Guelph high school students build accessible ramp at woman's home
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.
Yvonne MacIsaac says the new ramp has greatly increased her ability to get around her home. (Spencer Turcotte/CTV Kitchener)
MacIsaac says getting in and out of her home has become increasingly difficult. She says there's barely any room to move while using her electric wheelchair and has been staying in the living room because of her inability to go up stairs.
But when the idea was brought to St. James CHS construction teacher, Jerry Della Savia, 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.
"To not only learn the skills, but in the end, they knew what the final game was. And that was to help this person gain back some of their independence," said Della Savia.
The students tasked with the project were on board. By the middle of September they began work on it and in just over a month it was complete, with help from Tacoma Engineers Inc. in Guelph.
It took the students just over a month to complete the ramp. (Submitted/Jerry Della Savia)
"It’s a tough thing she had to go through but any way we could help her is good," said Joshua van Milligen, one of the students who worked on the ramp. "I thought it was pretty cool that we got to go outside of the school and we got to learn something new that you wouldn’t learn in a normal day of class," said another student, Talen Brown.
The ramp underwent several inspections, ultimately getting the stamp of approval from City of Guelph staff and most importantly, MacIsaac herself.
"I say it every Saturday out loud 'oh, I'm free!' And I roll down there while my husband and daughters are sitting down there thinking I'm crazy," MacIsaac said, explaining her route from the ramp to the gate.
The students' work has received the stamp of approval from city staff and most importantly, MacIsaac herself.
MacIsaac showed CTV News how easy it is her for her now to get from the backyard to the front, thanks to the newly-built ramp.
"And I'm free! Ta-da," yelled MacIsaac, unlocking the gate.
MacIsaac says the life-changing experience came at a time when everything appeared to be going downhill, but she now feels more prepared to tackle her uphill battle with a little more ease.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help MacIsaac with ongoing medical expenses and renovations that need to be done to her home in order to make it more accessible.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING King Charles' cancer treatment progressing well, says Buckingham Palace
King Charles III’s doctors are 'sufficiently pleased' with his cancer treatment and he is expected to return to public-facing duties, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday.
BREAKING Orca calf that was trapped in B.C. lagoon for weeks swims free
An orca whale calf that has been stranded in a B.C. lagoon for weeks after her pregnant mother died swam out on her own early Friday morning.
'Unacceptable': Trudeau reacts after AFN chief says headdress taken from plane cabin
After the Assembly of First Nations' national chief said her headdress was taken from an airplane cabin this week, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called the incident 'unacceptable' and a 'mistake' on the part of Air Canada.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
From faulty kids' cribs to flammable kids' bathrobes, here are the recalls of the week
Health Canada issued recalls for various items this week, including kids’ bathrobes, cribs and henna cones.
Taylor Swift dons Montreal designer's dress in 'Fortnight' video
A pair of Montreal designers' work has now been viewed over 41 million times. Taylor Swift dons a Victorian throwback black gown in her latest music video, 'Fortnight', designed by UNTTLD due Simon Belanger and Jose Manuel Saint-Jacques.
'Too young to have breast cancer': Rates among young Canadian women rising
Breast cancer rates are rising in Canada among women in their 20s, 30s and 40s, according to research by the University of Ottawa (uOttawa).
'Violation': CSIS had officer investigated after she reported a superior raped her
A CSIS officer's allegations that she was raped repeatedly by a superior in agency vehicles set off a harassment inquiry, but also triggered an investigation into her that concluded the alleged attacks were a “misuse” of agency vehicles by the woman.
'I was scared': Ontario man's car repossessed after missing two repair loan payments
An Ontario man who took out a loan to pay for auto repairs said his car was repossessed after he missed two payments.