THE COMMUNITY PAPER OF NIAGARA COLLEGE FREE November 5, 2010 Vol 41 • Issue 4 1945: Never forget On display in the cargo section of Stefan Wieclawek’s 1944 truck, this 1945 photo showcases a victory scene from Bergen op Zoom in Holland. Local Photo by Sam Cino Remembrance Day Services WELLAND Nov. 7 1 p.m. parade on First Avenue 1:45 p.m. service at Chippawa Park Nov. 11 10:30 a.m. service at Legion Branch 4 at 383 Morningstar Ave. FORT ERIE Nov. 11 1:30 p.m. parade at Legion on Garrison Road 2 p.m. service at Mather Arch PORT COLBORNE Veterans recall their military service Nov. 11 By SAM CINO For Stefan Wieclawek, 63, them who has. Of the volunteers Cyprus, being in the group of 10:45 a.m. service at Staff Writer Doug Reece, David MacMaster, who shared their experiences, soldiers deployed there before H.H. Knoll Lakeview “Please save for me some gallant- Derek Virgoe, Terry McMillan, Wieclawek was a gunner in the Virgoe’s arrival. Park ry that will echo when I’m gone.” Brian Doucet, Paul Safari, Paul Royal Canadian Artillery and is He was involved in a riot in These words, sung by music artist Gillis, Duncan Lyon, Ed Wand, retired, but still teaches the cadets which a large rock was thrown at Corb Lund in his song I Wanna be and Matthew Dol, 24, being part at Ridley College in St. Catharines. him, striking him in the face. The in the Cavalry, pay tribute to those of the Lincoln and Welland Regi- Reece gained employment with medic dragged him into a nearby NIAGARA FALLS lost among the horrors of war. mental Museum (LWRM) and the the Ministry of Transportation home where the family was hav- A few local veterans and civil- Niagara Military Vehicle Associa- (MTO) and recently retired. ing dinner, tossed him onto the Nov. 7 ians continue to pay homage to tion (NMVA), they consider the Virgoe served part of his mili- dinner table to stitch him up, then 9:30 a.m. service at those who have perished, by main- opportunity an honour. tary career in Cyprus during the told him to “get his ass back on Christ Church taining the service vehicles that The majority of these men peacekeeping action in the 1980s the line.” carried those men and women into served — or are serving — in the and works for the MTO too. battle. military or know someone close to McMillan served overseas in Continued on page 3 Volunteers Women’s Canadian actor Inside canvas the basketball Colin Mochrie community for dominates in visits Niagara Niagara food» fi rst game» College » Welland food drive volunteers are Team celebrates fi rst win of the Mochrie discusses his career with set to start collecting donations at season against Redeemer Univer- acting students at the Welland News 10 a.m. Nov. 6. sity College. campus. On Page 6 On Page 16 On Page 20 Page 2 NIAGARA NEWS Nov. 5, 2010 NEWS Broken kidney, strong spirit Nineteen-year-old remains hopeful while waiting for transplant By EDEN ARMSTRONG in the arm – are quite noticeable Staff Writer and bulky. Breanna Elliotson, 19, is hoping Elliotson also has had to co-ordi- she receives her second kidney nate her school and work schedule transplant in the next few months around her dialysis treatment. She because it will make her world less had to register for classes later in stressful. the day so as not to interfere with Elliotson, who has been dealing her treatment. with kidney failure for the past The other treatment is called year and a half, has been handling peritoneal dialysis. It involves hav- the situation like a champion. ing a machine to clean the blood In 2008, Elliotson was attending while you sleep in the comfort of Nipissing University in North Bay, your own bed. Ont., living the university life. She While there are some positives had her freedom away from home, to this procedure, many annoy- enjoyed her program and loved ances go along with it. You can her roommates. She was enrolled shower and swim, and the treat- in the concurrent Bachelor of Arts ment is done while you are sleep- program for teaching. ing at home. Returning home for spring break However, it happens over a pe- in February, Elliotson had sched- riod of 10 hours, so you have to uled an appointment for routine be prepared to devote a signifi cant blood work. After returning to amount of time to it. The room the North Bay, the doctors called to machine is in has to be clean and notify Elliotson her blood test re- sanitized regularly. sults were “irregular.” “You have to do it every night. When the tests came back with Breanna Elliotson is