Stories of Care

Katie Angel works at the hospital in Southampton, she and her family made an extra special donation to the CT scanner campaign…

Liam’s story began in 2011 upon the discovery of his rare heart defect, my 7th month pregnancy ultrasound in Southampton which showed he had severe Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome. In learning this news, we were given 3 options. Compassionate care, a heart transplant or a three- staged repair called the Norwood Procedure. After some thought and internet researching, wedecided his best outcome was the staged repair, it had been most successful in recent studies.

He arrived on July 4th at 6:33pm delivered at Mount Siani Hospital in Toronto, within 12 hours his heart went into stress and he was intubated and hooked up to many ‘lines’ to keep him comfortable. Within 4 days, he was the first heart surgery patient with HLHS of the week (out of 8 children). 10 days later and ready for discharge, Liam went into cardiac arrest and was resucitated for 30 minutes where he was put onto a life saving machine called Ecmo for less than 48 hours. The hospital stay was extended for two more weeks and we were given the OK to bring him home in a palliative state.

Those next few days/months/years were stressful at times trying to live a normal life with his heart defect. He had Southampton hospital as the quickest source for help, a great local family doctor and pediatrician through GBHS that watched over his care. He visited Southampton regularly after his second stage of the Norwood surgery (6 months old) to get INR’s drawn to make sure his blood wasnt too thick that it would throw clots (because a clot meant a possible heart attack).

Liam became well known as a Sick Kids Ambassador, where his big brown eyes and cute smirk adorned their posters.

His third stage surgery (at 3.5yrs) he conquered and was walking the next day to the play room at Sick Kids, to him it was just another day. We were told by his cardiologists to enjoy him, and we did. With the help of the pediatrician he was able to lessen his Toronto visits and enjoy life like a little boy should.

Over the next few years his heart (pumping as a single ventricle) began to get tired, he never stopped wanting to do what every other kid his age could do, even if it made him extremely exhausted and short of breath.

When the fateful day arrived, Southampton hospital staff were there to bring his heart beat back and quickly arrange air transfer to get him to Sick Kids – unfortunately the efforts were unsuccessful and his passing day was September 1, 2018. The community came together and were great support for our family after his passing. He left his mark on many in his 7 years of life and we are very grateful for the care he was given right up to the end, and continuing.

We as a family, chose the CT bring Tom to town fundraiser for this year’s donation. Each year since Liam’s passing, we have given what we can back to Sick Kids, Ronald McDonald House or released butterflies in his memory. Now raising a family of 4, mom works for the hospital in Southampton (as her mother also did) and knows the urgency behind the CT scanner. We feel this donation will go towards helping the team in Southampton to efficiently detect abnormalities – and hopefully eliminate the stress of limited resources needed to transport a patient from Southampton to Owen Sound.

A very special thank you to the Angel Family for sharing Liam’s story and for their heartfelt and generous donation to the CT scanner.

A lasting gesture to maintaining the health of those he felt responsible for

Dr. Thomas Earl feels blessed to live in this community. His strong personal values and a passion for giving have inspired him to take an active role in supporting local healthcare causes including the Dr. Earl Health Centre and Saugeen Memorial Hospital. In recent years, Dr. Earl took his charitable giving a step further when he implemented planned annual giving to the the Hospital.Dr. Earl served as physician to this community for 40 years. Along with a private practice, he also worked at Saugeen Memorial Hospital every day. He is proud to have worked with an exceptional team that are all proudly dedicated to patient care.With a belief that our community needs a strong, caring and accessible health care system, Dr. Earl was a passionate proponent for a medical centre in Port Elgin. The community responded to his commitment by naming the clinic, the Dr. Earl Health Centre.In conversations with Dad over the years, John Earl reflects on his father’s commitment to the health and well being of his community. “Dad desires to continue this giving – well beyond his time as a local physician – as a more lasting gesture to maintaining the health of those he felt responsible for.

Years ago, George and Dorothy Cameron lived back in the bush when George was working on a hydro project. At the work camp, Dorothy and another nurse were the only available first aid support. If someone was injured at such a remote location, getting to a hospital involved a lot of time and risk. George and Dorothy know how meaningful it is to have healthcare close to home. Having lived in Port Elgin for the past 40 years, they have enjoyed real peace of mind knowing that skilled medical teams were available so nearby in Southampton. Two winters ago, George took a bad fall on some ice. The cuts to his head and face were serious enough that he needed Emergency care. Fortunately, that care was only a short drive away at the Southampton Hospital. As soon as they arrived at the ER, George received the care he needed. “They were so calm and kind, “ Dorothy recalls. “Everything was done exactly as you would wish.” George was immediately taken into a treatment room, made comfortable and an IV was started. He was promptly seen by the ER physician and his injuries tended to. More than that, the medical team was very attentive about how and why the fall had happened, to confirm that no medical events caused the accident. Dorothy was tremendously impressed by the kind, calm and efficient care George received. Beyond that ER experience, George and Dorothy have seen that same quality of care shine through in event the most ordinary of appointments. These days, being at an age where more tests, medications and follow-ups are necessary, George and Dorothy go the Southampton Hospital more often. On every visit, they are impressed by how the medical teams use initiative wonderfully well.

“Comfortable, compassionate care are the outstanding qualities of our Southampton Hospital’s medical teams.”

This is what inspires George and Dorothy to support our hospital through a generous annual gift for many years. They receive care at and give to both our Southampton and Owen Sound healthcare facilities. The Camerons feel fortunate to have both hospitals and cooperation to be able to move through the system efficiently. “Great healthcare is a blessing and our community should be aware how very fortunate we are.” George and Dorothy’s generosity spreads both the awareness and the blessing

Late one evening, in October 1990, chest pains overtook me and I was taken to the ER at Southampton hospital. Paddles were used on me as I was in cardiac arrest. Once stabilized, a doctor and nurse accompanied me in the ambulance ride to Owen Sound for additional care and monitoring. I am forever grateful to the medical teams who saved my life that night.

Since that first frightening evening, I have had 2 incidents that have brought me to this ER. In June 2004, paddles were again necessary as my heart was beating at an excessive rate. Medications did not slow my heart rate down. Thanks to the ER doctor that night, who used Cardiac Electric Paddle Intervention, I awoke to a regular heart rate.

In August 2004, I was sent to London for an ICD (Implanted Cardioversion Defibrillator) – a fancy type of pacemaker.

In February 2007, again I was admitted to the Southampton ER in the late evening with chest pains. My heart rate was rapid and no pulse was detected. Medications were given intravenously to normalize my heart rate.Peace of mind is given to patients and their families in knowing that everyone will receive the best care, close to home at Southampton hospital.

“Without the proximity to my home and the excellent medical professionals of Southampton Hospital, I would not be alive today.”

– Anonymous