tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post2588367729824528776..comments2024-01-08T21:00:24.932-08:00Comments on The Straight Goods: Touched By Angels, 6 Days At Burnaby General HospitalGrant Ghttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comBlogger24125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-23294389850917051142016-01-01T20:53:30.813-08:002016-01-01T20:53:30.813-08:00Good stuff Merv...
I`ll be emailing you..Private ...Good stuff Merv...<br /><br />I`ll be emailing you..Private talking is sometimes necessary.<br /><br />Happy New YearGrant Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-17551828051688431482016-01-01T20:31:08.199-08:002016-01-01T20:31:08.199-08:00Part two
Continued from Hi Grant,
The funny thin...Part two<br /><br />Continued from Hi Grant,<br /><br />The funny thing for me Grant, I came down for a simple consultation with a specialist as we have essentially no diagnostic facilities up in the “resource rich” north. Two days after the consult I found myself in St Pauls Emerg being treated by Elysie, haven’t left yet and the original “issue” I came down to have addressed still remains undiagnosed or treated. But my goodness, have I ever seen the works, the amazing people who care for people without being provided anything of assistance for their tasks by our so called “governments”.<br /><br />I am a heavy equipment mechanic by trade. Every shop I have ever worked in has always had all the best and latest diagnostic equipment. Every shift schedule I had was decent and respectable to human life. Our nurses have nothing of the sort and only the biggest City hospitals have anything close to up to date diagnostic tools and most machines are too busy to be made available when needed for the average guy or girl.<br /><br />My first MRI was immediately interrupted by, “Mr. Ritchie, do you need to use the washroom?” “No I am fine.” “Are you sure? Your bladder is really quite full.”<br /><br />You see the MRI, before it even began taking serious pictures, showed my extended bladder and herniated disc. I didn’t need any more than two minutes in this amazing piece of technology that should be in every triage room with the blood pressure cuff and thermometer. I suffered for years and now will endure the rest of my life with permanent nerve damage as our doctors and hospitals are denied the most basic of diagnostic tools. All of this with the associated unnecessary surgeries and medications would easily pay for the tools. It is good enough for machinery, why isn’t it good enough for humans?<br /><br />And yes, I too have fallen in love repeatedly in every hospital. The men get it as much as the women. I wrapped my big bearded body around Dr. Dvorak at VGH asking, “When was the last time you got a hug from a big bearded man?”<br /><br />And I am coming to Powell River to hug you too my friend - watch out!<br />Merv Ritchienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-15906125622970935982016-01-01T20:29:18.061-08:002016-01-01T20:29:18.061-08:00Hi Grant,
Since the end of October I have been ro...Hi Grant,<br /><br />Since the end of October I have been rotating through the lower mainland hospitals beginning with St Pauls downtown. Your words and insights are spot on. I listened to a man yell and berate young nurse Elysie so much I wanted to get up and hit him with my walkin stick. Even the security maintained their pleasant composure while Elysie politely took care of this tool.<br /><br />From St Pauls, Mt St Joseph, VGH, UBC Hospital to Kelowna then Abbotsford General and back to VGH I have nothing but kind words for all the staff. The kitchen (yeah poor food but what can you expect from Sedexo a French Multinational providing the all profiteering service, the cleaning, porters etc)the surgeons, doctors and especially the nurses (male and female) are and were all truly amazing.<br /><br />But it is the conditions they work under that make this all even more remarkable.<br /><br />Rare diagnostic facilities and a shift work pattern that is intolerable. 12 hour shifts, two days day shift then two days night shift. Who could adjust to that? On some floors the nurses get to sleep a good portion of their nights but on others, especially emerg, this is just a recipe for failure and burn out.<br /><br />And then this scheduling ensures no continuity of care. Just as you named the various care givers I experienced a different person every shift every day and night only twice seeing the same person the next shift.<br /><br />I have experienced numerous medicine mix ups, having always to ask and check what pills I am getting. "These are your Oxy's" "No sorry, I have been on Hydro morph." "Oh let me go check." " I see you are taking . ." "Not that I am aware of." "I have your . ." "What is that for? I don't take that"<br /><br />But that is the only issue, and it is understandable. Most normal humans get messed up with a single hour change to their daily life at Daylight savings time change. These poor nurses do it every two days and do a full life reversal, days to nights, over and over and over. And almost never seeing the same patient a second shift.