SHINING A LIGHT ON THE QEII HEALTH SCIENCES CENTRE, ITS STAFF, VOLUNTEERS AND DONORS
FALL 2021
A QEII FOUNDATION PUBLICATION IN ASSOCIATION WITH THE CHRONICLE HERALD
YOUR QEII Teddy bears a heartfelt gift after loss
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Nurses shift into Canadian care via QEII bursary
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QEII care sees Halifax man through COVID-19
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(L to R): Robert, Nicole, Mitchell and Gwen Murray celebrate the day Mitchell returned home after three months at the QEII. Mitchell acquired a traumatic brain injury in a car crash in December 2020. Contributed
RESEARCH & INNOVATION QEII looks to future with surgical robotics
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“I wake up every day thankful I’m still alive” Sackville family’s QEII journey: from trauma care to home By Jenn Coleman-Ford
New tech speeds up donor-recipient matching
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Clinical study helps match cardiology treatments, patients 12
ALSO Small gesture, big impact
Gift cards help patients cope with costs Page 5
Breaking new ground
New QEII tech tailors treatment for neuroendocrine cancer Page 8-9
On a dark and dreary night in early December 2020, Mitchell Murray’s life, along with the lives of his family members, changed when his car left the road. Mitchell doesn’t remember much about his accident, but his family will never forget. “It was around midnight when we received the call from the QEII,” says Robert Murray, Mitchell’s father. “We were told that Mitchell suffered some traumatic injuries and that it was very important that we get to the QEII as soon as possible.” Robert and his wife Gwen were living every parents’ worst nightmare. When they arrived at the QEII Health Sciences Centre, they were whisked away to a private room in the Charles V. Keating Emergency and Trauma Centre, where they received updates on Mitchell’s condition over several hours. While Mitchell was unconscious and receiving trauma care for a brain injury, the family was told the survival rate was very low. “It doesn’t get more real than that,” says Robert. Several hours later, Mitchell was admitted to the QEII’s intensive care unit (ICU) for continued critical care from the trauma ICU team and Dr. Robert Green, critical care physician and senior medical director for the trauma program.
The QEII is home to the even more — that was even more waking up in the hospital and level one ICU for adult trauma positive and hopeful,” says Gwen. taking things day by day. He’s patients in Nova Scotia. The For nine days, the family watched grateful for the team who cared trauma ICU team includes a the professionalism of Dr. Green for him along the way. number of specialized care and the ICU team as Mitchell’s “I felt comforted by the people providers like physicians, condition continued to improve. around me,” he says. “I’ve had surgeons, nurses, respiratory Mitchell was then released to the nothing but support and help therapists, physiotherapists and intermediate care unit (IMCU) from all the people involved.” pharmacists, who all have the to continue his journey. Dr. Green is ecstatic, knowing expertise, experience and skill With a lot of determination, how well Mitchell is doing now. to care for multi-system injury Mitchell worked with “It’s remarkable,” says trauma patients. physiotherapists, occupational Dr. Green. “It always teaches me “We provide all the care that's therapists and recreational something and humbles me that needed for both the patient and therapists daily. Two weeks later, we can help a patient survive and the patient's family, as best as in early January 2021, Mitchell recover from such a devastating possible,” says Dr. Green. “Our progressed enough to move to the injury. I’m so happy for Mitchell co-ordinated team follows patients’ QEII’s Rehabilitation and Arthritis and his family and proud of our Centre. There, he worked on team as well.” vital signs on a minute-to-minute Today, nearly a year after the basis and we respond accordingly.” re-learning life activities like accident, Mitchell is doing well and As the trauma ICU team walking and regaining his speech. continues his rehabilitation with worked steadily over the next “We watched his progression the QEII’s outreach team. He’s several hours, which turned into every day and it was moving fast,” days, Dr. Green kept the family says Robert. “I think a lot of people back to playing cards and washer well informed. were surprised, medically, how fast toss and making those around him laugh with his quick wit. “Mitchell was critically ill he got to where he is today.” “I wake up every day thankful with terrible injuries, and his In March 2021, the day the likelihood of survival was in family had been waiting for finally I’m still alive,” says Mitchell. “I cannot thank the team at the question,” says Dr. Green. arrived. Mitchell was discharged QEII enough for what they’ve The family appreciated from the rehabilitation centre. done for me. I know they're just “The words ‘I'm going home’ Dr. Green’s compassionate nature, doing their job but they need to were like a miracle to us,” says saying he gave them hope. They know how much their job means Robert. “We never thought continued to hold onto that hope to people like me. It's incredible.” we'd see the day. Nicole was through their faith and prayer. overwhelmed and very excited The result was nothing short of a Mitchell and his family extend their — she's a therapist herself and miracle, say Robert and Gwen. sincere gratitude to all involved in was looking forward to helping “When Mitchell was brought his care — the couple who called Mitchell here at home.” to the ICU, the movement in his 911, Brooklyn Fire Department, While Mitchell doesn’t legs was surprising to everyone. RCMP, paramedics and everyone remember much from his When Nicole, Mitchell’s younger Our specialized Teepa Snow Dementia training accident, he does remember sister, called his name, he moved at the enables our caregivers to appreciate what isQEII.
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