Injured miner has his leg amputated

Levack resident Brian Dusick, 32, had his leg amputated July 31 following an accident at Vale's Stobie Mine last month.

Dusick was working for the contracting company Plateau Mining at the 2,400-foot level of the mine on July 20 at around 9 a.m. that day when the accident occurred. He was standing in between a forklift and a scoop tram, when a second scoop tram struck the forklift, causing the miner to be pinned between the forklift and the first scoop tram.

“He broke his leg very badly,” Brian's mother, Linda Dusick, told Northern Life. “He had a compound fracture on the femur, and the bottom was broken, too ... They tried to save it, and they couldn't."

Brian, who was in severe pain after his accident, developed an infection in his broken right leg. The leg was amputated at Health Sciences North July 31, Linda said. As she spoke to Northern Life Aug. 9, she learned her son was in the process of being released from hospital.

Now, a barbecue and car wash fundraiser is being held this weekend with proceeds going to help with building a wheelchair ramp, transportation to and from rehabilitation and any other need he might have after returning home.

The fundraiser came about at the request of Brian's nine-year-old daughter, Alyssa Pond-Dusick. The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 11 at Deziel Repairs on Regional Road 8 in Onaping.

Alyssa's mother and Brian's ex-wife, Duska Pond, said she's “unbelievably proud” of her daughter for wanting to help her father out like this.

“It chokes me up even to think about it,” she said.

Pond said she hasn't set a fundraising goal for the barbecue and car wash, because she doesn't want Alyssa to be disappointed if they don't meet it.

“I know there's a potential to make more than $100, that's for sure,” she said. “But we'll be proud of her no matter what she makes.”

Linda said she's also very proud of her granddaughter. She said Brian was initially embarrassed there was a fundraiser for him, as he doesn't want to rely on other people. But he changed his mind once he learned it was Alyssa's initiative.

The little girl is looking forward to the event, Linda said.

“I was just talking to her a few minutes ago,” she said. “I said 'Wash lots of cars,' and she just giggled.”

Complicating matters is the fact that Brian's girlfriend, Renée Garneau, is due to give birth to his second child in a month's time.

“Actually he's looking forward to it,” Linda said. “That's what he said to his girlfriend — 'You just leave me the baby, and I'll take care of it.'”

Now that his leg has been amputated and he's no longer in severe pain, Brian is in good spirits, and adjusting well to his new physical situation, she said. She said he plans to be fitted for a prosthetic leg as soon as his stump heals.

“When we went in yesterday, he just hopped out of bed, got his walker, went over to the wheelchair and sat down, and took off,” Linda said. “He was way ahead of me. It's not going to hold him down. That's the attitude he's got.”

Those interested in learning more about the fundraiser are asked to phone Pond at 705-521-5998.