Conrad MacDonald

Conrad MacDonald

Patient Care Story for Conrad MacDonald:

I thought that writing this story would be an easy thing to do but quickly realized that it has been one of the most difficult.  But, not for the reason that it brings up some very sad memories, but because I really can’t find enough words to really express my thanks and appreciation to Health PEI/Palliative Care. 

In Nov 2014, while at home at his condo in Toronto, my son Conrad had a grand mal seizure.  Within days, he was diagnosed with having an Astrocytoma Brain Tumour on the frontal lobe of his brain.  He was soon operated on and the ‘Grade 4’ tumour was removed.  Radiation and Chemotherapy followed at the Princess Margaret hospital in Toronto. It took a long time for Conrad to be able to live a happy “new normal” life, but he did for the next 5 years. Within that time, he was able to switch doctors and became a patient of Dr. James Perry at Sunnybrook Odette Cancer Center in Toronto.  

In Feb 2019, a very small tumour returned in the same spot and he was immediately put back on chemo.  By April 2020, Conrad was given a clean bill of health and was told that the chemo did its job.

On 20 May 2020, I received a phone call from Conrad telling me that he was having some difficulty with his right arm and leg.  He was unable to hold onto a glass of water or pick up anything with his right hand.  Within a few days, he had lost complete use of the right side of his body, and an MRI confirmed that he had a large tumour close to his brain stem.  This was a very aggressive tumour and because of the location, removing it was not an option.  Dr. Perry put Conrad on the drug Avastin, but did indicate that it would only give him more time.  The Avastin did begin to work, giving Conrad back limited use of his right arm and leg.  On 11 August 2020, Conrad and I returned to PEI.

This is where my story begins with Health PEI.  Dr. Sulpher took Conrad on as a patient at the PEI Cancer Treatment Center in Charlottetown, and he was able to continue his Avastin treatments there.  But his body soon rejected the treatments and we soon realized that Palliative Care would be needed.  His body quickly deteriorated, and he spent a week in the Souris Hospital. But Conrad’s wish was to return home and that we were to make “it” wonderful. 

I can barely put into words of how grateful both Jimmy and I were to have Joanne Chisholm and her team, along with the Home Care team and RN’s, that all came to our home to help Conrad.  We were faced with so many challenges but Joanne was always there to provide us with everything we could possibly need.  Conrad felt very comfortable and supported, not only with his medical needs which were generously covered, but also with his emotional and spiritual needs.  Near the end, Conrad had great difficulty in communicating verbally with us, but was still able to give Joanne a thumbs up that he understood what was happening. They all provided such kindness to not only Conrad, but to our entire family and extended family that were around during his illness.  Being Conrad’s principal caretaker, there were times that I felt overwhelmed with it all but again, was able to express my emotions with Joanne and her team without being embarrassed or ashamed.  

Conrad was 29 years old when he very peacefully passed away at home in Red Point PEI, on 5 November 2020.

For years people have praised the Palliative Care System on PEI, but until you have actually used it, you can never really appreciate how truly wonderful it actually is.  In closing, my sincere thanks and gratitude goes out to Dr. Malone who graciously gave his time and friendship to Conrad.  We looked forward to his many visits, providing such excellent care of my son and his kindness will never be forgotten.

All of this happened during Covid, and we were still provided with excellent care and attention from the services available in the Eastern Kings Region.  Donations to the Eastern Kings Health Foundation support these varied programs and ensure patients receive the care and comfort that they deserve.  

With Love and Gratitude,

Bonnie MacDonald

Joe MacAulay

Joe MacAulay

With the odds stacked against you, keep positive and keep trying

“When you are told the odds are against you, keep positive and fight with everything you got,” says Joe MacAulay. He should know. A natural born storyteller from a long line of farmers in Eastern Kings, Joe has known hard work and long days. He was taught not to complain about what life throws at you, but rather to try to make the most of it. Born with asthma and a rare condition that gave him one lung smaller than the other, Joe has had a lifetime of health challenges.

Joe has always lived in Souris. He and his wife have raised their four children on their farm. Joe hasn’t let asthma or multiple bouts with cancer stop him. He was first diagnosed with soft tissue lymphoma in his lymph glands, and the Cobalt treatment he received left him with a pouch in his esophagus and mucus in his lungs which fills up and chokes him, unless he receives treatment quickly.

