Community Concerns for the Medically Fragile
Community Concerns For the Medically FragileCommunity Concerns for the Medically Fragile (CCMF) is a parent-led community group in Sarnia-Lambton dedicated to meeting the needs of medically fragile young people and their families. In 1989, Monica and Frank Vautour, Diane and Jim Lambert, and Dave and Lori Ashdown, all parents of medically fragile children, began dreaming of a life-long home for their children. During this time, they visited several group homes in southwestern Ontario. As Monica Vautour shares, "We saw everything from the sublime to the ridiculous as we visited different homes. By the end of the trip we had a good idea of what we wanted and what we didn’t want for our children."
In 1990, the group founded CCMF. After ten years of extensive research, applications, and proposals, CCMF established a partnership with the Ontario Ministry of Health Long Term Care Division, the Rotary Foundation and the Ontario March of Dimes to build a home for medically fragile young people in Sarnia-Lambton. In 2001, CCMF temporarily rented a three-bedroom, wheelchair accessible townhouse from the Sarnia and District Association for Community Living while Standing Oaks, the permanent group home, was being built. The Rotary Club of Sarnia donated the land for Standing Oaks and CCMF worked with a local architect to design it. Frank Vautour remembers, "From the start, we knew we wanted to build a home, not an institution."
Standing Oaks opened its doors in February 2004 and welcomed five full-time residents. After the completion of a large addition in October 2018, that number increased to nine. The home is staffed 24 hours a day by the Ontario March of Dimes. Each resident has an individual plan developed with their parents or guardians. Standing Oaks offers a variety of activities, including art and music programs, pet therapy, game nights, and outings. Each family paints and decorates their child’s room with their own furniture and belongings. The home also has a respite bed available to families who continue to care for a medically fragile child at home.
In 2014, the Judith & Norman Alix Foundation provided $60,000 to CCMF to purchase a new van that can accommodate wheelchairs safely and has medical equipment to transport the medically fragile. The van is used for medical appointments, outings and family vacations. Dave Ashdown, Chair of the fundraising committee, explains that "Sarnia is a very generous community. None of this would be possible without people donating their time and money."
The Vautour’s son Jeremy was the first one through the doors when Standing Oaks opened. He was fifteen and Monica and Frank could no longer care for him at home. Jeremy spent the next several years in long-term care at Bluewater Health. Monica explained that he was well looked after there, "but a hospital is not a home. Standing Oaks has made all the difference for Jeremy. He has friends here and adults that are dedicated to caring for him. He has quality of life."
Related Stories
Bluewater Health Foundation
Bluewater Health Foundation's sole purpose is to raise funds to support Sarnia-Lambton's hospital, Bluewater Health. We envision a healthy community sustained through a culture of generosity," shares Kathy Alexander, the Foundation's Executive Director, "Quite often people are surprised to
Refined Fool Brewing Co
Refined Fool started out as most good things do, in the company of friends. A group of teachers, blue collar workers, entrepreneurs, musicians and pastors began brewing beer in their own houses in midwinter with propane burners and frozen hoses. They opened their doors in May of 2014 in a 600-square
Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board
In 2019, the Sarnia Lambton Workforce Development Board (SLWDB) celebrates 22 years serving Lambton County. The organization began as the Sarnia Lambton Training Board in 1997 with an office located at 112 Christina Street South. In 2007 the organization instituted a new name in order to more clearly
Bluewater Health Foundation
Bluewater Health Foundation is grateful for the businesses, organizations, and individuals in Sarnia-Lambton who have provided millions of dollars of financial support to aid in the purchase of equipment and provision of patient, staff and family programs for Bluewater Health since 2003. We are f
Related Stories
The Painted Cat
From a young age, Cat Cabajar loved drawing, painting, and creating with anything she could get her hands on. Her first face painting experience happened by chance sixteen years ago. "I was head of public relations for the Artwalk...
Celebration of Frights
When Crystal Boulton's husband Patrick jokingly suggested two years ago that the COVID-19 pandemic might shut down her favourite celebration of the year — Halloween — Crystal not only didn't believe him, it caused her to think of a way to make Halloween bigger and better. Crystal got to work
When it comes to the success of his business The Country Butcher, Doug Waller credits his wife Sue's stance of go big or go home. I give all the credit to my wife, Doug says. When we sat down a few years ago to have the discussion about moving The Country Butcher to its current location o
Valley Axe
In 2015, Bo Tait's friends took him to an indoor axe throwing range in Toronto for his bachelor party. None of them had ever been axe- or knife-throwing before. We had a great time. It's all we could talk about. We came back home to Sarnia and built targets in our backyards. Six weeks later,
Own a local business in Sarnia-Lambton?
Your neighbours already want to spend money here. We just make it easy.
Become a #local Partner and we pay you 100% of every gift card members spend with you. It costs you nothing to join.
Free. Takes about three minutes.
