Guelph high school students build accessible ramp at woman's home
CTV
St. James Catholic High School construction teacher, Jerry Della Savia, says he thought it was the perfect opportunity to take skills learned during class and have students apply them in a valuable way in the community.
A class of Guelph high school students have built an accessibility ramp at a woman's home after she lost her leg.
Grade 11 students in a construction class at St. James Catholic High School were introduced to the idea of helping out Yvonne MacIsaac when Stephanie Zonneveld, project lead with the Wellington Catholic District School Board, proposed it.
"She’s given so much to our school board, to our community, that it seemed like it was at least worth a try to see if there was some way to give back and support that," said Zonneveld.
Until recently, MacIsaac felt as though she had lost all freedom.
"It looks like we're going to have to do a below-the-knee amputation," MacIsaac said, recalling a conversation she had with her doctor last year. "My husband, he would have to carry me from my bed all the way to my chair that was waiting out here."
Her entire leg was later removed because of complications following her surgery. She also learned that she is not a candidate for prosthetics and may lose her second leg because her diabetes is preventing her body from healing properly.
