sharon’s story
“One moment I was tending my garden. The next, I had fallen and was seriously injured. The pain from my arm was immediate, and as my husband helped me, my thoughts quickly turned to my family.”
Being a grandmother is one of the greatest joys of my life.
Like many grandparents in our community, I help care for my granddaughters while their parents work. Whether it's spending afternoons together, helping with daily routines, or simply being there when I'm needed, those moments mean the world to me.
That's why an accident while I was gardening last spring felt so frightening.
One moment I was tending my garden. The next, I had fallen and was seriously injured. The pain from my arm was immediate, and as my husband helped me, my thoughts quickly turned to my family.
Would I be able to continue helping with the girls? How long would recovery take? What would happen if I couldn't do the things I had always been able to do?
Like so many families, ours depends on one another.
Before long, we were on our way to the Emergency Department at Comox Valley Hospital.
When you find yourself facing an unexpected medical emergency, you realize how much you depend on the people who are there to help.
The Emergency Department team cared for me with skill, compassion, and professionalism. They assessed my injury, explained what was happening, and helped me feel reassured during a very stressful time.
What stood out was knowing I was in capable hands.
Because of the care I received, I was able to focus on healing and getting back to the people who matter most.
My experience reminded me that the Emergency Department is more than a place where injuries are treated. It is where families find help during some of their toughest moments. Every day, dedicated staff provide critical care for children, parents, grandparents, friends, and neighbours.
None of us plans for an emergency.
But when one happens, we all hope that exceptional care, advanced equipment, and highly trained professionals will be there for us and for the people we love.
As someone who has experienced that care firsthand, I am deeply grateful.
And as a grandmother, I am especially grateful to be back doing what I love: spending time with the girls who bring so much joy to my life.
