Doctors

From Arleen’s Desk – April 2022 Blog

Categories: News Bytes, From Arleen's Desk

As I move back into the Health Services Foundation’s office at Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital and see signs of Spring, I’m amazed by the tremendous generosity we see in our rural communities; it always adds a sense of hope to the air.

Alison, Melissa, Marta, Danielle, and I are so proud to work toward the generational change to local health care by supporting the South Shore Regional Hospital Redevelopment Project. This redevelopment will increase the footprint of our regional hospital by 30% while adding a long-awaited MRI and twelve dialysis beds. My family and I have used South Shore Regional more than once – many, many times in fact. I’m proud as well to make my own family pledge like many of our Foundation staff, Board members and community members who are leading the way. 

Tim O’Regan and David Himmelman have jumped into the Health Services Foundation’s fundraising efforts for this project as Co-Chairs with their own family donations of a tremendous $500,000 each.  The South Shore Regional Hospital Auxiliary pledged an astounding $1,000,000 donation in support of the Day Surgery expansion (we think this is the largest donation of its kind in the province, if not the Atlantic provinces by a hospital auxiliary). The Queens General Hospital Foundation not only displayed an incredible act of philanthropy but also that it understands that this is truly a “regional” project by dedicating $725,000 specifically for South Shore Regional’s MRI. I am so grateful for such a strong base of community support.

While the SSRH Redevelopment Project is key to the future of health care on the South Shore, the investment in equipment for both South Shore Regional and Fishermen’s Memorial will continue – the needs never end.

Events like the West Nova Fuels Curl for a Cause (which just completed its 22nd year of fundraising for Fishermen’s Memorial Hospital) and the Gift From The Heart Radiothon will continue. Work to help welcome and settle new physicians in our community continues as the Health Services Foundation works to build on the fantastic work of NOW Lunenburg County. Our Physician Settlement Committee is working closely with our Nova Scotia Health physician recruiters and our Longitudinal Integrated Clerkship (LIC) program to see how the Foundation (and its wonderful donors) can support in their efforts.

So much great work is happening on the South Shore.

What a fantastic way to step into Spring!

Healing Our Community – Doctors Day 2021

Categories: Your Stories

After volunteering at a local church, Graham Rains came home feeling unwell.

“I developed chills and a fever. Of course the first thing I thought was ‘uh-oh I got COVID’.”

As the Crousetown man’s symptoms worsened, Rains found himself in the Emergency Department at South Shore Regional Hospital, facing some life-altering decisions.

“Dr. Paul Soloman let me explain my story and after examining me and my leg, he returned with a surgeon and explained my options. I had a flesh eating disease that could have been the end of me or my leg.”

A short time later, Rains was in recovery after surgery to his leg. “The next thing I knew there was a nurse telling me to look down at my leg. I didn’t want to as I didn’t know if it was there or not but then I saw my toes sticking up and I was pretty sure the leg was still attached!”

“I specifically remember my surgeon, Dr. Edward Joy, asking me to do one thing for him. He told me I couldn’t just sit there and feel sorry for myself, that I had to make a plan to occupy my mind and heal. He was right and I appreciated that advice.”

Rains spent a total of 90 days at South Shore Regional Hospital recovering, gaining insight and respect for all the staff in the hospital. “From the housekeeping staff to the food services staff (honestly the hospital has the best pizza on the South Shore) to the nurses and doctors; the care in Bridgewater is as good of care as you can get anywhere.”

Rains is continuing to heal at home, where he lives with his wife Myrna. He still returns to Bridgewater to be cared for by Plastic Surgeon Dr. Lisa Dickson.

“I would like to thank Dr. Soloman, Dr. Joy and Dr. Dickson. They are so professional and competent yet still very caring. I really do respect what the front line staff are going through these days. I thank them for all they have done for me and they have my greatest respect.”

The Health Services Foundation of the South Shore would like to recognize and thank all the physicians who serve the South Shore. The Health Services Foundation and NOW Lunenburg County’s partnership helps support the physician recruitment and retention efforts of Nova Scotia Health.