What Rachel hoped would be a relaxing evening with her sons after they returned from a trip to Mexico with their father ended up being quite the opposite.
Dylan, 15, and Ethan, 13, had returned to their mom’s from the trip that day. “Dylan started throwing up around 7 p.m. and did not stop. By 11 p.m. he was shallow breathing and in terrible pain,” she says. “I was so worried about him, and he was so scared.”
Rachel and Dylan hurried to our Stavro Emergency Department (ED), which is fortunately a short walk from their house. One of the busiest in Toronto, our ED emphasizes the delivery of compassionate and innovative care.
Springing into action
Rachel was impressed from the moment they arrived in the ED. Staff triaged Dylan quickly and placed him on intravenous fluids within minutes to rehydrate him. Blood work and other testing followed to rule out illnesses that might require further treatment.
As Dylan’s symptoms eased and his strength improved through the night, Rachel’s worry subsided and fatigue set in. But then word came from her partner, Gerry, that Ethan had begun vomiting and experiencing stomach pain. Not taking any chances, the two came to our ED around 5 a.m.
Our patient-focused care shone through again, says Rachel, when a nurse went out of her way to swiftly unite Dylan and Ethan in the same assessment room. “The nurse was so determined and efficient about bringing them together.”
Rachel appreciated this for a few reasons. Being in the same room brought considerable comfort to her family and made it easier to relay their story to their care team. It also meant Rachel could return home for some rest – having been awake all night – while Gerry remained with both the boys until they were discharged later that morning.
Heart of the east
This certainly wasn’t the first time Rachel and her family turned to Michael Garron Hospital when they needed help. On each occasion, they’ve been treated with skill and kindness.
“It means the world to us to have exceptional care available right in our neighbourhood,” she says.
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