“It was awful. But I knew I wasn’t on my own”

Have you ever had the sensation of pins and needles when your leg falls asleep? I had a wave of it in my fingers while watching TV one night, and didn’t think much of it. I just went to bed.

When I woke up, the tingling had spread to my legs and feet, and I was having a hard time walking. I thought to myself, “My gosh, something is really wrong.”

Every day, people in Grey Bruce have experiences like I did. Life is chugging along when out of the blue, the unexpected happens. For me, that turned out to be Guillain–Barré syndrome. It’s an autoimmune condition that affects the nerves and muscles, and no one quite knows what causes it.

For someone else, the unexpected might be a sudden injury. Whatever it may be, your kind support means compassionate healthcare is never far away.

It was awful. But I knew I wasn’t on my own.

I had an incredible care team and, because I didn’t have to seek help far from home, I also had visits from my girlfriend Virginia, my nieces, nephews, and friends. That kept my spirits up and helped me focus on getting better. I think it was half the battle.

All told, I spent three weeks between the intensive care unit and critical care unit, one week in a step-down ward where I could regain my strength, and another three weeks in rehabilitation where I re-learned how to put on my socks, walk, and take the stairs. Throughout my experience, the respect and care I got was top-notch—from the housekeepers who tidied my rooms to my neurologist, Dr. Young. They took such good care of me, and your support meant they had everything they needed to do it.

Please donate today to help others in Grey Bruce get the top-notch care they need.

Sending my thanks,

Alan MacDonald
Grateful Patient

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