One man’s experience with the H1N1 virus

A local man who wanted to remain anonymous recently described his experience with the H1N1 Swine Flu Virus that has affected a number of residents of Bamberg County.

“This virus affected all of the joints in my body and mind,” he said.

He stated that some of the affect of the virus that he experienced included but were not limited to the following; loss of interest in things that he commonly enjoyed doing each day like walking, exercising and doing chores around the house. “I had no enthusiasm to do anything.”

He stated that he experienced intense headaches that last for 15 or 20 minute periods at a time, blackouts, watery eyes, confusion, problems with the digestive system and loss of appetite. He noted that he lost 30 pounds during the time he had the virus. "It's serious, it’s not the type of thing to play with. This is one of the worst viruses that you could imagine.”

He credits his local physician and the medications that he was prescribed for literally saving his life. He stated that he took his medicines as prescribed by his physician, and for three days he was “totally incapacitated from the world.” “I couldn’t go shopping; I couldn’t get gas or do anything on my own. My thinking was totally rearranged and I could see and yet I couldn’t see,” he said.

He noted that the strange thing about this virus is that while one person may come down with the virus someone else in the house may not be affected. Taking the prescribed medication three times per day and rest were the two things that helped him to overcome the virus.

Harrison Hosts

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

The Jim Harrison Gallery in Denmark filled rapidly as well-wishers met and honored Congressman Gresham Barrett, a Republican candidate for SC Governor, at a reception hosted by Jim Harrison and Kay and Ronny Maxwell Monday, Aug. 31.

“For you folks coming out tonight to listen to an old politician, I greatly appreciate it,” Barrett told the several dozen attending the catered reception.

Currently, Gresham is serving his fourth term in the U.S. House of Representatives where he maintains his commitment to encouraging economic growth through lower taxes, ensuring our nations security through a strong military, securing our border, defending the rights of the unborn, and protecting individual freedoms. For the 111th Congress, Gresham Barrett serves on the Financial Services Committee, the Committee on Foreign Affairs, and the House Ethics Committee.

Swamp Dogs

Nancy C. Hiers, Contributing Writer

When black leather and the American Red Cross team up good things follow. Bulldog Cycles of Olar and the Swamp Dogs Motorcycle Club sponsored their 9th annual bike run Saturday, August 29th to benefit the Bamberg County Chapter of the American Red Cross in the Toys for Tots and Teens drive.

Pappy Lucero, a 47 year veteran biker, holds this cause dear to his heart. He fondly remembers his first bicycle, given to him for Christmas when he was eleven, and the special feeling he had when he received it. Now he works with his fellow Swamp Dogs to pass that feeling on to other children, one bicycle at a time.

For more information or to donate, call Bulldog Cycles toll free at 1-877-368-8199, or the Bamberg Red Cross at 245-6124.

ARRA Grant

SouthernCarolina Alliance has been selected to receive a $1.2 million Economic Development Administration (EDA) grant to make rail infrastructure improvements at the South Carolina Advanced Technology Park. The project, made possible because of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (ARRA), is expected to create additional jobs and private investment in the region.

According to Danny Black, President and CEO of SouthernCarolina Alliance, “This grant will be used to make rail improvements needed for incoming industrial projects,” said Black. “These projects will create jobs here at the S.C. Advanced Technology Park now and in the years to come.”

Friends of the Library

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

Friends of the Bamberg County Library presented a donation of $7,500 on Wednesday, September 2 to the library.

The check was presented to library Manager Jennifer Naimzadeh by Minnie Miller, Friends book sale chair.

“The $7,500 we’re donating to the library will be used to purchase books for both the Bamberg and Denmark branches. The money was raised through the quarterly book sales the library has been having since the Friends of the Library was formed,” said Miller.

United Way 2-1-1

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

As part of the South Carolina emergency information system, United Way has announced that the SC 2-1-1 has been fully activated in all areas of the state to take calls about H1N1. All three call centers have beefed up their staff and volunteers to be ready for what will surely be a steady increase in calls as news of the pandemic spreads. The United Way 2-1-1 system will provide non-emergency information relating to the swine influenza.

Bamberg, Colleton and Hampton County Emergency Preparedness and DHEC offices encourage the public to dial this toll free number for current information and recommendations about the Swine (H1N1) Flu situation.

E.A.R.S.

Jerry Durgan, Contributing Writer

Public health preparedness for bioterrorism, epidemics and other public health threats and emergencies involves all areas of the Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC).

Amateur Radio operators work in conjunction with DHEC and the SC Emergency preparedness as backup communications.

Healthcare Emergency Amateur Radio Team (HEART) is an initiative to establish amateur radio systems within hospitals in South Carolina and support the systems with a network of “repeaters” that amplify communications signals.

The repeaters are linked together using the ETV microwave network as a communications backbone. ETV owns and maintains this emergency communications network for the benefit of the SCHEART initiative.