Dear editor,
After a near-fatal mountaineering accident in Strathcona Park on Aug. 2, I was admitted to St. Joseph?s Hospital in Comox for a five-day stay.
I received wonderful care from everyone involved in my recovery: from the Search and Rescue crew that choppered me back to Comox; the ambulance attendants who escorted me to the hospital from the air-force base; the doctors, nurses, and all the other staff in the hospital.
As a result, I've once again learned how a simple action can have a profound effect on a person's life.
Less than three hours after my accident, I was admitted to the trauma ward in the hospital and was immediately attended to by a doctor. He reassured me with his matter-of-fact, calm demeanor, as he explained that I had broken ribs six to 11, twice each, which would require a drainage tube inserted between my ribs.
The next thing I remember, was hearing a quiet voice saying, "Hi," and opening my eyes to see a wonderful smiling face. Then, in ICU, I remember one night nurse connecting with me by telling me that she and her husband had hiked the West Coast Trail for their honeymoon, and I remember her squeezing my arm when I left ICU.
I remember, too, a nurse, upon seeing me listen to my iPod, telling me that she liked to listen to CBC Radio 1, 2, and 3, which happen to be my favourite stations, too! I remember having to have all my lunch containers opened for me, because I was so frail.
Regrettably, though, I was moved from ICU after two or three nights. I only say regrettably, though, because in ICU I received more personal care.
On Ward 3, the nurses and all the other staff were just as caring. In fact, I even liked the food! I could pick my own menu every day, and I finished every delicious morsel.
I have nothing but great things to say about the care I received, right from the search and rescue crew, the ambulance attendants, to all the hospital personal, and I am happy to say that I will make a full recovery.
I want to thank all these people for helping me once again appreciate how fortunate we are to live in such a wonderful country with wonderful people and a great health-care system.
But most importantly, I want to thank these people for helping me remember how it's the little things we do that make such a big difference to other people.
John Young,
Nanaimo
