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@SHillsAlmanac Our 48th Year
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October 2, 2013
A boy and his dog Canine provides companionship to Leckenby By Allison Duratz Staff writer allisond@thealmanac.net
When Joseph Leckenby dropped his pencil on the living room floor in his comfortable Mt. Lebanon home, immediately, Inga fetched the item. But, Inga is not your ordinary Labrador retriever and Leckenby is not your average 14-year-old high school freshman. Leckenby has cerebral palsy and Inga is his canine companion. Dogs, like Inga, help people, like Leckenby, who have physical, cognitive and developmental disabilties, live a more independent life. Because of Inga, Leckenby does live a normal life. He attends Bishop Canevin. He rides horses, works out at the gym, and plays Wii. He even has played hockey and it was there, at a rink in Ohio, that he and his parents, Julie and Kim,
ALLISON DURATZ/STAFF
Joseph Leckenby, 14, with his skilled companion dog, Inga.
learned about Canine Companions for Independence. The organization is the largest nonprofit provider of highly trained assis-
tance dogs. Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Santa Rosa, Calif., Canine Companions trains four types
of dogs—service, hearing, facility and skilled. The organization also provides injured veterans with service dogs. The group accepts only a limited number of applicants each year. Selection is based on need. While getting approved isn’t difficult, the process is daunting. It begins with an interview where a candidate’s needs are assessed. “They met Joe and got to know him,” said Mrs. Leckenby. After being placed on a waiting list for two years, Joseph met Inga and in August, 2010, she came to live with the Leckenby family. “It was something I had wanted for Joseph,” Mrs. Leckenby said. Because Canine Companions wants dogs and their disabled friends to partner well together, they specifically select labs and goldens or a cross between the two for breeding. They SEE CANINE PAGE A2
ALLISON DURATZ/STAFF
Inga, a Canine Companion, helps Joseph Leckenby lead a more independent life.
Fundraiser helps to raise awareness of rare disease By Deana Carpenter Staff writer dcarpenter@thealmanac.net
Tom Breiding will be featured at a rally for coal miners at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 4 at Moondog’s in Blawnox.
Coal Miners’ minstrel Breiding brings message to his music By Terri Johnson Staff writer tjohnson@thealmanac.net
Tom Breiding never worked in a coal mine. None of his relatives ever entered mines either. Yet, Breiding of Peters Township has a passion for the plight of the coal miner, a passion he conveys through music. Breiding’s background is as an educator and, in a sense, through his songs, he is teaching that changes are happening for the union workers and retirees, particularly when it comes to health care coverage. He recently released “Fairness at Patriot.” The CD includes original songs written and performed by Breiding. His son, Jack, is highlighted on drums for the featured piece “River Rails or Road.” The song
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In concert Featuring: Tom Breiding of McMurray What: Fairness at Patriot Rally When: Oct. 4 Time: 7:30 p.m. Where: Moondog’s in Blawnox Address: 378 Freeport Road Admission: Free
has become the theme song for the fight for health care for union workers through Patriot Coal. When he met a United Mine Workers of America official at a rally, Breiding became involved in the movement. The fight began when officials from Peabody and Arch coal companies formed the corporation Patriot Coal in 2007, an ac-
Dragon boating
Women pursue life with newfound passion. Page B1 ©2013 Observer Publishing Company
tion, Breiding said, that occurred behind the boardroom doors. At that time, Patriot Coal encompassed 22,000 union miners, of which 18,000 were retirees. In 2011, Breiding said Patriot Coal went bankrupt and eliminated health care and pensions. He called the bankruptcy “a scheme to shed responsibility.” Even through Breiding and none of his family were miners, the native of Wheeling saw the effect of coal while growing up. Many of his friends and their families were involved in the mining business. Raising awareness of the coal miners’ plight now plays a huge part in his life. In fact, he flew to St. Louis late Sept. 23 to perform in a rally the following day. St. Louis is the headquarters of Peabody Energy, SEE MINSTREL PAGE A3
“It came out of nowhere.” That’s what Kathy Esposito of Venetia said of the disease that took her husband’s life one year ago. That illness was Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease. CJD is a rare and rapidly progressing neurodegenerative brain disorder. Patients in the early stages of the disease may exhibit failing memory, behavior changes, impaired coordination and or/visual disturbances. As the illness progresses, mental deterioration becomes more pronounced and involuntary movements, blindness, weakness of extremities and even coma may occur. There are three types of CJD: familial, acquired and sporadic. Sporadic is the most common form; affecting 85 percent of CJD patients. Sporadic CJD usually occurs later in life and typically leads to death within a few weeks or months following the onset of symptoms. In less than two months, Bobby Esposito, a fit 47-yearold surrendered to the illness. He had sporadic CJD. According to the Centers for Disease Control, sporadic CJD is caused by the spontaneous transformation of normal prion proteins into abnormal ones. CJD occurs worldwide including in the United States at a rate of approximately one case per 1 million per year, according to the CDC. In the most recent five-year period, the United States has reported between 279 and 352 cases. Bobby became one of those cases. In July 2012, Bobby began experiencing
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Bobby Esposito
Espo’s hope What: Fundraiser for CJD When: 6:30 p.m. Oct. 26 Where: Georgetowne Center, Pleasant Hills Cost: $35 Order tickets: www. esposhope.webs.com
symptoms similar to a middle ear infection. However, that was ruled out because the symptoms progressed rapidly. Within seven weeks Bobby was dead. “He was never sick a day in his life. He was very active and physically fit. He ate healthy and worked out,” Kathy said. “I thought, ‘Where did this come from?’” She added, “I felt like I went from being on top of the world to being at rock bottom.” Twelve years ago, Bobby became Kathy’s world. Bobby and Kathy met while they both worked for U.S. Airways. He was from Brookline; she from Castle Shannon. She told her best friend, Karen Sinopoli, ‘I’m going to marry that guy.’ And, she did with Sinopoli
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by her side as maid of honor. The Espositos were married for 12 years. They built their dream house on a few acres in Peters Township. “We were inseparable,” Kathy said. They traveled to exotic places like Aruba and Hawaii. “He was, no doubt, the life of the party,” said an emotional Kathy. “He had a heart bigger than most people’s and his smile was contagious and he always found the good in people.” Today, people will find the good in Bobby. On Oct. 26, Kathy and her friends, including Sinopoli are hosting a fundraising event in Bobby’s name. “Espo’s Night of Hope” begins at 6:30 p.m. at the Georgetown Centre in Pleasant Hills. Proceeds will go toward a research grant to help find a cause and cure for the disease. It is also to raise awareness about the sickness, because people, including Bobby, often don’t know they have the disease until they go through a battery of tests. By then they could be dead, as Bobby was shortly after his diagnosis. “I feel like we lost so much control,” Kathy said. While drinking his favorite mint chocolate milkshake Kathy assured Bobby he was going to be okay although he was being transferred to another hospital. “I told him, your dad’s going to ride in the ambulance with you and we’ll meet you there,” she said. By the time Bobby reached the hospital he had lost the ability to talk or communicate in any way. “I never left his side. I stayed with him 24/7,” Kathy said. “It was very hard when he lost his ability to talk,” she added.
SEE DISEASE PAGE A3
Audible actions
South Fayette’s talk all on the field. Page C1