CHRISTMAS IN THE EASTERN ARCTIC NORTH OF 60
Bu Maria Fraser

Maria Fraser (nee Fernandes) is a Health Nurse Repulse Bay, in the North West Territories of Canada. She has been there since 1990. To locate Repulse Bay on the map of Canada, follow the Arctic Circle ( lat. 67.5 deg) westward, to intersect the west side of the Hudson Bay. The residents of this eastern Arctic area are called Inuit. 

See “Letter from Maria” at http://www.goacom.com/culture/biographies/mariaw.html
See also: http://www.goanvoice.ca/2003/issue20/

This is a story of how I shared my Christmas with a 12 year Inuit girl in Repulse Bay, in a remote and very isolated community on the Arctic Circle The little girl is Mira(not her real name) is waiting to celebrate her 13th Birthday the end of Dec.09.

Scene in Repulse Bay – roasting marshmallows
Maria in Blue Parka

In July 2008 Mira presented at the local health centre with her grandmother as she was not feeling well. The grandmother thought that Mira had a cold. Recommendations were given to the grandmother of what to do. Despite this, Mira was brought back to the health  centre on two further occasions as she was not improving. The third time Mira returned she was very pale and her hemoglobin was only 3.

A pediatrician was contacted in Winnipeg who advised that Mira be sent to the Children’s Hospital for further tests. The pediatrician suspected that Mira may have Leukemia. Mira had to be fly for 7 hours on a medievac plane. In Winnipeg the diagnosis was confirmed as Acute Myeloid Leukemia. Further investigations, tests and scans were carried out. Mira had never been outside her little community. The city of Winnipeg was an entirely new world and she missed her dad and brother back home. The thought of having to remain in Winnipeg was beyond her grasp. The doctors informed the grandmother that he would try his best to help Mira.

Chemotherapy coupled with other drugs were initiated. Mira was very ill, but she did not give up and fought to get better. The treatments were not getting her better and the doctor decided to attempt bone marrow transplant. Mira's dad was found to be a suitable donor. The transplant took place and Mira started to show signs of improvement. A few months later Mira was allowed to return to her home community.

Mira was very happy to be able to play with her friends and attend school. She enjoyed riding her bike in the summer. It was a new bike that her grandmother saved up to buy for her. Mira looked happy and appreciated being normal again, just like her school friends. Precautions were taken that she not attend crowded areas as her immune system was susceptible to infection.

A year later it was time for her to return to see her doctor in Winnipeg. When her blood was checked it showed that Mira's Leukemia had returned. This time there was nothing more that the specialists in Winnipeg could do. Mira was sent home and the grandmother and her dad were told that she has 4-6 months to live.

Mira was looking well and played with her friends then one day in November 09 she complained of a headache. This was the start of her decline. In the two days that followed Mira could not move her leg and she could not get up from bed. The cancer affected her lumbar spine. Mira was a fighter and said that she wanted to celebrate Christmas with her family. The family were informed that she now had days to live. Mira's only wish was to go to Disney Land. This was not possible as she was too ill and had to return to the hospital in Winnipeg just before Christmas. We were in constant communication with Mira who was not made aware of what was happening to her body. Mira lived hoping to be better for Christmas and made it with the help of her friends and family who were praying and supporting her. When asked what she would wish for at the moment, she said she wished that her mom and dad would be 'be together again'.

Mira is anxiously waiting for her birthday at the end of December!

This was an encouraging Christmas message for me, to enjoy the gift of life that is given us and ensure that others appreciate each precious moment of life as a precious gift.

Wishing all my friends and colleagues in their Medical Mission, a special New Year 2009!.

TEGSA’S FIRST EVER - NEW YEAR’S EVE BASH
December 31st -2009

“WITH MEMORIES” OF
“AULD LANG SYNE”

“Another Year Over, A New Year Just Begun”
By Muriel Lucas.

As we reach the threshold of a New Decade , TEGSA set the stage to ring out the old, and “Chime” in the New, by going out, full circle with a” BANG”, Style and Pizzaz., as they celebrated their first ever New Year’s Eve dance, supported by a full house with members and guests, who filed in at the Qssis Banquet Hall, Scarborough, Ontario, to help celebrate the past year, and welcome 2010.

The popular Qssis Banquet hall was decorated in festive style with white and black balloons at each table, and complimented with a bottle of Red and White wine. An added feature was a host of colourful balloons were hoisted up above the ceiling for the midnight special!

Excitement filled the air as cocktails and mingling began, with everyone sharing the joys of the Christmas season, amidst the chatter and laughter, and nostalgic tunes in the back ground.  From the word “get-go” this amazing crowd wasted no time in taking to the floor as the Live Band and DJ – Impact 111, struck up the first chords of memories of yesteryear, which helped create a “warming up” session to the start of an exciting evening of fun and surprises.

Following this, Emcee Joaquim introduced Anthony and Myra Misquitta to recite Grace before Meals.

The sit down meal consisted of a Succulent Roast Beef with Pepperorn Gravy and Salmon Fillet, with Lemon Dill Sauce, Roasted Parisienne Potatoes, Asparagus and Sauteed Butter Mushrooms, followed by an appetizing dessert of Vanilla Ice Cream, with Waffle Bowl and fresh Fruit topping, followed by an inviting cup of coffee and/or tea.

The highlight and super surprise of the evening’s celebration was the “Belle Dancing” performed by the charming lady named Hawaiida. Fully adorned with a sexy red tassled gown, she strutted her stuff to screams and applause, as she interacted with the crowd by inviting up guys and gals to strut their stuff alongside her! She sure “wowed” the guys with her “bellyful of charm. She made quite an impact to the evenings celebration, which earned her a rousing applause!

After this amazing surprise, President Charles Fernandes, welcomed everyone and thanked each and everyone for their loyal support over their 2 year tenure. He then introduced his executive committee and also thanked them for their hard work and dedication in ensuring the success of their organization. He also reiterated the upcoming AGM scheduled for March 2010 and encouraged everyone to participate in the upcoming elections. He bid everyone Adieu and gave them his blessings for the New Year.

Throughout the evening, Emcee Joaquim dished out amazing door prizes to the lucky recipients, intermittently, whilst the dancing continued.

Then came the traditional celebration, the countdown to winding off the old Year. Prez Charles and his wife Dorothy led everyone to a New Year’s Eve March. And as the drums rolled, everyone adorned with New Year’s eve colourful hats, whistles, and glistening festoons –forming their individual circles, singing good old favourites of yesteryear, until the final countdown to 10, and the nostalgic but ever popular, “AULD LANG SYNE” got everyone’s vocal chords going! Then the “Snap, Crackle and Pop” of the good old “Bubbly”–tempting everyone’s taste buds , which set the stage for more enjoyment. While each one embraced, hugged and blew kisses across the floor, colourful balloons filled the air, was indeed a pretty sight to see!

A midnight snack attracted everyone back to their tables, with more coffee and tea which really touched the spot!

The fun started here as the band stuck up some hot music which enticed this fun-loving crowd to rock the joint till the early hours of the morning. From Shake Rattle and Roll to the good old Rock & Roll, Jive, hot hot hot and the ever popular Line dancing special, until they “twisted” the nite away!

Thus TEGSA, true to their word, promised to go out with a” BANG”, and they surely did just that. What an amazing end to a bright new beginning, 2010 the start of a new decade is here to stay!

As all good things come to an end, TEGSA wishes one and all a Safe, Healthy and Blessed New Year.

Good Luck and God Bless.