CLOSE TO THE EDGE
Curtis Coley is living testament of the importance of medical research
Curtis Coley su ered serious injuries in a car crash and if it weren’t for determined rst responders, special care and treatment and follow-up therapy he wouldn’t be looking at the bright future he has today.
SHUBENACADIE, N.S. – It was no brush with death. Curtis Coley died.
Highway 102 was slippery the early hours of Nov. 29, 2018. The 22-year-old was heading home from a friend’s. His car slid and went down a steep bank. It could have sat unnoticed until at least sunrise, had another driver not seen what happened and called 911.
For 28 minutes, a determined Lifeflight nurse performed CPR. In a last-ditch effort to save him, needles were inserted into his heart and lungs to drain trapped air or blood.
His heart began beating again and he was rushed to the Halifax Infirmary.
Meanwhile, his mother, Wendy, was at home in Shubenacadie, unaware of what was taking place.
A morning text to her son went unanswered.
“Around 8:30 or 9 the phone rang, and it was the police.”
They asked if she had a Yaris and she knew this was serious.
“They asked who was driving it and when I told them it would have been Curtis, they asked where I lived and said they’d be right there to talk to me.”
At the hospital, she learned her son had a bruised brain, shredded lungs and damaged liver. His spleen had been destroyed.
“They kept saying they were doing what they could, but nobody survives those types of injuries,” she said. “I sat there, just kind of numb, while they worked on him.”
Curtis’s heart stopped while
he was on the table. He barely made it through the night.
He survived but spent the next 45 days in a coma, his future uncertain.
“We still didn’t know if he’d live, or what he’d be like if he
did,” said Wendy. “We thought we’d probably need to look after him for the rest of his life, if he lived.”
His entire body was swollen for a time, a section of his right leg so bad it led to blisters and stretch marks.
Every time medical staff tried to wake him, his heart rate climbed, his blood pressure dropped, and he couldn’t breathe.
Wendy stayed at the hospital, sleeping on a sofa in the family room. She was there when Curtis began to wake. Though on a ventilator, he could nod in response to questions.
“At first I thought it was a dream and I kept asking where I was,” he recalled. “I was still on a lot of drugs and not thinking clearly.
“While I was still unable to talk, I wrote on a whiteboard, saying I wanted to be unhooked so I could go home.”
Curtis’s recovery progressed well, until one day, while gently rolling a ball back and forth with a nurse, his heart stopped. He was resuscitated and fitted with a defibrillator.
AFTERMATH
Three months after the crash he was able to go home. But there was still a lot of work to do on his recovery. He put on weight and still attends regular physiotherapy sessions. He now works part time and is on a wait list to take a carpentry course.
“I’m doing better every time I go to physio and I’m feeling really good,” he said. “I’m mainly working on my legs now.
“I see the positive in what happened because I was an idiot before. I have my head on straight and have goals now.”
He’s still unable to remember the hours from midnight until 6 a.m. on the day of the accident.
Christmas will be a true time of celebration for Curtis, his parents and his four brothers this year.
“I was asleep on Christmas and New Year’s last year, so I’ll enjoy being with everyone,” he said.
Wendy’s last Christmas dinner was from the hospital canteen. She looks forward to serving a real meal at home.
Curtis and Wendy hope, by sharing the story of his accident, they can help others in some way.
“I had about 10 blood transfusions, so I’d like to encourage people to give blood,” said Curtis. “If people didn’t donate blood I wouldn’t be here.”
CHURCH LISTING SUBMISSIONS
Church listing changes must be received by Monday at noon for publication in the Thursday, Dec. 26 paper. To be included in this section, all information must be of a current nature. If no changes are required for your listing, you need not submit a notice, it will be run again the following week as it stands. Email to news@trurodaily.com.
ANGLICAN CHURCH
ST. JOHN THE EVANGELIST CHURCH Rector: The Rev’d Lori Ramsey Associates: The Rev’d Gary Yetman and The Rev’d Dorothy Tay
23 Church St., Truro, Phone: 902-897-0566 www.stjohnstruro.ca
Facebook: St. John’s Anglican Church Truro E-mail: stjohnstruro@ns.sympatico.ca SUNDAY, DEC. 22
8 a.m. – Holy Communion (BCP).
10 a.m. – Holy Baptism and Holy Eucharist (BAS).
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
Christmas Eve
4 p.m. – Children’s Eucharist.
