Cut Knife High School raised $1,267 for Telemiracle this year, and Ian Switzer, a teacher at the high school, his daughter Cassandra, and Courtney Waldner went to Saskatoon to present the cheque on stage at Telemiracle. Both Cassandra and Courtney are students at the Cut Knife High School.
The Grade 8 classes are having a wake-a-thon March 25. They hope to raise a ton of money for Telemiracle. More information will follow.
The annual Cut Knife Trade Show is coming up on March 26. Selling times are from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the curling rink in Cut Knife. The Cut Knife United Church Women will be providing lunch. There are plenty of room for more tables, at $20 a table. For more information call Gwenn Kaye at 398-2584 or 398-2277. The trade show is put on by the Cut Knife Chamber of Commerce. Tables for candles, woodwork, jewellery displays, Tupperware and "mommy cards" have already been sold, as well as Epicure Spices, Norwex cleaning supplies, and more crafts. Airbonne beauty products will also be displayed. Lloyd How will have his miniature engines on display, Linda Heighton will sell baking and canning products, Ceinnie Kortwright will be there with information on plants and David Bertrand will show some of his amazing woodcraft. Breast cancer merchandise can be bought at the trade show.
A registered babysitting course will be held on Saturday, March 12, at the Cut Knife Elementary School Library from 9 am to 4 pm. Cost $40 per person, including a workbook. The instructor is Gale Stonehouse. Please bring your own lunch, there will be a one hour lunch break. Youth 12 to 14 years and older may attend. Please bring a baby doll if you have one. Contact Heather Krissa for further information at 398-2333.
Joanne Scott
The doctor phoned Joanne early one morning to tell her he had perfect lungs for her. She asked him if she could finish serving breakfast first, or did she have to be in Edmonton immediately. So, on Nov.18, 2010, Joanne was wheeled into the operating room to get her new lungs. She was in the OR from 2:30 until 11 p.m. The surgery went well, except that the new lungs were stiff, and wouldn't expand fully due to fluid. The wound was left open for eight days before closing it up. Not only was Joanne in the intensive care unit, she had to have a tracheotomy, she contracted a rhino virus, she was cut open from side to side and had tubes coming out everywhere. A battery of tests were done every day as well, she could not eat and was on a liquid diet. She broke her ankle shortly after having the transplant surgery, but, being the trooper Joanne is, she came out the winner, and smiling all the way.
For a long time, Joanne knew something was wrong, but, typically Joanne, she never thought much of it. So, in 1995, Joanne was diagnosed with Ideopathical Pulmonary Fibrosis. Her condition became progressively worse over time. She had to have oxygen constantly and she was an extremely sick lady. Her skin colour was always ash-blue due to a lack of oxygen, her breathing very shallow because her lung capacity was reduced.
The surgery went well. Joanne had a normal rosy skin colour immediately after the surgery, and she was doing just great - from her blood pressure to the skin on her heels. Rehabilitation after the surgery was something Joanne really enjoyed. They worked her hard on every machine imaginable, but it was the best part of her day, she said. She had to be taught again to breathe, because she no longer knew how to breathe normally. Joanne said it took her a while to realise she can breathe again. She does not walk around toting oxygen anymore. Christmas was celebrated at the hospital, but thanks to a wonderful friend, Joanne had a home cooked meal with all the trimmings.
And then, Jan. 12, she broke her ankle. She just finished a video for her fundraiser that was held in Nielburg Jan. 15 when she fell. So, back to the hospital again, but, being Joanne, she took it all in stride. Then the question of having anaesthesia came up, and the doctors could not decide. It took them a couple of days to decide what to do, put her to sleep, or give her an epidural. This time, she was in surgery for five hours.
Joanne has got a great team of people who support her and love her. Her family kept a diary of her ordeal in hospital every day. For the rest of her life, Joanne will have to take anti-rejection drugs and immuno-suppressants. She cannot wait to do activities with her girls again, she can't wait for the summer to be here, to go out and enjoy life to the fullest again.
Joanne's donor was a 23-year-old man who died, but gave her new life. She does not know the name of the donor or his family and can not thank the donor's family personally, because it is not allowed, but a thank you card was sent to them through the donor program. The gift of life for a second time is incredible, and she will always be so grateful for getting that second chance to live a healthy life, thanks to a donor.
Joanne was in hospital from Nov. 18 to March 4. She stayed in an out patient residence, after her discharge from the hospital. The residence is an inexpensive housing project at the hospital. Her apartment consisted of a bedroom with two beds, bathroom and small living room/kitchen. She did not have to walk far, just about five minutes to rehab, and she never had to go out in the cold as this residence is part of the hospital.
Now, all that is left to say, is "Welcome Home, Joanne!" You are a great example for us all.
