Cumberland Health Care Foundation

Thank you for the wonderful tribute to our staff Brendan! (shared with permission)

End of life happens and it has an enormous impact on family and loved ones. Sadness and grief are on the surface of our souls and emotion spills over without warning. End of life is as much about others as it is about the patient, something this doctor understands. He was there as a guiding presence for one family, making sure that the end of life was thoughtful and lovingly complete. His care made a very sad time bearable and understood. The family extends their heartfelt gratitude. This same doctor, at other times, made heath care more navigable, more understandable, and less stressful for a number of people recently. In fact, today we presented him with THREE I Care Awards and a card letting him know that a donation was made in his honour. Congratulations Dr. Brian Ferguson!

The ground doesn’t care how old you are when you fall on it you can be ten, forty or eighty - hit it the wrong way and you can suffer a lot of damage. One patient landed so hard the surgeons thought she’d never walk again. It’s true, she did spend a lot of time off of her feet, but with some VERY dedicated help from our Physio team she is now back up and walking. It took months of effort, loads of encouragement, lots of exercising, and attentive fine tuning. They made me feel I could do it, she said. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them. Congratulations to Kate Crawford and Megan Purdy on winning I Care Awards today!

When you’re having something done in Day Surgery you are glad to know you’ll be going home later in the day. That’s a good thing. In the meantime though, you may be nervous and anxious. Thank heavens there’s someone there who can help ease your worries, answer your questions, and make your visit much, much more comfortable. The patient that came to see us told us that the calming person is a terrific RN Anne MacNeil. We agree! Congratulations on winning an I Care Award Anne MacNeil!

Here in Cumberland it’s not unusual for a patient to have the same doctor for many years. Patients get to know their doctors, and the doctors get to know their patients. It’s interesting when the relationship begins to develop when the patient is still quite young. The doctor watches them grow and develop . Sometimes with a lot of bumps and bruises along the way. A now-adult patient wanted to thank Dr. Janneke Gradstein for being there throughout the ups and downs over the course of a few years. It wasn’t any particular event that was being commended, just a big thank you for being available, being professional, being kind, and for caring a great deal. Congratulations on winning another well-deserved I Care Award Dr. Janneke Gradstein!

One of our younger patients got to meet one of our newest surgeons and it went perfectly. The patient came to see us and had so many wonderful things to say about the experience of having surgery, and having a surgeon that really, really cared. We think it’s truly wonderful that someone so young, who has faced a scary time, has come away with a feeling of being safe, secure, and treated as though they were a member of the family. Huge thanks and appreciation to Dr. Colin McWilliams you’ve made a great impression on us all! Congratulations on winning your first I Care Award Dr. McWilliams!

Thank you for your generosity and support in what has been a difficult year for our health care teams here in Cumberland. The stress is real, but your many kindnesses - everything from sending messages to donating to the Foundation and Auxiliary - have helped to let our people know that they are very truly valued and appreciated. Your help makes a tremendous difference! There are many people who work every single day to keep us all healthy, safe, and cared for - physicians, n...urses, technicians, environmental services, maintenance, dietary, rehab, physio, mental health & addictions, health records, administration, finance, paramedical, security, materials management, pharmacy, laboratory, mail room, switchboard, diagnostic imaging, managers, infection control, biomedical, diagnostic imaging, IT, respiratory, HR, palliative care, cancer care, spiritual care, volunteers, OR, anesthesiology, emergency, social work, community services, ophthalmology, ENT, ICU, clerical, coffee shop, maternity, porters, emergency planning.... hundreds of dedicated members of a very, very special team. We extend heartfelt thanks to all of them for going the extra distance this year. They are our Health Care Heroes. We at the Foundation wish you a Merry Christmas and a safe and healthy New Year!

When COVID-19 became a part of our lives, the hospital had many new challenges that needed to be addressed. Everyone wanted to make sure that patients and staff were well protected so new protocols were implemented to address everything from personal protective equipment (PPE) to monitoring and regulating traffic in and out of the facility. Some new people came to help us with some of the now-needed daily tasks members of the Commissionaires. The Commissionaires have been h...ere now most of the year, and while we’ve never actually seen their faces, we’re getting to know them as part of our hospital family. Two of their ranks came to our attention today when a lady came in to tell us how they have gone well and above their duty to help her. The lady has been visiting the hospital daily for months and she has some mobility challenges that can make these visits difficult and tiring. She told us that from the beginning, the two Commissionaires most often assigned to the doorway have helped her in immeasurable ways they have carried heavy bags for her, helped her find a parking spot, and even cleaned the snow from her windshield so she could safely get into her car and stay warm, dry, and safe. She told us that every time she comes these gentlemen are up-beat and friendly and she knows that they are always looking out for her. She simply couldn’t thank them enough. It is our pleasure to be able to recognize Commissionaires Doug Chatfield and Glenn Darragh with I Care Awards! Well deserved, gentlemen!

What a pleasure it is to have two wonderful members of our CRHCC health care team honoured on the same morning! Debbie Reid, RN, and Dr. Janneke Gradstein, were important to a person who needed care, compassion, and support during a difficult time. They worked together to help and comfort, and together they succeeded in making the person’s burden lighter. This special care is what they do well, and what they always do without hesitation. It’s something that comes naturally to both of these respected, and loved, professionals. We are so fortunate to have them here with us and to be able to award both with I Care Awards. Congratulations Debbie Reid and Dr. Gradstein!

Hey, Pam Chappell someone thought you were wonderful and came to tell us how much they appreciate you! We love seeing patients, and their loved ones, when they take time out of their days to let us know how someone in the hospital made a difference in their lives. Sometimes they’ve been through a rough time and they were comforted, and sometimes they’ve noticed that someone here is doing an amazing job. Pam Chappell falls into both categories she is a terrific listener, a calming voice, a very capable nurse, and someone who can make the day better just by being there. Congratulations on winning an I Care Award Pam!