Dear Editor,
Clearly - anyone you may speak with today has a complaint (or several) about our medical system here in B.C. and not without some merit.
At 86 years of age, I most assuredly have had more than my share of benefits provided, especially in overcoming the 鈥榖umps鈥� in the system to achieve the eventual results. I have done my best to always appreciate and express my thanks for those results, and have felt that what many of us are lacking is a failure to show 鈥渁n attitude of gratitude." Would it not be just as easy to 鈥榓ccentuate the positive and eliminate the negative鈥� as sung by the Four Lads back in the fifties? Uh oh, I just revealed myself as an old geezer.
Seriously, two primary reasons my wife and I decided to build and live here in the Comox Valley are the Tim Horton鈥檚 at Ryan and Lerwick and the new hospital just down the way. Okay 鈥� so I鈥檓 kidding about Tim鈥檚, however, as an ever aging Octogenarian you can be assured the hospital was a factor. I have enjoyed good health most of my life. However, I recognize that I have faced, and will continue to face, many daily challenges. It seems I am into body part replacements (knees and shoulder) and removal, as well as overall general repair and upkeep to tolerate things like creaky knees (long out of warranty), hernia repairs, cataract surgeries, sore back and joints and lets mix in a little vertigo to keep it all interesting.
Reflecting back, I can honestly state I was always treated with the greatest care and concern of every professional who ever treated me in any fashion in every situation from Victoria to Campbell River. This Includes an ambulance to Campbell River and two hospital visits for surgery with less than 24 hours a stay. These doctors, nurses, drivers, therapists, kitchen and cleaning staff are doing their best and are fighting 鈥榯he system鈥� as well so give them a break and express your appreciation whenever possible. No one likes a complainer and God knows we have enough of them.
Appreciate the country in which you live. Just watch the nightly news and you will (or should) recognize just how fortunate you are to be here. It鈥檚 not perfect, but a damn sight better than much of the world in which we live. AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE! Give it a try and enjoy the season.
Larry Gray
Courtenay
