Patient Stories

Ian Wightman counts himself lucky. Just in May, he won an early bird prize of $1000 in the 50/50 draw! But Ian says that, really, his good fortune came three years ago when he suffered a heart attack and was treated at Guelph General Hospital. It was in October 2019 when Ian began to feel… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Ian Wightman

For the last year, Nola Pestill had a ticking time bomb inside her: an abdominal aortic aneurysm. When it burst, Nola received life-saving care made possible by our generous community. Undergoing major abdominal surgery isn’t easy, especially in your 80s. So when Nola’s specialist first detected the aneurysm, he referred her for a minimally invasive… Continue Reading 66 years and still together, thanks to the lifesavers at Guelph General and within our community.

“I’m the luckiest person alive….. and, if it weren’t for Guelph General Hospital, I wouldn’t be here today.” Orpha Thrasher, a bright-eyed, beaming, youthful lady, turned 100 years-old in February! She celebrated the century by undertaking one hundred walks to raise money for a local charity. It was quite an achievement, covered by local news… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Orpha Thrasher

Ross McKinnell, a Guelphite of 57 years, is no stranger to anyone who supports the Guelph General Hospital. He is a champion bicyclist who has raised an incredible amount of money for the Foundation over the past seven years and has been inducted into the Tour de Guelph’s Hall of Fame. But this story is… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Ross McKinnell

When Janet and Scott’s first baby, Ben, made his entrance at Guelph General in 2018, they were home the next day. With their second baby, Alice, born in March last year, the experience was totally different. Alice was premature by a month. Although she weighed a healthy 7 pounds, 2 ounces, her delivery date came… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for baby Alice

“I’m one of the good news stories” Laura Keller never believed she’d get breast cancer — “not in a million years,” says the Guelph mother of three. Unfortunately, she was wrong. It all started with a routine mammogram in the spring of 2021, the kind recommended for women every two years once they turn 50.… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Laura Keller

Ron King grew up in Guelph in the 50s.  He attended John F. Ross CVI, married his high school sweetheart, Brenda, and enjoyed a long career at W.C. Wood. Once retired, Ron and Brenda travelled worldwide — Fiji to Finland, Australia to Alaska. It was on the return from a Caribbean vacation in 2019 that… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Ron King

Leading into the holiday season, Guelph General Hospital received an email from Manny Garcia who wished to express thanks to the Guelph General team who provided care to his wife, Helen-Ann Learmont. Manny Garcia graciously writes: Dear Guelph General Hospital, I also wanted to acknowledge the following individuals; Emergency Department Nurses who took such good care of… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Helen-Ann Learmont

Jean Peacock was born in Guelph in the late 50s and, after many years away, returned in 1998 to care for her mother. Jean’s travels took her to many places including ten years teaching English to members of the South Korean military. She now holds a position with Immigrant Services Guelph-Wellington, helping to connect newcomers… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Jean Peacock

As Ron was raking leaves one fall afternoon, he felt horrific pain shooting through his legs and called 911. At the hospital, a CT scan identified the source of the problem: blood clots had cut off his circulation, and he needed bypasses in both his legs immediately. Continue Reading One minute Ron was out raking leaves. The next, doctors were trying to save his life.

Ed Herold is a retired professor who spent more than thirty years teaching at the University of Guelph in Family Relations and Applied Nutrition. He finished work in 2005 and has enjoyed many years of adventurous travel and cruising with his wife, Yvette. On a cruise late in 2019, Ed began to feel weak and… Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Ed Herold

When she turned 50 in 2019, Jen knew she was due for a mammogram but put it off until she had time during the winter school break. Just after the New Year, she finally went to GGH’s Diagnostic Imaging Department for her first scan. Driving home from the Hospital, Jen got a call asking her to come back Continue Reading Together, our community cared for Jen MacLeod