The Spence Family story

Arthur Douglas (Kit) Spence's family have become a part of the Cumberland Regional Health Care Centre's family. His daughter, Elaine (Spence) Falconer states:

"The events of October 2nd, 2002 forever altered our decision (about the regional hospital). Suffering from extensive lung disease precipitated by decades of working underground, my father had developed pneumonia and had to be intubated. Yet, even on that very first evening, as my father's life quivered precariously in the balance, my family and I discovered in the ICU of the Highland View Regional Hospital, a sisterhood of concern and compassion, a mirrored image of that with which we were so familiar. During those weeks in the soon-to-be vacated facility, as my family and I struggled with medical terminology and emotional turmoil, we were continuously sheltered by the professional expertise and loving concern of a remarkable staff. It was not by accident that my father was with us on October 27, blessed by the honour of being the first patient in the new Centre. In the weeks immediately following his transfer to a beautiful new room, Arthur Douglas (Kit) Spence could have been the Poster Child for Miracles. Through the patience and skill of a devoted staff of doctors, respiratory technologists and other professionals, he was able to breathe without the ventilator, to walk for a brief time, to talk to us once more, and to make plans to return home. During those weeks of hope and occasional discouragement, the ICU staff, time and time again, verified their professional astuteness and decision-making skills.

We shall never relinquish our pride in and hopes for our local hospital. Now, however, we have an additional organizational role model. I trust that the ICU staff will be honored to know that they have, in four months, won an admiration equivalent to that we have held for decades for the staff of our local hospital.

As tangible evidence of our gratitude we have made a contribution to the Light the Way campaign. BECAUSE OF YOU (the staff at CRHCC) we shall continue to place our moral and financial support behind the Cumberland Health Care Foundation.

Sincerely,
Elaine & Clarence
Laura & Jo-D
And of course Kit Spence