | Hockay Ter, Anti-Poverty, Council | Tix. Hospice Society : * Immigration : og * Wrongful Dismissal Terrace Tarraca if 7 « 24 csiedonia |2O 26 A pion Vai lvieomal Vc eroda Ke,U aceon | a * Small Claim * Senior Terrace Kermoda | Gymnastic Club | Softball Assao._ Assocation 1 Tears Hint Hockey | * ; Sesoriay Minor Friendship seas Vout me Terrace Youth Tore i. ‘in ~ . 638-L76 4 ne Hockey Society xo Department overty Ambassador Society] Seach A. Rese ri oii g wk » CO Fax 638-7249 ae Sat. Afternoon Games Doors 11:30am. Games 12:45 k — = Evening Games Doors 4:30 p.m. Games 6:15 x | yee ae tao tovrtaatd nat twee the court's responsibility to protect the children : Thurs., Fri, Sat. Late NightGames Doors9:30p.m. Games 10:00 p.m. - The best way to protect Allison In this case was to give temporary custody to tha Children's _ |Family Bingo Every Saturday Afternoon Last Wednesday of the month ls DOUBLE BINGO Aid Society for two weeks to ensure tha proper treatment of Allison's condition, ; r te TW, MONITORS SMOKE REMOVAL AISLE CONCESSION . For More: Inforti * fou BE THE 4uDGE is bated on actual bourt cases, Today a decision is based on the facts ol the case i the ve : u ‘ 0 jaw of tha province of Onte have asl ) ple ault LINDSEY & GRI Ch ate s ’ 4410 Leglon, Terrace ‘ 635-2414 : 635-0083 on Montreal lawyer and symditated Chums, Conyright 1997 Falke Enterprises. B10-128V © " m ‘