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Joe Handley to the rescue

Lynn Lau
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Jun 15/01) - A Yellowknife woman who wants to accompany her husband when he undergoes major surgery for cancer next week had her wish granted.

Phoebe Parent was frustrated by her attempts to get funding to accompany her husband Laval to Edmonton for his lung surgery, June 20. Since the beginning of this month, she's been appealing to Health and Social Services, Stanton Regional Hospital, and even her former band association in Fort Providence, but to no avail.

Finally, she complained to her MLA Joe Handley, who took the unusual step of volunteering his own air miles to buy her ticket.

"I'm told by the health and social services people that it doesn't fit within the policy," said Handley. He decided it would be more efficient to use his own air miles than advocate for the Parents.

Handley's daughter Michelle underwent major lung surgery in the early 90s, so he said he understands what the Parents are going through.

"As one human being who's been in that situation, I know how important it is to be there. I know situations like that are very traumatic."

According to health department policy, "non-medical escorts" are provided for only when the patient is a breastfeeding infant, under 19 and needing an escort, mentally or physically disabled, or unable to communicate without an interpreter.

Sometimes a doctor will request that a spouse or guardian be there to help with the treatment program.

Although Laval will be hospitalized for at least three weeks following his surgery, Phoebe did not qualify to have her costs covered.

"She's not the first person and she won't be the last person and we appreciate that," said Donna Zaozirny, director of operations for Stanton Regional Health Board.

"Of course, I'd want to be with my loved one. However, we can only pay for so many things."

Phoebe was allowed to accompany Laval on his first trip to Edmonton, when he had his initial testing done in October. But on three subsequent trips, Phoebe has had to pay her own way, including several trips back and forth during Laval's eight-week radiation treatment from November to December.

"It's been pretty stressful," said Phoebe.

"We started worrying about money and fare and a place to stay. I have to be there with him. I have to make sure he's eating, I want to see what's happening with the doctors, what has to be done."

They have borrowed close to $10,000 from friends and relatives since December, and now, they're just plain out of money.

Last August, Phoebe had to take a medical leave, and later quit her job as an administrative assistant for the Native Communications Society in order to care for her husband after his diagnosis.

Laval, 44, hurt his back on the job working as a diamond driller for Mid West Drilling in 1994. He was still on workers compensation for $250 a month when he got sick.Phoebe's employment insurance runs out this August.

"We're just poor here," says Phoebe.

Even with the plane ticket provided, the Parents still have to find money to cover Phoebe's housing during the three weeks that Laval is expected to be in hospital.

"We're just very grateful that (Handley) went out of his way to make sure that I'm able to go down," she said. "It's a relief for us."