The Hub October 2022

Healthy Pride

By: Dave Scott

I recently had a health occurrence outside of Norfolk County that provided a fuller insight into the folks who make up our healthcare system. None of us want to use the system. We try to avoid it by staying healthy, but sometimes you need to get your butt to the local hospital ASAP. In my case, the doctors insisted that I stay for a few days, so having no choice, I took them up on their offer.

During my visit, I was impressed by the staff at the hospital. They were compassionate and worked hard. It reminded me that we all need to say thank you more often to our healthcare professionals.

Something else caught my eye that I wanted to share with you today. There were two nurses and a technician, and their background stories made me proud to be Canadian.

The first fellow I met was originally from Columbia. He spoke multiple languages, was softspoken and was simply a caring human being who wanted to help others.

The second was a technician who had come from China to follow her dream in the medical field. She was bright, articulate, full of energy, again fluid in many languages, and making her life in Canada.

The third was a night nurse who moved here eleven years ago from Swahili. She could speak so many distinct languages, I couldn't count them all. She was damn efficient at her job and at the same time compassionate and invested in what she did. As the morning approached, she said it was raining out. I said, "Oh, that makes for a long day for you." She smiled and said, "I enjoy walking in the rain and hearing its sounds."

Like I said earlier, all the staff were excellent, but these young folks embodied what is a true Canadian. The drive to succeed while being humble, that never say die attitude, the compassion to help others in need, smart, articulate and driven!

Thank you to all health care providers across the country!

Country Lane, by Vic Gibbons