Easing agitation
“I went berserk more or less,” recalls Colin Lewis about his time in Royal Columbian Hospital’s Cardiac Surgery Intensive Care Unit (CSICU) following a cardiac arrest. “I was going to throw my CPAP machine at them. I’m not usually like that at all.”
Ken Barrett’s Story
As a devoted fan and volunteer at Agassiz Speedway, 79-year old Ken Barrett has seen the occasional car crash over the years. But the worst wreck was away from the track, when a car t-boned his vehicle as Ken was crossing an intersection in Surrey. His traumatic injuries led to three surgeries in less than three weeks at Royal Columbian Hospital, including a fairly new procedure to fix severely broken ribs with titanium plates.
Harriet Fowler’s Story
Harriet Fowler was an 18-year old South Surrey resident who loved ballet, had graduated high school and was preparing for college when her world changed. She was left hospitalized for months at Royal Columbian Hospital with a significant brain injury after a severe collision with a dump truck. Her recovery, still ongoing years later, has nevertheless been remarkable so far, and she hopes her story offers hope to others who face the same kind of adversity.
Peter Rogal’s Story
Halloween is always a huge affair in the Rogal household. Peter and his family carve over a hundred pumpkins that are put on display each year outside their Tsawwassen home. But unbeknownst to the Rogals, October 31, 2013, would end up being part of much darker episode that brought Peter to the brink of death and back again.
Christine Ashton’s Story
It started with a headache the night before. Christine Ashton, 23 weeks pregnant, knew having twins meant an increased risk of complications. When she still felt unwell the next day, she described her pain to a relative. The conclusion: she was having contractions.