THURSDAY November 6, 2014 Vol. 29• No.89 ••• $1.25 inc. G.S.T.
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In need of a liver
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Black Creek teen with rare form of cancer uses YouTube to seek out donor Scott Stanfield Record Staff
PHOTO BY TERRY FARRELL
Three-year-old Finnius Swift of Comox is surrounded by hungry goats as he enters the petting zoo at the Tsolum Mobile Veterinary Health open house in Merville on Saturday. Hundreds of people came out for the event, which featured a barbecue, door prizes and free nail clipping for pets.
Comox mayoral hopefuls square off at forum Erin Haluschak Record Staff
Using his reputation to work collaboratively, and balancing policy making, public and private interest, incumbent Comox Mayor Paul Ives faced off against current councillor and mayoral candidate Tom Grant Monday night during the all candidates forum. But Grant noted while Comox has many strong features such as parks, libraries and a recreation centre, it is time for a change.
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“... all is not rosy in Comox, things can be done differently and better, and sooner rather than later,” he stated in his opening statement. Grant added he sees a progressive Comox which welcomes entrepreneurs and a work-life balance. “As mayor, I will be the best salesman for Comox. I want to attract families who would like to start small businesses here.” Ives referred to his leadership style, which is to build consensus by working with council, senior
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staff and the public. “Public policy making, balancing of interest —public and private — takes time to deal tangible results and requires building of special relationships. Better public engagement has been initiated in our processes of development,” he said. He noted council can also do better by seeking improvements to what they do. “It’s not enough to say the right thing, but to do the right thing.”
... see FORUM ■ A8
A Black Creek teenager diagnosed with a rare form of liver cancer is asking the public to consider the gift of organ donation — which could save a life. Tessa Williams, a Grade 9 student at Vanier Secondary, had regular stomach nausea and pains when she was a little girl. Tessa Williams at a Vancouver Canucks game. PHOTO SUBMITTED The pains worsened with age. Depression set in at age 12. “I want to live and I want othHer mother, Dawn McQuinn, ers to know they aren’t alone.” took her to counsellors, but the (To see her YouTube video, go depression worsened, as did the to bit.ly/10n7AbY) nausea. In January, a family friend at This past summer, an ultra- Vanier — Ciaran Martin — was sound on her abdomen showed killed when he was a large mass on her struck by an autoliver. Tessa was sent mobile while longI want to live to BC Children’s Hosboarding. His family pital in Vancouver, and I want othdonated his organs where blood testing ers to know they to BC Transplant, and further scans in keeping with his aren’t alone. showed the mass was wish. Tessa became near the hepatic vein. Tessa Williams passionate about She was diagnosed organ transplant, with Fibrolamellar wanting youth to Hepatocellular Carknow about the registry. cinoma, which strikes about 200 “We’re seeing it from the horror young people worldwide each of the donor side and what hapyear. The only cures are removal pened to them (Martins), and now of the diseased liver or a trans- we need it,” McQuinn said, noting plant. the importance of organ donation. Tessa had two-thirds of her “It gives me goose-bumps just liver removed. The large tumour talking about it.” was removed but it was too risky Tessa returns to Vancouver to remove any more of the liver Nov. 16-19 for pre-transplant near the mass, considering its preparations. She is on the list proximity to the vein. for the next available liver. She now awaits a liver trans“There’s only a handful of peoplant. ple, and she’s the only one in her Though “terrified beyond category,” McQuinn said. words,” Tessa says in her video ... see TESSA ■ A8 that she is lucky to be alive.
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