My hemoglobin became critically low and I could barely breathe. I had my annual with my GP on Thursday before Canada Day weekend and although I had been feeling exhausted and had a hard time breathing, I had waited for the appointment. Went to Dynacare for the blood test and Friday morning the Dynacare doctor called in a panic and said I needed to get to emergency and he couldn't reach my doctor. About 5 mins later my GP called and repeated the message - "get to emergency as fast as you can." I called my husband's golf course and asked them to hail him and tell him I needed to go to emergency. I didn't want to wait on an ambulance as in a small rural area outside of Ottawa, there are sometimes long delays as they are all in Ottawa. By the time we got to Winchester hospital, my husband had to wheel me in as walking was too difficult. Big kudos to Emergency at the WH, I went through registration and triage in less than five minutes and I was into the back rooms getting one transfusion of iron and 3 transfusion of blood. Doctors were saying I was moments away from a possible stroke or heart attack and it was a wonder I hadn't keeled over yet, so to whomever provided those donations of blood, bless you, you saved my life.
I can breathe easily once again and walk under my own power. I am bleeding from somewhere internally and they haven't found the cause yet after 3 endoscopes and 3 colon scopes, so I may need your help again. There are no words that can express how grateful I feel towards the donors - because of you people like myself can survive. It's a great gift you give.
