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Sunday, May 01, 2011
Laughter yoga with therapeutic clowns helps paralyzed teenager
It turns out laughter may be the best medicine for a paralyzed Calgary teenager.When sixteen-year-old Micaela - who was born with a rare liver disease - fell ill with the flu three years ago, it developed into meningitis and encephalitis, an acute inflammation of the brain that left her completely paralyzed. She was unable to speak, move or communicate. Having attended laughing exercise groups in the past, Micaela's family was confident she could recover with the help of her sense of humour.
"We knew she could hear us - she got the punch lines, she knew the jokes were there," said mother Judith, who requested the family's surname be withheld. With the help of two therapeutic clowns, Jumpa, a.k.a. Fif Fernandes, and Sparkle, a.k.a. Cheryl Oberg, at the Alberta Children's Hospital, Micaela began laughter yoga, to reduce pain and stress and increase oxygen intake through breathing and laughing exercises. "Three years ago we weren't sure we'd get to bring her home, so this is good, we're glad we're here," said Judith.
Laughter yoga helped Micaela exercise her lungs and vocal muscles, allowing her to start speaking again and while still confined to a wheelchair, she has gained some motion back. "It helped her express her voice again, it helped her feel a lot better - more playful and less stressed," said Oberg. "The doctors and nurses take care of health care, we take care of the spirit."
Dr. David Chaulk, facility medical director and emergency pediatrician at the ACH, said the clowns' presence in the emergency room when he is prepping patients for stressful or painful procedures is a also huge help. "Instead of an anxious child being focused on me, the clown can help distract them, relax them and the patient is not getting stressed watching what I'm doing," he said. The pair of clowns share one full-time position funded through donations to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. There are approximately 60 therapeutic clowns working across Canada.
There's a news video here.
"We knew she could hear us - she got the punch lines, she knew the jokes were there," said mother Judith, who requested the family's surname be withheld. With the help of two therapeutic clowns, Jumpa, a.k.a. Fif Fernandes, and Sparkle, a.k.a. Cheryl Oberg, at the Alberta Children's Hospital, Micaela began laughter yoga, to reduce pain and stress and increase oxygen intake through breathing and laughing exercises. "Three years ago we weren't sure we'd get to bring her home, so this is good, we're glad we're here," said Judith.
Laughter yoga helped Micaela exercise her lungs and vocal muscles, allowing her to start speaking again and while still confined to a wheelchair, she has gained some motion back. "It helped her express her voice again, it helped her feel a lot better - more playful and less stressed," said Oberg. "The doctors and nurses take care of health care, we take care of the spirit."
Dr. David Chaulk, facility medical director and emergency pediatrician at the ACH, said the clowns' presence in the emergency room when he is prepping patients for stressful or painful procedures is a also huge help. "Instead of an anxious child being focused on me, the clown can help distract them, relax them and the patient is not getting stressed watching what I'm doing," he said. The pair of clowns share one full-time position funded through donations to the Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation. There are approximately 60 therapeutic clowns working across Canada.
There's a news video here.
Dog submerged herself in bathtub to survive raging fire
A dog survived a raging house fire for six hours by hiding in a water-filled bathtub, according to firefighters. Piedmont Park Fire Capt. Duane Brock said the fire was extremely difficult to extinguish because of the size of the house and the intensity of the flames. Firefighters were able to rescue the dog, a 1-year-old Belgian Malinois named Mia, from the basement of the burning home.
Mia's owner, Chris Brumby, was amazed at how the dog survived, but said he knew she was smart. "She acts like a human for most things," Brumby said. "And that kind of showed it. She knew where to go and hide." He said Mia was able to get to a bathtub on the lowest level of the house, where she waited as firefighters doused the home with water.
As the water ran down into the basement, it filled the bathtub and soaked Mia, keeping her safe from flames, Brock said. Brumby said the dog has learned how to open doors throughout the house, and that she had to open four doors to get to the bathtub where she was found. He said when firefighters brought her out of the house, she was wet, dazed and covered in soot. "She literally had steam coming off of her," he said.
