This article was produced by the Niagara Health Foundation.
When Fort Erie resident Krystyna called Niagara Health Foundation to make a donation, she was full of praise and gratitude.
She had just had cataract surgery, performed by Niagara Health physician Dr. Adnan Pirbhai, and was touched by his kindness and professionalism.
“He is a very good doctor,” she says, noting a few months after her surgery, she could see everything again. “I don’t even need glasses!”
It wasn’t the first time Krystyna needed Niagara Health.
“About a year ago, I felt pain in my chest,” Krystyna recalls. “It went on for hours. I couldn’t sleep because it was so bad.”
After a while, the pain eased enough for her to fall asleep but it came back the next morning.
“I didn’t think I could have cardiac issues because I have a pacemaker,” she says.
When she got a call from a good friend that morning, she told her she wasn’t up to talking.
“I said to her: ‘I’ve had chest pain for hours., think I have to call 911,’” Worried about Krystyna, her friend called 911 as soon as they hung up.
“Before I could even call for help, they were already outside my door,” Krystyna laughs, grateful to her friend. “They rushed me to the Niagara Falls hospital. I had had a major heart attack.”
Krystyna stayed at the hospital for about a week to recover.
“I’m grateful for the care I received. I’m very lucky. It was quite scary, but the staff, nurses and doctors were like family. They were so good and kind and helpful. I really appreciated them.”
Krystyna is also grateful to her family doctor, who has been instrumental in connecting her with a cardiologist and the resources she needs.
Grateful for the kindness of her healthcare team, Krystyna recently decided to make an even greater impact by joining Niagara Health Foundation’s community of monthly donors.
“I just want to help because I know that this is a very hard job, and I know the system is struggling. It may not be much, but when somebody helps me, I have to help them. That’s what I think,” she says.
We want to thank Krystyna for sharing her experience and her words of gratitude. The equipment used in her care – from the monitors that tracked her vitals in the aftermath of her heart attack to the lights in the operating room during her cataract surgery – were there thanks to the generosity of community donors. Monthly donors help the Foundation plan the support we provide to Niagara Health to purchase life-saving equipment.
We know that when we each give a little bit, we can create real change for our local hospitals.
For Krystyna, expressing gratitude to everyone involved in her care is just as important as giving back.
“Thank you to everyone who took care of me,” she says. “I am so appreciative.”
Find out more about becoming a monthly Niagara Health Foundation donor