<br /><br />Merv Ritchienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-9836194121343562092015-12-30T19:49:39.284-08:002015-12-30T19:49:39.284-08:00If any one thinks Christy would have been all that...If any one thinks Christy would have been all that upset if the quake had been larger and killed thousands of kids, in my opinion, they are deluding themselves. A concerned person would have ensured the schools were up to code.<br /><br />The premier of this province can't really care about kids, if she did there wouldn't be 4 dead ones in care, the province would not continue to have the highest rate of child poverty in Canada, with no poverty reduction plan. Schools would be up to earthquake standards and there would be food programs in all schools 365 days a year, a new children's hospital would have been built in Vancouver; there would have been mental health facilities for children in all major centres of the province instead of a few measley beds in the lower mainland. <br /><br />no, in my opinion, kids would have to be dying at the rate of 10 per month before the province/Christy paid attention and they would only be paying attention because they were getting bad press and the feds were "leaning" on them. <br /><br />This province takes in more from kids via their post secondary tution fees than in corporate tax. Now how much does Christy like kids or care about their education?<br /><br />Kids in this province whose parents are on welfare/disability/min. wage live at such high levels of poverty, its disgusting. Will things change? not so much. Christy and her corporate friends are doing well with p3 hospitals and toll bridges and highways. Yes, lets wait to grown the economy before we improve pensions.......e.a.f.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-66680867793532125802014-12-24T21:17:45.548-08:002014-12-24T21:17:45.548-08:00All we can say is wow, I read the story once then ...All we can say is wow, I read the story once then read it aloud to my family.<br /><br />There was not a dry eye to be found.<br /><br />Happy tears for Christmas eve, bless your kind soul sir.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-24048720170816275782014-12-20T19:58:04.563-08:002014-12-20T19:58:04.563-08:00Grant, I was vey sorry to hear of your recent heal...Grant, I was vey sorry to hear of your recent health problems. Glad you are back but I must say how much I have enjoyed all of your hospital postings. For me this one is maybe the most moving one so far. Thanks for this, and for telling it like it is in all your many great posts through the years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-66116077730472649362014-12-20T15:58:32.848-08:002014-12-20T15:58:32.848-08:00Gee Whiz Merv....You should know that any and all ...Gee Whiz Merv....You should know that any and all of my words and or articles are an open domain for you..<br /><br />We will meet soon enough Mr. Ritchie, talking on the phone is not enough..<br /><br />I hope your heart and mind continues in the quest to enlighten and inform..<br /><br />The human heart heals, flaws, scars and rifts can`t stop man`s pulsating desire to share in the warmth of enlightenment.<br /><br />I love the work you do online too Merv..<br /><br />http://www.mwpr.ca/cgi-bin/show_home.cgi<br /><br /><br /><br /> <br /><br />Grant Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-45300435739651192142014-12-20T14:22:32.411-08:002014-12-20T14:22:32.411-08:00Wow, how you do it, and continue on, I am speechle...Wow, how you do it, and continue on, I am speechless (almost). I too experienced the same love and compassion in Kelowna between the Rotary Lodge, Cancer treatment wing and the KGH proper. Tears flowed freely with the nurses as they did today while I read your poetry. I wish just for a moment, we could meet and I could shake your hand and join with you in a warm hug.<br /><br />I love you brother, even though we have never met.<br /><br />The love of my life who passed away beside me in our bed a year later shared with me the gift of guiding her into the spirit world too. Your words had me crying with her and all the compassionate people, patients included, as if I was there again today, 8 and 9 years ago.<br /><br />So glad I visited you today, here, online.<br /><br />If you don't mind, can I share this on MWPR and TD facebook?<br /><br />All the best - enjoy this time of joy and compassion with your family and friends - Maybe someday we'll talk again.Merv Ritchienoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-16442437600175271552014-12-20T13:11:27.335-08:002014-12-20T13:11:27.335-08:00Thank you for the moving picture show, presented i...Thank you for the moving picture show, presented in a way that readers can see the story through your eyes.<br /><br />Concur with others, unique and precious is the only way to describe your narration and writing.<br /><br />Please stay healthy<br /><br />Donna Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-12349775774585747672014-12-10T09:03:41.285-08:002014-12-10T09:03:41.285-08:00Another beautiful statement(11:50 pm).
