For immediate release
There have been approximately 4000 Canadian Forces soldiers injured in the war in Afghanistan. In the flash of a moment, when a Canadian soldier steps on a land mine, his life changes forever. In an instant, legs and arms are completely blown off, extensive severe burns to one side of the body or a piece of shrapnel takes out an eye. When that moment happens, the very life of the soldier hangs in the balance. A soldier is rushed to the hospital at the Kandahar Airfield. A soldier’s next memory may be looking up to see the kind face of Captain Joelle Beaudoin. She is a Canadian Forces Nurse who has served in both the Trauma Unit and the Surgical Unit of the Kandahar Airfield base hospital. In some cases, the worst cases, a doctor can only go as far as modern medicine will allow. When a doctor can do no more, it is the nurse that makes the injured soldier feel as comfortable as possible in the final moments of life. In the face of this nurse is all the love and compassion of Canada honouring this soldier in his final moments of life. No one knows the sacrifice of our Canadian soldiers like Nurse Captain Joelle Beaudoin.
Today, she serves with the Canadian Forces Aeromedical Evacuation Flight. She is the angel who flies in Airbus and Challenger jets to bring injured Canadian soldiers back home to their families. There can be as many as six critical care beds in a jet Airbus. She considers it an honour to bring these injured soldiers home. Joelle is so proud of each and every soldier. Every injured soldier is flown directly to the closest airport of their home base. She sees the emotion when an injured Canadian soldier is reunited with their family. She can’t imagine a more worthwhile way of spending her days than her current life in the Canadian Forces.
There are the tough days. Joelle noticed an injured Canadian soldier, who she had cared for and had just received his new prosthesis after his leg had been amputated from an injury, was struggling to walk in a 5 km Army Run. It was emotional to watch and Joelle shed some tears.
On Sunday November 14th Nurse Captain Joelle Beaudoin, is coming to Hamilton to share her insights about injured Canadian soldiers. Quilts of Valour are being blessed at St. John’s Anglican Church in Winona at the 10:00 AM Service. The community is invited to support our injured soldiers and hear Nurse Captain Joelle Beaudoin speak. Of the approximately 4000 Canadian soldiers injured, over 1000 have received Quilts of Valour made lovingly by volunteers from across Canada. The next batch of Quilts going to injured Canadian soldiers will be displayed throughout the church at this special community service. If anyone would like donate a new quilt they are invited to contact Quilts Of Valour Representative Alison McDonald at 905-385-2014 or at alison.mc.donald@sympatico.ca. Everyone is welcome to see this moving display of the Quilts of Valour and hear the story of the nurse who brings these soldiers home. -30-
For more information please contact Chris Robertson at 905-930-8675 or at chris@chrisrobertson.ca