Brumby, his wife Codi and their two children were out to dinner when the fire started. He said the house was a total loss, but that they were relieved that the dog survived. "That was a pretty special moment for us, because she's definitely part of the family," he said.
With news video.
Mia's owner, Chris Brumby, was amazed at how the dog survived, but said he knew she was smart. "She acts like a human for most things," Brumby said. "And that kind of showed it. She knew where to go and hide." He said Mia was able to get to a bathtub on the lowest level of the house, where she waited as firefighters doused the home with water.
As the water ran down into the basement, it filled the bathtub and soaked Mia, keeping her safe from flames, Brock said. Brumby said the dog has learned how to open doors throughout the house, and that she had to open four doors to get to the bathtub where she was found. He said when firefighters brought her out of the house, she was wet, dazed and covered in soot. "She literally had steam coming off of her," he said.
Brumby, his wife Codi and their two children were out to dinner when the fire started. He said the house was a total loss, but that they were relieved that the dog survived. "That was a pretty special moment for us, because she's definitely part of the family," he said.
With news video.
Woman survives close call with oncoming train
An Oregon woman narrowly escaped an oncoming train. The woman was standing on a train platform in Hillsboro, Ore. when she began to sway and fell onto the track.
An approaching commuter train conductor spotted her and stopped just inches short of the woman's body.
YouTube link.
The conductor said he saw her moving close to the edge of the tracks and pulled slowly into the station.
A transit employee helped the woman until paramedics arrived. According to rescuers, the woman had a medical condition that caused her to fall.
There's a longer video here.
An approaching commuter train conductor spotted her and stopped just inches short of the woman's body.
YouTube link.
The conductor said he saw her moving close to the edge of the tracks and pulled slowly into the station.
A transit employee helped the woman until paramedics arrived. According to rescuers, the woman had a medical condition that caused her to fall.
There's a longer video here.
Leaking house dials 911 for help
A house in Marblehead, Massachusetts, that endured a leaking pipe for many months dialed 911 on Wednesday, finally bringing town officials to the rescue. The homeowner gone — no one yet knows where — the house likely sprang a leak during a past freeze and began spraying water all over.
"Water came down inside the walls and through the ceiling," said Health Director Wayne Attridge. "The (wood) floors have buckled. The ceilings are sagging. It filled the basement with (5 feet of) water." Worse yet, potentially toxic mould is everywhere. "It's a horrific mess," said Attridge, who said the inside of the structure may have to be gutted.
The 911 call went out to police, apparently, when water short-circuited the phone system. Police recorded it as a 911 hang-up, and when they tried to return the call they got only static. Officers were sent to the location, 31 Rockaway Ave. According to the police log, they determined that something inside was leaking before they requested permission to make a forced entry through the back door. It was then they saw just how badly this house had suffered.
Firefighters pumped out the basement, and all the utilities were stopped. The address belongs to James Cowen, and it was his childhood home. Police havelocated his daughter but not Cowen. His car was in the garage, however. Cousin William Cowen isn't surprised, and he isn't worried. James, he noted, is in his 60s and often travels. Left financially secure by his late father, he doesn't work.
"Water came down inside the walls and through the ceiling," said Health Director Wayne Attridge. "The (wood) floors have buckled. The ceilings are sagging. It filled the basement with (5 feet of) water." Worse yet, potentially toxic mould is everywhere. "It's a horrific mess," said Attridge, who said the inside of the structure may have to be gutted.
The 911 call went out to police, apparently, when water short-circuited the phone system. Police recorded it as a 911 hang-up, and when they tried to return the call they got only static. Officers were sent to the location, 31 Rockaway Ave. According to the police log, they determined that something inside was leaking before they requested permission to make a forced entry through the back door. It was then they saw just how badly this house had suffered.
Firefighters pumped out the basement, and all the utilities were stopped. The address belongs to James Cowen, and it was his childhood home. Police havelocated his daughter but not Cowen. His car was in the garage, however. Cousin William Cowen isn't surprised, and he isn't worried. James, he noted, is in his 60s and often travels. Left financially secure by his late father, he doesn't work.
