History Repeats page 22
Times The Langley
T u e s d a y ,
F e b r u a r y
1 9 ,
2 0 1 3
Gators Dominate page 25
www. l a n g l e y t i m e s . com
Maternity ward expansion gets underway Vandekerkhove Family Maternity Centre at Langley Memorial Hospital is expected to open late in 2013 Brenda anderson Times Reporter
Brenda ANDERSON/Langley Times
Vanessa Vandekerkhove and her husband, Josh JansenVandoorn, returned to Langley Memorial Hospital on Friday, where their daughter, Adrianna, was born five weeks earlier, to attend the official groundbreaking celebration of the hospital’s expanded and enhanced maternity unit.
SkyTrain stabbing followed day of drinking, say police
The views from the rooftop of Langley Memorial Hospital were spectacular on a sunny Friday morning — looking out over snow capped mountains to the north and, closer in, at the construction, newly underway, on the brand new Vandekerkhove Family Maternity Centre at LMH. But it was Vanessa Vandekerkhove, a brand new mother and member of the Langley family after whom the maternity unit will be named, who stole the show as politicians, hospital staff, auxiliary members and donors gathered at the hospital on Feb. 15 to celebrate the start of the long-awaited expansion. Vandekerkhove, who spent 13 hours in labour before delivering her now fiveweek-old daughter, Adrianna, offered her thanks to the maternity nurses who made her feel safe and secure, as well as to the doctors who attended her throughout her stay. “It was such a great experience, I can’t wait to pop out a whole bunch more,” she exclaimed, earning a long burst of laughter from her audience. “I feel very privileged to have had (Adrianna) at Langley Memorial Hospital.” Vandekerkhove also told the gathering that she felt lucky there was, in fact, a bed available for her when it came time to give birth to her daughter.
A 17-year-old was arrested after stabbing her 28-year-old ex-boyfriend with a steak knife, after allegedly spending the day and evening drinking with him in Langley on Friday. The suspect, who can’t be named because of her age, had been drinking with the man during the afternoon and into the evening when the pair took a bus from Langley and headed to Sky-
FREE TEENWITHBURGER THE PURCHASE OF A TEEN BURGER! WITH THIS COUPON EXPIRES FEBRUARY 28, 2013 Murrayville (24hr. drive-thru) Walnut Grove (24hr. drive-thru) Langley City (24hr. drive-thru) Willowbrook Shopping Port Kells (24hr. drive-thru) 6241-200th Street 19840 - 96 Ave. 22259 Fraser Hwy. 8790-204th Street Centre Food Fair 534-1497 www.aw.ca 534-6333 513-8788 533-1917
The $6.5 million expansion addresses a long-term shortage of maternity beds in the hospital. The number of births each year at the LMH has risen dramatically, from 85 in 1948 — when the hospital opened — to 1,800 births in 2010. During that same period, however, only two beds were added to the ward, bringing the current total to 13. By 2020, it is expected that more than 2,300 infants will be born at LMH each year. Construction, which will see another floor added to an existing wing of the hospital, is expected to be complete late this year. At that time, four of the seven new beds — all of which will be in private rooms — will open, with the remaining three scheduled to open in 2015. “It really means we will have the capacity to serve 600 additional births per year. That’s significant,” said David Portesi, speaking on behalf of the hospital. Other planned improvements include the relocation of the maternity clinic to a space next to the maternity unit, for better continuity of care. As well, there will be a dedicated post-anesthetic recovery unit, renovated and expanded nursery, additional on-call rooms and multipurpose space.
Train in Surrey, said Transit Police. The two argued on the bus, and it continued when the teen followed her ex-boyfriend onto SkyTrain at King George station. The pair argued until the train arrived at Gateway station. As the victim stepped onto the platform, the girl produced a knife and stabbed him in the leg, said Transit Police.
'Highest Prices Paid for Gold & Silver'
continued, PAGE 5
A fight broke out with the victim sustaining defensive wounds to his hands and a cut to his forehead. The girl ran from the platform but was apprehended by Transit Police while on the exit stairs. She was held in custody and appeared in court on Monday. A steak knife was recovered at the scene, said Transit Police. Both are Surrey residents.
KEY K EY L ARGO LARGO
Jewellery & Loans Ltd.
220369 56 AVE.
604-534-8845