Bernie CAMPBELL

If you're interested in supporting a worthy cause our friend Bernie needs your help.  Due to health complications Bernie is now a quadraplegic and confined to a motorized chair.  Bernie was RCMP for over thirty years then went to Uof W Campus Police before his health issues. 

We along with police and emrgency services are holding a pasta dinner to raise money for assisting equipment for Bernie and his family.  If you'd like to help or like tickets, please call or email me anytime.  Thanks in advance.

:-) Tim& Sue

519-974-6997

More Information On Bernie Campbell

Bernie will be confined to a wheelchair the rest of his life. The University of Windsor will be hosting a grand event for all Bernie's friends, colleagues, and former colleagues. I know each of you have had an ongoing interest in Bernie's progress and therefore I think it only appropriate I send this on to you. If you cannot attend the event in June, perhaps you will find it within your heart to submit a donation; details are included below.

S/Sgt Joe Kispal of our Windsor Detachment will be forwarding these attachments throughout the Division so some of you on my mailing list may end up receiving this more than once. I will also be forwarding this e-mail to the President of the RCMP Vets in Toronto with the hope some of Bernie's old time friends and retirees will take an interest in this fundraising event.
Should any of you have addresses of other retired members who may have known Bernie, please consider forwarding this message on.
Hope this finds you all well.
Rick Bohus
rickbohus@hotmail.com

**************

Brothers & Sister’s in Law Benefit for Bernie
Friday, June 11, 2010 - University of Windsor – Vanier Hall – Winclaire Rooms
6:00 p.m. Cocktails, 6:30 p.m. pasta dinner followed by entertainment, door prizes and raffles.
Tickets $20.00 (kids under 12 by donation)

Background
Bernie Campbell is a transplanted maritimer from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia who has made his home in Ontario for over 35 years. He is a retired Mountie who served the RCMP for over 30 years (25 + years in Windsor) until he retired in 2004. Bernie was a drug cop most of his time at the Windsor detachment and worked with all of the county agencies and OPP during his career and subsequently made a lot of friends and established relationships with many colleagues in the law enforcement and emergency services community in Essex County.
Bernie didn’t quit working in 2004 though. He started a second career with the University of Windsor and joined the Campus Community Police as a patrol Sergeant. In 2007 Bernie was promoted to Inspector and took on the responsibilities of Operations Manager as the second in command.
Bernie has three grown sons, two of which still live at home. His hobbies include woodworking and glass work but his passion is fishing. Taking a yearly fishing trip with his best friends was the highlight of his calendar. Bernie is also the past President of the Windsor Police Pipe Band and he was a very active and experienced piper in his time.
In October 2008 following the onset of problems with walking, Bernie was hospitalized with what doctors initially diagnosed then as a possible brain tumour caused by cancer that was threatening his life at the time. After a few days in the hospital Bernie became paralyzed from the waist down and had limited movement in his upper body. Bernie subsequently underwent radiation therapy during the fall and early winter of 2008. Unfortunately Bernie did not respond to the radiation therapy as doctors had hoped and he was transferred to St. Michael’s Hospital in Toronto in January 2009 to try to determine exactly what was happening.
Within a week the doctors at St. Mike's were finally able to properly diagnose what Bernie had. He didn’t have cancer and it wasn’t a tumour. Bernie had something called a Spinal AVM (Arteriovenous Malformation).
An AVM is
1) A congenital disorder (one present at birth) of blood vessels in the brain, brainstem, or spinal cord that is characterized by a complex, tangled web of abnormal arteries and veins connected by one or more fistulas (abnormal communications).
2) An abnormal communication between an artery and vein that may be present at birth or may result from injury or infection. Blood may flow directly from the artery to the vein, bypassing the small vessels where oxygen and tissue nutrients are exchanged. These unusual malformations are often found in the brain and spinal cord, but may occur anywhere in the body.
Normally, arteries carry blood containing oxygen from the heart to the brain, and veins carry blood with less oxygen away from the brain and back to the heart. When an arteriovenous malformation (AVM) occurs, a tangle of blood vessels directly diverts blood from the arteries to the veins.
A Spinal AVM is an Arteriovenous Malformation that is located within, on or around the spinal cord. The arteries and veins in Bernie’s spinal column got crossed and a number of fistulas developed. This was confirmed at St. Mikes. Bernie ended up undergoing four operations during 2009 to deal with the fistulas he developed and the subsequent infections he went through following his initial surgeries to repair them.
He remained in St. Michael’s hospital all of 2009 and had a number of complications during that time. The paralysis in his legs was regretfully permanent. He continued to receive physical therapy in relation to his upper body and is still working hard to recover strength and movement in that area.

Bernie was able to return to Windsor earlier this year and first resided at Windsor Western Hospital and in late January he was admitted to Huron Lodge in Windsor as a resident. He still undergoes physical therapy at this location.
Bernie has a home in Tecumseh where his wife Brenda lives with two of their three adult sons. The home is not equipped for a handicapped resident.
Bernie now has the use of his very own specialty built wheelchair which allows him mobility at Huron Lodge and on those few occasions where he has been able to go home for day visits and outings outside Huron Lodge. The current policy for Handicap Windsor prevents him from being transported to his residence in Tecumseh as the service only transports persons within Windsor. As a result Bernie and his wife Brenda have to make alternative arrangements any time they want to get him home. They are presently considering the purchase of a handicapped van for Bernie’s personal use that will allow them greater flexibility in getting Bernie home more often and getting out visiting his friends and family. They have started some renovation to the family home and now have an outside chair lift to get Bernie into the house. Much more is needed however.
We invite everyone to join us on Friday, June 11, 2010 at the University of Windsor, Vanier Hall – Winclaire Rooms in a benefit planned to raise funds for Bernie & Brenda to help in the acquisition of assisting equipment to help Bernie get more mobile and get home more.
Bernie is a special person and a great friend to all those that know him. He is the first to be there to help others in the time. Let’s give back to Bernie so please come out to the pasta dinner planned and in doing so get to see and talk to him and his family and show your support for them. It will be much appreciated. We will have many door prizes and raffles for entertainment will be provided by a number of Bernie’s friends and colleagues including some bagpipe music. Please join us.
Should you or anyone else have any questions please do not hesitate to contact me at the information below. I am proud to be a part of this.
Ms. Sandra Eansor (Sandi)
Administrative Assistant
Campus Community Police
320 Sunset
WINDSOR, ON N9B 3P4
(519) 253-3000 ext 4040 (Phone)
(519) 973-7099 (Fax)
seansor@uwindsor.ca (Email)
Organizing Committee
“Brother’s & Sister’s in LAW Benefit for Bernie”