Fourteen years after he survived his first fight with cancer, Joe was diagnosed with it once again. This time it attacked his liver and his spine. After he was diagnosed he went into renal failure and was sent to Halifax.  While being treated, he suffered from collapsed lungs and due to everything he was going through he was told he wouldn’t survive the night. But to the amazement of his doctors, he beat the odds again, thanks in part due to a bone marrow transplant and chemotherapy.  Afterwards, they were not able to fully re-inflate his lungs, which left fluid trapped inside.  Survival was not without its dangers.  The fluid in his lungs, the pouch in his esophagus, and hardened veins from chemotherapy treatments would combine to cause further complications.

Five years ago, Joe suffered from what doctors thought was a cold. After several months of investigating the cause, Joe was sent to Moncton.  There doctors drained his lungs by putting a tube into his lungs.  When they drained his lungs they were able to discover that due to the pouch in his esophagus food had become lodged in his lungs. Treatment was to take between 3-6 weeks, but it took over six months of local hospital visits for IV treatments and another trip to Moncton before Joe started to recover. In combination with his previous complications, Joe now has a chronic lung infection which is aggravated by emphysema.  It causes fluid to fill his lungs, which eventually builds up to a point where he can’t breathe.  He has reoccurring flare-ups every 6-9 months, which entail 3-5 weeks of local treatment each time.  Due to numerous chemo treatments, his veins have hardened which makes it difficult to have a stable injection site for his medications.  The needles need to be reinserted on average twice a week.  Without this treatment Joe quickly begins to fight for breathe.  When this happens, it is vital that he is treated quickly.

“Sometimes I have had to go in at two in the morning to receive treatment. When I am choking there is little I can do but rush to the closest hospital,” says Joe. “I need the Souris hospital. Charlottetown isn’t good for me, because it takes too long when I can’t breathe. It’s not just a matter of convenience, it’s about me surviving.”

Joe’s condition is inoperable due to the abnormality with his lungs and the stress from previous surgeries. But as long the treatments continue to work, he is happy to keep on doing the things that are important to him, beating the odds and living a normal life with his family on the farm.  He feels it is important for others not to lose hope and fight with everything they have whether it’s through their own strength and determination, or with the support of their friends, family, and community.

Myrna Grant

Myrna Grant

Supporting people not just patients

Myrna Grant and her husband Jack have lived most of their lives in Souris.  Earlier in their marriage they had moved to Manitoba, but the ocean and the lure of home were just two of many reasons, which brought them back.

Myrna is no stranger to hospital care as she has had both or her hips replaced from osteoporosis in 1969 and 1970 and has had numerous stress fractures over the years.  Myrna feels strongly about having local care available, as Myrna needs regular appointments for her osteoarthritis, blood work for her hyperthyroidism, and x-rays and treatment for multiple stress fractures.  Living close to the Souris Hospital she is able to travel easily to many of her appointments.

Just over a year and a half ago, Myrna was hospitalized again, this time with pneumonia necessitating an 8 day stay at the hospital for treatment.  The seventh day of her recovery fell on her and Jack’s 58th wedding anniversary.  Her daughters had previously purchased tickets to John McDermott, and Myrna and her husband had been eagerly anticipating the concert.  Myrna recalls how her doctor weighed her stage of recovery and knowing how much it meant to her and her husband, gave her permission to attend concert, provided she returned immediately afterwards.  “It meant so much to me, being treated as a person, and not just as a patient,” says Myrna.

Over the years Myrna has had many experiences at the Souris Hospital where this was evident.  A few years ago, after an operation in Halifax to have one of her hips replaced, she was late returning by ambulance to Souris Hospital.  When she arrived she found that the staff had been concerned about her delay. “It was just like coming home. They had saved supper for me, and it was just so nice,” says Myrna.

Community is important to both Myrna and her husband and they value the ability to get care that they can count on close to home.

Marilyn Lewis

Marilyn Lewis

A lifetime of care

Marilyn Lewis has always chosen to receive her health care in Souris.  She was born in the Souris Hospital, five of her six children were born at the Souris Hospital, and she still receives regular treatment at the Souris Hospital.

Marilyn and her husband live in St. Peters Bay. When she was 49, Marilyn was diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis, a condition that is genetic, and in her case, requires weekly treatments. Every week she makes the short trip to Souris Hospital for injections, every six weeks she has blood work done, and x-rays when needed to manage her condition.

