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www.insideHALTON.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Wednesday, November 6, 2013 | 8 Oakville mom refuses to put a price on her son's life by John Bkila Oakville Beaver Staff An Oakville mother is pleading with the Ontario government to accept funding for a cancer drug that could help save and improve her son's life. Lyn Smith, along with her husband Jim Smith -- a former Town councillor in the `90s, wants provincial funding for the drug Avastin to help slow down the growth of the tumour inside her son Bryce's head. The drug would allow him to discontinue the steroids he's been prescribed, which she hopes can restore the man she "knows and loves, and improve his quality of life." Health Canada has approved Avastin for the treatment of brain cancer. However, Ontario only covers the cost of the drug for treatment of colorectal cancer -- a funding decision made by the province's drug evaluation committee. Avastin is covered for brain cancer treatment in British Columbia, Saskatchewan and Manitoba. "Obviously, you're frustrated... and the fact that it's approved by three other provinces frustrates us as well," said Lyn. "If you approach (Health Minister) Deb For us, it was extremely difficult to ask people for money, but we're prepared to do anything that we have to do to help our son. Lyn Smith, Oakville resident WIN a $250 donation to a charity of your choice AND $100 Gift Card to Whole Foods Market.... just by telling your Random Act of Kindness story For full contest rules and regulations, visit theocf.org Matthews, this is the comment you receive: `We don't have enough proof that this is beneficial'. So, what they want is people who can afford the drug to provide them with more statistics. I don't know about you, but I don't want a loved one to be a statistic," she said, noting current evidence on Avastin shows it is beneficial in 75 per cent of patients. Matthews said she couldn't speak for the other provinces that use the drug against brain cancer. "It would be wonderful if we had a national program to cover drugs like this, so we didn't have these situations where one province would cover it and others might not," she said. Since Avastin isn't covered by Bryce's private insurance either, the 36-year-old, his wife Carla Brennen and their families have taken to fundraising to cover the $5,600 cost of the drug, needed every three weeks. Carla Brennen and Bryce Smith "For us, it was extremely difficult to ask people for money but we're prepared to do anything that we have to do to help our son," said Lyn. "We've been very fortunate that everything up until now has been paid for... We don't want to come out like people so angry at the government because of this. That's not the case." She says every day there are new advancements in medical science and believes they see People on p.11 Lest we forget. Remembrancewww.oakville.ca Day -- November 11, 2013 Public Meeting November 14, 2013, 6­8 p.m. Town Hall, 1225 Trafalgar Road, South Atrium Flood Mitigation Opportunities Study for Fourteen Mile Creek / McCraney Creek Systems The Town of Oakville is hosting this meeting to give you an opportunity to review and discuss issues related to this project including an overview of existing conditions, preliminary flood mitigation alternatives being considered and local concerns. Following the meeting, the material presented will be posted on the town's website; visit www.oakville.ca and search for flooding. The Town of Oakville is undertaking a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment to identify and evaluate flood reduction alternatives for the Fourteen Mile Creek and McCraney Creek from Lake Ontario to Dundas Street, as per the map. Several flood prone locations within the study area have been identified as high priority sites, as part of the 2008 Town-wide Flood Prioritization Study. This study involves a detailed investigation of creek flood-prone sites to determine the most viable and effective flood mitigation alternatives. The study will determine the degree of flooding, identify and assess alternatives for mitigation, and recommend preferred alternatives to be implemented. The study is being conducted in compliance with the requirements as described in the Municipal Engineers Association's Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) document (2011), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. A key component of the study process is consultation with interested stakeholders. Should you have any questions or concerns, or wish to be added to the study mailing list, please contact the Town of Oakville, Engineering and Construction services or the Consultant Project Manager at: Kristina Parker, Water Resources Engineer, Town of Oakville, Engineering and Construction, 1225 Trafalgar Road, Oakville, ON L6H 0H3. Tel: 905-845-6601, ext. 3889. Fax: 905-338-4159. kparker@oakville.ca Mr. Ron Scheckenberger, Project Manager, AMEC Environment & Infrastructure, 3215 North Service Road, Burlington, Ontario L7N 3G2. Tel: 905-335-2353. Toll Free: 1-886-751-2353. Fax: 905-335-1414. ron.scheckenberger@amec.com If you require accessibility accommodations, please contact the Town of Oakville prior to the meeting. Comments are collected under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act for the purpose public consultation and will become part of the public record. If you have any questions regarding this collection of information please contact Kristina Parker at 905-845-6601, ext.3889 or at kparker@oakville.ca This notice was first issued on November 6, 2013.