Home-like atmosphere in Palliative Care brings peace to McDonald family

From the moment Christina McDonald began her end-of-life journey in the Palliative Care Unit of The Brantford General she and her extended family felt at peace.

“It’s like home there,” Christina’s daughter Catherine Ludlow, explained. “When we walked in, there was just this sense of relief, the room was so beautiful.

“It was an oasis that I didn’t even know existed; it was like staying in a hotel.”

Christina was transferred to The Brantford General from a local retirement home where she resided for the past six years, due to an infection that was causing her great pain.

“At the last minute it became a medical crisis,” Catherine said. “She needed palliative medication.”

After being transported to The Brantford General’s Emergency Department by first responders, Christina was fast-tracked to a private room where she and her family could feel more comfortable.

“They were amazing and gave her constant attention,” Christina’s daughter Margot Neill, said of Emergency Department staff.

The Palliative Care team, led by Dr. Amy Montour, began a course of medication and treatment, “which immediately relaxed her. You could see she was in total comfort and she stayed that way for six days,” said Catherine.

From Emergency, Christina was transferred to the Palliative ward on C7.

The Palliative Care Unit delivers care to around 377 patients every year and features expansive and comfortable private rooms for up to eight Palliative patients with sofa beds and private patient washrooms. The Palliative Care Unit also includes a welcoming lounge area where family members can enjoy refreshments, an oversized aquarium to add to the peacefulness, and bathrooms with showers for family members.

“The other thing they do on C7 is fully support the family,” Catherine said. “They were always asking if we were okay, or if they could we bring us anything, even asking whether we were warm enough.

“Other times they would suggest we go home to rest when we were tired, while they watched over her.”

This compassionate, professional and holistic approach to treatment offered by Dr. Montour and the Palliative Care team greatly eased the stress and anxiety of the entire family, who could come and go as they pleased and spend as much time as they liked to sit with Christina and say their final good-byes.

“Christina looked totally relaxed and we realized that she was in the best of hands,” Margot said. “There was always this sense of peace – that they were going to look after us.”

From the initial contact with paramedics to environmental services staff and PSWs, nurses and Chaplain Moe Pigeon, exceptional service was always at the forefront when it came to the care received by Christina and her family.

“For six days it was a little respite home for our family too; it was very private,” Margot added. “It allowed us all to focus on our own emotions knowing Christina was being well taken care of.”

The entire family is grateful that their loved one was able to complete her end-of-life journey in such a dignified and peaceful way.

“I have nothing but accolades to give,” Margot said. “It is an emotional time to lose a parent, however our experience at the BCHS definitely helped us deal with our loss.

“Dr. Amy Montour was absolutely wonderful. We cannot thank her enough for the compassionate care she gave to our mother.”

As the McDonald family knows first-hand, when a health crisis or emergency affects you or a loved one, Brant Community Healthcare System is here to provide exceptional, professional and compassionate care in your time of need.

Behind each success of the Brant Community Healthcare System (BCHS) Foundation is the generosity of our community, our donors and volunteers. This continued commitment has enabled us to put our patients first by helping us to provide the right equipment, at the right time, when it matters most.

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