In 2003, Marilyn broke her femur bone and had a rod inserted from her knee to her hip. As she was recovering from her surgery, a doctor at the Souris Hospital suggested that she should consider homecare. Marilyn had been unaware that homecare services existed, but she is very appreciative of the care she received while recovering from her surgery.  The weekly home care visits to check her vitals and her wound, and also to give her the necessary shots for her rheumatoid arthritis, allowed her to successfully recuperate from surgery at home.

Marilyn and her husband have experienced a lifetime of care in Eastern Kings, having always preferred to be treated at the Souris Hospital because of the type of care provided. It is more than just the medical care it’s the personal touches. “They treat you like family,” declares Marilyn. Marilyn says she and her husband continue to choose care in their community because here you are not just a patient, “you are a person, a friend.”

“The care and the hospitality is phenomenal. They go out of their way to help you, to make you feel comfortable. You can’t mention one, without mentioning them all.  They are all wonderful.”

Allan Lewis

Allan Lewis

Family time takes the forefront

Originally from Ontario, Allan and Wivina Lewis have called Souris “home” since 1998.  Since moving here with their son and daughter they feel like they have found a special place for their family.  One of the most important aspects of living in Souris has been having the healthcare Allan needs available in his community.

Allan has myotonic muscular dystrophy, a disease that breaks down muscle in your body.  Around the age of 30 while still living in Ottawa, Allan felt that he was getting weaker and he knew something was wrong.  He had a gene test done and the results showed that he had muscular dystrophy.  Since his diagnosis the disease has progressed causing more health problems for Allan.

Allan makes frequent use of the various health services available at the Souris Hospital.  Five or six times a year he is admitted to the hospital for a week to take care of bowel obstructions, which are caused by his muscular dystrophy and make him very sick.  Every stay involves having blood work done and x-rays taken.  As the disease has progressed Allan’s hospital stays have become more frequent.  In the first two months of this year alone Allan had four hospital admissions to care for leg infections.  For Allan it is fortunate that the healthcare he needs is so close to home.  It makes it easy for his kids to visit him while he’s in the hospital.

For Allan and his family having the services he needs most right here in his community is vital.  Allan says, “It makes things easier all around to have the services here where I live rather than travelling”.  If he had to travel for the services he uses in Souris he says “it would be detrimental to my health”.  Having the care he needs so close means that appointments only need to take one hour out of their day, rather than three or four hours if he was to travel for healthcare further away.  The Eastern Kings Health Foundation funds medical equipment and provides the staff at the Souris Hospital with the resources they need to care for people like Allan every day.

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Kings Health Foundation extend their sympathies to the family of the late Allan Lewis. He and his family firmly believe in supporting quality health care close to home. His family have requested that donations in his memory be made to EKHF to support the purchase of the new x-ray machine.

Christine MacDonald

Christine MacDonald

Recovering after a life altering moment

In 2006 Christine MacDonald was the healthiest she had ever been.  She was a runner, skier, spent lots of time outdoors and ate a healthy diet.  On the morning of May 18, 2006 her life changed forever when she was involved in a head on collision on her way to work.

The collision left Christine with both of her feet and her back broken.  She spent two weeks in Moncton Hospital for surgeries immediately after her accident.  Following these surgeries she was transferred to Souris Hospital to recover.  She was unable to stand or take care of herself when she arrived, but she was grateful to get back to Souris where her family and friends could visit.

Christine describes her care at Souris Hospital as genuine and professional.  She says, “The personal care here is second to none.  They made it home for me while I was here.  It was phenomenal.”  During her two month stay the whole staff worked together to make sure that she was well taken care of.  “They just did everything in their power to make me so comfortable.”  For Christine the compassion and patience that she was shown in Souris Hospital is incomparable.

Due to the nature of her injuries Christine’s recovery involved a wide variety of the health services available at Souris Hospital including physiotherapy, lab and x-ray services.  About physiotherapy she says, “It was crucial and it was daily.  To have it right here was perfect.  I got a lot of extra attention that I’m sure brought me to where I am today.”  The x-ray and lab were also essential to Christine’s recovery.  The lab monitored her blood while she was on certain medications, and x-rays were used to track the progress of her feet as they healed.

