12 DAYS OF GIVING
GRATEFUL PATIENT SPOTLIGHT

Joan Minnery is a Grateful Family Member…

It’s the genuine human kindness that people remember when they experience a personal tragedy and after losing her mother, Joan Minnery has only good things to say about the way she and her family were treated by staff at the Brant Community Healthcare System.

In early May of 2016, Joan arrived at the Brantford General Hospital Emergency Department (ED) with her 91 year old mother, Elsie Minnery. Elsie was having significant difficulty breathing.

“I have nothing but praise for the staff in the ED when we came in with my mom,” said Joan.

Elsie was cared for by ED nurse Tamara Camilleri and the two quickly formed a special bond. Joan said Tamara was friendly and funny and put her mother and herself at ease.

It was just after midnight, and Tamara went about her job caring for Elsie and other patients while it was determined that Elsie needed to be admitted to the hospital.

“I regrettably went home at 3 a.m., not thinking anything would happen until later in the day,” said Joan.

Just before 5 a.m., Tamara called Joan and told her she needed to return to the hospital because Elsie’s condition had deteriorated. Joan contacted
her brother Bob and sister Anne, and Elsie’s grandson BJ. They all rushed to the hospital as quickly as they could.

When Joan arrived, she noticed Tamara’s face was ashen and as she put her hand on Joan’s shoulder she explained that Elsie had needed to be intubated and placed on a ventilator to help her to breathe.

“I thought my mom was gone,” said Joan, until Tamara explained that staff performed cardio pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) to revive Elsie. After she regained consciousness, Elsie responded to the voices around her and to the touch of her children and grandchildren – though she couldn’t speak to them while on the ventilator, Elsie communicated with her eyes and touch.