Dear editor,
Dozens of roses and beautiful butterflies are deserved by the docs and nurses in the emergency room and ICU at Comox Valley Hospital who took care of my husband, Steve.
They did everything they could to save his life, despite septic shock from pneumonia that was complicated by his compromised immunity from months of chemo.
After 6six ICU days with extraordinary care, treatments had stopped working, and his final wish was to be home to die.
Nurses Jennie and Katrina jumped through hoops to arrange for that to happen.
Thanks to their efforts and the BC Ambulance paramedics, Zack and Nathan, he got home (and said he knew he was home)鈥� just seven hours before he took his last breath.
Huge bouquets also go out to Dr. Samantha McCrae at Valley Care Medical and Dr. Magdalene Smit at the Comox Valley Hospital Cancer unit, as well as their teams.
Thank you all very much for being on this 14-month journey with us and for such good care, patience with my many questions, and compassion every step of the way.
The Palliative Care team and our Community Nursing program were phenomenal, especially Carol who got us all of the equipment that made being at home so much easier 鈥� from a threshold ramp to a boosting recliner 鈥� and the nurses who came weekly to change Steve鈥檚 dressing.
Even Laura, the Life Labs, phlebotomist not only arrived with a smile on her face, like a visiting friend, but she went out of her way to ensure that Steve didn鈥檛 miss a blood test just because of holidays or staff vacations.
Our Valley is truly blessed with these amazing medical professionals鈥� and so many more I can鈥檛 even name.
I would also like to thank Comox Taxi for providing the one and only wheelchair taxi in this community, especially critical for those who are confined to a wheelchair and need transportation for medical care, yet not eligible for HandyDart transportation because of living south of Royston. Their driver, Ralph, was so kind to us and Tanya is a great dispatcher.
Last but not least, thank you to all at St. George鈥檚 United Church, including Rev. Ryan and Rev. Ingrid, who prayed for Steve and our family tirelessly for 14 months. Ryan visited the hospital, and Ingrid came to our house to be with our grandsons when they heard the news of their grandfather鈥檚 passing after school.
While the loss of a loved one is a tragedy, I must say I am truly blessed and grateful to the phenomenal individuals in our community who made a difficult journey easier.
Thank you.
Carolyn T.
Comox Valley
