S TANDARD TERRACE
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VOL. 27 NO. 18
www.terracestandard.com
Wednesday, August 20, 2014
‘Hey, do you want a kidney?’ By CAITLIN CLOW PALWINDER THANDI never gave up hope when she was put on the donor list for a new kidney. But the last thing she expected was to have friend Megan Hoole step up and offer one of hers. “March of this year, I was very ill and I just about didn't make it,” Thandi said. Thandi suffered from renal failure and many infections related to dialysis. But thanks to Hoole's generous donation made on May 9th, Thandi is back to her normal self. Hoole and Thandi have known each other for the past seven years and as the saying goes, opposites attract. Thandi is an outspoken, outgoing, extravert, while Hoole is more private and introspective. “I didn't know her that well,” Hoole said. “But I really liked her, she's such a good person, a nice person.” So when she found out about Thandi's condition, she already knew what she should do. “At this time in my life I was in a place where I could do it so I thought she could probably have one of mine,” Hoole explained. “She’s just a year older than me and I thought that was way too young to have to be saddled with dialysis,” Hoole said. “It’s a huge burden.” “Megan phoned me up and said, ‘I hear you’re in the market for a new kidney,’” Thandi said. That phone call happened almost a year ago to the day and Hoole said it was the first time she had ever called Thandi. “It definitely took her by surprise,” Hoole said. “Not often people call up saying, ‘hey, do you want a kidney,’” “Funny part about it was, I’m East Indian and I didn’t realize that someone who was Caucasian could give me a kidney!” Thandi said, “I thought it would be hard to find, but then my doctor told me that we’re all pink on the inside and that stuck with Meg and I.”
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CAITLIN CLOW PHOTO
PALWINDER THANDI, left, and her kidney donor Megan Hoole raised money at the Sikh temple on Walsh St. The two sold pakora, or delicious breaded vegetable fritters, to raise money for the kidney walk put on by the Canadian Kidney Foundation that took place on Sunday, Aug. 14.
Major airport expansion in the works THE NORTHWEST Regional Airport is about to embark upon a $15 million expansion of its main terminal building in response to growing passenger numbers. By the time construction is expected to be complete in 2016, the terminal building will be 40 per cent larger than it is now with a more spacious holding area for departing passengers, new and larger check in and baggage drop off facilities, more room for security
clearing and renovated office and counter space for airlines. “We are the northwest's regional airport and we really want to grow that,” says airport manager Carman Hendry of the project, the first part of which is to start this fall and be finished next spring. “We want a place where people can feel comfortable, safe and secure.” Financing will come through a first-ever airport improvement fee
of $7 as of November although the airport will look for grants to defray construction costs. “We expect to pay for the project within 10 years after which the improvement fee will be removed,” said Hendry. The expansion project is contained within a 20-year plan commissioned by the society which runs the airport and is being started earlier than first anticipated because of continuing increases in
passenger numbers. The airport passenger count reached 177,294 in 2013 and this July, recorded a passenger count of 23,627. Projections based on increased industrial activity to the north now that BC Hydro has completed its Northwest Transmission Line Hendry said the society's board of directors decided to act now instead of later so that it would not have to play catch up in the years ahead.
Still, said Hendry, the board will continue to take a cautious financial approach to its construction plan. And that's to be done by dividing the expansion project into four parts, each of which being designed to stand alone if need be. “As each stage is completed, we'll evaluate where we are and make decisions then,” said Hendry.
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Bishop’s book
Mine blockade
Long ride
Local writer and columnist publishes first novel under her name \COMMUNITY A10
Tailings review proposed for Red Chris following Tahltan group’s opposition \NEWS A31
Terrace Gran Fondo takes a Sunday ride to Rosswood and back \SPORTS A27