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4- PORT PERRY STAR - Tuesday, December 5, 1995 "Scugog"s Community Newspaper of Choice" Co (0) EY BV EI DIEILS WY DAVES MMUNITY experience, and help others in similar situations. She has formed a Durham Region chapter of AboutFace, a support and information organization for people living with facial Living with a child with a facial disfigurement is a traumatic experience... but there's hope "A lot of times, life experience is what's going to get you through," she said. "My biggest goal is to get the name AboutFace out there, because I know there's a great need for it. "I guess my second biggest goal is to start working disfigurements and differ- ences. the inaugural meet- ing of the group was Monday night, Dec. 4, and plans are to meet monthly in Oshawa. Mrs. Campbell said the response she got to her ini- tial inquiries about interest in the group was surprising. some 40 families in Durham are registered with AboutFace, and many have expressed interest in taking part in the new group. They include parents and people with birth defects like Stephen's, as well as vic- tims of accidents and other differences. She said the value of the Stephen Campbell as he looked shortly after his birth five bring together people who years ago. He has undergone a series of surgery and treat- have shared similar experi- ment since he was a couple of months old. By Jeff Mitchell Port Perry Star OMETIMES, things don't work out perfectly. It's at those times words of assurance and encouragement can make the difference bet- ween despair and hope. No one knows that better than Elaine Campbell of Greenbank. Five years ago, when her son Stephen was born with a cleft lip and palate, she was confronted with a chal- lenge: She had a child with a difference, who would face over the next months and years with ongoing surgery and treatment; and she found out immediately how alone and frightened parents can feel. Although hospital workers attempted to be as effi- cient and caring as possible, they were unable to pro- vide the information and encouragement she needed to get over the first few rocky days of his life. She and her family made it; Stephen is now a happy and rambunctious Junior Kindergarten student, who's nearing the end of his series of treatments for his dif- ference. And Mrs. Campbell wants now to share her organization is that it will ences, and have the knowl- edge and compassion to help one another. "It wasn't until I had a child with a facial difference that I realized how important it was," said Mrs. Campbell, who has two other kids, both older than Stephen. "Facial differences are so obvious." She said that while health profession- als attempted to be compassionate and helpful, they were unable in the end to Elaine Campbell with a picture of her son now. She hopes the provide hier with the kind of emational Durham Chapter of AboutFace will help those with facial differ- support that she needed so badly dur- ing the early stages of Stephen's life. "Sick Kids (hospital) was wonderful, except that they're dealing with the medical side, and not the emo- tional aide," she said. "The professional who doesn't have a child with a facial difference can only offer you something from a book. You're going into everything in As part of her efforts, she wants -- has, in fact, alrea- dy -- to talk to parents of recently-born kids, to assure them that everything is going to be all right. ences, and their families. with the birthing centres," she added. It's Mrs. Campbell's own experience that has driven her to come this far, and will make her continue in her effort to provide information and support. "It was traumatic, but I lived through it," she said. "I wanted to tell people about it." The Durham AboutFace group will continue to meet monthly in Oshawa. For more information on the group and its meetings, you can call Elaine Campbell at 985-2613. Port High School students holding toy, food drive By Kelly Lown toys, coins and Canadian Port Perry Star Tire money. The class The drive will begin on raiser by December 6 and run performing songs and plays in the Port Perry High School students are hosting a toy and food drive competi- tion both at the school and within the local business district. Each of the home rooms at the high school has a do- nation box for non- perishable food items, which brings in the most donations will receive a class pizza party. There are currently 15 businesses also partici- pating in the drive and the school will present a plaque to the business which brings in the most amount ofdonations. through until December School gymnasium. The 15. All proceeds from the event will go to Operation Scugog for help with their Christmas hamper distri- bution. On December 14, the UB (University Bound) class at PPHS will be hold- ing an additional fund- fun gets underway at 12:40 p.m. and admission is $3 per person. Anyone wishing more information or to make a donation to the cause is asked to call Courtney Williamson or Katie Coates at 985-8051. HAI A STUN A CONT VR TGR nag ET Ea -------- a RB RE A Rr RC a AAI Wb HON. SE iss ed noe = MRR J EA ER i RR A oa aan ii a an nism MEATY RR EL IA. RR. RR J ----._--_--