Maybe it was a kind word or a warm smile that brought comfort to you or your loved one. It could have been a happy event, a life saving procedure or simply a visit from a volunteer during your stay at Valley Regional Hospital.
You or your family can say a special “thank you” by making a donation to our Grateful Patient Program in honour of the staff member, physician, team or volunteer you wish to recognize. When the gift is received, the Foundation will acknowledge the person (or persons) with a special token of appreciation.
To make your donation, call the Foundation at 902 678-5414, email info@vrhfoundation.ca, or use the link below:
Grateful Grandparents!
In recognition of International Children’s Day and Global Day of Parents, we visited the Labor & Delivery Unit to recognize nurses Shawna Decker, MacKenzie Ellsworth, and Mariel McGuire (not pictured), as part of the Foundation’s Grateful Patient Program!
A donation was recently received from Charna Gord and her husband, proud grandparents, honouring their new grandson Levett Henry! They wrote, “I wanted to take this opportunity now by email to thank all of the doctors, nurses, allied health professionals, dietary staff, cleaners, porters – well just everyone. My son and daughter in law have told us how well they were treated while Jordyn was in hospital for almost one week. I wanted to make sure that both the Foundation and the maternity ward personnel know how much we appreciate the excellent care that was provided for both Jordyn and Baby Chudnovsky.”
A sincere thank you to Charna and her husband for taking the time to recognize the healthcare team serving our community in the Annapolis Valley!
Everett and Margaret Cook ~ Singing the Praises of Healthcare in Nova Scotia
“We’ve received good care at all the hospitals we’ve been to in Nova Scotia” Everett confides, mentioning doctors, hospitals and various hospital departments. “We feel fortunate we can give back. We all have to use hospitals and when you really need the care, it is there.”
Extremely modest and humble people, Everett and Margaret were not interested in making a “public splash” of their most recent donation.
Having given to Valley Regional through memorial gifts in the past, their recent gift made a significant difference to the Festival of Lights campaign for ceiling lifts.
Music is the well-spring, along with family, that sustain Everett and Margaret. Three grown children, six grandchildren and two “grand-dogs” keep them busy. Their son’s chocolate lab, Skor, happily basks in the attention as we chat.
“Our biggest concern is the cost of operating a hospital and where those funds come from in the future?” That leads us into a longer conversation about demographics, funding sources and the fabric of community. The Cooks share the very concerns of many Valley Regional donors. They are truly pleased to be able to join with the rest of our donors to do what they can to sustain the quality care they have received, now and in the future.
Ed Reid and Lester Barston ~ and Curley!
“RNs in the Oncology Department made all the difference when I arrived for my first treatment. Their proficient skills and reassuring care gave us great encouragement, for which Lester and I are truly grateful”
My Experience With a Health Crisis ~ by Robin Hennigar
The adventure began for me in July of 2016 when I was admitted to Valley Regional Emergency with chest pains and extreme fatigue. I did not get to sit down in the waiting room before a volunteer said “You look like you need to see a doctor.” She was right and in a matter of less than two hours I was diagnosed with both a recent heart “event” and get this, “acute and aggressive” leukemia.
Things went into overdrive and by the next day it was discovered I had a rather rare blood cancer, promyelocytic leukemia. Over the next 38 days spent in the oncology ward I had daily treatments of arsenic and ATRA and a host of other medications. I was kept alive by the nursing and doctor specialists who oversaw the rebuilding of my white blood cells until I arrived at remission.
The care I received was incredible. It was professional, considerate and consistent. Most of all, though it was caring. I knew people were giving their professional best to me with commitment and in good spirit. I always felt informed and was never presented with negativity. My family was kept informed too and they were able to spend a lot of time with me. After I was released from hospital I had another 60 days of treatments as an outpatient with the tremendous support of family and friends who took me back and forth to the day unit. My only role in this was to do as I was instructed, and maintain as positive an attitude as possible.
We know that medical science can do much today and it has for me but the truly remarkable part is the people who gave their most to make me better. My thank you list includes ambulance personnel, nurses, doctors, specialists, the people who prepared and delivered the food and those who cleaned my room. They were all upbeat and positive. If we are in this world to make a difference, these people are leading the parade.
I have another year and a half of oral chemotherapy, periodic bloodwork and specialist check ins to finish the regimen and bring me back to good health. And I will stay on plan, doing as they say!
The experience has been awe-inspiring. I find it sometimes difficult to comprehend that I was that sick one year ago and feeling so well today. I am at home enjoying my family and community and playing golf again but still rebuilding my strength. Thank you Valley Regional and Nova Scotia Health!