Everyone always has a complaint about the way they have been treated, but how often do you hear about the good side?
My wife was involved in a motor vehicle accident to which I was a witness. I was first to start first aid, in the middle of the road. Once I had control over the situation and was reaching for my cell phone to call 911, I had the people from behind us as well as the people in front of us volunteer to help.
Then a nurse on her way to work stopped, and having more experience than myself, took over the situation until the fire trucks arrived. That morning we had Surrey Fire Department, Surrey RCMP and BC Ambulance attend to assist with my wife’s injuries. Everyone was extremely calm and professional.
Once my wife was on her way to the hospital, an RCMP member realized that having two vehicles at the scene and one driver would not work and the tow truck was delayed. Since we did not live far away, he followed me home to drop off one vehicle and then drove me back so that I could drive the second one. The fire department stayed on scene to make sure no one went through my wife’s belongings.
Those two acts of kindness were unwarranted nor requested but yet they did them anyway.
Once I made it to the hospital, we stayed in the emergency from approximately 8 a.m. until she got a bed that night at 8:45 p.m. During that time the paramedics who transported her stopped by after their other pick-ups to check in and see how she was. These are the small things that no one sees.
She spent seven days and six nights in hospital. During her stay I came to know some of the nurses and more paramedics. I have nothing but respect for the men and women that do these important jobs – not for the recognition but for the joy of helping others.
Another small example I witnessed involved an elderly woman who had dementia. She would start out in a normal conversation then slip into a loop where she was directing her music class and all she would do is count down the beats: one, two, three, over and over for hours. This women was cared for with kindness and respect. At night she would be placed in the hall so as not to disturb the other people in her room, but not left alone or ignored. On the contrary, she would be talked to and even have nurses and paramedics clap along with her cadence.
My heart-filled thanks goes out to all the doctors and nurses at Surrey Memorial and Royal Colombian Hospital, Surrey Fire Department, Surrey RCMP, BC Ambulance paramedics, AIM , the Harley Davidson Baggers and Hawgs Den and to the Greater Vancouver Motorcycle Club whose motto is “For The Betterment Of Motorcycling.” A motto never rang more true, demonstrated by the outpouring of support and well wishes for a speedy recovery.