Donate

Patients' Lives Made Better

A former nurse turned patient thanks her surgeon through Honour Your Hero program.

An “everyday hero” brightens patients’ lives
Shirley Dunk was a nurse in Parry Sound, Ontario, until her retirement in 2005. Four years later, he was diagnosed with liver cancer and referred to TGH.

When Shirley met her surgeon, Dr. Bryce Taylor, she knew she was in good hands. Dr. Taylor had, by then, been the UHN Surgeon-In-Chief for 11 years. He and his team explained the surgical procedure with such finesse that Shirley was left in no doubt that surgery was her best option. Although she required a battery of tests, her surgery was scheduled within two weeks.

“I was very impressed with the calibre of my care, right from Dr. Taylor and his assistant, to the nurses and support staff. I did not expect such personable patient care in a big city hospital.”

The cancer was completely excised. Unusually, Shirley did not require any radiation or chemotherapy post-surgery. She was put on a four-year follow-up program with quarterly check-ups where Dr. Taylor would make sure her liver was regenerating to its normal size.

Shirley has high praise for Dr. Taylor and his team at TGH and even though she is a retired nurse who lives on a limited pension with her husband, she made a generous gift through the Honour Your Hero program to honour Dr. Taylor. The Honour Your Hero program provides patients and their families an opportunity to thank health care staff for their exceptional care. Honoured staff members receive a Hero card and Hero pin.

Read the rest of Shirley’s story and more about Dr. Taylor on the Honour Your Hero site: http://www.tgwhf.ca/donor_report/more5.asp

There’s always an answer. We’ll find it.

[back to top]