7 p.m. – Family Eucharist WEDNESDAY, DEC. 25
Christmas Day
10 a.m. – Christmas Communion (BCP)
BAPTIST CHURCHES
IMMANUEL BAPTIST CHURCH
Lead Pastor: Michael Fredericks Nextgen Pastor: Hannah Marriott. 295 Young St., Truro
Phone: 902-895-8857; email: office@immanueltruro www.immanueltruro.org, Facebook.com/immanueltruro, podcasts SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Service.
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
4 & 6:30 p.m. – Christmas Eve services.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH TRURO
Minister: Rev. Paul Worden
Director of Music Ministries: Brenna Conrad Associate Pastor: Ruth Tonn
759 Prince St. Truro; Wheelchair accessible. Phone: 902-893-4241; Email: office@fbct.ca www.fbct.ca Follow us on Facebook SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Coffee & Conversation Time. 10:30 a.m. – Worship.
All are welcome to attend.
BROOKFIELD BAPTIST CHURCH
Minister Emeritus: Rev. Frank Locke 35 Highway 289, Brookfield. Wheelchair accessible, audio looped for the hearing impaired.
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11 a.m. – Guest Speaker, Pastor Doug Campbell.
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
6:30 p.m. – Christmas Eve family service. Call 902-673-2897 or email bbc@bellaliant. com for more information.
ZION UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH
Pastor: Brian O. Johnston
454 Prince St., Truro
Phone: 902-895-6744
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11 a.m. – Worship. Sermon: Christ Came to Be a Divine Savior! Scripture: Luke 9:49-56. Children’s Church for ages 4-12 years. All are Welcome!
4 p.m. – The Reason for the Season – A Christmas Story! All are welcome. TUESDAY, DEC. 24
6 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service. All are welcome.
-•••
BELMONT UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH
Pastor: Rev. John Donkin SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Sunday School for all ages. 11 a.m. – Sunday Morning Worship.
DEBERT BAPTIST CHURCH 1273 Plains Road, P.O. Box 134 SUNDAY, DEC. 22
Guest Preacher: Hudson Trenholm, Pastor 10:30 a.m. – Worship Service. All are welcome.
GRACE INDEPENDENT BAPTIST CHURCH Pastor Ron Ruse
295 Glenwood Dr., Truro
Phone: 986-1906 or 897-6924 Wheelchair accessible; Nursery provided for all services.
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:30 a.m. – Morning Service and Youth Classes.
1 p.m. – Afternoon service.
NUTTBY UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH Pastor: Stephen Shaddick Phone: 662-4269
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
9 a.m. – Worship Service.
BASS RIVER UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH 5692 Hwy. 2, Bass River
Pastor Larry Tirrell
Phone: 843-5941 or 647-2567 SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11 a.m. – Worship Service. Wheelchair accessible.
TRURO HEIGHTS UNITED BAPTIST CHURCH
343 Truro Heights Road Pastor: Connie Stewart SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11 a.m. – Worship service.
STEWIACKE VALLEY BAPTIST CHURCH 1476 Otterbrook Road,
Upper Stewiacke
Pastor: Joel Wellard
Phone: 902-671-2560
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Sunday School (All ages) 10:45 a.m. – Tea/coffee/sweets.
11 a.m. – Morning Worship.
6 p.m. – Evening Service.
All are welcome.
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCHES
ST. JAMES PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Minister: Rev. Andrew Campbell Phone: 893-9587
Email: stjameschurch@eastlink.ca Staffed nursery, wheelchair accessible, hearing impaired system.
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. –Sunday worship. The Choir and Consort Recorder Trio will lead in the Ministry of Music. Rev. Andrew Campbell will be leading our service. Message: “Good News! God Loves Us!”
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
6 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service. It will be a service of lessons and carols for all ages.
ST. PAUL’S PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH 387 Lower Truro Rd. Wheelchair accessible. SUNDAY, DEC. 22
9:30 a.m. – Hour of Celebration.
ROMAN CATHOLIC CHURCHES
IMMACULATE CONCEPTION PARISH, TRURO
Fr. Dariusz Miskowicz, Priest MASSES
Weekday Mass: Immaculate Conception, Truro
7 p.m. – Monday to Thursday
8 a.m. – Friday
SATURDAY, DEC. 21
4 p.m. – Immaculate Conception, Truro. SUNDAY, DEC. 22
Gathering for Eucharist
9 a.m. – Immaculate Conception, Truro. 11:30 a.m. – St. Michael’s, Brule 11:30 a.m. – Sacred Heart, Millbrook. For more info, 893-7188.
