Father of three and ‘Opa’ to four grandchildren, Peter grew up working on a farm, in factories for decades, and as a Porter at the Willett, Paris before retiring. Peter is a survivor of multiple forms of cancer and has received treatments for over the last 30 years, most of which were at the Brant Community Cancer Clinic at Brantford General Hospital (BGH).

Late in the evening in April 2024 Peter fell at home, hitting his head and experiencing his first seizure. Peter’s wife Dora, a trained Registered Nurse who
worked at the Willett, Paris for 35 years before retirement, tried to move Peter from the laundry room where he had fallen. She quickly called for her daughter and son-in-law, who arrived and immediately called for an ambulance and Peter was taken to the Emergency Department (ED) at Brantford General, arriving around midnight.

“We sat in the waiting room for a very short time. Nursing care in the ED was wonderful,” says Dora. “We were called in right away, and it took the tension away from Peter and me.”

Peter continued to have seizures. “I was a wreck,” says Peter of that evening. Peter was admitted to a room at BGH to stabilize and to assess the next steps on his road to treatment and recovery.

Dora shared the CT scan images that resulted from Peter’s visits to BGH’s Diagnostic Imaging department. The scans dramatically illustrated Peter’s brain during his brain bleed, immediately after draining the blood, and one month post-care.

Peter is thankful for the timely and attentive care he received at BGH. He was diagnosed with a brain bleed and his doctors have stated that if Peter was to fall again, there would be critical repercussions. Dora noted that Peter had a previous fall the February prior, but she had performed head injury protocol at the time and noted no visible head injuries, bumps, or signs of internal damage. “The doctor said that as you get older your brain shrinks a bit and your blood vessels are exposed, and when you bump your head, they’re easier to break”. Dora credits hospital staff for explaining exactly what had happened to Peter.

“The doctors at Brantford General were patient, answered my questions and explained things very well,” says Dora. “I know for some families; they don’t have the nursing background or are not familiar with the healthcare system. Ask for things to be explained in simpler terms and they will.”

Dora and Peter acknowledge that investing in local healthcare is important nowadays. “The equipment the hospital must buy is so expensive. If the public can help as much as they can, even to donate a small amount; twenty dollars, twenty-five dollars; it would all be so helpful, as every dollar counts.”

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Your Health – Our Focus

Stories like Peter’s are not uncommon. From 2023-2024, Brant Community Healthcare System performed 203,915 Diagnostic Imaging procedures, as well as utilizing 30,087 other diagnostic services.

Diagnostic Imaging for the Brantford General and the Willett, Paris needs your support!

The BCHS Foundation is currently raising funds to support the purchase of several essential diagnostic tools. Digital mammography, ultrasound machines, a new gamma camera and the MRI at Brantford General and the Willett, Paris all require donor support.

There is no ongoing commitment of funding from the government to acquire equipment and upgrade the technology needed each and every day at BCHS. The BCHS Foundation is responsible to bridge this funding gap locally through donor dollars. Your help is critical.

Patients’ lives are being saved every day at BCHS because of community contributions. Your involvement, through a donation of any size, allows us to support our dedicated professionals with the medical equipment they need to provide excellent patient care.

For each gift in support of Hope for Healthcare your donation will be matched, dollar for dollar, thanks to Mott Manufacturing. Make a gift that is meaningful to you and DOUBLE your impact. Please give today!

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