Hospital staff gave exemplary care

My dad died recently.

He had the good fortune of a long life where he was able to meet not just many grandchildren, but also many great-grandchildren. As he lay dying in our local hospital, I was amazed at the professional, efficient and effective care being delivered in a facility that has longpassed its usefulness.

To the crew that served my father and the other patients, my thanks.

To the multiple nurses, doctors and medical students I met on the night shift, your care and compassion was appreciated more than you can know.

Explaining the difficult decisions to be faced takes more than a formal education and your compassion carried my family and myself through those hours and helped us accept the inevitable.

To the rest of the support staff who continue to carry out their duties, know that your efforts do not go unnoticed.

Throughout this experience, one notable thank you cannot go unmentioned is the hospital itself.

The former Hotel-dieu Grace, now downtown campus of Windsor Regional, you've served the community well, but it's time for you to go to your final resting place. The staff that fills your rooms deserve so much better.

For many of them, your replacement will not come soon enough to enjoy the fruits of your replacement.

For the younger staff who will see years in the new facility, given what I witnessed, I'm sure you will honour and mirror the dedication with which your predecessors served and our community will be the better for it.

Anytime Mr. Musyj is ready to fire up the wagon and march on Queen's Park for the new hospital, know that I'll be there.

Lastly, thank you to the day shift in emergency and 5 North/5 East who were so accommodating and enabled all of us to have a final moment with our father.

So many of the hospital staff and employees exemplify every reason why we can't wait — we need a new hospital now.

Jim Robinson, Lasalle