Patient/Donor Stories

Don Brough

My age is 72 and after a medical appointment in late January, 2015 with my family doctor in Wiarton, he suggested updated PSA tests…thank you! A main reason for doing this is my family history of prostate cancer. Anyone who has a family history of this, or any other type of cancer, should certainly follow up with their family doctor in a timely fashion and the sooner the better.

Given my PSA results, my doctor quickly referred me to a specialist in Owen Sound who then took immediate further steps and I was diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer. He then undertook additional tests and referred me to a radiation oncologist at the London Health Sciences Centre. A video conference call was then set up with him from the Wiarton Hospital…local technology! He took the time to chat with me for three quarters of an hour, reviewed all the test results and presented two treatment alternatives. One was 7 weeks of radiation treatments that consisted of 5 treatments each week and 3 years of hormone treatments. The other possibility was being part of a research study. The study involved one radiation treatment each week for 5 weeks (a stronger radiation dose) and 18 months of hormone treatment. I opted for this alternative. My study coordinator at LHSC has been really helpful in taking me through the process.

Radiation treatments ended in June and my first follow-up appointment in August indicated encouraging results. Further follow-up will be every 6 months and my final hormone treatment will be in June, 2016, depending on test results at that time.

A main reason to be a participant in the study was that it is only through research such as this that can potentially lead to more effective treatments and more efficient use of our health care resources. This study relates to prostate cancer but it could possibly lead to alternative treatments for other forms of cancer with enhanced patient outcomes. I just found it amazing how quickly my situation was addressed by everyone in our regional health care system. These people are very caring and professional individuals. I could not have been treated better. My family were also there, adding huge support.

I would definitely encourage our general public, local municipalities, First Nation communities and the private sector to continue to keep health care on their high priority budget lists. Our local hospitals continue to need to upgrade their diagnostic equipment as technology is changing at an accelerating rate and we need to continuously adapt. I say a sincere thank you as well to the London Health Sciences Centre, our critical health care partner. They all need to be supported.

When Melissa B. learned she was pregnant, she was ecstatic! When she discovered she was expecting twins she was surprised, but took it in stride.

Her pregnancy was very routine, very normal. She worked with the obstetricians at the Owen Sound Regional Hospital and they were fantastic. “Everything went very smoothly, right to the very end,” Melissa remembers.

Five weeks before her due date, things began to change. Melissa became concerned that the babies were not moving as much as they should, so she had an ultrasound at the Hospital. Everything was fine with the babies, but the next day Melissa went into labour prematurely.

When she arrived at the hospital, she was immediately connected to a fetal heart monitor, so doctors could check the health of her babies. “Shortly after being hooked up to the monitor, one twin’s heart rate dropped dangerously below normal.”

Melissa’s babies were suffering from Twin-to-Twin Transfusion Syndrome, a condition where twins sharing a single placenta can affect one another’s blood supply, leaving one twin in danger. The mortality rate from the condition is high, and swift action was needed. Melissa’s twins were delivered during an emergency caesarean section.

The Owen Sound Hospital is the only hospital in Grey Bruce that routinely deals with high-risk pregnancies. Fetal heart monitors are used in 90 percent of deliveries. Melissa credits the monitors for helping to save her babies.

Brittany and Addison spent two weeks in the intensive care nursery. Melissa can’t say enough about the care they received from the nurses and doctors.

“They always had the babies best interests at heart. They went above and beyond – whether they spent an extra couple of minutes talking to or holding the babies or when the doctors would be speaking with me they would be touching the babies… it was the extra things that the doctors and nurses did not have to do that makes this hospital so special. Thanks to the “parent room” at the hospital, I was able to stay there and be with my babies every day, allowing me to be involved in all aspects of their care and to really bond with them.”

“If we lived somewhere else, you just don’t know if the outcome would have been the same. But with the way the doctors and nurses worked together, and the state of the art equipment that they have, the outcome was positive for my daughters and me.”

One morning nine years ago, I woke up with a tiny pin prick in my heart area. This went on every minute for an hour. Finally, my wife ignored my saying “it’s ok” and called for an ambulance.

Because of where we live, it took the ambulance a half-hour to arrive. They did some checks and called the hospital. The answer was “get him in here now”.

Just as we were going through the Emergency doors, my heart attack struck. I have never seen so many nurses and doctors in my life and thanks to them, I still have my life. Thank you so much Owen Sound hospital! So folks please do not push aside any little chest pain – GET HELP!

In the fall of 2009 I had 2 car accidents which resulted in the cars being written off. I couldn’t remember anything about what happened. I was lucky that I only had minor cuts and bruises. After several visits to the Hospital for tests and examinations I was told that I was having Epileptic seizures. I was started on medication and within 2 weeks the seizures were under control. Thanks to Dr. Whittle and all at the Owen Sound Hospital for their help, in particular Dr. Ostrander!

Also, I must thank hospital staff for doing every thing to help my wife Yvonne who was there in her last four weeks of life. She suffered with Crohns and colitis for many years.

Once again thank you for all your help and understanding. GOD BLESS YOU ALL!