Prologue
Your four-score-year old institution is a global treasure when it comes to hernia repair. I was a patient at your institution for four days, from September 23rd to the 26th, Tuesday to Friday. My stay was an unparalleled experience in every regard. Let me explain why I call your hospital a treasure.
Five unique aspects that make it a treasure are the following. First is the splendid professional surgical work done by the surgeons. Second are the excellent services provided by the nurses. Third is the delicious food offered at the fine dining restaurant. Fourth are the efficient services provided by the administrative staff. Fifth is the historic building enveloped by the outstanding landscaping. Each of these pentagonal attributes needs to be backed by verifiable evidence.
1st
On the pre-op afternoon, Dr. Ellabib, the surgeon who was going to conduct the surgery asked a few incisive questions, examined the groin area, and pushed the intestinal loop up to see how serious the challenge was, and then reassured me, “Don’t worry. We will fix it up for you”.
On the operation day at 6:30 a.m., Dr. Ellabib greeted me at the door to the theatre with a comforting smile. The nurse, Mary Jean, made sure that I lay flat on my back at the centre of the table and spread eagled my arms on the arm rests. I wondered whether she was trained under the Ancient Roman soldiers in 36 CE. Dr. Moosavi, the anesthetist informed me that he was going to inject the sedative fluid and did so. The nurse cautioned me about placing a very cold pack upon my lower thigh and did so. I felt like the ice shock that I would have felt if I ever ventured into the cold winter swim in January. Just prior to descending into the depths of local anesthesia, I noticed Dr. Linkenhail and nurse Gaitri assisting Dr. Ellabib with some prep work.
When I became fully conscious in my bed (#1), room 322, I realized that the entire surgical procedure should have taken approximately 60 minutes. I experienced no pain, thanks to the anesthetic. Rooted in ignorance, I concluded confidently that the surgery must have been successful and relaxed. Often, ignorance and confidence are close companions. As it turned out, the nurse who came to check on me said in a quiet manner that I am doing well. The surgery team had done an excellent job.
The day after surgery, Dr. Ellabib checked the groin and on the following day Dr. Ross checked the groin. On the discharge day, the 26th, Dr. Simmons checked the groin and concluded that things were going well. He took the time to outline in detail the dos and don’ts of conduct during recovery at home. His calm disquisition was like a learned professor in a graduate seminar concerned about the welfare of the patient. I am following his instructions and the written guidelines by the hospital carefully.
2nd
For three days, 24th through 26th, the nurse team did their assignments perfectly. Checking upon me at regular intervals and doing the important duties were: Anita, Farkhonda, Kelly Namarwa, Luba, Nishu Gurung, and a couple of others whose names I do not recall. I apologize for the other nurses whose names are not mentioned here. They administered the medications, checked blood sugar levels, took blood pressure readings, and noted body temperature levels.
Anita and Farkhonda were the ones who skillfully removed the 6 clips (I think) each without causing any discomfort for me. Anita removed the powerful sticky tape across my upper abdomen very gently but I thought she was removing a thin layer of my skin to ensure cleanliness until I took a shower 7 days after the surgery – subscribing to the “no pain, no gain” school of thought. On the evening of the surgery, Luba pointed out the obvious to a dense patient: that lack of pain early in the evening was the effect of residual anesthetic and that I should take Tylenol and Toradol before the pain strikes with a vengeance later in the night. I obeyed, of course.
3rd
Good food is the foundation of a good life. Your Team Restaurant tried to match the expertise of surgeons and nurses in their field of specialty. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack at 9:00 p.m. matched the cuisines of some fine dining restaurants in Toronto. Drew, the principal chef, was always obliging when a few patients requested some minor consideration. I looked forward to the four delicacy events. The group of servers were like a well-disciplined platoon from a competent army. They worked the tables like clockwork and brought the different dishes in a perfectly timed sequence. The expression “hospital food or institutional food” did not apply to the delicious meals served.
4th
Supporting the above triangular pyramid of competencies is the solid foundation of administrative infrastructure. Your reputation caused the high demand for your help and resulted in some delay in securing an appointment for me. When the appointment was given by Ms Cheung, I requested her to see if she could arrange for an appointment earlier if there was a cancellation. I also left a voicemail message with the calendar office. Soon I got a response from Ms Fernandes and Ms Leonova advancing the appointment by two weeks. I was delighted.
Ms Aneesa Syeda from Accounting reminded me about the ECG and blood work test results. I filled out the form sent by Syeda. I went to the LifeLabs and got them done. Regrettably, when I registered on the 23rd the nurse there could not find the results. Sorry, I have forgotten her name. She informed your Lab. Your Lab contacted the LifeLabs of Sudbury Southend. The LifeLabs had difficulty faxing the blood work. Your Lab person immediately arranged for an on-site A1C test. I was relieved by the efficiency of your registration nurse and your Lab nurse.
5th
The tasteful upgrading of the heritage building is a good example of how to preserve the estate of George McCullagh, the founder of The Globe and Mail newspaper. The magnificent landscaping is the result of thoughtful painstaking effort. A gardener at Cambridge University when asked about how he keeps the carpet lawn so beautiful, he remarked, “We take care of it regularly. Give it 500 years and you will have one too”. Eighty years later your lawn is looking as good as the one in Cambridge. To me, it is not a well-maintained landscape but a splendid botanical garden. As you would know better than I would ever know, bipedal mammals recover rapidly when they commune with Mother Nature at its best.
Epilogue
Shouldice exemplifies the idea that excellence is commonplace. This unique profile is made possible by everyone who works there. Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) are on display everywhere. The best index of that is the small declarative statement posted in an obscure location in the second-floor cafeteria space. It is my view that the statement should quietly be removed altogether because there is no need for it. Leave the preaching to those who do not practice. It is admirable that the sign for Shouldice at the entrance gate is small for a world-renowned institution instead of an outsized advertisement.
To adapt the famous words of the Vulcan, Mr. Spock, May You All Live Long and Prosper in Service to Humanity in Your Chosen Field.
Very sincerely yours,
a 2025 Shouldice Hospital Patient
FR 
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