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editionap.ca
Hailey Lavergne, four-year-old, CHAMP CANDICE VETTER candice.vetter@eap.on.ca
colouring and painting her nails. “Oh, yes,” says Erica, “she’s a typical little girl.” She also enjoyed spinning to show off how her skirt twirled. Her parents said that she doesn’t notice her hand, but according to the par- enting seminars they have attended since Hailey was a baby, it is usually around Grade 5 or 6 that looking different becomes an is-
CASSELMAN l Hailey Laverne, of Cassel- man, is a bright, precocious, active and affectionate four-year-old, and at first glance this cute little girl does not appear to be someone who would be part of the Child Amputees program fromWar Amps. But Hailey was born missing part of her left hand, and her parents say the assistance they have received fromWar Amps through the program has been invaluable in helping them raise Hailey. Because she has a thumb and opposing finger on her hand her disa- bility barely affects her physically. Her mo- ther Erica says she has even figured out how to hang on the monkey bars at the playgro- und by using her wrist. Erica and husband Jason said that at her birth they were completely unprepared, and it seemed like a blow. After being held briefly by her mother and father Hailey was taken to the neonatal intensive care unit and there, says Jason, seeing the sick and premature babies, they realized how fortu- nate they were. Hailey was perfectly healthy otherwise. “It was a roller-coaster ride,” says Jason. “But then we realized we would deal with this.” It was through a co-worker that they lear- ned the CHAMPS program was not only for child amputees, but that the majority of children enrolled had their disability since birth. That is the easiest situation for a child as there is no pre-amputation behaviour for the brain to unlearn. In Hailey’s case she loves all kinds of creative tasks, like drawing,
sue. One of the benefits to children of the CHAMPS program is spending time every year with kids like themselves. Jason and Erica spoke of a 12-year-old girl who at the beginning of the seminar hid her hand, but later was completely unselfconscious about it. In their case, because Hailey has few physical limitations, the Lavergnes appreci- ate the seminars on helping kids cope with teasing and bullying. That is something that hasn’t happened much yet, but can be ex- pected as she grows up. Parents and children are matched up with other families with children who have similar physical issues. It surprised the Lavergnes to find out that missing a few fin- gers was more common than expected. In a city the size of Ottawa, there might be 700 children with a similar condition. The cost of participating is completely covered by War Amps, including airfare, meals, trips to and from the airport, and ac- commodations. In addition War Amps pro- vides children with artificial limbs, includ- ing some specialty prosthetics for athletic activities, free of charge. CHAMP is funded through public support of The War Amps
Photos Candice Vetter
Hailey Lavergne, aged 4, of Casselman is part of the War Amps CHAMP program for child amputees and is recently back from the 2013 Ontario CHAMP Seminar in Bur- lington, which brings children and families from across the province together ses- sions on medical developments, prosthetics, parenting and dealing with teasing and bullying. Hailey and her family, mom Erica, dad Jason and baby brother Chase.
participation as part of the War Amps Op- eration Legacy, for which she laid a wreath in the Remembrance Day Ceremony in Rus- sell last year. The part of the program Hailey likes best, however? “I like swimming in the pool in the hotel.” She also liked being interviewed, at least for a while, as long as she could sit with the interviewer and draw pictures in the interviewer’s notebook.
Key Tag and Address Label Service. For more information www.waramps.ca . Hailey, meanwhile, enjoys her bit of fame. She loves having her photo taken, as does her little brother Chase, and was happy to be presented an award at this year’s semi- nar, which marked the War Amps 95 th an- niversary, and go up on stage and have her photo taken there. She was given an award recognizing her
PAIX ET FRATERNITÉ
Un parc en l’honneur de Patrice Dagenais
TOURNOI DE GOLF DU CLUB RICHELIEU EMBRUN Le dimanche 15 septembre 2013 au Club de Golf Casselview Départ simultané à 12h30 DROITS DE JEU : 110$ (INCLUANT GOLF, VOITURETTE ET SOUPER) SOUPER SEULEMENT : 40/PERSONNE – BUFFET FESSE DE BŒUF ET POULET
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L’inscription est limitée à 144 joueurs. Une fois ce chiffre atteint, nous dresserons une liste des joueurs en attente. La date limite pour vous inscrire est le 2 septembre 2013. Veuillez remplir ce formulaire et confirmer votre participation en nous le faisant parvenir, accompagné des droits de jeu requis, à l’adresse suivante : Club Richelieu Embrun C.P. 657 Embrun, Ontario K0A 1W0 Les droits de jeu doivent être acquittés au complet pour que l’inscription soit confirmée. Une tenue de golf appropriée est obligatoire. Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez communiquer avec Jean-Guy Patenaude , par courriel, à jgpat44@hotmail.com , ou avec Gilles Gratton , au 613 443-3625 , ou par courriel à gillesgratton45@sympatico.ca
Photo Candice Vetter
Une plaque honorifique au nom de Patrice (Pico) Dagenais a été inaugurée par la municipalité de Russell et son maire, Jean-Paul St.Pierre. Le parc de la rue du Cente- naire portera désormais le nom Parc Pico Park. La municipalité de Russell a ainsi vou- lu souligner la performance sportive du champion paralympique de Londres 2012. Om se rappellera que l’équipe canadienne de laquelle il faisait partie avait obtenu la médaille d’argent de rugby en chaise roulante. La famille de M. Dagenais, ainsi que plusieurs amis de l’athlète, étaient présents pour prendre part à cet événement particulier. (NDLR: Des erreurs s’étaient glissées dans cette vignette, publiée origina- lement le 18 juillet dernier en page 6. Le Reflet/News tient à s’en excuser.)
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