BOY FACES NEEDLE ORDEAL

Jordan McKeand only felt a pinprick, but it will affect him for at least
the next two years and perhaps the rest of his life.

The eight-year-old boy was playing with his friend Jean in a wooded area
not far from Carney Hill school, in the heart of the VLA neighbourhood, on
Wednesday.

"I was running to grab my helmet to play tag with our bikes," Jordan said.
"There is a hole in my helmet (for air to breathe through) and I felt a
poke in my finger (from the needle that was sticking through the hole). My
finger started bleeding. I told Jean to go get help."

As reported in Wednesday's Citizen, help came at a frantic pace. Jean's
family set about to clean up the area.

For the McKeand family, however, the situation was now focused on the
hospital. Being poked by a drug addict's discarded needle means Jordan may
have been exposed to diseases like hepatitis and HIV/AIDS.

"He had been immunized against hepatitis B, at least, but you can't be
immunized for HIV/AIDS, so that is the main concern," said his
grandmother/guardian Heather McKeand. "Now we will have to take Jordan for
blood tests every six months for at least two years and maybe longer."

Jordan was tested on Thursday. He needs the regular tests to monitor his
blood for signs of HIV. His grandmother says she will cross that bridge if
they come to it.

"I want the public to see this boy. He doesn't live in a rough
neighbourhood, he was only visiting the VLA, but guess what? There are
needles in pretty much every neighbourhood in Prince George," said McKeand.
"There were 10 other kids playing in that same area at the same time, and
there is grass in your neighbourhood no matter where you live. This could
have been your child, and it could be your child tomorrow. Something has to
be done about the drug use issue in the city or you could be next to have a
child who is potentially a ticking time bomb with serious health problems
later."

The VLA subdivision is roughly the area from Pine Street to Spruce Street
from 20th Avenue south to Highway 97. It gets its name from the Veterans'
Land Act.