Patient Stories

I’ve got to keep going. When Geoff Greaves ended up in Guelph General’s emergency department with internal bleeding in June 2016, he found himself repeating that mantra often. Blood tests revealed his hemoglobin was down in the 50s. Normal levels for men are 140 to 180. It was a scary time for the retired Air…

In November 2017, Paul Breadner and his work colleagues participated in Movember, the fundraising and awareness campaign for men’s health. As he had done in previous years, Paul took a yearly PSA (Prostate-Specific Antigen) test as part of his commitment. This time, the results came back showing slightly elevated levels. After repeated PSA tests with…

Maureen arrived at Guelph General Hospital by ambulance after collapsing at her workplace in Guelph. She was one of many waiting to be taken care of but she waited only briefly before being taken for some tests. While waiting for the results, Maureen observed the healthcare staff busy at work. “The interactions between staff were…

When Dennis Huss was wheeled into our state-of-the-art operating room in February 2018, the trim, tanned tennis player appeared to be in the peak of health. But the 6.5 cm aneurysm in his iliac artery told a different story. Without surgery, it could burst at any point, leaving him with a 50:50 chance of survival.…

“You’re most likely experiencing some mild shock right now, so don’t worry about remembering all these details today. We’ll schedule another appointment to go through all of this with you again.” This is part of a conversation Jaya James recalls having with her surgeon at Guelph General Hospital. It was at a follow-up appointment after…

For David Brooks, running isn’t a hobby, it is a part of his identity. In the fall of 2016, David Brooks was advised by his doctor “to find another hobby” following an ultrasound that revealed he had 60% less circulation in his right leg compared to his left leg. But for David, running isn’t simply…