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www.oakvillebeaver.com · OAKVILLE BEAVER Friday, March 5, 2010 · 10 Oakville couple helped nurse Haiti back to health By Dominik Kurek OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF An Oakville couple spent three weeks in a hot and physically tiring role in Haiti helping restore hundreds of earthquake victims back to health. Registered nurses John and Rose Stone went to Haiti through the Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT) where they treated people in makeshift medical structures. "It was a little overwhelming at times," John said. "The destruction was incredible. There was a huge amount of destruction and a lot of the buildings were just rubble and anything that was standing, everybody was quite careful about going back into." The couple worked in tents on a soccer pitch in Léogâne, a town that was at the epicenter of the 7.0 magnitude Jan. 12 earthquake. It is estimated that as many as 30,000 people died in Léogâne and most of the city's buildings were destroyed. The couple was part of CMAT's second team of 11 people that went to Haiti on Jan. 28. "The work itself wasn't overwhelming," Rose said. "A lot of the initial traumas had been dealt with by the first team. We did a few traumas and a few surgeries were done, but a lot of what we were doing was wound care." HELPING HANDS: John and Rose Stone with a few of the patients they helped during their three-week stint in Haiti as members of Canadian Medical Assistance Teams (CMAT). Despite a slightly easier workload, the heat at Humber College, while Rose teaches at -- about 40 degrees Celsius with the humidity Mohawk College. The conditions of working in -- made conditions extremely tiring. Canada were quite different than in Haiti. "We were in tents to sleep, but it didn't real"We say we had an OR (operating room), ly cool down at night so it made sleep difficult," but that was a very loose definition," John said. Rose said. "And there were lots of roosters and "It was cinderblocks with a stretcher on it and dogs running around that decided the middle these chickens would run through the OR. We of night was a good time to play. And we're not were trying to do sterile procedures and these accustomed to working in that kind of heat." animals are running through." Both are nursing instructors. John teaches They ate army rations in Haiti, but they also had a local cook who made Haitian meals for the team. There were also vegetable sellers nearby. Navy officers living aboard a ship brought the CMAT volunteers treats such as ice and fresh fruits. The officers were rebuilding structures such as nursing homes and orphanages in the area. CMAT wasn't the only organization on the soccer field. There were others including Doctors Without Borders, the military and organizations from various countries including as far away as Japan. John and Rose were up just after 5 a.m. each day and worked in the clinic from the morning until about 5 p.m. One Sunday they were able to walk through the town. "Lots of tents or makeshift canopies were set up in front of what had been people's homes," said Rose. Of the trip, Rose recalls, "The kids were actually what made the whole experience doable. We saw a lot of kids for treatment and it was just amazing, they came dressed in their Sunday best. We did the treatment and they'd watch you very intently and then we gave them a lollipop at the end and we got a beautiful smile." John added, "The resilience of the kids was amazing. They were out there every day playing. They made kites out of plastic bags. They were running around. They really bounced back." As volunteers, John and Rose paid for their own travelling expenses. They have now returned to their regular jobs. Notice of class environmental assessment and public information centre Rehabilitation of Linbrook Road over Lower Morrison Creek Bridge Wednesday, March 10, 6­8 p.m. Town Hall, Trafalgar Room, 1225 Trafalgar Road The Town of Oakville is undertaking the rehabilitation of Linbrook Road over Lower Morrison Creek Bridge. Hatch Mott MacDonald has been retained by the town to undertake the environmental assessment and detailed design for this project. The environmental assessment process involves the development, evaluation and recommendation of a preferred alternative for rehabilitation. A number of alternatives are being considered including the widening of the structure to match the newly constructed Linbrook Road urban section and road platform, and to accommodate cycling facilities in accordance with the town's Active Transportation Master Plan. The public is invited to review and comment on this project, and to attend a public information centre on Wednesday, March 10, 2010 at the Trafalgar Room in Town Hall from 6­8 p.m. Members of the project team will be available to discuss the project and answer questions. If you are unable to attend, you may submit questions or comments in writing to: Saidur Rahman Town of Oakville 1225 Trafalgar Road, P.O. Box 310, Oakville, Ontario L6J 5A6 Phone: 905-845-6601, ext. 3402 Fax: 905-338-4159 srahman@oakville.ca Glenn Caverson Hatch Mott MacDonald 2800 Speakman Drive Mississauga, Ontario L5K 2R7 Phone: 905-403-4441 Fax: 905-855-2607 glenn.caverson@hatchmott.com For more information visit www.oakville.ca or call 905-845-6601 Dr. Kerr welcomes Dr. Qasim Sayed & Dr. Suzy Guirguis NOW ACCEPTING NEW PATIENTS. CALL FOR YOUR APPOINTMENT TODAY. 1131 Nottinghill Gate, Suite 201. Oakville, Ont. 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