Five-year-old Indian boy charged with disrupting the peace
A five-year-old boy in the Indian state of Bihar has been charged with "disrupting the peace" during recent village council elections. Suryakant Paswan had to pay 20,000 rupees ($437; £266) for bail and has had to report daily to police in the town of Dhibra for the past week. Correspondents say his arrest has caused outrage in the area.
Police say it was a case of "mistaken identity" and they meant to charge his elder brother with disorderly conduct. They say they wrote his name down by mistake. "The police wanted to charge Srikant Paswan, his elder brother. But, by mistake they wrote Suryakant's name," police officer Ashgar Imam said.
He added that police had submitted an application to the court for correcting the name. Suryakant, a resident of Kolhaura village in Aurangabad district, is a first-grade student at the village government school. "A case has been filed against me and that is why I am here," Suryakant said.
His father has had to accompany him into town to report to the police station every day. "It's a serious violation of child rights," said one Patna high court criminal lawyer, Mukesh Kant. The incident only came to light in Indian media on Friday.
Police say it was a case of "mistaken identity" and they meant to charge his elder brother with disorderly conduct. They say they wrote his name down by mistake. "The police wanted to charge Srikant Paswan, his elder brother. But, by mistake they wrote Suryakant's name," police officer Ashgar Imam said.
He added that police had submitted an application to the court for correcting the name. Suryakant, a resident of Kolhaura village in Aurangabad district, is a first-grade student at the village government school. "A case has been filed against me and that is why I am here," Suryakant said.
His father has had to accompany him into town to report to the police station every day. "It's a serious violation of child rights," said one Patna high court criminal lawyer, Mukesh Kant. The incident only came to light in Indian media on Friday.
Italian police suspended over Trevi fountain trawlers
Italian police are under investigation for taking a cut of £12,000 of "wishing" coins scooped from the bottom of the Trevi fountain by men armed with brooms and buckets. Throwing small change into the water that cascades down the marble monument is supposed to bring good luck and ensure a return to the Eternal City. An estimated 14,000 euros (£12,000) is tossed into the fountain every week. The money is supposed to be collected by authorities and given to a Roman Catholic charity, Caritas.
But an Italian television programme secretly filmed the coins being scooped up from the fountain's turquoise waters by a gang of five middle-aged men. The sting took place early in the morning when the fountain, which at this time of year is normally thronged with crowds, was deserted. The men were filmed wading into its thigh-deep waters and helping themselves to hundreds of coins with the help of brushes, scoops and nets, while three police officers stood idly by.
YouTube link.
The officers were suspended as soon as the footage was broadcast on Italian television last week and will be sacked if found guilty. One of the men was filmed handing over an item to an officer, prompting suspicion that the police were being bribed to allow the theft to take place on a regular basis. When the men were challenged by a journalist from the television programme, they verbally abused him and shoved him headfirst into the fountain. The alleged ringleader of the gang, Roberto Cercelletta, who calls himself "D'Artagnan", uttered a string of profanities towards the camera crew, all of which was captured on film.
Angelo Giuliani, the commander of the police unit, condemned the inaction of his officers and announced an investigation. Gianni Alemanno, the mayor of Rome, accused the police of "intolerable laxness" and said he was "ashamed" that officers were apparently allowing money intended for the needy to be blatantly stolen. "The inaction shown towards those who were collecting the coins, and over the assault of the journalist, is completely unacceptable," he said. "Those in uniform cannot be allowed to behave like this. We cannot permit this sort of thing to go on in the city." Police are considering whether to press charges against the alleged thieves, who were filmed making off with buckets laden with coins.
But an Italian television programme secretly filmed the coins being scooped up from the fountain's turquoise waters by a gang of five middle-aged men. The sting took place early in the morning when the fountain, which at this time of year is normally thronged with crowds, was deserted. The men were filmed wading into its thigh-deep waters and helping themselves to hundreds of coins with the help of brushes, scoops and nets, while three police officers stood idly by.
