I can’t remember the exact moment we decided to leave a gift to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation in our wills. However, I vividly remember the reason and intention: the exceptional care my husband received in our local hospitals, and particularly the cardiac care he received at Royal Jubilee Hospital.
My husband Jack passed away last year from complications with his heart, and I miss him everyday. Jack had dealt with many heart complications during his health journey, and I spent many hours walking the hallways of the hospitals. In 2010, Jack was having open-heart surgery, and I remember vividly walking down the halls and reading a sign about donating to the Hospital Foundation. Of course, much of that time was a blur as we were so concentrated on Jack’s health, but I do remember saying to Jack later ‘Did you know that we could give a donation to the Hospital Foundation?’
We had never ever considered that we could donate to help make the care at our hospitals better. We always assumed that it was just the government who had a hand in healthcare.
After his surgery, Jack was put under the care of Dr. Elizabeth Swiggum, Medical Director, and her team in the Heart Function Clinic at Royal Jubilee Hospital. I will always remember her for the excellent care she and the team at the Heart Function Clinic provided to Jack. During this time, we learned that Jack would need a pacemaker to ensure his heart functioned properly. Initially, we were nervous, but more than the worry, I remember how amazed we were by the care he received from the cardiac unit here in Victoria and how much we trusted the medical teams who looked after him. Jack always said he just felt safe in Victoria knowing that the hospitals were so close by.
When we decided to update our wills in 2016, we considered how we could best donate money to benefit the greater good in our community. This was incredibly important to us, and we spent a lot of time thinking and talking about it. We made the decision to support the Victoria Hospitals Foundation in our wills as we believe it is the best way to support the greater good of our community.
My husband Jack was so well taken care of at our local hospitals and we were so grateful for the care that he received. When we found out about the Victoria Hospitals Foundation, we knew that it was the only place we could donate to. The more that we looked into it, the more impressed we were. The fact that it was supporting the two major hospitals in our city and not going any where else, that was really important to us.
When Jack stayed in our hospitals, I never came home worrying about him. Even on the day he died, the care he received right up to his last moments was amazing.
This past year has been really interesting. I’m transitioning from being a wife and caregiver, to coming into my own again. I wouldn’t say that things are getting better as I miss Jack with all my heart, but they are… different.
I spend time volunteering, including with the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. It is just so uplifting being there. Everybody cares so much about the cause, and our caregivers. I’m part of a community and they make me feel very welcome.
To champion care together is a great privilege and my purpose in this chapter of my life. I invite anyone who feels pulled by this cause to connect with the Foundation. As I have often heard Avery say, “together, we can do so much.”
