Nursing in medical surgical departments has been my focus for 25 years and remains one of my highest purposes of life. What our patients face is a big deal. The trust they place in our surgical team is sacred. We take this trust seriously and in turn have the highest level of expectation for our co-workers, the equipment we use, and the facilities we operate within. It is a major privilege and responsibility to work in this area of healthcare.

For most of my life, I have been fortunate enough to call the Comox Valley home. My extended family and I feel deeply connected to the people of this community and share a mutual passion to spend as much time as we can outdoors, embracing everything our region has to offer.

I have also seen how a loved one’s life is impacted when pain and discomfort prevent them from experiencing simple pleasures like walking along the beach, gardening, or going for a bike ride.

Janice, my mother-in-law, had knee joint pain that started four years ago. At age 71 and having lived in Buckley Bay since 1998, Janice was accustomed to an active lifestyle from sailing, kayaking, and camping to keeping up with her 12 grandchildren. As time went on, Janice’s pain was so severe, it impacted her mobility, sleep, and mental health.

Thankfully, earlier this year Janice had a total knee replacement at the Comox Valley Hospital (CVH). This was a special intersection of my personal and professional life, which both made me proud to work in such a place of excellence as well as confident my loved one would be very well cared for. Janice put incredible effort into her post-surgical rehab and now can walk with out mobility devices and has much less pain.

For those of you who may be unfamiliar, at CVH, there are nearly 8,000 surgeries a year provided through five operating rooms. Local surgical services include orthopedics, general surgery, urology, ophthalmology, obstetrics/gynecological, ENT, and specialty dental. Orthopedic surgeries make up 1,150 of these critical procedures with knee and hip surgeries being the most common for our active community.

As the number of required surgeries continues to increase in the Comox Valley, maintaining the highest standard of care, safety, and hygiene is paramount. Ensuring that our surgical team has access to the most up-to-date tools leads to the best possible outcomes for our loved ones and contributes to efficient use of these vital resources.

The Comox Valley Healthcare Foundation is seeking your support to help fund specific surgical equipment and cleaning devices that have been prioritized for the hospital. 

With your support, my surgical colleagues can continue to provide exceptional care, right here, close to home.