It isn't very often that you get to meet a real heroine or hero. I'm not talking about the ones who are famous, but the real ones, the selfless individuals who make a difference in this world, without much of the world taking notice. Even more amazing, is that most of them don't even realize the status they have achieved, and the significance of their achievements. Many of them would be embarrassed to be recognized publicly.

Unaware, I was about to meet a genuine heroine, I was unprepared for the adventure to come. I was just excited, we were taking a rare three day trip from Chacahoula, Louisiana to Carville, Louisiana. I didn't know where that was, and didn't care where that was. I didn't know why we were going, and didn't care why we were going. I just knew we were going to have an adventure. Preparations and discussions of this trip had been in the making for weeks. Some of these provisions, weren't part of the usual packing and preparations, one would normally think of for a family business trip.

To begin with, there was a high level of fabric selection discussions and considerable marital talk revolving around the proper style of dress to be made for me, and how it must compliment the one that my Grandmere intended to wear. This was unusual, only in the fact that Emile normally showed no interest in what his women folk wore.

My nine year old big ears kept overhearing, "We wouldn't want to be embarrassed in front of the sister. Jerilee needs to be in a proper dress." This of course, led me to wonder, how it could be that one of them would have a sister, that I didn't know, and was expected to impress?

In the end, Hirma selected a white cotton print, scattered with small blue strawberries, to be made in a pattern of shirt-dress, typical of the 1950s. Although a pretty pattern, there was a huge discussion in Cadien over the fact that strawberries are not blue. He relented on the fabric choice, and she in turn had his favorite meal on the table shortly after.

Along with our suitcases, we packed some odd provisions for this trip. Emile had built a number of wooden crate cages and placed a large number of armadillos that he had been trapping for weeks. Additionally, he had half the bed of the pick-up filled with mangrove bark. Meanwhile, Grandmere had been baking cakes for days.

I was giddy with anticipation of a big feast, because as any Cajun girl knows from those times, armadillos are sometimes food. With over fifty of the mammals in the cages -- my tender aged mind was filled with the possibilities of lots of new people to meet, and a very big party. Maybe, Grandpere was going to use the mangrove bark, as some sort of firewood for a barbecue.

However, I could not understand the several pairs each of white gloves that Grandmere had insisted on bring for both her and I. She even packed several pairs of gloves for Emile. All of my questions went unanswered and various excuses as to why they could not answer my questions were given. This was a mystery, and I loved mysteries.

Today, I laugh at the memory of packing for that adventure and all the things that trip turned out to be, and all that it wasn't. While it was an adventure, traveling with over fifty armadillos -- the grand party and exciting people I expected to meet, weren't exactly what I expected.

We traveled to the Louisiana Leper Home-- to deliver an order of armadillos to Sister Hiliary Ross. They weren't to be cooked for a feast, they were to be subjects of study in her research, in looking for a cure of leprosy. You see, armadillos can get leprosy.

The mangrove bark was another part of the order, as it was being used to combat the nausea another medication caused, and being investigated for it's own potential in treating Hansen's disease. No barbecue there.

I got to get all dressed up to meet Sister Hiliary, who had ordered the armadillos and mangrove bark. My pretty white gloves were worn to serve cakes to the patients. Hirma had baked one small cake for each patient. I didn't pout, but my childhood disappointment was beneath my polite smiles.

I was too young to know the importance of Sister Hiliary's work and too stunned to say a word to her. The appearance of the patients was equally shocking to me. Until that day, I never knew how cruel disease and illness can be. It was a very good childhood lesson.

On the way back from the trip, my great-grandparents told me all they knew about leprosy, and the research this nun did. Ashamed that I had selfishly been disappointed in the lack of a party, I cried and cried. Then, I cried some more, because we couldn't turn around and go back, so I could ask Sister Hiliary questions Emile and Hirma couldn't answer.

Leprosy still is a problem in many countries today, over 2 million people get it every year and there is still no real cure. It may come as a shock to some people today in America, as we have about 7,000 cases. The Louisiana Leper Home, was closed and moved to Baton Rouge in more recent years.

Born in 1893, Sister Hiliary Ross was the daughter of Scandinavian immigrants, growing up near San Francisco and Berkeley. As a young girl she converted to becoming Catholic against her family's wishes. She joined the Daughters of Charity, and began her education as a nun, originally studying nursing.

Due to a medical mistake during surgery on her face that resulted in paralysis and disfigurement, she later switched to pharmaceutical medicine. Later, she added additional studies in laboratory courses and medical courses. During these studies, she became interested research on Hansen's Disease.

Sister Hiliary Ross both helped with the research that finally led to controlling the disease with sulfone and Promin drugs, and with battling the extreme prejudices towards those unfortunate souls who had contracted the disease. Much of her published research and tireless record keeping, helped to bring this disease out from behind the stigma that patients endured for centuries. Years later when her work was applauded and honored, she was embarrassed by all of the applause.

It seems to me, that the world needs more Sister Hiliarys, less celebrity stars.

Hansen's Disease, better known as leprosy, is an infectious disease caused by the bacterium, Mycobacterium leprae. It is important to understand that 90% of the world's population is immune to this disease.