Christine truly appreciates the services that are available in Eastern Kings.  She relies on her husband, family and friends to accompany her to medical appointments further away because she finds the drive so tiring.  “When you’re not up to par and you need to travel for appointments it is quite exhausting.”  Having many of the services she needs in her community has been invaluable to her.

Nine years after her accident Christine has come a long way.  There have been a lot of big adjustments in her life, but she says, “It was an amazing journey for me.  Everybody that played a role in it I will never forget”.  Christine is a strong supporter of the health services available in Souris which have helped her get to where she is today. The Eastern Kings Health Foundation supports the hospital by helping purchase medical equipment to aid in the recovery and care of patients like Christine.

Gloria Chapman

Gloria Chapman

Daily visits kept her spirits up

Looking at Gloria today, you would never know that less than one year ago she had broken her neck and back in an accident. In June of 2014 the mother of four and grandmother of thirteen was cleaning a dry-docked boat. She took one wrong step, slipped and fell from the boat to the ground. Her fall left her with serious injuries. Her neck was broken in three places and her back in two places. Gloria says, “They didn’t know which way I was going to go. But my husband knew I was too stubborn not to recover.”

Her husband was right. But it wasn’t an easy road. She was taken immediately to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Charlottetown and spent 10 days there before being brought back home to Souris Hospital for her recovery. Gloria has no recollections from the time she fell until she arrived at Souris Hospital, where she spent three month recovering from the accident. At first she couldn’t move her arms or her feet and couldn’t turn her head or her body.

The most important part of the healing process for Gloria was having her family nearby. Her husband was able to visit her in the morning before work, and in the evening after work. Even if it was just a quick visit, it helped keep her spirits up during a very difficult time. If she had been in another community, the visits would have been much more infrequent. She believes having her husband and other family members able to visit so often helped her recover quicker than if she had been further away. As Gloria herself noted, “it was half of getting better.”

Looking at Gloria today you would never know what had happened to her less than one year ago. She has some lingering pain and some of her range of motion is limited but otherwise she has made a full recovery. She thanks the staff for taking good care of her, “I truly appreciated everyone: nurses, doctors and kitchen ladies.

“There are special people here,” she says of the staff at Souris Hospital. Gloria feels that when you know each other it makes the time in the hospital easier. She is a proud supporter of healthcare in her community, “Souris is our hospital and no other hospital can take its place … There is a community spirit here and that is a big help in your healing.”

Having the services we do at Souris Hospital makes recovery easier both on the patient and patient’s family. There is no better comfort than having family close by. The Eastern Kings Health Foundation supports the hospital by helping purchase medical equipment to aid in the recovery and care of patients like Gloria.

Shelly McClumpha

Shelly McClumpha

When your time is short every moment counts

Shelly McClumpha of Howe Point is a passionate supporter of local healthcare and the Eastern Kings Health Foundation. A former director of the Foundation, she served on the board from 2006-2012. When asked to join the board her father’s ongoing health concerns and regular use of the health services at the Souris Hospital was an incentive to become involved.

In his 70s, Shelly’s father George developed an arrhythmia of his heart. Following this diagnosis he visited the lab at Souris Hospital regularly to have his blood work done and his INR levels checked. As he aged, having the lab in Souris allowed him to maintain his independence. His extended family were very supportive but it would have been uncomfortable for him to constantly rely on others for the frequent trips he needed if he would have had to travel further.

Described as a “stoic gentleman” George was later diagnosed with lung cancer in March 2014, then bone cancer in April. While in hospital he needed x-rays and even more frequent blood work. It was less stressful to have those done at Souris Hospital then it would have been to take a car or even an ambulance ride to another facility.

For Shelly and her father it was important to have the services of the lab, x-ray, home care and eventually palliative care available in Souris so he could be in his own home as much as possible and keep travelling to a minimum. She says, “Any time on the road was very hard on him, so it was much better to stay local for as much of it as possible.” Sadly, George passed away in May 2014 at the age of 85. Without the services available here, her father would have spent a lot more time travelling for healthcare rather than spending precious time with his family in the last months of his life. Shelly says that he would have felt a bother to family members for the last few years of his life, something no one wants for their loved ones.

Both her time as a board member and her involvement in her father’s healthcare have shown Shelly how valuable the Foundation is to the community. She believes that if the Foundation did not fund raise for important equipment like the x-ray machine it wouldn’t be here.

