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19 · Friday, January 29, 2010 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.oakvillebeaver.com We can help in Haiti By Madeline Kanuka GRADE 12, HOLY TRINITY S.S. The Regional T hree weeks ago I had surgery on my broken ankle. Four days in the hospital, one spinal injection, one stainless steel plate, and seven screws later, I realized maybe tobogganing in 16 Mile Creek was not the smartest idea. As the days passed lying immobile in my bed, I turned on the TV, trying to take my mind away from the pain of my throbbing leg. So sadly it did; vivid footage of the earthquake in Haiti. The pictures burned in my mind; lifeless bodies lined up on the debris-filled road, people gasping for their last breaths while crushed under buildings, children crying for their dead parents, people severely maimed without any medical attention and thousands without basic needs. Family and friends of Haitians desperately wait in other lands to hear if their loved ones are still alive. Everyone in Haiti is injured in some way. I compare my small crisis to Haiti and try to gain a small perspective of the suffering. What if I couldn't go to a hospital with a leg snapped to the side? An entire, patient-filled hospital fell to the ground. Kids like me lie injured on the street with little assistance as many doctors, nurses, and supplies lie under crushed walls. Maybe this is an ideal time to re-evaluate our complaints. We complain about hospital lines, but at least we have a hospital. Our healthcare is not a right, but a privilege we often take for granted. We lament about our complexions, if our clothes are not in style or that our phone is not cool enough. We sleep in cozy beds, have food for dinner and live without the fear of our homes collapsing on top of us. Not only should we be truly thankful for our comfy Canadian lifestyle, but we can take it one step further. If we make a donation to those less fortunate, we may have to wait even longer to buy the latest iPod or designer purse, but our small contribution may mean that someone in Haiti has dinner to eat or a bed to sleep in. We can all do something. Kids can speak out, but now is our chance to act. We can donate to many charities including Catholic Relief Services, Habitat for Humanity, The Canadian Red Cross, UNICEF and World Vision. Municipality of Halton www.halton.ca Electronics, Tires, Household Hazardous Waste Electronics (computers, printers, and televisions, etc.), household hazardous waste (paint, batteries, antifreeze, propane tanks and car oil), and used locations will be announced later this spring. Visit www.halton.ca/waste for more information. Visit www.dowhatyoucan.ca household hazardous waste. Visit www.ontariots.ca apply. 290110 Please let us know as soon as possible if you will have an accessibility or accommodation need at a Halton Region hosted event or meeting. 1151 Bronte Road, Oakville, Onta