There are three types of leprosy:

• Lepromatous -- The most common type, attacks the skin first and the major nerves later, resulting in sensory loss.
• Tuberculoid -- More common in Africa and Asia, attacks predominant in less severe lesions, but invades and destroys the peripheral nerves of the arms and legs. It also results in sensory loss.
• Dimorphous -- Resembles both and could develop in to either of the other two forms over time

The complications from this terrible disease, if left untreated ultimately lead to severely limiting the patients ability to function and dramatically alters their physical appearance. They can become blind if it attacks the eye. They can lose muscle control, resulting in claw like hands. They can have paralysis of limbs. This is an extremely painful disease, yet at the same time the patients lose the ability to feel injury, resulting in infections and gangrene. The worst problem of all is the isolation that they must endure for the rest of their lives.

Note: Also, n the past, patients with other diseases that manifested in skin lesions, such as psoriasis, were thrown into leper colonies and shunned from society.

Cajuns have had a close association with armadillos, since they were introduced to this country. In leaner times, they were a food source, especially during the Depression. They do not carry or have the disease of leprosy naturally. Some families still eat an occasional armadillo. Here are some basic facts about armadillos and a recipe from Hirma's old recipe box.

Armadillos are strange looking prehistoric like animals, that are actually mammals. They have a suit of armour like shell, that has horny scales. The joints in these shells are flexible, which lets the animal bend and twist. Only their ears and belly are unguarded by this suit of protection.

Additionally, they have around 30 peg like teeth that are all found in rows, in the back of their mouths and no front teeth. While not blind, they don't have very good eyesight. While not deaf, they can't hear very well either. Their saving sense however, is that they have a keen sense of smell.

Surprisingly, as funny as they look, they are very agile and fast runners. They also can swim quite well. Even more fascinating, is that they can walk underwater across small streams and for short distances.

Armadillos are the most common fatality on the highway. This is largely because they are often difficult to see along the highway. Also, the armadillo's natural instinct when threatened or endangered, is to jump upwards. While this unexpected response may be effective in dodging a predator, it doesn't work well with cars or trucks. Nor, does this technique work for attacking dogs or coyotes, who aren't easily fooled.

Armadillos are seldom infested with parasites compared to other animals, like the raccoon and opossum. There has never been a case of rabies found in armadillo. Armadillos do not get leprosy in nature.

This beneficial animal is partly a friend of the homeowner and gardener, although few may see it that way, because of their feeding habits. Looking for insects in the soil, armadillos dig holes all over golf courses, lawns, flowerbeds, and gardens. Homeowners and business owners are not always thrilled to have them as visiting guests.

Because this behavior means uprooted flowers and other plants, as well as structural damage to driveways, sidewalks, and patios -- most people aren't thrilled to find evidence of them in their yard. Cattlemen are even less pleased as burrows in pastures can mean broken or injured legs in valuable livestock.

There are several methods of controlling armadillos, among these are:

• Reducing watering and fertilizing your lawn -- The same lush landscape you enjoy is also a welcome home for earthworms and insect larvae. Armadillos love both. Sometimes, just watering an area away from your garden areas will move them to another less offensive site.
• Creating barriers and fences -- Short and small fences two feet above ground and the bottoms buried 1 1/2 feet below ground, that is slanted outward will deter armadillos. They won't climb over them and can't dig that deep under them.
• Live trapping -- Live trapping sometimes works by placing them near the entrance of an active armadillo burrow. This can easily and inexpensively be done by use of a 6 inch diameter PVC pipe placed into the burrow entrance, covered by a nylon throw net for fishing, that is staked beyond the burrow entrance. Armadillos will get tangled in the net and stuck in the pipe when they emerge. This needs to be done in the very late afternoon due to the animals being nocturnal. Then, the trap needs to be checked several hours after darkness. Caution: Before using this method, remember in some states it is illegal to relocate problem animals, so transporting them and releasing them may not be an option.
• Filling the holes with a mixture of dirt and mothballs -- By doing this consistently, you will discourage them from returning.
• Laying chicken wire -- Laying chicken wire along a patio, driveway, sidewalk, or house foundation will also discourage them from burrowing.
• Shooting -- In some areas where it is legal to shoot them, the use of a small caliber rifle or shotgun with BB-sized shot is done. Ranchers often use this method. This is not a recommended method.

Note: Poison baits are illegal and ineffective.

In the early years of treating leprosy, the only medication that had any success was an ancient Chinese remedy from the fruit of the chaulmoogra tree. However, this had severe side effects causing extreme nausea, painful abscesses, and required painful injections. Orally, this medicine tasted terrible and had the same nausea and abscesses.

From the mangrove tree, an alternative medicine was experimented with, proving to be both beneficial with eliminating the nausea, when used with the chaulmoogra oil injections. It also seemed to have some success with leprosy itself. Part of our visit with Sister Hilliary Ross was for her to interview Emile on folk medicine cures made from mangrove tree bark.

Many of the simple old time folk remedies presented here are for your entertainment and general knowledge. I make no guarantee as to either their effectiveness, or their safety. Consult your physician before deciding, if these remedies or any other such treatments are right for you.