Years ago, when Al Roberts was director of philanthropy at Queensway Carleton Hospital Foundation, he never imagined that the medical equipment he was helping to secure for our hospital would one day save his life.
A couple of days before Christmas, the 63-year-old came down with what he believed to be a stubborn cold — a minor illness he tried to cure with over-the-counter medicine and some extra sleep. But he couldn’t shake it. His condition worsened and, by Christmas evening, his family was deeply concerned. They insisted on taking Al to the hospital, where it was discovered he was suffering from a severe case of pneumonia that had spread to his bloodstream, triggering sepsis and causing his organs to begin shutting down.
Al had been playing tennis and walking his dog just days earlier. Now, he was delirious and struggling to breathe. He was hooked up to oxygen, an IV, a catheter, and heart and breathing monitors.
From the Almonte General, Al was rushed by ambulance to QCH, where he was immediately taken to the ICU. His doctor told the family to prepare for the worst, urging Al’s son Jeremy and his partner John to bring Al’s wife, Janine, to the hospital in case he didn’t make it.
“I was given about a one in eight chance,” said Al, who never imagined his first time as a hospital patient would land him in intensive care, reserved for the most critically ill.
At QCH, he underwent a CAT Scan and a pile of medical tests. The doctors came up with a treatment plan that would ultimately save his life and put him on the road to a full recovery. He spent three days in the ICU before returning home.
“The QCH staff were absolutely incredible. I’m just so damned thankful that QCH had all of the resources and the excellent staff that could help me pull through,” said Al.
“We take our healthcare system for granted sometimes, but boy are you ever glad it’s there when you need it.”
Al retired from his professional fundraising career last summer, having worked for 40 years for a variety of non-profit organizations in the region. What he can appreciate more than most is that the medical equipment used to treat his illness had been purchased for QCH through public donations, since provincial government funding falls short of covering critical equipment. The non-invasive respiratory support that covered his face may have resembled a Darth Vadar mask, he joked, but it’s also what allowed him to keep breathing.
“We don’t always think about how crucial hospital equipment is—until we need it,” said Al. “That’s why community support is so important. It saves lives.”
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