Denice Klavano sits in her office at the Halifax Infirmary. A stained glass ornament in the shape of a green ribbon, a symbol for organ and tissue donation, hangs from the cork board above her work station. Her son, Brad Howell, died tragically as a result of a fork lift and army motor vehicle collision in March 2006. He was18 years old and had just recently registered as a donor.
Several years ago, Dorothy MacAskill drove all night to see a loved one who’d been admitted to an intensive care unit (ICU) in the province. When she arrived, she was told she couldn’t visit. As manager of an ICU herself, and now interim director, it hit home for MacAskill that restricting family access to loved ones wasn’t serving the patient or family.
Compassion and kindness. Our volunteers embody both every day. As we cap off National Volunteer Week, join me in thanking everyone who chooses to give their time and talent to improving the health of Nova Scotians through volunteer programs; auxiliaries; foundations; community health boards; patient, family and public advisory committees; quality teams; long-term care programs and our board of directors.
If you walk into Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow on a Thursday morning, you’re sure to see a smiling Jane Marshall ready to point you in the right direction. Marshall is one of 7,000 volunteers who selflessly give their time and energy to help Nova Scotia Health Authority (NSHA) make patients and our province healthier.
Change is hard. But what if fear of change is preventing us from being open about the opportunities for better health and better care? How much could we stand to gain?
Kimberley Lacey hopes medical professionals and leaders attending the first regional Wounds Canada conference on the east coast will leave “feeling empowered to continue to bring best practices to their patients.” The conference features two jam-packed days of learning sessions, April 12 and 13 at the Halifax Convention Centre.
“As someone who sees the benefits of this every day, I just ask that people have the conversation with their families,” tissue specialist Cody Duncan said. “Have the discussion, know their wishes and consider if it’s right for you. This kind of giving is so selfless and inspiring. Your decision to do so will have a lasting impact for those receiving it and their families, now and for many years to come.”
Students at Charles P. Allen (CPA) High School in Bedford are taking a deep dive this week into what it takes to foster their own mental wellness amidst the pressures of school, peers, social media and uncertainty about the future.
Amanda “Mandi” Diane LeBlanc continues to live through the bodies and souls of others. This is possible even though she died on All Hallows' Day 2012. How does she live on after death you may ask? She lives as she gave the gift of life to others. Mandi is their “raison d'être” in the most literal sense of the meaning. She is their reason for being, just as she was ours.
