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:‘ New MRI machine is open for : business at Grand River Hospital fter five years of A?lanning, Waterloo egion‘s first magnetic imaging machine started service on Monday, bringing the most advanced diagnosâ€" tic tool available to local patients. One person excited about the new service is 28â€" yearâ€"old Mandey Moote, the very first patient to be examined by the $2.5 milâ€" lion MRI machine that uses magnetic and radio waves to take threeâ€"dimensional pictures of neurological, musculoskeletal and abdominal tissues from almost any angle. "Trak s s« g\JQY 1 ~ _ es4â€"3951 tm P u2 "hacawnas lar Moote hurt her left knee last February while snowâ€" boarding at Horseshoe Valâ€" ley. The physically active Hamilton native, who works for Quarry Integrated Comâ€" munications in Waterloo, said she‘s been in pain ever since. "I took a big tumble, I can‘t tell you exactly what happened, but they think I tore my ACL (a ligament right behind the kneecap)," said Moote. "What we find out today will determine whether I need an operation or not." Since her bad spill last year she‘s received treatâ€" ment on her knee at the Waterloo Sports Medicine Clinic while waiting for a MRI appointment. Her injury and the wait to have it diagnosed have had a draâ€" matic effect on her active lifestyle "I‘m fine when 1 walk, but if 1 want to be active it hinders anything 1 want to do." said Moote. "The afterâ€" math of any activity is usuâ€" ally two weeks of limping around. "My confidence is shot because I just don‘t have the strength in my leg anymore, so 1 can‘t wait to fix it." That‘s why she didn‘t mind being the first patient By Bos VrBANAC Chronicle Staff The Old Country Mill 1441 King St. N. loaded into the sausageâ€" shaped machine with openâ€" ings at both ends, while local media looked on ta see how it works. Moote had already waited a year, and was told the procedure might require an afterâ€"midâ€" night visit to a Toronto hosâ€" pital. MRI technologist Amanda trish prepares Mandey Moote, the first ever patient of Grand River Hospital‘s new MRI unit, for a scan of her left knee. When the MRI suite reaches its full capaci ty in a couple of months, the hospital will see between 10 to 15 patients a day. "I wasn‘t really looking forward to the drive to Toronto to get an MRI," said Moote. "This is a fiveâ€" minute drive from where I work, so it‘s perfect. "I was just pleased to get an appointment to get it looked at. It would be nice to know what I need to do, either way." While Moote had her leg secured and was moved into the fiveâ€"metric tonne machine on a sliding bed, the MRI‘s magnet was startâ€" ing its work with a pinging or knocking noise reminisâ€" cent of a submarine‘s sonat LIFESTYLE But the black and white images the machine was sending back to the MRI technologist were much more detailed than could ever be seen in a sonar or radar image. That‘s because the power of the MRI‘s magâ€" net is 25,000 times greater than the magnetic force of the earth, and allows an extraordinary level of detail, which can lead to earlier detection of tumours and other ailments that wouldn‘t be seen by other diagnostic tools like xâ€"rays, ultrasounds or CT scanners. The MRI has been particâ€" ularly valuable in scanning the brain and spine and can detect multiple sclerosis, tumnor and brain and spine diseases at their earliest stages. It‘s complex mix of physics. mathematics and highâ€"performance computâ€" ing techniques allow it to see right through bane to HRONICH image structures, tissues, organs and fluids such as blood. The organ and fluidâ€"flow images captured through the machine are nearly as clear as how a doctor would see them in surgery. And the doctors at Grand River hosâ€" pital were raving about the MRI‘s potential to affect patient outcomes. "It‘s like if you are a mechanic or a carpenter and you need to do your job, you need to have a tool box with all of the tools in it," said Dr. Nabil Bechai, direcâ€" tor and chief of medical imaging at the hospital. "This is a tool that is very important for us to use... to do the right job for the right person at the right time." __ It is particularly good for diagnosing and pinpointing hardâ€"toâ€"spot cancers, while Continued on page 1 1 Kâ€"W Access Ability, a nonâ€"profit information and resource centre for persons with physical disabilities, in partnership with Lutherwood CODA, the Canadian National Institute for the Blind and the Canadian Hearing Society, is offering a selfâ€"employment proâ€" gram for persons with disabilities. This is a government sponsored, threeâ€"phase proâ€" gram aimed to help people set up their own business. There will be information sessions starting Feb. 20 to March 24. For more information call Axel Ayala, case managâ€" er, of the selfâ€"employment program for persons with disabilities at Kâ€"W Access Ability, at 885â€"6640. ; HopeSpring Cancer Support Centre in Waterloo will host a workshop on lymphedema, from 1:30â€"3:30 p.m. March 21. Lymphedema after cancer surgery can be a serious condition, causing uncomfortable swelling. It is cruâ€" cial for the lymphatic system to function efficiently. Lissa Martin is certified in manual lymph drainage, and will be present to answer any questions and conâ€" cerns. There is no cost to attend the workshop. The centre is located at 43 Allen St. For more information, call 742â€"4673. The Canadian Hearing Society will hold a Tinnitus Forum, March 25 at the Kitchener Memorial Auditoriâ€" um Complex. _ The forum is for those who experience ringing in the ears, and want to learn how to manage and live with Tinnitus. Presenters will include a doctor, a member of the Tinnitus Retraining Therapy program, and a member of the Tinnitus Association of Canada. Community displays will feature Tinnitus maskers, alternative relaxation therapies, and pharmaceuticals. The cost to attend is $25 for adults, $15 for students and seniors. For more information, call the Canadian Hearing Society at 744â€"6811, or TTY 744â€"6901. Are you experiencing an unexpected pregnancy? Are you a young mother? Saint Monica House can help. The organization offers school on site, a safe place to stay, decisionâ€"making and pregnancy proâ€" grams, health information and supportive staff and counselling. Saint Monica House is located at 231 Herbert St. in Waterloo. Canadian Hearing Society to hold Tinnitus forum Saint Monica House can help HopeSpring presents workshop on lymphedema Kâ€"W Access Ability offers selfâ€"employment program WATERLOO NORTH Nortbfield at the Parkway LITLGE MUTIT In w "Yae J â€" 746â€"1666 % FINANCING Ask for details