Winnipeg Free Press

Winnipeg Free Press (Newspaper) - January 13, 2025, Winnipeg, Manitoba MONDAY JANUARY 13, 2025 ● ASSOCIATE EDITOR, NEWS: STACEY THIDRICKSON 204-697-7292 ● CITY.DESK@FREEPRESS.MB.CA ● WINNIPEGFREEPRESS.COM SECTION B CONNECT WITH WINNIPEG’S NO. 1 NEWS SOURCE ▼ CITY ● BUSINESS Woman with spinal muscular atrophy opposes plan to have her live in Riverview Health Centre ‘I’m being forced into a place’ C RYSTAL Rondeau’s muscle wast- ing disease has left her with only one finger to press an alarm but- ton or send a text. The 35-year-old, who has spinal mus- cular atrophy Type 2, objects to the proposed plan to have her live in River- view Health Centre in south Winnipeg after being treated at Health Sciences Centre for an infection. “I’m not happy with this plan at all,” she said during a phone interview from her hospital bed. “I’m being forced into a place. It’s not right for them to decide where I live. “I don’t believe in institutionalizing people with disabilities… they basically are telling me I am disposable.” Her family has threatened to file a human rights complaint. Cheryl Rondeau said her daughter was told she will have to go to River- view because the health authority has not agreed to bump up the level of care she needs in her home. She wants care to increase to 100 hours a week from the 55 hours she has received for years. She said the most the system would agree to is 68 hours. It means her moth- er would have to be the caregiver for the remainder of the time each week. “Crystal is now 35 and she is at the end of her life,” said Cheryl. “Do I see her living in five years? No I don’t. “But Crystal says I have to outlive her because she can’t be around with- out me. She says she would have to ask for (medical assistance in dying). “There is no backup support.” The family says health officials say Crystal’s main caregiver should be her 61-year-old mother, who lives outside Winnipeg. During the 24 weeks Crystal has spent in hospital, battling an infec- tion, if she soils her bed, or needs to be bathed, the hospital says it’s up to her mother to do it because protocol pre- vents staff from lifting her. Cheryl has dropped to 73 pounds from 87 pounds when she was admitted. Hospital protocols say that for every 50 pounds of a patient’s weight, one staff member can be involved in mov- ing a patient, meaning two workers must move Crystal. Because of the way her illness has af- fected her body, if two people lift her, she suffers pain and can be injured. But Cheryl said, under the self-man- aged system at home, where the prov- ince provides funding for the individual to hire their own workers, there are no protocols and they can hire one person to lift her. That protocol, in part, also caused Crystal’s scheduled surgery on Friday, to replace an infected port line, to be cancelled. “HSC staff couldn’t figure out how to move her without Cheryl,” said Rae Metcalfe, Crystal’s doula. “Nor did the whole team understand how badly Crystal is disabled and they didn’t have a (respiratory technician) available to handle Crystal’s trach (with ventilator) during the surgery… there- fore, Crystal was sent back to her room and (they are) currently treating the in- fected port directly. “It was a prime example of how the supposedly world class hospital couldn’t handle the needs of someone so disabled.” Health Minister Uzoma Asagwara said they sympathize with the family. “My heart goes out to the patient and their family,” said Asagwara. “I know navigating the health-care system can be challenging. “Shared Health has assured me that they are looking into options for this pa- tient and will continue working with the family to ensure that they get the care that they need and have an appropriate plan in place.” A Shared Health spokesperson said “providing patients with quality care is our top priority and we are working with this patient to get them the care they need… We take patient input, feedback, and concerns about proposed care plans with the highest level of ser- iousness.” As for the transfer to Riverview, the spokesperson said when a patient no longer needs hospital treatment a tran- sition plan is created with the patient and family. “Care teams first determine the safe, viable options available to the patient,” said the spokesperson in a statement. “This could include transfer to a fa- cility able to meet their specific and ongoing care needs. Once options are determined the patient/family would be involved in conversations about next steps.” Stacey Lintern, CEO of Muscular Dystrophy Canada, said in Manitoba and other provinces, it comes down to money. “It