“The Foundation’s ongoing financial support allows seniors and all people with ongoing health concerns to access routine but important x-ray and blood work at their own hospital. Seriously ill patients needing these services are able to avoid uncomfortable ambulance transportation when they can access these at their own hospital. Having experience with both these situations, I think supporting the Foundation and all the services they support isn’t an option. It is necessary.”

Murray Gillis

Murray Gillis

A nearby home for Murray

Murray Gillis is not your typical resident of Colville Manor. In his early 50s he is one of the youngest residents at the long-term care facility. His sunny disposition fits in perfectly with the bright and cheerful atmosphere of the building. A big hockey fan, his room is decorated with Toronto Maple Leaf sweaters and a photograph of himself with the Stanley Cup.

Murray was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy, a permanent disorder which affects muscle movement and posture caused by damage to a child’s brain before or shortly after birth. The third youngest of eight children, Murray lived with his parents Joe & Margaret Gillis in East Point until his late 20s. As a very young child his parents realized Murray wasn’t like the other kids. As his father says, “When he was small he was slow to talk. The rest of the family would talk for him.”

Murray’s parents took care of him at home until his needs became too physically demanding. “It got that I couldn’t look after him,” says Margaret. Murray had started taking seizures, which led to a stay in Souris Hospital. After considering their options, it was decided that Colville Manor would be the best place for Murray to make his new home. Margaret says that when Murray first moved to the manor the other residents treated him like he was their kid. When asked if he might be a bit spoiled, Murray grins and raises his eyebrows. With a smile Margaret says, “I think they baby him too much.”

For Murray’s parents it is a relief to have such a well-equipped facility in Souris for their son to call home. It is easy for his family to visit, and provides peace of mind knowing that he is so well cared for. As Margaret says, “I don’t know what we would do without it.” The medical equipment and materials purchased by the Eastern Kings Health Foundation supports the care and improves the lives of residents of Colville Manor every day.

Laura Whitty

Laura Whitty

A home close to family for Laura

There is no doubt family is important to Laura Whitty.  “My family is the best,” says Laura with a smile. Laura moved into the Colville Manor three years ago at the age of 93. Pictures of children, grandchildren and other family members decorate the walls of her room.

Laura had been living with her son in Farmington, but after having a stroke had to be moved to a place where she could receive more specialized care. First, she went to the Souris Hospital as the Manor didn’t have any available rooms at the time. She was in the hospital for about a year before she moved to the Manor. When speaking about the care she received at the Souris Hospital she says, “They sure do care.”

The move from the hospital to the Manor was a big change, but she quickly adjusted and soon started making friends. Some of Laura’s favourite activities are bingo and knitting dish clothes to give away to friends and family, which she’s been doing for most of her life.  One of her favourite things about the Manor is that she’s close to home, which allows frequent visits from family.

Laura and her family are very grateful that the Colville Manor can provide her with the care she needs and she speaks highly of the caring and competent staff. The Eastern Kings Health Foundation plays a critical role in funding medical equipment and materials needed by Laura and others at both the Souris Hospital and Colville Manor.

The Board of Directors of the Eastern Kings Health Foundation extend their sympathies to the family of the late Laura Whitty.

Andy Mooney

Andy Mooney

The importance of getting care close to home

Andy Mooney was born in Charlottetown, but was raised and spent most of his life in Souris working on the family owned farm. It was in 2009 when visiting the doctor because of a flu, that the doctor noticed Andy’s kidney wasn’t working properly.  After being informed about his kidney, Andy started his dialysis treatments, which lasted around four months. At which point a family member was found to have a matching kidney, and donated it to Andy. Andy was a regular user of the Souris Hospital and the lab equipment before his kidney transplant, and still receives regular treatment.

When asked why the hospital in Souris is so important to him, Andy says, “I’m not on dialysis yet, but I’m very close. So the hospital is something near and dear to me, because I know it’s going to be needed.” Andy notes that other people also depend on the Souris Hospital for essential services, or will soon have to. For many people, it isn’t realistic or feasible to travel far outside their community to have access to essential health services.

Talking about the care he receives at the Souris Hospital, Andy says, “The care is so personal. There is something so special about being cared for by friends and neighbours-it’s almost like being home.”

