Indian Time - A Voice from the Eastern Door

Living a life dominated by searing pain is not the life that our loving mother, sister, aunt and lifelong friend, Sheila Ransom had anticipated. Being diagnosed with Trigeminal Neuralgia (also known as the Suicide Disease, due to the excruciating pain one endures) has been a very problematic, not only with enduring the pain but with everyday living.

Trigeminal neuralgia is a chronic pain condition that affects the trigeminal nerve, which carries sensation from your face to your brain. If you have trigeminal neuralgia, even mild stimulation of your face — such as from brushing your teeth or putting on makeup — may trigger a jolt of excruciating pain.

Thirty-eight years ago a tumor that was affecting the trigeminal nerve was partially removed. The past eight years Sheila has been suffering pain since the tumor came back, this time being positioned on the stem of her brain resulting in extensive nerve damage.

Alternative procedures have been attempted to alleviate this pain but have proved unsuccessful. She is currently employed at the Tribal Gaming Commission and has been forced to take unpaid medical leave to deal with these medical issues. This has required extensive traveling to Ottawa, Watertown, Syracuse and other cities sometimes on a weekly basis to consult with a multitude of doctors and health professionals. She has been able to return to work intermittently from medical leave, but we are unsure whether this latest round of surgery will allow her to continue working. She is scheduled to undergo a craniotomy, which is a delicate and high risk surgical procedure undertaken to alleviate this debilitating pain. This surgery is scheduled on May 17 at Upstate University Medical Hospital in Syracuse, NY.

Sheila has resided in Akwesasne all of her life and in the last 15 years has become celebrated Mohawk basketmaker. Sheila is truly a gifted artist and has demonstrated her basketmaking skills at the Smithsonian Institution in Washington D.C., for the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, Maine, and she has annually represented the basketmakers of Akwesasne (except when her health issues wouldn’t allow her to) at the Syracuse State Fair displaying her and other Mohawk artists’ baskets at the Indian Village. Last year Sister Kateri presented President Barack Obama with one of Sheila’s baskets. Her latest work of art is the basket she crafted that will be presented to the Pope in Rome, Italy at the canonization of our beloved Kateri Tekakwitha.

Sheila has many friends and family. They are all helping with this fundraising effort. If you have contributed, thank you very much. We were inspired to contribute to this article because of the outpouring of inquiries on how she is doing and what people could do to help. We hope this article will provide an avenue for you to do just that. Sheila is overwhelmed with the generosity of the Community and we believe this is truly contributing to her improved energy, determination and optimism to face these personal challenges. Here is an update on our fundraising efforts.

Most of you have heard of the upcoming Oscar Night Benefit Trivia “Extravaganza” at the Brasshorse Lounge-Pizzeria on the evening of May 18 beginning at 6:00 with a benefit dance to follow. Danielle Oakes will be our Trivia Quizmaster, Dale White will be our Trivia Night Emcee and Roger Mitchell and the River Mohawks will provide the entertainment for the benefit dance. We will also have a Mohawk Auction table with many items donated from our caring community as well as other prizes. We are encouraging our contestants to come dressed as a favorite movie character or casts, or simply to dress up, but of course, this is not required.

Advance sale raffle ticket are being sold throughout the community for three fabulous prizes--46” Samsung LED HDTV; a two night Weekend stay in Ottawa with gift certificate for the Baton Rouge Restaurant; and a 3 Gen Apple iPad. Winners will be drawn after the trivia event of May 18 and winners do not need to be present.

A benefit fish fry luncheon will be held on May 18, with fresh perch, salt potatoes, cole slaw, macaroni salad, a dessert and a drink all for $10.00 at the Brasshorse (eat in, takeout and delivery available) beginning at 11:00 a.m. and will continue until sold out. Additional information on these fundraisers are being publicized and there is also information on Facebook. If you do have additional questions, you can contact any of the benefit team members listed below.

If you would like to donate an item or monetary contribution to Sheila, an account has been established. You can do so by contacting any of the following:

Nanci Ransom: 315-705-7523

Gail, Rikki and Delia McDonald: 613-575-1421

Marilyn White: 315-705-5691

Lorene Jackson: 613-575-1102

Debbie Cook-Jacobs: 518-358-9531

Amber McDonald: 518-651-4258

Joni Mitchell: 613-575-2081

Sarah Sunday Diabo: 613-575-1909

Charlene Thomas: 613-575-2887