“He fell asleep in my arms and woke up with me by his side. He was smiling, calm, and at ease. That kind of peace for a child in a hospital setting is nothing short of extraordinary. It felt like my son was treated with the same care and tenderness they would give their own child.”
Rachael
Lincoln's Mom
When you or someone you love needs the hospital, it can feel overwhelming…the worry, the waiting, the what-ifs. That’s the experience Rachael had when her six-year-old son, Lincoln, needed surgery earlier this year.
“As a parent, handing your child over for surgery is one of the hardest things you can do,” she shared.
Rachael was particularly anxious because Lincoln had previously undergone surgery at another hospital, leaving him traumatized and afraid.
“My son was so scared, especially at the thought of being separated from me, and honestly, so was I.”
From the moment they arrived at Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH), every staff member—from the kind woman at the registration desk to the nurses, anesthesiologist, and surgeon—treated Rachael and Lincoln with warmth, patience, and compassion. Rachael was amazed at how thoughtfully the entire team handled every moment.
“They didn’t just see a procedure: they saw a child who was nervous and a family that needed reassurance.”
At GBGH, the teams pride themselves on making care personal—especially during uncertain times. But as our community grows, so does the pressure on GBGH resources.
“They took Lincoln’s fear of separation seriously, never rushing, never minimizing those emotions. They comforted us, explained everything in a gentle and age-appropriate way, and made sure we felt seen and safe. They laughed at my son's jokes, took his comments and questions seriously, and interacted with him until he was comfortable.”
~ Rachael
We urgently need your help to invest in the equipment and technology the GBGH teams need to continue providing our community with high-quality care.
Your gift of $50, $100, or $250 will help us purchase vital surgical tools and technology. These contributions ensure faster, less stressful, and more effective procedures. Last year, thanks to donors like you, we acquired advanced operating tables that played a crucial role in Lincoln’s successful surgery.
But there’s still more to do. With your support, we can continue expanding our surgical services, providing more patients with the opportunity to have their care close to home. Last year alone, GBGH performed more than 5,200 surgeries, and with continued investment, we can do even more.
Your support strengthens our surgical services—ensuring families like Lincoln’s receive compassionate, expert care close to home. Lincoln’s surgery was seamless, leaving him calm and at ease, a testament to the excellent, personal care at GBGH.
Your generosity makes all the difference. Together, we can ensure our community receives the compassionate, lifesaving care they deserve. Thank you for being a part of every story at GBGH.
With heartfelt thanks,
Nicole Kraftscik
CEO
GBGH Foundation
P.S. Your gift to the GBGH Foundation today will help equip our surgical teams with the tools they need, so patients of all ages can receive the best possible care, right here at home.
