Back from the Brink
“On Oct 8, 2021 I became your guest at QCH. I arrived via ambulance, was triaged, went into trauma, then ICU, and finally C4 until my eventual discharge approximately a week later,” said Barry, a recent patient of QCH. "This was my first hospital experience personally in over 30 years and I can say unreservedly that every encounter with every QCH staff member was above and beyond professional, compassionate and caring on their part and despite the serious circumstances, a pleasure.”
When Barry arrived at QCH, his situation was dire — he came in unconscious and had to be stabilized. “It’s a little unnerving and really hits home when your doctors tell you after the danger has passed that they were genuinely worried about you,” he said.
Barry’s father had been successfully treated at the Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre on our campus about 5 years ago, and other than that, his only experience with QCH was as a teenager when he came in with a broken ankle — that was his last incident requiring medical care.
Barry is adamant that the work that was done at QCH saved his life and protected him from any long-term physical or neurological damage.
“To say that I am thankful and appreciative is an understatement — I have come out of this completely unscathed. Every encounter with any QCH team member from start to finish was beyond exceptional. From the paramedics who first took care of and transported me, to the team that was waiting for me and after-care.
“Even the cleaning staff that came around made me laugh or smile. The people who delivered my food, the porters, security, EVERYBODY was extremely professional, compassionate, caring, down to earth and human.
“I would also like to compliment the stellar bedside manner of Dr’s Iyengar and Li. They talk with you — not at you. I never would have expected that. And their numerous personal visits as I was stabilizing were most reassuring and welcome.”
“There were a million emotions that went through my mind when I listened to the briefing about what had to be done to stabilize me — it was truly amazing what the QCH team accomplished and I’m eternally grateful.”
“Dr. Iyengar and Dr. Li in addition to the entire healthcare team at QCH are always so busy and have long hard shifts. But they provided me hands-on personal care despite their immense workload and priorities!”
During his career, Barry was a press secretary for a Health Minister, worked for a drug company, in addition to consulting with many hospital and healthcare clients across Ontario. He had been in many hospitals meeting with their staff and feels that he has a good reference point about the difference in hospital cultures and environments across Ontario.
“I really feel very strongly that as my experience progressed over the weeks — I wanted everyone whom I encountered to know just how much I appreciate every single one of them and what they do every day. I had absolute confidence that I had the best care possible.
“I could have come out of this permanently messed up. Instead, thanks to QCH and the people there, I’ve already picked back up where I left off and been back in the gym for a few weeks now. I want all of you at QCH to know that I really appreciate what you did for me and for all your patients. You all are a well-oiled machine that works effectively together to get your patients back to health and I’m living proof of that.”
Members of the ICU team