Andy supports the Eastern Kings Health Foundation because it helps to keep health services available locally by funding needed medical equipment and materials. It’s crucial to keep these services in the community. Longer distances to travel to seek care create financial hardship and lead to people delaying necessary care. “It’s extremely important that the community pull together to keep these services here,” says Andy.

Gert Gojmerac

Gert Gojmerac

A painful journey back to health

Twenty years ago Multiple Myeloma Cancer was practically unheard of on PEI.  Those twenty years have made quite a difference. Presently there now exists a support group and a donor list for those that are affected.  Gert has beat the odds and is now twenty years beyond her transplant  and thanks the doctors at the Souris Hospital.

Gert Gojmerac, a resident of Rollo Bay West, is a mother of four and a grandmother to ten.  She likes to ski, attend community school, and look after her grandchildren. Twenty years ago, an active Gert started experiencing increasingly sharp pains, jumping from her hip to her back.  She began to limp and couldn’t walk because of the severe pain. At the Souris Hospital, Dr. Vickerson saw Gert and insisted that she have further tests right away, where it was confirmed that she had Multiple Myeloma. During this time the slightest movement would cause her excruciating pain, due to the nature of her cancer symptoms.

Gert’s recovery took her to different health facilities during her diagnosis, treatment, and a bone marrow transplant with marrow donated from her brother, Roland.  Dr.Dryer started her on a combination of medication, which would lessen the amount of times she needed to travel for chemo. Both prior to her transplant and during her recovery and rehabilitation she was able to receive care locally at the Souris Hospital and at home through Home Care services.

“The handier you are to home the easier it is to get your care and try to get better.  I wouldn’t have been able to travel if I had to go to Charlottetown at that time. Even driving on the road if you went over just a pebble I would take a spasm in my back.  When I would have to go into Charlottetown for any tests it was very difficult for me, so that is why it was so good to have the care in Souris,” says Gert.

Besides Home Care during Gert’s recovery, she also needed regular X-rays and frequent blood work, which she was able to receive close to home due to the availability of the equipment at the Souris Hospital. Equipment, such as the X-ray machine, that she remembers the Eastern Kings Health Foundation fundraising for over a decade ago.

When asked about the difference having local treatment made to her life, Gert’s care and support of the local health care community is evident, “Well, it was the care, everybody was so concerned, because we all knew each other.  The care was really excellent.  It just came from the hearts of all the nurses and doctors. They would do anything to help you.”

Jessie Williams

Jessie William

Jessie’s journey back to health

Throughout her life, Jessie, a long time resident of Souris was often relied on as a care giver for her family and friends. She was raised by her grandparents, and once they grew older, helped care for and look after them. When her mother became sick, Jessie stepped in and took care of her for fourteen years, seven of which her mother was bedridden. But eventually, Jessie too became affected by ailments, and needed care herself.

In 2014, after several visits to the doctor, Jessie was informed that she had a precancerous polyp, and would need to go in for a simple operation to have it removed. Soon after returning home post operation, Jessie became extremely sick. An ambulance was called and she was rushed to a hospital outside of the community. There her family were informed that she had sepsis due to her bowel being perforated. An operation was performed in an attempt to put the bowel back together, but it was unsuccessful. During the operation the outlook was bleak. In her unconscious state, Jessie believes she heard the doctors say that she wouldn’t make it. But Jessie told herself everything was going to be alright, and despite the odds, she persevered.

In the two weeks she was in intensive care, doctors went into Jessie’s stomach seven different times. After her final surgery, she came out very weak, having problems walking and moving. While her physical health gradually improved, her emotional health was slower to respond. It was clear that although she was physically getting stronger, Jessie was missing being close to home. Soon her things were being packed, and Jessie was eagerly anticipating the move back to Souris Hospital.

“When I saw the sun and trees, Souris and the hospital, the weight that was lifted off me was unreal,” says Jessie of her excitement and relief at being closer to home. She described the care she received during her five week stay at the Souris Hospital, “The care I got was unreal … they bent over backwards for me.”

If you looked at Jessie today, you would be surprised to know this is her story. She looks to be in great physical health, cracking jokes with a smile on her face. She credits the care and treatment she received during her stay at the Souris Hospital for making all the difference in her recovery. The medical equipment purchased by the Eastern Kings Health Foundation provides the staff at the Souris Hospital with the resources they need to care for patients like Jessie every day.