Your Stories

Honouring Loved Ones Through Generosity

“We often think of hospitals as places that heal and save lives, but unfortunately many people pass away as well, which was sadly the case for both my Son and Husband. But the care they both received at GBGH was exceptional and compassionate.”

 

Pat Shacklady is a firm believer in giving back, and with each donation she makes and every volunteer shift she works, she honours the incredible GBGH Team for their kind and compassionate care of her family. Her son, Jamie, had terminal Melanoma cancer and spent his last three weeks in palliative care at GBGH in 2018. (Read more about Jamie’s story here). And her husband, Jim, passed away after spending 10 days in ICU at the Midland Hospital in 2021. In both cases, Pat feels that the care they received at GBGH was incredible.

In 2022, Pat made a decision to include the GBGH Foundation in her will, as a lasting way to honour her family and the care they received at GBGH. 

Pat & Jim became Monthly Donors in 2020 as a way to give back to the hospital for the care their son received, and gradually increased their monthly contributions.  During this time, Pat also became a GBGH Volunteer, wearing her blue jacket and dedicating her time to help patients and their families as a guide and greeter at the hospital. After a Multiple Myeloma diagnosis, Jim received two stem cell transplants at a Toronto hospital, which was expected to give him a few more years. But, sadly, he developed an infection and spent 10 days in the ICU at GBGH where every possible attempt was made to help him. Due to his weakened immune system, he was unable to battle the infection, and passed away in 2021.

Today, Pat continues to celebrate her loved ones and the excellent care they received through regular giving to the Cornerstone Partners Fund and her volunteer shifts at GBGH.  And, she knows that well into the future, her family’s legacy will continue to make excellent care possible through her planned estate gift.

For more information on Legacy Giving or the Cornerstone Partners program, please contact Victoria Evans, senior key relationships officer (evansv@gbgh.on.ca, 705-526-1300 ext. 5344). To learn more about Monthly or Tribute Giving, please contact the GBGH Foundation Office at 705-526-1300.

Team Spotlight: Samantha Townes

We asked GBGH Manager of ICU, Critical Care & Allied Health, Samantha Townes, about her role at GBGH.  

What is your role at GBGH?

As Manager of Critical Care & Allied Health, my role is to support my teams in day-to-day operations, as well as lead any projects or quality initiatives that we identify both as a group and corporately. We are regularly evaluating that the care we provide is of the upmost quality and that our actions are aligned with our strategic goals and values.

What is one thing you love about your role?

The team! I have worked very closely with the Critical Care team since I started at GBGH, and they continue to impress me with their passion, dedication and resilience. All of my team members are so dedicated to their respectful professions, and it is really a privilege to be able to work alongside them. 

Tell us a bit about our ICU?

Our ICU is designated a Level 3 Basic ICU, is the second highest designation an ICU can receive in Ontario with the exception of specialty units. Our team cares for some of the most complex and acutely ill patients in our region in our 6-bed unit, as well up to 10 medical/surgical patient’s cardiac activity through our telemetry monitoring system. While we have invested in the technology to ensure excellent care for our patients, the patient rooms haven’t been updated since the hospital was built in 1976. One of the biggest challenges we face are the clunky, outdated doors to each room, which get stuck, have broken blinds and do not give the team full visibility to those in our care.

Sounds like you need new doors! How would this investment support excellent care in the ICU?

Modern ICU doors offer complete visibility from floor to ceiling, so that a nurse/team member can check on patients at a glance. Our nurses can identify a change in a patient’s condition based on many factors, whether it be through the bedside monitoring system, physical appearance, medications infusing, right down to making sure tubes and lines are in place. Having the room in full visibility is critical, while supporting their privacy and space when appropriate. When doors are stuck or defective, it can be very challenging to move the patient bed or gain access to the room in
a hurry. New doors will slide much more effectively, protecting our nurses from injury and ensuring their focus is on caring for patients.

How can the community help?  

We have approval from leadership to install new ICU doors, but we need the funding to pay for them. We have seven doors to replace, at a cost of approximately $10,000 each. The new doors will help our team care for you, and bring our ICU rooms from the 70s into the 21st century!

For those wishing to help transform the ICU, donations can be made by visiting https://gbghf.ca/donate-now/ or calling 705-526-GIVE (4483).