Hospital nurse

re-opening sough

Ordeal strains this famil

By SARAH GLEN

IT ALL started with a baby

and ended in a breakdown.

That’s the short version
of what happened to local
residents, Mona and Earl
Houlden when they found
themselves in the middle
of a tug-of-war between
health care cutbacks and
hospitals trying to offer
care on reduced budgets.

Last fall the Houldens
were expecting their sec-
ond child — an anxious
“time for the parents, be-
cause their doctor warned
Mona’ she _— probably
wouldn't carry the baby to
ierm.

But the Houldens had
already been there before.
Their first child, born in
1993 had been premature
. as well,

The couple knew what
to expect - or so they

© thought,

‘When Mona went into
labour 28 wecks into her
pregnancy, the small fami-
ly was medevaced to Van-
couver where she pave
birth to Hayley.

‘They quickly settled
into care for their new.
baby at B.C. Children’s:
Hospital, just like they did
‘with the birth of their pre-
mature son in 1993.

"But this visit wasn’t
. going to be anything like
‘their first experience.

- “In 1993 I was happy to
. be paying taxes,” said Earl
Houlden. “In 1999 [ won-
dered why 1 was paying
taxes.”

Not only did the Houl-
dens have to leave the
hospital prior to the man-
datory month-long stay for
babies born three months

-premature, they were me-
devaced to Prince George
because Mills Memorial
refused to open the nursery
to patients of another hos-
pital — even though the pa-
tients in question were re-
sidents of Terrace.
ve “My~ wife sand :-new

¢

‘daughter were: stuckyin
Prince George, while my
son

and [| weré in

EARL AND MONA Houlden with Hayley had a less
than pleasant health care experience when their
daughter was born prematurely last fall, They've

Terrace,” said Earl.

Mills closed the nursery
about a year ago as part of
its plan to eliminate a de-
ficit.

But after receiving
numerous complaints by
doctors, Mills is attempt-
ing, ta reopen the nursery.

“We reincorporated the
money into the budget and
are asking the government
for the extra dollars,” said
Dieter Kuntz, chief exec-
utive officer of Terrace
and Area Community
Health Council. .

Earl Houlden believes

.the closure is a symptom
of a major problem,
“Sit akl boils down to

“finding cuts and if it con;

tinues. like this,. we’re

going to end up with pri-
vate health care,” Earl
said.

The couple wants more
money for Mills.

“It’s crazy that a hospi-
tal that has to deal with
such a large population
has to work with such a
small budget,” said Mona.

“Nurseries are a ne-
cessity,” said Mona. “New
mothers need to be shown
how to care for their
baby.” .

Although they haven't
tallied the amount of
money they spent over the
two months caring for
Hayley between Vancou-

ver and Prince George,.the .
. couple believes the cost ld

be upward of $8,000. © =
The ordeal didn’t just

ce

spent thousands of dollars and wonder what has

happened to the quality of health care in the pro-
vince. A strong family helped them in their ordeal.

cause a financial strain, it
also sent Mona into a bat-
tle with depression.

“She couldn’t function.
It just all overwhelmed
her,” said Earl.

The saving grace, Earl.

continued, was a large,
supportive family.

“But | shudder to think
what a single mom with a
three month preemie and a
small one at home would
do. It’s ridiculous,” he
said.

Although she’d love to
have another child, Mona
can’t handle the idea of
being thrust into the same
situation.

“I would never want to
have another premature
baby in Terrace,” she said.

But she stresses that it’s
not the nurses that caused
her family’s problems.

“The nurses were won-
derful there’s just no
money being pul back into
the [healthcare] system
and the nurses are working
harder than ever to offer
the same levei of care,”
said Mona.

“I know we can make
changes here. We just
need to be strong,”. said
Earl.

The Terrace Standard, Wednesday, July 12, 2000 - A3

News In Brief

Boy rushed to Vancouver °

after being shot in face

A-16 YEAR-old boy was rushed to Vancouver Gen-
cral Hospital after being shot in the face two week-
ends ago, He’s in stable condition.

Terrace RCMP believe alcohol was a factor in
the shooting, which occurred in the early morning
hours of July 2 in the Gossen Creek Subdivision.

Police are releasing few details but do say an
investigation is ongoing, and that other boys who
were present are being questioned. One 16 year-old
boy was taken into police custody but later re- |
leased.

Boat stolen from yard

TERRACE RCMP are enlisting public help in their
search for a stolen boat.

The boat, a 14 foot zodiac with a 30 horsepower
Evinrude motor, was on a trailer in the 4800 block
of Lazelle Ave when it was stolen Tuesday night
or early Wednesday morning.

If you have information about the boat, please
call Terrace RCMP at 638-7400, or Crimestoppers
at 635-TIPS.

E-business boosted

IT’S GOING to be casier to do business electronic-
ally once new provincial legislation is passed.

The legislation, introduced last week, will give
the same legal weight to electronic signatures and
documents as is the case now for hand-written sig-
natures and paper documents.

Provincial technology minister Graeme Bow-
brick said the move to e-commerce will make bu-
sinesses more efficient and cut down on red tape.

Similar legislation is being put inlo place in '
nine out of 10 Canadian provinces.

The new legislation won’! apply to some trans-
actions, including wills and powers of attorneys
where they concem the financial affairs or personal
care of an individual. It will not override any acl
that specifies whether electronic means of commu-
nication can or cannot be used, eg. the Land Title -

Act.
Deal sealed

WORK HAS begun on the first of two contracts to -
seal-coat 59km of Hwy16 east and west of Terrace.