YouTube link.
The officers were suspended as soon as the footage was broadcast on Italian television last week and will be sacked if found guilty. One of the men was filmed handing over an item to an officer, prompting suspicion that the police were being bribed to allow the theft to take place on a regular basis. When the men were challenged by a journalist from the television programme, they verbally abused him and shoved him headfirst into the fountain. The alleged ringleader of the gang, Roberto Cercelletta, who calls himself "D'Artagnan", uttered a string of profanities towards the camera crew, all of which was captured on film.
Angelo Giuliani, the commander of the police unit, condemned the inaction of his officers and announced an investigation. Gianni Alemanno, the mayor of Rome, accused the police of "intolerable laxness" and said he was "ashamed" that officers were apparently allowing money intended for the needy to be blatantly stolen. "The inaction shown towards those who were collecting the coins, and over the assault of the journalist, is completely unacceptable," he said. "Those in uniform cannot be allowed to behave like this. We cannot permit this sort of thing to go on in the city." Police are considering whether to press charges against the alleged thieves, who were filmed making off with buckets laden with coins.
Inmate injured trying to separate guards fighting over food
The Erie County Sheriff's department is investigating what they admit is an embarrassing incident involving two correctional officers in the Yankee Building at the Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden. Undersheriff Mark Wipperman confirmed that a fight between the two jailers took place last Thursday, and an inmate who tried to break up the fight was injured in the process.
Wipperman identifies the Corrections Officers as Lawrence Mule, a 26-year member of the force and James Conlin, for 29-years. Wipperman would only say the fight happened over food dissemination. "Quite frankly I don't care if it was a bag of chips, a candy bar, romaine noodles. This conduct should never of happened and will never be tolerated. Never," said Wipperman.
The Undersheriff describes the inmate who got involved as a "Trustee." The inmate told investigators the only reason why he intervened was because he didn't want to see either men lose their jobs.
Wipperman said: "I'm totally embarrassed. Quite frankly I'm very upset that I'm even having this conversation. I really feel bad for the men and women, the vast majority of them who come in the correctional facility and the holding center everyday and do a great job." Wipperman would not discuss the type of injury the inmate suffered, only to say that he was taken to the infirmary at the Corrections Facility, then to ECMC before returning back to jail.
With news video.
Wipperman identifies the Corrections Officers as Lawrence Mule, a 26-year member of the force and James Conlin, for 29-years. Wipperman would only say the fight happened over food dissemination. "Quite frankly I don't care if it was a bag of chips, a candy bar, romaine noodles. This conduct should never of happened and will never be tolerated. Never," said Wipperman.
The Undersheriff describes the inmate who got involved as a "Trustee." The inmate told investigators the only reason why he intervened was because he didn't want to see either men lose their jobs.
Wipperman said: "I'm totally embarrassed. Quite frankly I'm very upset that I'm even having this conversation. I really feel bad for the men and women, the vast majority of them who come in the correctional facility and the holding center everyday and do a great job." Wipperman would not discuss the type of injury the inmate suffered, only to say that he was taken to the infirmary at the Corrections Facility, then to ECMC before returning back to jail.
With news video.
Thief loses trousers along with stolen beer
Polk County Sheriff's detectives are looking for a beer robber. It happened on Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at the E-Z Food Store in Lake Wales.
The suspect got out of the front passenger side of a black Chevy Lumina with dark tinted windows and no tag, and walked into the store.
YouTube link.
Moments later the suspect then ran out of the store with two cases of Bud Light beer. The robber's trousers slipped down and he fell, dropping the beer all over the parking lot, then jumped into the backseat of the waiting vehicle and fled the scene.
Investigators describe the suspect as a white male in his mid-20s, wearing blue jeans, a green T-shirt, a dark colored ballcap with a white logo on it, and black sneakers.
The suspect got out of the front passenger side of a black Chevy Lumina with dark tinted windows and no tag, and walked into the store.
YouTube link.