UNITED CHURCHES
TRINITY UNITED CHURCH Onslow-belmont Pastoral Charge
Rev. Glenn Maclean
Corner of 415 Onslow Rd. and Meetinghouse Rd., Upper Onslow; Phone: 902-895-4188 Audio looped and wheelchair accessible. SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Worship Service. Sunday School. Advent 4.
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
7 p.m. – Christmas Eve Worship Service.
ST. DAVID’S UNITED CHURCH
18 St. David’s Ave., Bible Hill Phone: 902-895-4368
Minister: Rev. David Hart SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:30 a.m. – Advent 4 - Candle of Love Giving Tree recipients – SPCA TUESDAY, DEC. 24
7 p.m. - Christmas Eve family service. A blend of traditional, country and Santa meets Jesus. All are welcome.
ST. ANDREW’S UNITED CHURCH
Interim Minister: Keith Selwyn-smith DLM Email: officestandrews@eastlink.ca Wheelchair accessible; audio looped for hearing impaired.
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11 a.m. – Advent 4.
Spirit Quest Christmas Party – Fullerton Hall TUESDAY, DEC. 24
Christmas Services: Christmas Eve
6:30 p.m. – Candlelight Family Service. 8:30 p.m. – Communion Service.
BRUNSWICK STREET UNITED CHURCH Rev. Lynda Mcculloch
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11 a.m. – Worship Service – Advent 4 7 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service
All are welcome
NORTH RIVER UNITED CHURCH
Rev. Lynda Mcculloch
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
9:30 a.m. – Worship Service – Advent 4 5 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service
All are welcome
COLDSTREAM PASTORAL CHARGE VALLEY-GREENFIELD UNITED CHURCH Pastor Carolyn Wilson-wynn
110 Salmon River Rd., Valley
Email: valleygreenfieldunited@eastlink.ca Phone: 1-902-986-5196
Audio looped and wheelchair accessible. SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11:15 a.m. – Service.
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
6:30 p.m. – Christmas Eve service and midnight service 12 a.m.
UPPER STEWIACKE-SPRINGSIDE PASTORAL CHARGE
Upper Stewiacke United. Marty Clark-ettinger, DLM Wheelchair Accessible SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Service. TUESDAY, DEC 24
7 p.m. – Christmas Eve service. SUNDAY, DEC. 29
No service.
FIRST UNITED CHURCH
711 Prince St., Truro
Phone: 902-895-8098
Rev. Valerie Kingsbury; Rev. Roger Moore; Chris Bowman
Wheelchair accessible
See church website for complete listing of events
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:30 a.m. – Sunday Service.
10:45 a.m. – Sunday School/toddler Care.
CLIFTON PASTORAL CHARGE Minister: Rev. David Le Blanc SUNDAY, DEC. 22
9:30 a.m. – Hilden United Church. 11 a.m. – Old Barns United Church. TUESDAY, DEC. 24, Christmas Eve 7 p.m. – Hilden United Church. 9 p.m. – Old Barns United Church.
BROOKFIELD PASTORAL CHARGE Minister: Rev. Michael Henderson KNOX UNITED CHURCH, Brookfield Wheelchair Accessible. SUNDAY, DEC. 22
9:30 a.m. – Worship Service. TUESDAY, DEC. 24
6:30 p.m. – Worship Service. 10 p.m. – Worship Service.
MIDDLE STEWIACKE UNITED CHURCH Wheelchair accessible
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11:15 a.m. – Worship Service. TUESDAY, DEC. 24
8 p.m. – Worship Service.
HARMONY-CAMDEN PASTORAL CHARGE MCCULLOCH UNITED CHURCH
Minister: Rev. Iain Macdonald SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Worship Service and Sunday School.
TUESDAY, DEC. 24
7 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service
UPPER LONDONDERRY PASTORAL CHARGE
Rev. David Sutherland
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Cobequid United Church, Masstown.
OTHER DENOMINATIONS
YOUNG STREET GOSPEL HALL
51 Young St., Truro (Beside fire hall) SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 – 11:20 a.m. – Lord’s Supper. 11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. – Sunday School and Bible Reading.
7 – 8 p.m. – Gospel Meeting.
All are welcome.
THURSDAYS, 10:30 a.m. to noon: Everyone welcome to the Young Street Gospel Hall (beside the Fire Hall) for free coffee/tea and snacks.
