Yesterday I went on a rant. I filled the page with challenges and negativity, but it is reality. Things we have had to deal with though this system. I have always felt it important not to sugar coat things so I don't regret posting the negative but to be fair I thought today I should add some of the many positives we have experienced here. (and just as a side note I left out a lot of the negatives that were trivial and you would find anywhere)
The most wonderful, healing thing about Bridge Point is the setting. It was purposely built on a hill overlooking green spaces with Toronto's skyline including the CN Tower as a back drop. It is a scene I will never get used to seeing, it is beautiful.
There is a story. The night before my surgery Jerri was playing fast pitch and I hadn't seen her play for a couple of years. Despite the pain and immobility I wanted to go and watch her game. Jerri and Barry were pretty sceptical. My attitude was, I'm having surgery tomorrow, what could I possibly do to make it worse. I won.
As you will see in the picture there is a very long hill down to the ball field. Yes, I walked it. I watched the game and enjoyed every minute of it. Then came the hard part. I had to haul this body up that hill. Not too much fun. It took awhile, with many stops along the way. As we were stopped at one of those breaks we looked in the distance across the street at a huge beautiful new building. We wondered what it was because at 10.30 at night it was still light up. Jerri, her friend Lisa and Barry and I wondered if it might be a hospital. We found out. Yes, you guessed it, it's Bridge Point!! What a little glimpse into the future I had that night. Little did I know that a week later I would be in one of those rooms looking out at that very ball field.
While still on the topic of that ball field, there are hundreds of dogs there daily. It is a wonderful place for dogs. I see them all day long running and playing. Jerri and Shayn brought Whinnie there this weekend so I could see her having fun with all the other dogs and running free in that large space.
Another positive is my room. It is at the end of the hallway and has four large windows. It must be used as an isolation room when needed because it has two doors. Two doors means I can block out some of the noise. The room is big and bright. We also have a T.V room at the end of the hallway. Only two channels but if I ever feel like watching network T.V. It is there.
Right on the hospital grounds there is a lovely park. We usually wheel out there once a day, and get some fresh air. There is also a roof top terrace on the 10th floor. It is beautiful space, with fantastic views of the city. (Barry says the only thing missing up there is the swim-up bar!)
The doctors are a positive here. I have an intern doctor who is going to be an orthopaedic surgeon, she is just excellent. She works under a Physiatrist, assigned to my case. A physiatrist is a rehab doctor who looks after pain control and function. I see them daily and they have been a great help. They are interested in me as a whole and not just the back surgery. They gave me a shot for my knee yesterday so that I wouldn't have to deal with knee pain while recovering.
I see the MD. daily. Aside from looking at the surgery site I haven't really needed her for much.
Both my Occupational therapist and my Physio Therapist are young woman who are passionate about what they do.
Another positive is the freedom I have here. Aside from my morning appointments with Physio and OT, I am free to do whatever I choose after that time.
Last weekend we rolled our way to a quaint little cafe down the road and had cappuccinos and homemade desserts. It was lovely to be outside enjoying something so flavourful with my beautiful family, Whinnie included.
Oh, that's another positive. Pets. They allow pets here without much restriction. Whinnie has been here all weekend, nothing but positive encouraging comments about her.
Barry and Jerri can walk here from her place and do so daily. It takes about 45 minutes. Sometimes Barry uses the bike share program for a part of the way. Especially if he wants to be here to help me get ready for the day.
We have plenty to be grateful for but nothing and nobody more than Dr. Michael Fehlings, and his merry men of neurosurgeon's. They are fantastic. My nurse told me they got a call from his office yesterday asking if they could speak to the nurse who last looked at my incision. Maria, who in my opinion, is the best nurse here, was the only one I agreed to take the staples out. She spoke with Rosie who is Dr Fehlings nurse practitioner. She said she was asked specifically what the incision looked like, etc. etc. The nurses here have never had a call from a neurosurgeon's office. They were pretty impressed. In fact today she jokingly said "who are you anyway?" We had a good laugh.
In 2002 when I was facing a very uncommon spinal surgery, I happened to call the Harvard Medical Hospital and actually spoke with a Neuro Surgeon there. After a long conversation I asked him how much a surgery like that would cost. He said it would definitely be over $200,000. So the best thing about the treatment I am receiving? Not only is Dr. Fehlings an unbelievably skilled and capable surgeon whom I trust implicitly, his office only charges a $100 admin fee. Deal of a lifetime. Thanks, Canada.