I will vis...Another beautiful statement(11:50 pm).<br /><br />I will visit next year and thank them again.<br /><br />Your comment intrigues me, particularly this.<br /><br />"RN's who have been on staff since days of "The Human Touch" decades ago)"<br /><br />What is "The Human Touch"?...<br /><br />If it is what I think it is....<br /><br />Tashsa, MacKenzie and others used "The Human Touch" as a healing, calming and soothing medical tool, more powerful than sedation, hands on arms, on legs or hands on forehead, soothing caring hands gently touching one`s spirit..<br /><br />You description tells me in not so many words that the power of the human touch as a medical wonder has been known of for a long time.. <br /><br />It might well be true, but certainly not practiced widespread..<br /><br />Burnaby`s Angels have it down to an art-form.<br /><br />Angels with healing hands..<br /><br />My what power.<br /><br />This topic will require more in-depth study.<br /><br />Thank YouGrant Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-30740779992925358042014-12-09T23:50:20.695-08:002014-12-09T23:50:20.695-08:00My my my; such a delightful portrayal of truth be ...My my my; such a delightful portrayal of truth be viewed within your fine work of art depicting your eagle eye "cam" of BH ER and it's outstanding cast of stellar characters; Doctors and Nurses and Lab Techs & Respiratory, Physio, as well as the superlative support team of HEU Porter and Paladin Security and all others who crossed paths with you while you were an Inpatient. (I even know of the patient Angela). Most assuredly a magnificent representation of some of the the best that FHA should be proud of and should have recognized far sooner however you kind Sir have honoured the fine staff here with this lively engaging encounter of yours (some of which including Tom and Pepper and no doubt the Charge RN's who have been on staff since days of "The Human Touch" decades ago). Your writing makes me feel like that "fly on the wall" as I was so privy to a rollercoaster ride of events complete with names of staff I have had the honour of knowing since 1990 and I'm bursting with pride for the mighty kingdom of BH's PEOPLE!! I know one thing for sure and that is BH ER is exemplary as your talented mind and writing so are, therefore do please return the favour to these wonderful people of which you wrote of by taking care of yourself and returning back on the one year anniversary of this and rock their world with a proclamation of "Hey remember me?" ..."I'm the guy you brought back from a very dangerous scary place and I'm sure as Heck Never Going To Forget You!!..Ever!" Believe me, they'll love you for that as much as they love you today for this sharing of your real life story at Burnaby Hospital. Stay well and do take care.Anymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-58984235653547879942014-12-09T10:36:24.909-08:002014-12-09T10:36:24.909-08:00Hi Zoe.
