In Richmond, Nigel is in the hospital to undergo laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, only the latest measure in an overall weight management program to deal with his obesity. He was required to lose some weight off of what was his 500 pound ...See moreIn Richmond, Nigel is in the hospital to undergo laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy, only the latest measure in an overall weight management program to deal with his obesity. He was required to lose some weight off of what was his 500 pound frame, which he has done. Today's procedure will reduce the size of his stomach from that of a football to that of a banana. Nigel is concerned about if the results will be effective for him in the long run, as he realizes he does have an eating addiction, and unlike alcoholics who should abstain from drinking, it's not like Nigel can give up food. His biggest concern is learning that his tastes will be affected, and he doesn't want to lose the love for his favorite food, chicken. In Vancouver, Elaine has entered the emergency ward of St. Paul's Hospital, with irregular heartbeats and upper abdominal tightness, which the emergency room doctor will check to see if it is the sign of a heart attack and/or heart damage. Also in Vancouver, Teresa, a canine detection handler, is in Vancouver General Hospital to do a clinical trial with her latest canine subject, eleven month old Angus, who is going through training to detect C. difficile, which is considered one of the super-bugs plaguing hospitals. If Angus eventually passes his training, which so far has been for over half his life, he will be the first dog in Canada and only the second worldwide that will be trained to detect the bug. In Hamilton, three and a half week old Joey was born to single mom Amanda two and half months premature with a birth weight of just under 800 grams. Joey has remained in the hospital in critical condition with a plethora of health issues. Despite his size and precarious health, his doctors and other medical staff classify him as being feisty. Joey's situation is difficult for Amanda, who has to be at the hospital every day to be mother to Joey while her six year old son stays with Amanda's parents. Today, Joey will undergo two surgeries, one on the brain and the other on the bowel which are only the latest measures to deal with Joey's overall health. In Chisasibi, Dr. Kitty, of Cree ancestry, has recently returned home to work with the predominantly Cree population of the area. Her biggest concern for the Cree people in general is the high rate of diabetes, which she attributes largely to living western ways, in the process losing much of their indigenous life. From a diet perspective, that life consisted largely of animal protein, instead of the processed foods purchased in the stores. And because of no longer hunting and trapping for food, the people have become much more sedentary. She sees getting back to living off the land as part of the solution. And in Wolfville, thirty-three year old Krystle moved into the L'Arche Homefires Community Home three months ago after living her entire life with her parents. She is severely disabled, suffering from spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. She requires around the clock care, which her parents physically could no longer provide, with her caregivers needing to provide support in almost everything she does. She is mentally aware, consulted about all aspects of her day, and lives life to the fullest. Today, her buddy Joseph, one of her caregivers, will be taking her out on the town for an outing, which he finds special and hopes that she does as well. Today, she will also receive a visit from her mother, Marguerite, who stayed away for the first two months to give both Krystle and her and her husband the needed transition to Krystle's new living situation. Written by
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