After more than a decade in the States. Dr. Julia Iafrate’s Green Card was denied even as she treats COVID-19 patients in the Big Apple
May 08, 2020 by Grant LaFlecheThe St. Catharines Standard
The impact of 12 hours in a New York City emergency room treating COVID-19 patients are etched into Dr. Julia Iafrate's face.
The whites of her eyes are laced with red, her mascara smudged. Deep, dark grooves run over her cheeks and the bridge of her nose — the mark of the mask that keeps the novel coronavirus at bay.
The hours are long at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Twelve hours a shift in the heart of America's COVID-19 epicentre. There is, Iafrate said, a silence that surrounds the dying that is unnerving.
"Many times patients are intubated as soon as they arrive," said the St. Catharines-born doctor. "These are patients who are often on ventilators and cannot communicate with you. It is very quiet and, honestly, that can be unsettling."
Iafrate has seen many patients die. By Thursday, the death toll in New York City had risen to nearly 19,000. And she has seen many of her colleagues suffering post-traumatic stress brought on by the unending pressure.
But fighting the virus isn't the only battle Iafrate faces. While she toils in the ER, Iafrate's lawyer is fighting to keep her in her adopted country. Last week, the United States government rejected Iafrate's Green Card application on grounds she does not provide a service in the national interest.
"It was pretty shocking. I was blindsided," said Iafrate, who has lived and worked in the U.S. for 13 years with an education that includes a residency at the Mayo Clinic.
Just prior to the start of the March Break, Graeme Staples was able to do something he had been dreaming about for a long time.
It was a major moment when the Grade 12 student at Notre Dame officially signed to be a scholarship swimmer with the Niagara University Purple Eagles in Lewiston, N.Y.
“It was pretty cool to sign in the States,” the 18-year-old said. “I think I dreamed of it when I was a kid, going somewhere in the States and having a signing day. I was really excited about it.”
The Southern Ontario Secondary Schools Athletic Association 200-metre freestyle champion realized he had a chance to be a scholarship swimmer when looking at his times.
“I was thinking it was a real good possibility and once I got on campus it was really good fit and a really nice team. It was ‘Let’s do it.’ ”
Staples also had interest from Canisius, but Niagara won out for a number of reasons.
A Grade 9 Notre Dame College School student says he has "no regrets" that he went on a trip to Europe in early March as the COVID-19 pandemic was starting to ramp up and spread in countries across the world.
The youngest of 10 students to travel to France accompanied by two chaperones from Niagara Catholic District School Board, Daniel Mastrella and the rest of the group flew into Paris on March 6.
Most students stayed with host families in and around the city of Loches. Mastrella stayed in Paris in a home with a view of the Eiffel Tower.
On March 9, the group headed to St. Denis School in Loches. The trip was supposed to go until March 21, but as the pandemic continued to evolve their flight home was bumped up to March 19.
Then after Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called for all Canadians to return home, the group was able to get on a plane headed back March 17.
The most important influence in Shammar Campbell’s life was unable to be present Thursday when the Welland Notre Dame star committed to play basketball for the Niagara College Knights men’s basketball program.
It was a big day for the 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward, who lost his father Andrew to lung cancer about a year ago,
“He is always in my thoughts and my mind,” the 18-year-old Welland resident said. “He is with me every day and every time I play he is my head and I am thinking he is in the stands, watching me, laughing and all that.”
His father was always supportive and never over the top.
Prey Patel & Jinnie Yang among Four students honoured during annual Youth Appreciation Ceremony
Mar 10, 2020 - by Sarah Ferguson: Niagara This Week - Welland
Welland Optimist Club members gathered to show their appreciation of deserving youth in the community.
The service club held its annual Youth Appreciation Ceremony on Monday (March 2) where four Welland youths were recognized.
Coun. Leo Van Vliet presented the recipients with certificates in recognition of their accomplishments and club president Allan Wimbush handed out $500 education bursaries to each student.
The awards were handed out to Kaitlin Ives, a Grade 12 Eastdale Secondary School student; Prey Patel, a Grade 12 student and Jinnie Yang, a Grade 11 student, both from Notre Dame College, and Ava Boyer, a Grade 8 student at Holy Name Catholic Elementary School.
Ives is an active student in her school community as a member of student council. She volunteers with Rose City Kids and is also a member of the Mayor’s Youth Advisory Council.
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The impact of 12 hours in a New York City emergency room treating COVID-19 patients are etched into Dr. Julia Iafrate's face.
Just prior to the start of the March Break, Graeme Staples was able to do something he had been dreaming about for a long time.
The most important influence in Shammar Campbell’s life was unable to be present Thursday when the Welland Notre Dame star committed to play basketball for the Niagara College Knights men’s basketball program.
Welland Optimist Club members gathered to show their appreciation of deserving youth in the community.