Sean’s Story
“When someone needs urgent medical help like I did, you’re glad to have the hospital right there in our community.”
A few months ago, my life took an unexpected turn. I woke up to a sudden and troubling health issue—blood in my urine. Until then, I had enjoyed good health and a fulfilling life with my wife, Laura, and our two children. Concerned, I quickly sought medical attention including lab tests, an ultrasound, and a CT scan.
I remember the flurry of urgent phone calls that followed — from the hospital, my family doctor, and the urologist’s office. The news was daunting. They found an 8 cm tumour in my right kidney, likely stage III cancer… which means the cancer may have spread beyond the kidney. Suddenly, things felt drastically different.
The news was devastating, but amidst the fear and uncertainty, one thing stood out: the incredible response from the medical team at Richmond Hospital. Everything moved quickly, for which Laura and I are very grateful. Dr. Dan Rapoport, the urologist, quickly scheduled me for surgery at Richmond Hospital just a few days later.
The days that followed were deeply unsettling as we struggled with the uncertainty of what lay ahead. But through this hardship, we realized how quickly and efficiently the team at Richmond Hospital responded when someone needed urgent medical help, and it was your generous support that made this possible — for me… for you… for everyone in Richmond.
This is why I hope you will support Richmond Hospital Foundation and make as generous a gift as you are able. Your generosity will help ensure everyone receives the prompt and excellent care I did, giving them a chance at a healthier future.
Thanks to the skilled and compassionate doctors and nurses at Richmond Hospital, I underwent a successful laparoscopic nephrectomy, a minimally invasive procedure to remove the kidney. But it wasn’t until the post-surgery assessment that we felt a weight lift from our shoulders—the cancer had not spread beyond the kidney.
Laura and I were incredibly relieved and thankful. We had been living with the prospect of a grim future, but we — the hospital, the medical team, ourselves — had caught it in time.
I cannot fully express my appreciation for the expertise and kindness from all the health care professionals I encountered at Richmond Hospital: Dr. Dan Rapoport and Dr. Reza Hamidizadeh who took the time to ensure Laura and I understood our situation and options; and the nurses – I wish I remembered their names – who knew how to make us laugh when we needed to. As Laura says, “You can’t really thank people enough for saving your life.”
Your donation will enhance health care in our community and ensure that Richmond Hospital and the expert staff there continues to have access to the best available medical equipment and technology.
Your support means someone like me can have their life turned around from a dreadful diagnosis to a hopeful future. It means more families can breathe a sigh of relief, knowing that their loved ones are in good hands.
Thank you for considering a donation to Richmond Hospital Foundation. Your donation can make a real, tangible difference in people’s lives.
With gratitude,
Sean Grant
Grateful Patient
P.S. Any gift amount you can make is greatly appreciated, but a really great way to support Richmond Hospital is by making a monthly gift. Your regular monthly donation makes a huge difference to those who need it most.
