I just celebrated my 80th birthday thanks to the wonderful medical teams at the Almonte General Hospital (AGH). You see, I had been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and if it hadn’t been for them, I don’t think I’d be here to write this letter to you now — But here I am, looking forward to sharing all the love and magic that comes with the holiday season!

As an immensely grateful patient of the Almonte General Hospital I’m asking you to join me in making a special year-end donation for the purchase of life-saving medical equipment that our community urgently needs.

Your gift today, either a one-time amount of $45, $75 or $100 or a monthly donation of $10, $25 or $40 ensures that AGH continues to provide the best medical care and services right here, close to home.

When you find yourself needing medical treatment as I did last year, you hope it’ll be the best! Not having to travel far from home is also a huge benefit!

For me, the AGH and the University of Ottawa Heart Institute worked together to give me the best possible chance to survive. My heart was so weak the doctors kept me in the AGH to keep a close eye on my condition until the Heart Institute could perform the procedures I needed.

Two weeks later, I was discharged and sent home to Almonte. The doctors said I would never be able to walk without a walker or even walk up two stairs.

It was then that the rehab team at the Ottawa Valley Family Health Team (OVFHT) really took over and helped me through their Cardiac Rehab Program. I was there twice a week for twelve weeks and now I can walk on my own and I work out at the gym three days a week! I feel great! I’m as close to being a poster boy for that hospital as anyone could be!

I’m sure we wouldn’t have made it through all of this without the help of the doctors and staff at the AGH and OVFHT. Everyone just bent over backwards to make sure I was ok.

Having such great healthcare close to home means shorter wait times in Emergency, much less travel time and friendly, familiar faces on the other end of the stethoscope!

I do hope you’ll chip in whatever amount you can so this gem we have right here can take care of us when we need it with quality health care that’s close to home!

Bonnie and I wish you a very safe and Happy Holiday!

Richard Love

P.S. For more than a century, The Almonte General Hospital has been providing medical care to the residents of Mississippi Mills, Carleton Place, West Carleton, the West end of Ottawa and surrounding townships. The medical care at Almonte General Hospital, Fairview Manor, the Lanark County Paramedic Service, and our on-site partners provide additional health and community services in one location – close to home. It’s a true Health hub!