By Pam Wright, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Chatham Voice
A random friendship between an out-of-town pipeliner and a woman displaced by the McNaughton Avenue fire led to a real-life miracle.
And it took place at Chatham’s Miracle Motel no less.
That’s where Gordon McLean saved Bonnie Gore’s life by calling 911 Sept. 2, when she began having difficulty breathing.
“When I couldn’t think, he did,” said an emotional Gore of her helper. “Gord saved my life and I love him dearly. I am so grateful.”
Because of McLean’s quick thinking, his new-found friend was whisked away by ambulance to the Chatham-Kent Health Alliance where she was treated for smoke inhalation related to the August fire at 99 McNaughton Ave. Gore has underlying health problems, making her condition all the more serious. The Chatham native then spent five days in hospital receiving treatment in the pulmonary care unit.
Gore says she doesn’t remember a lot from that day and just knows she woke up in hospital.
“All I knew is that I had a fever and a severe respiratory infection,” she said, adding she was aware she’d been exposed to smoke at the fire but wasn’t treated at the time. “I’m just really thankful Gord was there. Gord is my angel. ”
The pair got to know each other after the 68-year-old Gore was temporarily housed by Chatham-Kent municipal staff at the Miracle Motel on Longwoods Road after being evacuated from 99 McNaughton. Their rooms were beside each other and the two struck up a conversation while sitting outside in the evening.
Their friendship evolved with McLean, 52, an operator who is working on the Panhandle Regional Expansion pipeline project, keeping an eye on Gore. The two strangers enjoyed the late summer weather, drinking coffee and chatting.
“We just became after-work buddies,” Gore joked.
All was well until the Monday of the Labour Day weekend, when McLean realized something was wrong with his friend.
“I could see she was scared and she was having a hard time breathing,” said McLean who had given Gore some Tylenol earlier in the day. “She was confused and couldn’t use her phone. At that point, she wasn’t really talking.”
McLean, a member of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 793 who lives near Tweed, Ont., ended up making the call shortly before 8 p.m.
“They were here in three or four minutes,” he said. “It was fairly quick that they got here. I just told her: ‘be safe.’”
Because they didn’t even know each other’s last names or phone numbers, it took a few days for McLean to track Gore down to find out her condition. He got a helping hand from Rajesh Rai, manager at the Miracle Motel, who relayed the message.
“It’s not like I could phone the hospital and say, ‘This lady named Bonnie came in and could I find out something,'” McLean added.
After leaving CKHA, Gore kept coming back to the motel to try and find McLean. They ended up connecting via text and Gore took McLean out for dinner to thank him.
The humble and calm McLean shrugs off his good deed.
“It just part of the human experience,” he said. “When you see that someone needs help, that’s what you do.”
Gore, a former registered nurse’s aide, has lived at 99 McNaughton for 12 years. After leaving the hospital, she’s been moved on from the Miracle Motel to Eden Villa because she needs care. But she remains hopeful she’ll be able to return to the housing complex once renovations are completed.
A 30-year-old Chatham woman has been charged with arson in connection with the blaze and the matter is still before the courts. Close to 100 people have been displaced because of the fire.