The most wonderful, healing thing about Bridge Point is the setting. It was purposely built on a hill overlooking green spaces with Toronto's skyline including the CN Tower as a back drop. It is a scene I will never get used to seeing, it is beautiful.
There is a story. The night before my surgery Jerri was playing fast pitch and I hadn't seen her play for a couple of years. Despite the pain and immobility I wanted to go and watch her game. Jerri and Barry were pretty sceptical. My attitude was, I'm having surgery tomorrow, what could I possibly do to make it worse. I won.
As you will see in the picture there is a very long hill down to the ball field. Yes, I walked it. I watched the game and enjoyed every minute of it. Then came the hard part. I had to haul this body up that hill. Not too much fun. It took awhile, with many stops along the way. As we were stopped at one of those breaks we looked in the distance across the street at a huge beautiful new building. We wondered what it was because at 10.30 at night it was still light up. Jerri, her friend Lisa and Barry and I wondered if it might be a hospital. We found out. Yes, you guessed it, it's Bridge Point!! What a little glimpse into the future I had that night. Little did I know that a week later I would be in one of those rooms looking out at that very ball field.
While still on the topic of that ball field, there are hundreds of dogs there daily. It is a wonderful place for dogs. I see them all day long running and playing. Jerri and Shayn brought Whinnie there this weekend so I could see her having fun with all the other dogs and running free in that large space.
Another positive is my room. It is at the end of the hallway and has four large windows. It must be used as an isolation room when needed because it has two doors. Two doors means I can block out some of the noise. The room is big and bright. We also have a T.V room at the end of the hallway. Only two channels but if I ever feel like watching network T.V. It is there.
Right on the hospital grounds there is a lovely park. We usually wheel out there once a day, and get some fresh air. There is also a roof top terrace on the 10th floor. It is beautiful space, with fantastic views of the city. (Barry says the only thing missing up there is the swim-up bar!)
The doctors are a positive here. I have an intern doctor who is going to be an orthopaedic surgeon, she is just excellent. She works under a Physiatrist, assigned to my case. A physiatrist is a rehab doctor who looks after pain control and function. I see them daily and they have been a great help. They are interested in me as a whole and not just the back surgery. They gave me a shot for my knee yesterday so that I wouldn't have to deal with knee pain while recovering.
I see the MD. daily. Aside from looking at the surgery site I haven't really needed her for much.
Both my Occupational therapist and my Physio Therapist are young woman who are passionate about what they do.
Another positive is the freedom I have here. Aside from my morning appointments with Physio and OT, I am free to do whatever I choose after that time.
Last weekend we rolled our way to a quaint little cafe down the road and had cappuccinos and homemade desserts. It was lovely to be outside enjoying something so flavourful with my beautiful family, Whinnie included.
Oh, that's another positive. Pets. They allow pets here without much restriction. Whinnie has been here all weekend, nothing but positive encouraging comments about her.
Barry and Jerri can walk here from her place and do so daily. It takes about 45 minutes. Sometimes Barry uses the bike share program for a part of the way. Especially if he wants to be here to help me get ready for the day.
We have plenty to be grateful for but nothing and nobody more than Dr. Michael Fehlings, and his merry men of neurosurgeon's. They are fantastic. My nurse told me they got a call from his office yesterday asking if they could speak to the nurse who last looked at my incision. Maria, who in my opinion, is the best nurse here, was the only one I agreed to take the staples out. She spoke with Rosie who is Dr Fehlings nurse practitioner. She said she was asked specifically what the incision looked like, etc. etc. The nurses here have never had a call from a neurosurgeon's office. They were pretty impressed. In fact today she jokingly said "who are you anyway?" We had a good laugh.
In 2002 when I was facing a very uncommon spinal surgery, I happened to call the Harvard Medical Hospital and actually spoke with a Neuro Surgeon there. After a long conversation I asked him how much a surgery like that would cost. He said it would definitely be over $200,000. So the best thing about the treatment I am receiving? Not only is Dr. Fehlings an unbelievably skilled and capable surgeon whom I trust implicitly, his office only charges a $100 admin fee. Deal of a lifetime. Thanks, Canada.
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