Triple the impact of your donation to the Nuclear Medicine Department upgrade

Thank you for your donation

You know how the holiday lights start popping up around town, and suddenly you’re feeling all warm and fuzzy? Well, this year, those twinkling lights mean something extra special to me. They’re a reminder that I’m still here – and boy, am I grateful for that!

My health journey has been quite the rollercoaster ride. Imagine being in your mid-20s, having just met your future wife and dreaming of your life together – it was a time that should have been full of joy and promise. That was me,  until my world was turned upside down not once, but twice after experiencing two heart attacks a mere year apart.

As I navigated this new reality, I was determined to be as healthy as I could be – not just for myself, but for the family I was planning with my fiancé Kayla. I overhauled my lifestyle, nutrition became my ally, and running became my therapy. In 2016, we were thrilled at the addition of our son into our growing family.

A few years later, we joyfully welcomed our daughter into the mix and were adjusting to life as a family of four. Our days were bustling with activity and the joys of parenthood. Unexpectedly, everything changed. While at work one day, in the middle of responding to emails, I suddenly found myself unable to type and I could no longer form sentences. Little did I know, I was having a stroke.

I rushed to my local Emergency Department at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. Before I could fully process what was happening, I underwent an urgent CT scan. The results revealed I had experienced a stroke. It was overwhelming news to take in as a 35 year old.

Thanks to the lifesaving technology at NBRHC, I was given a fighting chance. Swift treatment significantly improves survival rates while enhancing recovery outcomes and reducing complications. That’s exactly the kind of treatment I was fortunate to receive.

The next two weeks were a whirlwind of tests and treatments as I gradually regained control over my mind and body.

As a survivor of multiple life-altering health events, I’ve experienced firsthand the power of advanced technology and expert care. The treatment I received at the NBRHC was instrumental in my diagnosis and recovery, which is why I feel inspired to share my story with you today.

As I continue to monitor my health, to ensure I stay healthy for my family, I am reminded how important it is to have exceptional care, close to home. My future will involve many visits and tests at NBRHC, and I am hopeful I will be able to have more and more of these tests locally.

Our Nuclear Medicine Department has been a lifeline for many. Using SPECT/CT machines, the dedicated team conducts Stress Tests to detect and diagnose heart disease, as well as cancers, infection, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and more. Over the last year, our community has been raising funds to purchase two state-of-the-art SPECT/CT machines to help meet the growing community demand and offer new diagnostic tests. One of these machines is already up and running at NBRHC.

This new equipment features advanced imagining capabilities, delivers shorter wait times, and broadens local diagnostic and treatment programs to patients in our community. The estimated cost to purchase two state-of-the-art SPECT/CT machines, and the renovations required to install them, is $4.3 million.

My friends at the Foundation shared with me that our community has already raised more than $3.3 million towards this project. The second machine is still needed so our hospital can continue to provide critical care to patients like me. Your donation today, will help bring us closer to this goal. 

This holiday season, I am asking you to please consider making a donation to support this critical equipment upgrade and program expansion. Your support not only helps fund medical equipment, it fuels hope, recovery, and second chances. You are helping save lives.

Your donation will be generously matched 2:1 by the Shapiro Family! You can make your donation at the bottom of this page!

Having survived two heart attacks and a stroke, I defied the odds. Not merely surviving, I’m thriving and embracing life to its fullest with my family. I’ve returned to my passion for endurance sports, chronicling my health journey through blogging, and channeling my love for gravel bike riding into fundraising race events that are giving back to our community.

I owe so much to NBRHC. Without their care, I honestly don’t think I’d be here today. I am deeply grateful for the generosity of our community and donors like you who help ensure this type of care is available close to home.

Please join me today in supporting the purchase of two new SPECT/CT machines. By making your gift, you will help fund the very latest technology and equipment our hospital needs. Your donation, no matter the size makes a difference in the lives of patients in our community.

With gratitude,

 Jeff Miller

Grateful Patient