Thank you for that, thanks to all of you ...Hi Zoe.<br /><br />Thank you for that, thanks to all of you for everything you did..<br /><br />Seeing you nurses in action, doctors, watching you fight for each and every patient, including fighting for me..<br /><br />It wasn`t only MacKenzie and Tom, it was everyone..<br /><br />Such a well-oiled team, like poetry in motion..<br /><br />This big dummy owes a debt of gratitude, Burnaby`s nursing staff restored my faith in humanity.<br /><br />Be well Zoe..<br /><br />Cheers Eyes Wide OpenGrant Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-88555187770111349492014-12-09T10:22:21.567-08:002014-12-09T10:22:21.567-08:00Hi,
My name is Zoe, I'm the CNE for Emergency...Hi,<br /><br />My name is Zoe, I'm the CNE for Emergency at Burnaby Hospital. Thank you so much for the lovely words you wrote. I will print a copy of your blog and personally ensure MacKenzie reads it. Also, Tom is an old dear friend of mine, I will forward one to him too.<br /><br />We're all a little afraid of Pepper, but she's usually right.<br /><br />Thanks again!<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-57345125155799285402014-12-08T12:10:23.606-08:002014-12-08T12:10:23.606-08:00Jeepers Grant, your health issues certainly sound ...Jeepers Grant, your health issues certainly sound unpleasant and scary. I'm happy to hear you are on the mend and as Jon Ghun said above. <b>"Take your friggin' meds, ya' big dummy (grin)."</b><br /><br />I hope the nurses that you write about so well get to read your beautiful thank you to them for the wonderful way they helped you in your time of need.<br /><br />For the most part front line health care workers like the angels at Burnaby are really caring folk. Most nurses become nurses because they WANT to help people. Some doctors and pretty well all administrators, not so much.<br /><br />Look after yourself.......please!kootcoothttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11344208424209840730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-20991871797982741372014-12-07T17:01:55.408-08:002014-12-07T17:01:55.408-08:00Thanks Don F...Jean..Mr Ghun..Mr. Kent..And others...Thanks Don F...Jean..Mr Ghun..Mr. Kent..And others.<br /><br />Can`t explain my "writing" style.<br /><br />When I`m sad, angry and or gleeful is when the words roll off the fingertips..<br /><br />Trying to get readers to feel what I`m feeling.<br /><br />Those comments are so nice, having almost zero formal training, no university, no college, nothing..<br /><br />Scribing words?, I`m just talking to you and narrating what is seen.<br /><br />Emotional sleeves stained with tears.<br /><br />Thank you very much, I`m humbled indeed.<br /><br />Grant Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-46618819819525233352014-12-07T13:17:22.202-08:002014-12-07T13:17:22.202-08:00Grant,I got up to my morning coffee sat down and w...Grant,I got up to my morning coffee sat down and was totally engrossed as always by your writing. I have told you before that if you ever decide to write a book I will be the first in line to buy one I enjoy how you write so much. You have a peculiar way that is all your own that is an art you are very fortunate to master. Thanks for that and sharing it with all of us.<br />Glad to hear your on the mend, as others have said we need you here. The best to your mom from me also.<br />DonDon F.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-65531750739314325102014-12-07T07:33:30.814-08:002014-12-07T07:33:30.814-08:00Glad you are back and on the road to recovery. Che...Glad you are back and on the road to recovery. Check your blog daily and started to get quite worried when there were no entries for over a week. We need you!<br /><br />Burnaby General has suffered much negative publicity in recent years, most of it undeserved. Our experiences at Burnaby General (3 visits to emergency and my husband's amazing Urologist) have been short of amazing. Your article was so well written and thank you for your tribute to the hard-working and dedicated staff. They do not take out their frustrations with the government on their patients - a tribute to all.<br /><br />Welcome back and please don't ignore your body yelling at you the next time! W Kentnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-14161192216264634722014-12-06T16:02:40.946-08:002014-12-06T16:02:40.946-08:00Thanks friends...To be clear, after a serious work...Thanks friends...To be clear, after a serious work injury my left leg`s arteries became damaged..They clotted up after surgery..<br /><br />The clots didn`t get out at that time..<br /><br />I was put on Warfarin for 6 months...Once off Warfarin my leg reclotted only this time the clots got out, into my lungs..Pulmonary embolism number 1..