Editor:
I have often admired those people who took the time to voice their opinion, give thanks, offer constructive suggestions or had something monumental to say through a letter to the editor.
I myself have always been rather boring, so remained a quiet, yet appreciative reader of such letters.
I have now decided to put pen to paper as I realize this is the most effective way to voice my appreciation of this great community and its people.
About four weeks ago, while walking downtown, I performed an impromptu gymnastics move without much grace or finesse. When I heard the nasty snap and saw that my foot looked a bit unusual (really weird and gross actually) I realized I wouldn’t be making it to my final destination.
A detour via Canmore Hospital seemed inevitable. I fell so hard that my purse containing my cellphone flew about a kilometre away. Ok… it just looked that far as I tried to combat crawl to retrieve it to make a call for help.
Just then, a school bus filled with very young children pulled over (sorry if I traumatized any of you young ones for life) and a really sweet bus driver made the 911 call for me.
Thank you. I know how bad she felt as she had to drive away and continue on her route. Before she drove away she had already set me up with a new caregiver who not only hung out with me, but called a co-worker to bring over a blanket to make me more comfortable until the ambulance arrived.
Tom and Daryl… thanks for that. Thank you to the ambulance drivers who risk their lives daily with much more serious situations than this. They managed to safely “heave” me onto a stretcher while slipping and sliding on the very ice that sent me flying in the first place. Oh and thanks guys for not cutting off my sock but ever so gently sliding it from my foot. I have very few socks without holes and was most intent on saving this one good pair, or so it seems.
I could go on forever now that I have started, but something makes me think I get limited space here. In closing, let me just say thanks to all the staff at both Canmore and Banff hospitals. I was treated with the utmost care and efficiency.
Thanks to all my friends and co-workers who have showered me with flowers, books, movies, food, lattes, visits, phone calls and just all around TLC. I feel so blessed. Thanks too to my family for waiting on me hand and foot, (no pun intended) day after endless day, but I must say I have taken a wee bit of pleasure in this role reversal.
In closing let me say I realize this was no dramatic rescue from the side of Mount Everest or anything even remotely similar, but I still really appreciate being so well looked after by complete strangers and great friends.
Lori Ayearst,
Canmore
