Baby Joseph Maraachli's family will likely appeal a Detroit hospital's decision not to ask that the 13-month old boy be transferred there from London Health Sciences Centre, his aunt said.
Family members plan to hold a news conference at 4 p.m. Thursday and will outline their plans then, said Joseph's aunt Faith Nader Abbas.
"London (LHSC) refuses to do what this baby needs. We want to go somewhere that will do what he needs. We will never give up," said Abbas.
Members of the Terry Schiavo Foundation are expected to be at Thursday's news conference at London's Lamplighter Inn.
Terri Schiavo died in 2005 in Florida after a legal battle over whether or not her breathing tube should be removed.
Up to the minute news and information for London Ontario Canada and surrounding regions.
Thursday, February 24, 2011
London mom guilty of improper disposal of baby
St. Thomas mother was found guilty Thursday of improperly disposing of her baby's remains.
Sara Whittington, 35, had denied during her 15-day trial that she knows where her daughter, Abbygail Dice, is.
The baby was only three weeks old when she disappeared in September 2007.
Whittington, a diabetic, was found in her apartment lying in her bed without the baby or any memory of what happened over the two days the baby disappeared.
Whittington was charged months later with causing an indignity to a body, based on an interview she had with an undercover police officer where she said she dreamed she disposed of the child's body at Hawk Cliff, just east of Port Stanley.
Whittington denied the allegation, saying the baby in her dream was "Maggie Simpson" from the animated TV show and that the cliff was one she visited in Algonquin Park.
A body was never recovered.
Her defence lawyer, Bill Glover, suggested the baby's father took her after the parents had an argument.
Chris Meadows has denied the claim.
Assistant Crown attorney Doug Walker argued Whittington's version of events was unbelievable. Superior Court Justice Peter Hockin gave his decision Thursday morning.
Sara Whittington, 35, had denied during her 15-day trial that she knows where her daughter, Abbygail Dice, is.
The baby was only three weeks old when she disappeared in September 2007.
Whittington, a diabetic, was found in her apartment lying in her bed without the baby or any memory of what happened over the two days the baby disappeared.
Whittington was charged months later with causing an indignity to a body, based on an interview she had with an undercover police officer where she said she dreamed she disposed of the child's body at Hawk Cliff, just east of Port Stanley.
Whittington denied the allegation, saying the baby in her dream was "Maggie Simpson" from the animated TV show and that the cliff was one she visited in Algonquin Park.
A body was never recovered.
Her defence lawyer, Bill Glover, suggested the baby's father took her after the parents had an argument.
Chris Meadows has denied the claim.
Assistant Crown attorney Doug Walker argued Whittington's version of events was unbelievable. Superior Court Justice Peter Hockin gave his decision Thursday morning.
Mental illness stigma stamped out
Brian Blatnicki is hoping to stamp out the stigma surrounding mental illness.
But he needs a little help from Londoners.Blatnicki is one of five finalists in Canada Post's 2011 mental health stamp designing contest. His submission, No Need To Hide, depicts a young man's face breaking through his hands, which are attempting to cover his face.
"The stigma often associated with mental illness is very real," said Blatnicki. "Many people with mental illnesses are afraid to share their condition with other people for fear of ridicule or judgment. The stigma is so real, in fact, many will avoid telling friends or family of their mental condition."
More than 300 designs were submitted for the contest. A panel of judges and the stamp advisory committee selected the top five submissions that best reflected the stamp's mission: to raise awareness of the mental health issue and break down the stigma attached to it.
But it's up to Canadians to decide which design becomes official postage, and they have until March 14 to vote for their favourite submission.
"I was very impressed by the quality of the designs we were asked to review," Jim Phillips, Canada Post director of stamp services, said in
a release.
One dollar from the sale of every 2011 mental health stamp booklet goes to support the Canada Post Foundation for Mental Health, which has raised more than $4.8 million since 2008.
Blatnicki is no stranger to mental illness and its impact on lives. He works at mindyourmind.ca, a non-profit mental health engagement program that works with youth and professionals to develop resources and communication platforms surrounding mental health.
"I just wanted to portray that there's no need to hide. Mental illness is everywhere and everybody needs to be talking about it," said Blatnicki.
Geriatric Identified
Police have identified a London man killed after getting out of his pickup truck on Highway 401.
John Read, 62, parked his pickup truck on the south shoulder of Highway 401 just east of Elgin Rd about 6:40 a.m. Wednesday after experiencing medical distress, OPP said Thursday.
Read stepped from in front of his truck onto the roadway and was struck by a passing transport truck, police said.
The driver, a 43-year-old Quebec man, was not hurt.
No charges will be laid, police said.
John Read, 62, parked his pickup truck on the south shoulder of Highway 401 just east of Elgin Rd about 6:40 a.m. Wednesday after experiencing medical distress, OPP said Thursday.
Read stepped from in front of his truck onto the roadway and was struck by a passing transport truck, police said.
The driver, a 43-year-old Quebec man, was not hurt.
No charges will be laid, police said.
Storm Warning
Environment Canada has issued a winter storm watch for Elgin County and St. Thomas, forecasting 15 to 25 centimetres of snow.
The snow is expected to start in the Windsor-Chatham regions near midnight and continue to spread east during the night and into Friday.
Brisk north winds of 40 gusting to 60 km/h are also expected to whip up the freshly fallen snow resulting in low visibilities in blowing snow.
Forecasters said snowfall amounts are expected to be 15 cm possibly reaching 20 to 25 cm in some areas especially over eastern shores of Lake Erie and near the St. Lawrence river valley.
The latest hit from winter is blamed on an intensifying low pressure system located near Colorado that will track slowly south of the lower Great Lakes regions Friday.
The forecast for London is for a risk of freezing rain Thursday morning, 5 cm of snow after midnight and about 10 cm on Friday with blowing snow and winds gusting to 70 kilometres per hour.
The snow is expected to start in the Windsor-Chatham regions near midnight and continue to spread east during the night and into Friday.
Brisk north winds of 40 gusting to 60 km/h are also expected to whip up the freshly fallen snow resulting in low visibilities in blowing snow.
Forecasters said snowfall amounts are expected to be 15 cm possibly reaching 20 to 25 cm in some areas especially over eastern shores of Lake Erie and near the St. Lawrence river valley.
The latest hit from winter is blamed on an intensifying low pressure system located near Colorado that will track slowly south of the lower Great Lakes regions Friday.
The forecast for London is for a risk of freezing rain Thursday morning, 5 cm of snow after midnight and about 10 cm on Friday with blowing snow and winds gusting to 70 kilometres per hour.
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