VIDEO: Full Circle - A Digital Story by Belinda
Digital Story co-created with Kristy Wolfe
Video Transcript:
Visiting Canmore General Hospital for the first time to undergo surgery took me back to my childhood. I was born in a rural Alberta hospital and my life has been sustained by them ever since. I've always felt an affinity for hospitals and wanted to be a doctor. My first childhood inpatient experience after being born was in a rural Alberta hospital and I remember how friendly and familiar the staff were. They were my friends' parents, my neighbours. I wasn't afraid at all. I also remember watching my hometown hospital torn down and replaced in 1983.
The new one is almost identical to the one we have in Canmore, which was built one year later, in 1984. As a child, I impatiently waited to turn 12 so I could be a hospital candy striper, and I remember feeling so proud in my red and white dress on shift at the hospital. After graduating from high school, I was awarded a bursary from the ladies' auxiliary at the hospital in recognition of my 300 volunteer hours. I was also offered a role as a nursing assistant, one I held and enjoyed through all seven years of post-secondary education. I still have fond memories from that time, especially from some of the patients, including the first centenarian I met, who was born in 1888.
Fast forward 25 years, my deja vu at Canmore Hospital was a wonderful trip down memory lane. The place and the people were warm, friendly and comfortable. This is community health, it's not just medical care. My partner was invited by the surgeon to walk me into the operating rooms. I saw elk munching outside the window while in recovery.
Over time, while living in Canmore, I've taken several family members to the emergency department and all received excellent care. This motivated me to give back by joining the Canmore Hospital Foundation Board, and during that time it's been a privilege to witness the emergency department redevelopment, now the surgical suites to see the Eagle View long-term care space transformed, the staff lounge refurbishment, the cancer clinic creation. Canmore General Hospital stands out in Alberta because of philanthropy and community spirit. We are so incredibly fortunate.
In 2014, a government report concluded the Canmore Hospital was in acceptable condition, but thanks to community generosity, 10 years later, it's now in exceptional condition. It's now in exceptional condition. As for me, I too have evolved for the better and I never let go of the idea to become a doctor. So in 2023, I returned to school and pursued a health science credential in London, England. As part of my Master of Science in Addictions, I was able to do a clinical placement at St Thomas' Hospital across the River Thames from Big Ben. So, like the Canmore Hospital, I've come full circle.