Local woman shares gratitude for loved ones and the RMH Team that saved them

KIM COULTER, Communications Specialist RMH

KAWARTHA LAKES: Some of the most important moments of Rosemary Joudrie’s life have taken place at Ross Memorial Hospital. Over her lifetime, the timely care she and her loved ones received made all the difference when every moment mattered. The talented physicians and staff at the Ross have been with her and her family every step of the way; from navigating complications at birth for the youngest, to life threatening emergencies for the oldest, and many moments in between.

When asked what fills her with gratitude, Rosemary says it’s the special people in her life — and those who saved their lives. “Like so many people, I am grateful to everyone at Ross Memorial Hospital [RMH] for being there during our most critical moments,” said Rosemary.

Rosemary is also grateful to the donors whose gifts to the RMH Foundation help fund the bedside tools and life-saving technology which helps the Ross Team care for patients in their time of need. These include equipment and projects which are not covered by government funding, such as the new MRI and CT Scanner, the new fleet of IV pumps and the clinical information system.

This holiday, Rosemary wants to give more people reasons to be grateful. She is sharing her story through the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation’s holiday appeal to inspire giving for priority needs at the hospital.

She’s also volunteering in a role her Dad, Ralph Griffin, was proud to do during his decades volunteering at the Ross. This holiday, Rosemary will tie ribbons to the paper ornaments donors send with their gifts and hang the messages and attached pictures on the Christmas trees in the main lobby.

“My Dad loved to see how caring people were,” said Rosemary. “He always told me it didn’t matter how much a person was able to give, because everyone’s donations add up, and together we make a difference. To me, that’s what it means when we say WE ARE THE ROSS.”

“Like Rosemary, so many of us have stories of our care at the Ross which stretch back our entire lives,” said Ryan O’Neill, RMH Foundation Board Chair. “The Ross is more than our community hospital. It’s where lives are touched.”

“We hope everyone will watch for Rosemary’s letter in the mail and share their gratitude this holiday,” said Erin Coons, RMH Foundation CEO. “With our community ballooning in size, it’s never been more important to ensure our hospital is equipped to respond, during emergencies and milestone moments. We can all help patients like Rosemary.”