Being diagnosed with a double thrombosis was one of the scariest things I have ever been through.

What I thought was an asthma attack was actually something that could’ve made me drop dead.

When you’re healthy, you don’t really think about the hospital, how current the equipment is, the right diagnostic tools, or the skill it takes to handle something life threatening. It’s like insurance. You know it’s there, but you don’t think you’ll ever really need it. Until you do.

And when something serious happens and you’re already scared and feeling bad, that fear gets even bigger.

Arnprior Regional Health made all the difference. Sure, it’s a smaller hospital, but the level of care is top notch.

What mattered so much to me was that they had the equipment right there to do the tests I needed. I didn’t have to be shipped off to the city and wait longer just to find out what was wrong. When something this serious is happening, time matters. Getting those tests done quickly close to home meant everything.

It’s also more personal. I didn’t feel like just another patient being rushed through a busy place. It was quieter, calmer, and that made the situation more bearable. I felt seen.

The doctors and staff took the time to explain things. They actually sat with my family and me, answered my questions, and made sure I felt cared for.

That kind of attention, along with having the right equipment available when I needed it, made me feel safer and more confident in my care.

Now that I’m fully recovered, do I take Arnprior Regional Health for granted? Absolutely not. I appreciate that my little town has a hospital that can handle serious situations and get the tests done without sending you hours away.

Hospitals like Arnprior Regional Health do so much for people in our community, but they can only do that with the right equipment and resources. Government funding only covers about 85%, and the rest has to come from us. That means donations really do matter. If we want to keep this kind of care close to home, we have to help make it possible.

Am I happy about the quality of care I can get in my town? Absolutely.

Maureen Campbell