DEBERT CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP CHURCH
1533 Plains Rd., Debert
Phone: 814-1689
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11 a.m. – Sunday morning church service *Call the church for mid-week events.
CORNERSTONE ASSEMBLY CHURCH Pastors: Zach & Allandra Sloboda 14 Cornerstone Dr., Bible Hill. Phone: 8972833
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:30 a.m. – Service. Kids church ages 4-11/ nursery 0-3.
Youth group Tuesdays 7-8:30 p.m. Grades 6-12.
CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST
OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS
Minister: President - Stephen Brogan
148 Evergreen Dr., Salmon River Phone: 893-9695 Email: trurobp@gmail.com SUNDAY, DEC. 22
9 a.m. – Sunday Service. Sacrament Meeting.
TRURO NAZARENE CHURCH
Pastor Matthew Forrest 902-986-6201 website: www.truronaz.com SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:45 - Morning Worship - Pastor Matthew Forrest
Weekly Services:
Tues. 6 p.m. - Prayer Meeting
Wed. 11 a.m. - Bible Study
Sat. 6:30 p.m. - Christmas Coffee House
CONNECTION CHURCH (WESLEYAN)
Lead Pastor: Ken Banks
Pastor of Children and Family – Pastor Sonja Hartlen
Pastor of Connection – Lic. David Hartlen 38 Pleasant St., Truro Phone: 902-893-9521 trurowes@ns.sympatico.ca www.connectionchurchtruro.ca SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:30 a.m. – Pastor Ken Banks: “Celebrate Christmas.”
Lower level (10:30 a.m.) Blessings Nursery (ages 0-3)
Kids Connect (ages 4 - Grade 5) Tuesdays: Youth group (7-9 p.m.) Thursdays: Young adult group (7:30 p.m.) 2 p.m. – Vimy Court service. TUESDAY, DEC. 24
4:30 p.m. – Christmas Eve service Contact the church for info on activities.
TRURO ALLIANCE CHURCH
Rev. Scott Penner
Meeting at NSCC Forrester Hall Lecture Theatre.
Phone: 902-893-8761
Email: admin@truroalliance.church Wheelchair accessible, Scent Free. Volunteers working with ages 0-18 background checked & screened.
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:30 a.m. – Sunday Service.
SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST CHURCH Pastor: Carvil Richards
32 Wynn Rd., Truro
Phone: 893-3997 SATURDAY, DEC. 21
2 p.m. – Sabbath School
3 p.m. – Church Service
THE PEOPLES CHURCH (Associated Gospel Churches) 15 Elm Street, Truro
Phone: 893-9312 e-mail: peopleschurch@eastlink.ca SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Morning Service.
SALVATION ARMY
Pastors: Majors Mildred and Bruce Jennings 14 Outram St., Truro
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:30 a.m. – Morning Worship Service.
JOHN CALVIN CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH
Pastor Nick, Andrea Baas
169 Glenwood Dr., Truro
Phone: 895-5288
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10 a.m. – Sunday Service. Nursery provided.
ABUNDANT LIFE VICTORY CHURCH
54 Dunromin Ave., Bible Hill
Phone: 902-895-LIFE (5433).
Email: abundantlifevictory@bellaliant.com Website: www.alvc.org Wheelchair accessible.
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
10:30 a.m. – Morning service.
UPPER ROOM MISSION CHURCH
OF THE NAZARENE (UMCN)
Pastors: Terry Dryden and Shauna Johnson 130 King St., Truro 902-986-2204
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
2 p.m. – Worship Service
3 p.m. – Kids Ignite Church
Pictou County Bible Study, Mondays at 7 p.m.
Women’s Bible Study, Mondays at 7 p.m. Men’s Bible Study, Thursdays at 7 p.m. Ignite Youth Study, Thursdays at 7 p.m. Ignite Youth Group, Fridays at 7 p.m. Open Door Ministry, Fridays, noon (Street Ministry – call for info).
RELIGIOUS SOCIETY OF FRIENDS (Quakers)
Truro Worship Group
SUNDAY, DEC. 22
9:30 - 10:30 a.m. – Meeting for Worship Phone: 902-893-4588 or 902-897-7249. Email: quakersintruro@gmail.com
LONDONDERRY STATION COMMUNITY CHURCH
The Thirsty Church Spiritual leader: Melody Patriquin SUNDAY, DEC. 22
11 a.m. – Worship Service. Fourth Week of Advent. TUESDAY, DEC. 24
9 p.m. – Christmas Eve Service.