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10FOCUS-MARCH2012GIVEProgramcontinuedfrompage9TheoriginalgroupofstudentswhostartedtheGIVEProgramin2006arepicturedherewiththeirmentorJoniMountfordcentreback.FromleftareGraceAzizNicholeCochraneJoniMountfordSamanthaWhitakerMarissaMountfordandinfrontNicoleWinter.Thestudentsrealizedintimethatmanyofthepatientsweremuchlikex1c16-yearoldswithwrinklesx1dbutwithendlesslifestoriesandexperiencestoshare.Theysawtheirsenseofhumourstillintactbuttheyalsoheardheartbreakingstories.Theylistenedandempathizedandslowlythesepatientsbecameadeepandimportantpartoftheirdailylives.JoniandthestudentsmeeteveryThursdayafterschoolatthehospitalwheretheyhaveasnackanddiscussionbeforeheadingouttovisitthepatients.Thestudentsarethenonthe-oorfrom3p.m.until7p.m.Thedynamicofthedayisopenandneverthesame.Sometimesalltheteenswillbeinawardwithfourpatientsandtheirfamiliesotheroccasionsastudentcouldendupwithonepatientformanyhours.Jonisaystheconversationsbetweenthekidsthepatientsandtheirfamiliesareaweinspiring.Shesaysthatdeepemotionsareoftenstirredandmanytimesallinvolvedhaveendedupcrying.JonitellsofoneparticularsuchinstanceinwhichtheywerewithagentlemanwhohadfoughtinWordWarIIandhadneverbeforespokenofhisexperienceswithhisfamily.x1cAfterspeakingwithseveralteenagershebegantotalkaboutthehorribleexperienceshehadneverexpressedtoanyone.Hisfamilylistenedinamazementathisopennesswiththekidstheyhadovertimeopenedsomethinginhimhenallywantedtoshare.Thedepthofemotionthatdaywassomethingnoneofuswilleverforgetx1dshesays.Jonisaysherkidshavelearnedtolookattheelderlywithadeepsenseofvalueandtheyhavehadthatvaluereturnedtotheminspades.Shesaystheelderlygetenoughofpeoplelookingawayfromthemengagethemandtheywillreturnittenfold.Theteensjobwhentheystepintothathospitalroomistondoutwhateachpatientrequiresandthenovertimetheycandevelopdeepskillsofunderstanding.SaysJonix1cWithteenagersitsallaboutthem.Thisprogramisteachingthemtobekindndcompassiontonotjudgetonotblame.Everyoneofthekidswhohavecomethroughthishavebecomebetterpeopleduetotheirinteractionwiththesepatients.Theyarechangedkids.Iamproudofthemx1d.WhenaskedaboutthefutureoftheprogramJoniexplainsx1dMyfrustrationisthattheGIVEprogramonlyrunsfourhoursaweek.WiththeincreaseinthenumberofelderlypatientsIwishformuchmore.Iwisheverydaythesepatientscouldhavesomeonetotalkwithwalkwithjustbewith.x1dShewouldespeciallyliketoseemoreteenagersinvolvedx13shecurrentlyhasagroupoftenstudents.Althoughthereisawaitinglistofteensreadytogotheresourcesarenottheretoformnewgroups.OnapositivenoteJonihasbeenworkingwiththehospitalAuxiliarygrouptostartcominganddoingwhattheteenagershavebeendoing.TheAuxiliaryhavewantedtodomoreandwouldlovetobepartofavisitingprogramsohopefullyJonix19svisionofbroadeningitwillcometofruition.InthemeantimeeveryThursdayJonieagerlyawaitsherteenagevolunteers.Theirenthusiasmandenergydrivesher.Jonix19sprideisevidentattheircommitmentandtheirhavinglearnedtolistentoshareandtogive.TheGIVEProgramseemstohavethegreatfortunetohaveagreatleader.Inspirationisgivennottaken.ByMarjorieFlemingFocusonScugogTHELIVINGROOMThevolunteerGIVEstudentshavebeenworkingfortwoyearstocreateapatientloungethatwillmakealong-termdifferencefortheelderlyatPortPerryHospital.ThehospitalgaveabeautifulspaceandthestudentsdesignedaninvitingcomfortableroomlikealivingroomwherepatientscoulddoactivitieswatchTVreadvisitwiththeirfamiliesinessenceaplacelikehome.Withanoldpianoanelectricx17replaceandallthecozytouchesthatmakeahomethelivingroomwillbeinfullusebythetimetheschoolyearisx17nished.Itisadreamcometruethathastheentirehospitalexcited.905-985-2468infotrippcreative.cawww.trippcreative.caWeddingsPortraitsMaternityNewbornsCommercialNEWSTUDIOLOCATION139QueenSt.Unit4PortPerryEnterThroughHOMETOWNPRINTINGTRIPPCREATIVEphotography