Moments later the suspect then ran out of the store with two cases of Bud Light beer. The robber's trousers slipped down and he fell, dropping the beer all over the parking lot, then jumped into the backseat of the waiting vehicle and fled the scene.
Investigators describe the suspect as a white male in his mid-20s, wearing blue jeans, a green T-shirt, a dark colored ballcap with a white logo on it, and black sneakers.
Drunk driver sentenced to wear bracelet bearing victim's name
A convicted drunken driver who killed a woman in Fort Worth two years ago has been sentenced to wear a bracelet with the victim’s name on it and spend certain holidays, her birthday and the date of her death in jail for the next 10 years. Christopher Elton Campbell was drunk when he crashed his car into another, killing 24-year-old Renee Danielle Horton. On Friday, Campbell, 22, was sentenced to 10 years' probation for intoxication manslaughter.
As a condition of his probation, he must wear a bracelet with Horton's name on it, reimburse her mother $22,271.46 in funeral expenses, and spend Christmas, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, and the dates of Horton's birth and death in the Tarrant County Jail. Prosecutor Lloyd Whelchel said he came up with the conditions of probation after working with Horton's family.
If Campbell violates any condition - he also must spend the next 30 days in jail, refrain from drinking alcohol, install a Breathalyzer on his vehicle and wear an alcohol-detecting ankle monitor - he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. "After talking to the victim's family, this is what they wanted to do," Whelchel said. "This was done with their approval." Defence attorney Jerry Loftin said requiring his client to wear the bracelet for the next 10 years is a good thing. "It's a constant reminder," Loftin said.
"Every time you think about whining or complaining because you have to spend a holiday in jail, remember I never get to spend any days with my daughter, on holidays or her birthday," Debbie Horton told Campbell after the plea bargain agreement was reached. "Never ever. And every year on the date that Renee died, I will remember the horror of that day. When you wear Renee's bracelet, remember Renee was a real, live human being with a life that you stole from her."
As a condition of his probation, he must wear a bracelet with Horton's name on it, reimburse her mother $22,271.46 in funeral expenses, and spend Christmas, Thanksgiving, the Fourth of July, and the dates of Horton's birth and death in the Tarrant County Jail. Prosecutor Lloyd Whelchel said he came up with the conditions of probation after working with Horton's family.
If Campbell violates any condition - he also must spend the next 30 days in jail, refrain from drinking alcohol, install a Breathalyzer on his vehicle and wear an alcohol-detecting ankle monitor - he could be sentenced to up to 10 years in prison. "After talking to the victim's family, this is what they wanted to do," Whelchel said. "This was done with their approval." Defence attorney Jerry Loftin said requiring his client to wear the bracelet for the next 10 years is a good thing. "It's a constant reminder," Loftin said.
"Every time you think about whining or complaining because you have to spend a holiday in jail, remember I never get to spend any days with my daughter, on holidays or her birthday," Debbie Horton told Campbell after the plea bargain agreement was reached. "Never ever. And every year on the date that Renee died, I will remember the horror of that day. When you wear Renee's bracelet, remember Renee was a real, live human being with a life that you stole from her."
Charity shop sold little boy's scooter when he left it outside
A mix-up at a charity shop saw a child’s mini scooter get sold while he and his mother were still in the shop. Carine Siebert had left her son Gael's scooter outside while they browsed the Shaw Trust shop in Thame, Oxfordshire, only to come back and find it had been sold for just £3.
Shop staff admitted the error but still made Carine pay for the goods she was buying while the scooter was being sold. She said: “We went in as normal and left the little scooter outside, which costs about £50, but when we came out there was no scooter.
“The lady looked a bit worried and said to us - ‘I think I made a mistake’. They said they were sorry but there was nothing they could do to help me out. I went around town looking for it but I couldn’t see anyone walking about with a scooter.”
A poster has been put in the shop asking for the scooter to be returned for a refund and Carine is also appealing to whoever purchased it to bring it back. She said: “I just don’t really know what to do now, I hope the person who bought it will see the mistake and bring it back.”