One of the contracts is worth $224,000 and went
to OK Industries of Saanichton for 18,6km between —
the Kasiks Overhead and the level rail crossing
42km west of Terrace. Overall, the project will
cost $323,000 with engineering and material sup-
plied by the highways ministry.

The other contract, also won by OK. Industries,
is worth $463,000 for 40km of highway from Cop-
per River to Big Oliver Creek east of Terrace. |
Overall costs for this project are $744,000 with en-
ginecring and materials supplicd by the highways

ministry.

“Mother, i's after midnight, Will you please stop
talking and say goodbye? | have to operate in the
hospital tomorrow.”

rs. Singer wrenched herselt from the family
gathering. “I'm sorry to keep you waiting, Eden.
But | get out so seldom.” ‘

The hwo women walked toward the car.

“Mather, let ma drive. When you're of the
wheel, | get very nervous.”

Mrs. Singer smiled sweetly as she got inlo the
driver's seal. “Thank you dear, but I'm perfectly
capable of driving.”

Mrs. Singer slowly weaved her way snto’ the
slreat,

“Mom, you'ra doing it again. I've told you a
million times to chack your blind spot before
changing lanes.”

Eden was beginning to wear on her mother’s
nerves. But Mrs. Singer continued to smile
angelically,

“Eden, my instincts are very well developed.
can sense when another cor is coming. | don’t
need to look,”

Eden clutched the seat bell. “Why did | ever let
her drive? I'll be too stressed to operate
tomorraw, Maaaaal You didn’t make a full stop at
the stop sign.”

Mrs. Singer frowned. “You know, Eden, you
should be trealing your mother with respect.”

Eden let out a scream. “Ma, I respect you. | love
you, But | don’t want to die yours

Mrs. Singer smiled serenely, “Who cares about
my laughter’s lack of manners? As lang as she
loves ma.”

Mrs. Singer stopped ata red light.

When the light turned green, she started across
the intersection while reaching out to clean her
side mirror.

YOu BE THE JUDGE

BY CLAIRE BERNSTEIN

Ma, Check Your Blind Spot! -

BASED ON
ACTUAL COURT :
CASES =

“Ma, you're crazy, keep your eyes on the
“

“Eden, stop being so...”

There was a thump.

A scream,

And an elderly woman fell in front of Mrs.
Singer's car.

rs. Singer slammed on the brakes.

Before she could gel out of the car, a young
woman rushed ever from the sidewalk, yelling
anxiously, “Mother! Mothar! She must be dead, |
tald her ‘Please, mother, don’t crass on o red
light.’ And her last words to me were ‘It doesn’t
matter, dear, everyone jaywallks’.”

Luckily, the accident victim recovered.

She sued Mrs. Singer for part of her damages.

In court, the accident victim fought hard. “Your
Honour, | was wrong to cross on a red fight but
Mrs. Singer should have been more careful.
Visibility was clear thet night and the accident
could easily have been avoided,”

Mrs. Singer huffed. “Your Honour, since when
is going through a green light such a crime? |
had no duty to anticipate that @ pedestrian
would cross the street on a red light. If someone

insiss on jaywalking, let them do it at their own
risk,

Is Mrs. Singer responsible? You Be The Judge!
Then look below for the decisian.

SPONSORED BY

Phone: 638-0354

WRIGHT & MARDIROS

TRIAL LAWYERS

Serving the Pacific Northwest
TERENCE WRIGHT 15 years experience DAVID MARDIROS

Criminal and Family Law Civil Litigation Aboriginal Law

Free Initial Interview for LC.B.C. and
Personal Injury Claims

4730 Lazelle Avenue, Terrace, B.C, V8G 1T2

Fax: 635-2919

YOU! BE THE JUDGE - DECISION

“Mrs. Singer an

"

|
ace dent wouldn't have happened.

& Mardiros or another lawyer in your ppeyince. :
We ara proud to bring you some ©

Any resembla

case have been greatly reduced an

simpliied,

lly responsible,” said Judge Richord, “There is a
duty upon motorists and pedestrians alike fo be vigilant foro reasonably apparent hazard, Mrs,
Singers failure to maintain a look out amounted Ie negligence. Had she been more careful, the

e woman she hit are equa

Today's column is based on a case from British Columbia. if you have a similar problem, please contact Wright

the current legal issues from across the country for discussion ond debate,
nce to real people is pure coincidental, In the interest of clarity and brevity, the lego! issues in the

Claire Bernstain ts o lawyer and nationally syndicated columnis!. Copyright 2000 Haika Entarprisas, C23-3

a

by

4501 Lakelse Ave., Terrace, B.C.
638-1158 or 1-800-813-1158

~~ Chiropractic’
608 Mismatch..~

SIHG
Queen Set’ /0!?
Reg. List....°1559

iropractic —

Deegbabiae sade

YSTEMS

Siete teSieberrineateasuesen

* Chiropractle Hines. -
Deluxe Pillowtop Mis

—.. ObusForme.
OBUS ¥ - Factory Promo

‘Slmmons BeautySieep

510 Coil. Mismatch

Single Set 299

Reg. List....5549

Simmons BeautySleep

510 Coll Mismatch: -

| Double set349

Reg. List....'629

Simmons BeautySleep
510 Coll Mismatch

Queen set 399

Reg. List....°699

Simmons.
- BackCare Sterllrig

‘| Queen set’ 590 BP

Reg. List....°1099

. i

wo the store designed for healthy sleep,