<br /><br />When a person clots once, those areas are ultra prone to re-clot..<br /><br />I am also positive with factor 5...A genetic pre-disposition to clotting..<br /><br />Chicken or the egg..Without the 20 foot fall onto concrete, without shattering my left leg my leg arteries would be fine..<br /><br />I hate taking warfarin, also known as rat poison..<br /><br />However I have no choice but to be vigilant with warfarin and INR blood tests..<br /><br />Thanks for caring...And.<br /><br />The story above....It`s not about me, it`s about the fine caring nurses, good doctors and those other patients who had real serious problems..<br /><br />MacKenzie`s shoes and Mr. Anderson`s eagle feather...<br /><br />Human suffering amid heartfelt success stories..<br /><br />I didn`t write the above story...<br /><br />I narrated a real life movie played in front of me, the good, the bad and the ugly..<br /><br />Cheers<br /><br />Grant Ghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11944976348166120530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-59342176530658829832014-12-06T15:48:26.458-08:002014-12-06T15:48:26.458-08:00As always very interesting and written like a pro....As always very interesting and written like a pro.<br /><br />So glad you're OK and back doing what you like best.<br /><br />Stay well and take good care of yourself. Your mother and a whole lotta us peoples out here need you and your brilliant writing in these most evil of times. <br /><br />Thanks for all you do for us and take lotsa time for yourself.<br /><br />Hugs,<br />JeanAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-79273910496915332232014-12-06T15:26:28.272-08:002014-12-06T15:26:28.272-08:00Very heart-felt, with a fine painterly eye. You pu...Very heart-felt, with a fine painterly eye. You put all the parts into the right perspective. You captured the whole of it perfectly.<br /><br />Much appreciation.<br /><br />You were in the midst of a battle zone. As is the case in virtually every part of the world these days, the bc libs and el norte neo-cons are fighting a class war without declaring it to those on the other side. The system's being underfunded so that there will be a backlash which will give ample reason to allow for privatization of health care to be accessible to those who can afford to pay, as well as massive cuts for the rest of us who can't. As you recognized, the nurses are thankfully on our side, fighting the good fight to help us win the battle as far as possible. <br /><br />My guess is that the overlords will go after the nurses union when they're aiming to bring about an end game. While most of the doctors will sell out for the bucks.<br /><br />Hope you're doing better.<br /><br />Cheers.<br /><br />PS> Take your friggin' meds, ya' big dummy (grin).Jon Ghunnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-85981832258200985392014-12-06T15:25:00.644-08:002014-12-06T15:25:00.644-08:00Not only do some citizens have to contend with, a ...Not only do some citizens have to contend with, a corrupt Federal Government? We also have to cope with corrupt Provincial Governments as well. BC citizens have had to cope with extreme corruption especially since, Gordon Campbell's reign of terror in BC. Nor, do we forget Harper's part, in the destruction of our province. Ditzy Christy is running and hiding from Legislature, we know why too.<br /><br />We are very fortunate to have you to expose, Christy's lies and deceit regarding her 100,000 LNG jobs for BC people and all of her other, bold face lies.<br /><br />However, you absolutely should not pizz around with your health the way you did. I don't know if you have a low platelet count or what? At first indication, you get your butt to the hospital as fast as you can.<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-34072323286685968942014-12-06T14:25:27.576-08:002014-12-06T14:25:27.576-08:00Beautiful piece, thanksBeautiful piece, thanksAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-50987099242239702272014-12-06T12:26:57.059-08:002014-12-06T12:26:57.059-08:00Glad you're back!Glad you're back!sdnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2435367521078186829.post-29379237803163084042014-12-06T10:21:15.401-08:002014-12-06T10:21:15.401-08:00God bless MacKenzie! "Be selfish for the coll...God bless MacKenzie! "Be selfish for the collective good". She must read your blog. What would we do without you? And think of your Mother too!<br />A pre-existing condition on top of it! You should know better.<br /><br />So glad to hear you're improving. Now look after yourself!!John's Aghastnoreply@blogger.com