Cda Man Says He Can Alleviate Asthma Woes

The woman’s death from asthma distressed Gene Blascyk even though he didn’t know her.

“I could’ve helped,” he said, his head drooping miserably. Her picture stared at him from the newspaper clipping he had unfolded on the table. “I won’t say I could’ve saved her, but I could’ve helped.”

Gene isn’t a medical specialist. But he has found ways to help himself over the years out of necessity and frustration at high medical bills.

His first solution was simple - he moved. He grew up in the Minnesota “allergy belt” where ragweed, pollen and radical temperatures irritated his eyes and sinuses most of the year.

He sniffed and snuffled until 1977 when he decided to check out Coeur d’Alene. He was 49 years old and experiencing his first encounter with asthma.

Gene’s allergies improved in Coeur d’Alene, but breathing problems and headaches still nagged him. He visited doctors, cut out certain foods, read self-help materials.

Finally, he connected his problem to stress.

Massage helped, but it was expensive. So Gene built devices to massage himself. He strung wooden balls on a rope to pull across his back as if he were drying with a towel. He built a rack that holds rows of rolling wooden balls to massage his feet.

He patented the devices and built enough to sell to friends, who clamored for them.

Then he looked for other ways to help himself.

In a book on reflexes, he read about the spot that opens the air passage. It’s at the base of the throat in a V in the center of the collarbone. When breathing became difficult, Gene massaged the spot and felt relief.

“I didn’t believe anything would happen, but I was amazed,” he said. “It took 30 seconds to a minute.”

Gene has used the technique for years. It’s one of those things people teach their children and close friends but otherwise keep to themselves. Until now, when breathing problems in North Idaho seem to be escalating.

“I was at the point of tears when I read about this death,” Gene said. “I just want to reach people so they know there’s something they can do. I’ll even go to someone’s house to show them how.”

Reindog

Kona the Akita dresses up occasionally, although not always enthusiastically, says Coeur d’Alene’s Mary Sanderson. He never lets Christmas go by without slipping into some reindeer antlers and a gold garland. Sometimes, he also wears a Tirolean hat - but no keg. He’s no teetotaler, however; Mary just couldn’t find a keg anywhere.

Where else are you going to find such fashion tips?

The numbers add up

Eight of Coeur d’Alene High School’s 24 seniors playing varsity football this year are the children of CHS grads and six of those players are honor students. It gets better. Patty Yates Ziegler, mother of CHS back Ben Ziegler, was a homecoming princess 30 years ago. Ben wears No. 42, the same number his dad wore when he played football for CHS.

Alumna Debbie Loftin dug up all these stats to share with alumni at tonight’s homecoming game. She’ll let anyone wearing a letterman’s jacket or sweater or class ring into the game for half-price.

But that doesn’t mean you should leave the money at home. The alumni association will have German sausage and sauerkraut for sale to raise money for an alumni courtyard on campus and for scholarships for children of alumni.

Finding fall

Why would anyone live in a place where leaves don’t turn colors in the fall? Orange, yellow and red trees take the edge off losing summer and hide the dead grass in front of so many homes. I drive down Government Way in Coeur d’Alene or ride my bike out around Fernan Lake when I need fall color.

Where are the brightest trees in your community? Map out the route to your fall treasure for Cynthia Taggart, “Close to Home,” 608 Northwest Blvd., Suite 200, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83814; send a fax to 765-7149; call 765-7128; or send e-mail to cynthiat@spokesman.com.

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Color Photo