one of 253 patients who visit the Ontario Street site for dialysis treatment three times a Hemodialysis is only three times a abnormal results, she was told to week. week,” says Elliotson. come home for another meeting Photo by Eden Armstrong These days, Elliotson is still with her doctor and not to wait. Carol Sams. fast friends during their three-hour Street site, Elliotson is wrapped in moving forward. She attends In March 2009, Elliotson and her Hours after the operation, doc- dialysis sessions. her Tinkerbell blanket, waiting for Brock University studying psy- family learned she had stage four tors realized the kidney wasn’t On Aug. 1 this year, Legere died the nurse to come in and start the chology part time. Because of her kidney disease and her kidneys working properly and sent Elliot- from complications stemming dialysis procedure. Briar Camp- dialysis schedule and the possibil- were starting to fail. In April, the son back into surgery to see if they from diabetes, with which she was bell, a registered nurse, says there ity of another kidney transplant on doctors told her she had 15 per cent could fi x it. also dealing. are two sites that treat dialysis such short notice, Elliotson is only kidney function and would need to Unfortunately, her body was re- “Young people shouldn’t die like patients. taking three courses this year. start dialysis. jecting the kidney and the doctors that, so I posted tons of posters “There are 253 patients that She volunteers at Parnall El- Elliotson fi nished out the school had to remove it. up around the city and held two come for dialysis at the Ontario ementary School every Friday year and came home for good. A week later, Elliotson started barbeques to raise money for the Street site and there are 125 at the to help build her resumé if she Because of her dialysis regimen, dialysis at the Niagara Health foundation [Kidney Foundation].” Welland Hospital site.” decides to apply for teacher’s col- her doctor suggested staying in the System Ontario Street site in St. “I was mainly doing it to raise The cleaning procedure is called lege in the future. She also works area for her upcoming school year. Catharines three times a week, awareness because how are you hemodialysis, and she is required part-time at her family’s business, She decided to transfer to Brock while waiting for another kidney. supposed to get a kidney if the to go Monday, Wednesday and Mitchell’s Buns Master, a local University in St. Catharines. That is where Elliotson met Julie waiting list is seven years and the Friday. For three or four hours she bakery on Carleton Street. Throughout the next year, Elli- Legere, another dialysis patient. life expectancy doesn’t match the is hooked to a machine through the She is waiting for another kidney, otson started treatment and started She was 39 and mobile. wait time?” permanent tubes already attached hoping that it will be available soon. looking for a transplant donor. It “She was a really good friend of For the past two years, Elliotson to her body, and the blood is taken Elliotson’s next-door neighbour had to be an exact match to Elli- mine, and it was awesome having also participated in the Kidney out, cleaned and then put back in. Gilbert Lizzotte, 48, has offered otson’s Type B blood. Friends and someone going through the same Foundation’s Gift of Life Walk, “The problem with hemo is that I to donate his kidney, but there are family started offering their help things as you, being young in a raising over $6,000 with her team can’t shower or go swimming.” many tests still to be done to see if to fi nd Elliotson a match and to senior-dominated dialysis centre, of friends and family. Because she has a permanent he would be an exact match. donate their organs. while being worked up for her fi rst “I don’t think people know about catheter in her chest, Elliotson She knows she must stick to her On March 31 of this year, El- transplant and my second at the it [kidney disease] or know about can’t immerse herself in water. The weekly dialysis regiment to stay liotson received a transplant from same time.” its patients.” accesses where catheters can be lo- healthy and will continue on with a family friend and co-worker, Elliotson and Legere became Sitting in the chair of the Ontario cated – across the chest or a fi stula life as she knows it. Trick or treat for food By KAYLA CABRAL Halloween-themed tags and bags This year’s campaign is ideally Staff Writer door-to-door on Oct.