really is heartbreaking,” said Lin- tern, who has sent letters to health offi- cials to advocate for Crystal. “Crystal really should have a choice where she wants to reside. To me, it seems like a no-brainer for her to go back home, but with 100 hours of care instead of capping it (lower)… Cheryl is an aging caregiver and, if she gets injured, there is no one to replace her. “I was really hoping the system would find ways to send her home.” kevin.rollason@freepress.mb.ca KEVIN ROLLASON SUPPLIED Crystal Rondeau, 35, suffers from spinal muscular atrophy Type 2. Civil suit against former police union head stayed A MANITOBA judge has stayed a civil claim against former Winnipeg police union head Maurice Sabourin, after he successfully argued allegations against him fall under the scope of the labour board, not the courts. Lawyer Ian Histed filed the suit on behalf of Winnipeg Police Ser- vice Sgt. Keith Alexander last Janu- ary. It accuses patrol sergeants Adam Cheadle and Andrew Zurawsky of ma- licious prosecution. Alexander accused Sabourin of breaching his duty as his police association representative and inducing a breach of contract in the same lawsuit. The two officers have denied the ser- geant’s claims in their own legal filing, alleging they were forced to report his erratic behaviour and threats for the safety of other officers. Alexander was later charged with ut- tering threats, but Crown prosecutors stayed the charge in 2022. Alexander accused Sabourin of di- recting his union-paid lawyer to enter a plea deal to stay the charges, in ex- change for retiring, taking counselling, never working as an officer, and having no contact with the alleged victim. Sabourin said it was common prac- tice for the union to discuss matters with lawyers it had retained on behalf of officers. Alexander claimed he wasn’t made aware of the deal until after the Crown accepted it. Sabourin told Alexander that if he didn’t accept the lawyer’s ad- vice, the lawyer might be withdrawn by the police union. Alexander then re- tained his own lawyer. Sabourin, who retired from policing and left his union post in September 2022, filed a notice of motion seeking to have the claim against him dismissed. His motion said Alexander’s claims constituted allegations of unfair labour practice, which the court has no juris- diction over. Court of King’s Bench Justice Chris Martin agreed in a written decision last month in which he granted Sabourin’s motion and stayed the civil proceeding against him. “The facts assert that Mr. Sabourin’s conduct was in his role as association president representing Mr. Alexander as a member of the association, re- specting criminal charges against him for which the association was obligated to represent him,” said Martin. ERIK PINDERA ● CIVIL SUIT, CONTINUED ON B3 New temporary fire station celebrated THE Winnipeg Fire Paramedic Ser- vice’s new temporary modular station in Waverley West was commissioned on Saturday. A fire engine and four-person fire- fighter crew, and an ambulance and two-person paramedic crew, have been operating out of the station, located at 130 Eaglewood Dr., since Dec. 19. In that time, first responders headquar- tered at the station have responded to 151 calls for service. Winnipeg has grown by 65,000 new residents in recent years, said Mayor Scott Gillingham, and many of those people live in Waverley West. “The growth is exciting but it also comes with challenges,” he said. “This innovative, temporary solution ensures that vital emergency services are deliv- ered to this rapidly growing commun- ity.” During his remarks, David Pankratz, MLA for Waverley and a former fire- fighter, noted that on Jan. 4, firefighters from the temporary station responded to reports of a fire in a single-family bungalow on Yorkvalley Way and found a vehicle on fire inside the home’s at- tached garage. Because of the station’s location in Waverley West, crews were able to get to the fire in five minutes and four seconds and save the house. “It perfectly illustrates how import- ant this is to have here in the commun- ity,” Pankratz said. AARON EPP ● STATION, CONTINUED ON B3 JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS PEDAL POWER ON THE POND Boris and his son hopped on ice bikes Sunday at the Riley Family Duck Pond for Assiniboine Park’s We Are Winter event. It was the close of the inaugural three-day celebration of cold-weather fun that offered outdoor movie-screening, music, equipment rentals and lessons in skiing, sledding and more. AARON EPP / FREE PRESS Mayor Scott Gillingham: ‘The growth is excit- ing but it also comes with challenges.’ ;