At this time of year, I find myself thinking more about the people I love and the moments we share together.

For most of my life, caring for others has simply been part of who I am. I spent 30 years as a nurse, supporting patients and families through some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Those years shaped the way I see healthcare, and they also shaped the way I value time, especially the ordinary moments we share with the people around us.

Now that I’m retired, life has a different rhythm. I spend more time with my husband and family, stay connected with friends and make a point of keeping active.

Years ago, that meant lacing up and running marathons. Today, it might mean a walk outdoors or an afternoon with my granddaughter. I’ve learned that these ordinary parts of life – time together, familiar routines and plans for tomorrow – are the things you value most.

The holidays seem to bring those things into even sharper focus. I never imagined that one ordinary evening would end with me having a heart attack and change the way I thought about all of those moments.

The days leading up to my heart attack had been stressful. My husband, who lives with dementia, had gone missing from our home. Thankfully, he was found safe, but it was a frightening experience, and I was more shaken by it than I realized.

The following day, my 4-year-old granddaughter, Darby, was staying with us. Having her there brought a welcome change of pace. We went to our neighbourhood playground, ate her favourite chocolate chip ice cream and spent the evening together just being silly. She was full of energy, and for those few hours, I could put the worry of the previous day aside and simply enjoy being her grandmother.

Eventually, we came home and the evening began to wind down. My granddaughter settled in for the night, the house became quiet and I finally had a chance to sit down and catch my breath.

After the busyness and stress of the previous days, I remember feeling tired and thinking that it was probably just everything catching up with me. I went to bed expecting to sleep and wake up the next morning to another ordinary day.

Instead, I felt anxious and restless. Something just didn’t feel right. I wondered if I was overtired or perhaps having a panic attack. A heart attack wasn’t even on my mind, but something inside me told me to call 9-1-1.

I am very grateful I listened.

When the paramedics arrived, I remember telling them that I was probably experiencing anxiety. They quickly realized I was wrong. I was having a serious heart attack, and I was rushed to the Emergency Department at North Bay Regional Health Centre.

Before I could fully process what was happening, my care team was already working to understand the seriousness of my condition and provide the lifesaving care I needed. When a heart attack happens, every minute matters. Fast diagnosis, close monitoring and timely treatment are critical to a patient’s outcome. Thanks to the lifesaving care available at NBRHC, I was given a fighting chance.

Later, I learned just how serious my heart attack had been. I was told that if I hadn’t received care when I did, I may not be here today. That is something you don’t forget.

The care I received at NBRHC was instrumental in my diagnosis, monitoring and treatment, which is why I feel inspired to share my story with you today.

None of us plans for the moment when we suddenly need emergency care. When it happens, you want to know that lifesaving care is available here in your own community. Your generosity helps make that possible.

This holiday season, I am asking you to please make a donation to NBRHC Foundation. Your gift helps bring state-of-the-art medical equipment and technology to your local hospital, helping ensure lifesaving care is available when it is needed most.

Today, I’m most grateful for the simple things. After my heart attack, I began to see them differently. The ordinary moments I once took for granted now remind me just how much life is contained in the everyday.

As the holidays approach, I’m especially grateful for the chance to experience those moments again: sitting around the table with my family, sharing a meal, laughing together and watching my granddaughter play. Even making plans for another day or another year feels different now. I understand how precious that time really is.

A heart attack doesn’t wait for a convenient time. Neither does an accident, an illness or an unexpected diagnosis. I certainly never imagined that after a lifetime of caring for others, I would one day be the person relying on lifesaving care myself.

I owe so much to NBRHC. Without the care I received that night, I may not be here today. I am deeply grateful to donors like you who help ensure this kind of care is available close to home. When I needed it most, the lifesaving care I needed was here.

This holiday season, please join me in supporting NBRHC Foundation. Together, we can help ensure exceptional healthcare remains available close to home.

With gratitude,
Daphne
Grateful Patient & Retired Nurse

P.S. Because the next person who suddenly needs that care could be someone you love. Your parent. Your spouse. Your friend. Your child or grandchild. One day, it could be you. Your generosity can help another patient receive the care they need close to home and give another family the chance for more ordinary days together.