STRAKYS HELP LUNG PATIENTS
Donation expands waiting lounge at hospital
Three years ago, members of the Straky family opened their hearts and wallets to create a waiting lounge at the Ouellette Campus of Windsor Regional Hospital in honour of their late wife and mother Kathleen.
It was the start of a path of giving that led Friday to the unveiling of an expanded Kathleen Straky Cardio-Pulmonary waiting lounge at the hospital’s Met Campus, and new educational resource centre designed for patients and families to access the latest information related to their ongoing care.
“My life has changed forever,” said Karl Straky, whose wife of 53 years died in July 2014 at the age of 74 from complications related to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). “The family legacy and memory of Kathleen lives on.”
Since the initial donation, Straky has jumped head first into learning all he can about how patients battling lung-related disease are funded, cared for and supported by Ontario’s health-care system.
The retired businessman learned that funding and supports are inadequate, he believes, because lung-related diseases are overshadowed by more high profile illnesses such as cancer or heart disease. “I wanted to get involved to find ways to work with staff to improve educational tools so families and patients know how better to take care of their medical needs,” Straky said.
Straky talked with hospital staff, Ministry of Health and Long-term Care officials and the Ontario Lung Association to come up with a strategy to help lung patients.
In addition to unveiling the new waiting room, which features new furniture, television and prints depicting Kathleen’s garden, Straky was excited by the addition of educational literature and an interactive video playlist where patients diagnosed with COPD can learn more about the disease and the care they will receive.
“A lot of patients, after they leave the doctor, struggle to find out what to do with themselves,” Straky said. “They end up sitting at home struggling. Having this educational program in the lounge is critical.”
Straky grows emotional when speaking about his late wife. They met as teenagers and went on to have four children and nine grandchildren. Losing her to this disease has guided him on how to help.
“What’s most important is the patient. That’s where I try to keep my focus. What Kathleen went through, she was the one in need. I’m just trying to change how health care can provide to patients. If family members have information to help family members that’s a bonus for health care.”
Hospital spokesman Ron Foster said Windsor Regional is grateful for both the financial support and efforts by the Straky family.
“Especially Karl, who has been so great, not just by donating, but doing whatever he can to help patients who are going through what he experienced,” Foster said.
“We are very thankful to Karl and the whole family who have been very generous in providing patients a comfortable, nice environment and the opportunity to seek information they need.”