SPRING 2019 NEWSLETTER |
ISSUE 13
MSHF.ON.CA
Your support helps keep hearts beating They recognized something serious and my husband is alive today because of it. —Anita
The pain across the top of Nick Allum’s chest was like nothing he’d ever felt before. The 43-year-old lay down for a few minutes to see if the pain would get better. Instead, it got worse. That’s when Nick and his wife, Anita, made the wise decision to go to the hospital. “I walked into the Emergency Department (ED) at Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) and the triage nurse saw me right away. After hearing my symptoms, the staff jumped into action. They did blood work and an electrocardiography EKG before Anita had even finished parking the car,” says Nick. The tests were normal but Nick’s pain kept getting worse. The ED doctors suspected something serious must be going on. They gave Nick aspirin and nitroglycerin and repeated the tests again.
“I was relieved because we were in the ED and the staff was taking such good care of Nick,” says Anita. “They recognized something serious and my husband is alive today because of it.” “I actually suffered a heart attack right there in the ED,” says Nick. “They call it a widow maker because it’s one of the deadliest heart attacks you can have. I had a 100 per cent blockage and without immediate intervention, I could have died.” It’s because of caring supporters like you that Nick received the urgent care he needed in our ED. Thanks to your support he had access to the latest diagnostic equipment and the expertise of our healthcare team. And soon, with your help, we’ll be able to go even further for patients in cardiac distress, like Nick.
Nick and Anita are grateful for your support
You see, Markham Stouffville Hospital is elevating its level of cardiac specialty in interventional therapies and diagnostics. That means patients will have access to an enhanced complement of cardiac care programs and services under our roof – from diagnosis to treatment, from follow-up to recovery. In addition to ensuring more patients like Nick can receive the lifesaving intervention and treatment they need, close to home, we have expanded our
...continued on page 2
Your support continued... Enhanced Cardiac Care (ECC) Unit. With your help, the ECC is comprised of a dedicated 28bed medicine/cardiology unit for patients waiting for early intervention or recovering from advanced cardiac procedures. After a specialized procedure, Nick spent three days recovering in the Critical Care Unit. “The care was amazing,” says Nick. “They really care about you and your situation.”
Today, Nick is doing great. His recent follow-up appointment with his cardiologist at MSH showed no sign of permanent damage to his heart muscle. “It would have been a much different story – and likely a devastating outcome – if we hadn’t come to the ED that morning,” says Anita. “Thank goodness MSH – the doctors and equipment – was here for us when Nick’s life was hanging in the balance.”
Transesophageal Echocardiography (TEE) Services
Thanks to your support our young patients are getting great care close to home
Alexander Pascual
With barely a glance back at his parents, three-year-old Alexander Pascual takes Dave’s hand and eagerly follows the Operating Room nurse.
Caring supporters like you help make that possible. Thanks to your generosity, Markham Stouffville Hospital has the vital equipment and technology our caregivers need to diagnose and treat our young patients. And brave kids like Alex can find the compassionate care they need close to home.
“Alex didn’t have a care in the world. He was so smitten with Dave,” says Alexander’s mom, Alicia.
“The quality of care we receive at our community hospital for both our children is outstanding,” says Alicia. “My husband, Mark, and I could not be more grateful.”
Our surgical assessment nurse, Anar, also helped put Alexander’s mind at ease that day. For every test she performed on Alex, she took the time to also perform it on his stuffed animal. “It made him giggle,” Alicia recalls. In all, it was a positive experience for Alexander who was at Markham Stouffville Hospital to have his tonsils and adenoids removed. “Everyone was amazing – from the surgical liaison nurse to the floor nurses to the ear, nose and throat surgeon, Dr. Bosco Lui, who did the surgery,” says Alicia. “Our family feels fortunate to have such an exceptional hospital in our community.”
2
YOUR GIVING IN ACTION
and Alicia Grateful parents – Mark
Alexander's OR nurse –
Dave
Providing expert orthopaedic care is in our bones That high level of care continued throughout Reid’s week-long stay at Markham Stouffville Hospital. “Everyone from the nurses to my patient navigator to the pain consultant was amazing. At the hospital, they’ve really thought through the whole patient experience so it was as good as it can get,” added Reid. Reid – on the road to recovery
It happened in a split second. One minute, Reid Sutherland was skating across the frozen lake at his cottage; the next, he was lying on the ice in excruciating pain. “The edge of my skate got caught in a crack in the ice and I went flying,” Reid recalls. “I landed squarely on my right hip and knew right away it was broken.” X-rays at the hospital close to where Reid was injured confirmed the fracture. And at Reid’s request, arrangements were made to transfer him to Markham Stouffville Hospital. Later that evening, orthopaedic surgeons Dr. Evan Watts and Dr. Kevin Koo performed surgery to repair Reid’s hip. “The MSH surgeons and entire team are really great at what they do and that gave me an extra level of confidence that was very reassuring,” says Reid. “At every turn I knew I was in good hands and getting excellent care.”
With donors like you by our side, Markham Stouffville Hospital is focused on increasing our capacity for orthopaedic surgical procedures. For patients this means reduced wait times and enhanced safety and efficiency. Of course, ensuring we have the equipment our surgeons need is a big part of every expansion. “It’s important to support Markham Stouffville Hospital to make sure it has the equipment required and that it’s as current as possible,” says Reid. “The high level of patient care depends on the hospital being topnotch and well-equipped. Without donor support I wouldn’t have had the great experience I had at Markham Stouffville Hospital.” Orthopaedic Rehab
MARK YOUR CALENDAR Unionville Festival Funky 5K Sunday, June 2 Main Street Unionville Don’t miss this groovy, tie-dyed 5K run/walk and family 2K around Toogood Pond Park. Register online: funky5k.ca
Markham Rotary Ribfest July 5 to 7 Feast on award-winning ribs; enjoy exciting entertainment and fun activities for the whole family! markhamribfest.com
Angus Glen Summer Five Miler Friday, July 19 Angus Glen Golf Club Your final opportunity to run on the golf cart paths! Limited to 400 participants only. Register online: angusglenrunningseries.com
For a full list of events benefiting MSH, visit mshf.on.ca YOUR GIVING IN ACTION
3
Because of You As a generous supporter you’re part of everything that happens at Markham Stouffville Hospital. Government alone cannot fund all equipment and priority needs; MSH must rely on community support to enable us to deliver the best care close to home. Below you’ll read about how your support made a real difference last year. I’m so thankful to share the power of your giving with you. With gratitude, Foundation CEO Suzette Strong
MRI upgrade Our newly upgraded MRI machine is up and running. During the magnet replacement, an MRI mobile unit enabled continued access. Thank you to our generous donors for funding this upgrade, ensuring more patients can get MRIs when they need them, right here in our community.
Ready for patients
Installation in progress
Bear Necessities Because of generous community support, 2,000 bear hugs were delivered to MSH patients over the holidays – cuddly teddy bears, soft infant sleep sacks and plush throw blankets – and $100,000 was raised to help purchase life-saving equipment that government doesn’t fund. Thank you!
Thanks to your generosity
$5.4 million was given to MSH last year to help fund priority needs! 379 Church Street, Suite 303, Markham, Ontario L6B 0T1 Tel: 905-472-7059 | mshf.on.ca Charitable Registration No. 13064 3620 RR0001
@MSHospital