Shop staff admitted the error but still made Carine pay for the goods she was buying while the scooter was being sold. She said: “We went in as normal and left the little scooter outside, which costs about £50, but when we came out there was no scooter.
“The lady looked a bit worried and said to us - ‘I think I made a mistake’. They said they were sorry but there was nothing they could do to help me out. I went around town looking for it but I couldn’t see anyone walking about with a scooter.”
A poster has been put in the shop asking for the scooter to be returned for a refund and Carine is also appealing to whoever purchased it to bring it back. She said: “I just don’t really know what to do now, I hope the person who bought it will see the mistake and bring it back.”
Operator’s warning to have-a-go hero who tackled cricket pitch vandal
A have-a go hero from Tunbridge Wells caught a vandal red-handed and rang police for help – only for the operator to warn him he could be charged with assault. John Harvey, 47, had the criminal in one hand and his mobile phone in the other as the yob’s mates, who were brandishing sticks, closed in on him. But instead of reassuring him that officers were on their way, the 999 operator insisted Mr Harvey answered a string of standard, computer-generated questions – and issued him with the warning.
Mr Harvey said: “I expected to be thoroughly supported by the police as a civilian and not rebuked.” By the time police turned up Mr Harvey had reluctantly let the vandal go. Mr Harvey, from Rusthall, had caught the youngster wrecking the pitch at Linden Park Cricket Club last Wednesday just before 9pm. The groundsman and first team captain, was stunned by the 999 operator asking for details including his name and address and for telling him “You’re sounding rather aggressive.”
Mr Harvey said: “I was expecting a response car immediately. I had restrained someone in the act of vandalism and it’s ‘I must warn you, you are leaving yourself open to an assault charge’. I told her ‘You’d better be quick, there are 12 of them. I might be one of your statistics’. She was reading screen prompts and insisting I gave my name and address and I said ‘With 12 kids in front of me?’ That sort of thing has to be put by the wayside. I could have been in the morgue by now.” The life-long cricketer admitted he sounded aggressive. He said: “I was having to be verbally aggressive because I was standing my corner and having to use a lot of bravado.
“I didn’t touch him, but I had him by a firm grip. I was being jostled. You’d be writing a piece about me being stabbed, so I let them go. By then I’d cut the operator off.” Police arrived 25 minutes later said Mr Harvey, who made an official complaint to police the next morning. Within days he received a telephone apology from Inspector Tony Cannon. Control centre chief inspector Simon Black apologised and said: “The call taker who spoke with Mr Harvey acted correctly in the advice she gave but has been advised she could have shown a little more empathy to Mr Harvey’s situation.”
Mr Harvey said: “I expected to be thoroughly supported by the police as a civilian and not rebuked.” By the time police turned up Mr Harvey had reluctantly let the vandal go. Mr Harvey, from Rusthall, had caught the youngster wrecking the pitch at Linden Park Cricket Club last Wednesday just before 9pm. The groundsman and first team captain, was stunned by the 999 operator asking for details including his name and address and for telling him “You’re sounding rather aggressive.”
Mr Harvey said: “I was expecting a response car immediately. I had restrained someone in the act of vandalism and it’s ‘I must warn you, you are leaving yourself open to an assault charge’. I told her ‘You’d better be quick, there are 12 of them. I might be one of your statistics’. She was reading screen prompts and insisting I gave my name and address and I said ‘With 12 kids in front of me?’ That sort of thing has to be put by the wayside. I could have been in the morgue by now.” The life-long cricketer admitted he sounded aggressive. He said: “I was having to be verbally aggressive because I was standing my corner and having to use a lot of bravado.
“I didn’t touch him, but I had him by a firm grip. I was being jostled. You’d be writing a piece about me being stabbed, so I let them go. By then I’d cut the operator off.” Police arrived 25 minutes later said Mr Harvey, who made an official complaint to police the next morning. Within days he received a telephone apology from Inspector Tony Cannon. Control centre chief inspector Simon Black apologised and said: “The call taker who spoke with Mr Harvey acted correctly in the advice she gave but has been advised she could have shown a little more empathy to Mr Harvey’s situation.”
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