MGH Candygrams: Sharing joy and sweet thanks with our community this holiday season

To our community,

As we approach the end of another year, our teams at Michael Garron Hospital (MGH) and the Michael Garron Hospital Foundation once again have much to be proud of.

Amid unprecedented pressures on Ontario’s health system, our staff, credentialed clinicians, learners, volunteers and partners continued to work together to expand the hospital’s services, teams and technologies. This includes launching MGH’s Women’s Withdrawal Management Services and Home Peritoneal Dialysis Service and welcoming our first cohort of internationally educated nurses for the Supervised Practice Experience Partnership.

We marked a number of milestones in our historic redevelopment project, including reaching Tower Interim Completion for the Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre. As we look ahead to the opening of the Thomson Centre in January, we are in the final stretch of our Heart of the East Campaign. Thanks to you, we were able to exceed our initial goal and we are continuing to press forward in efforts to secure an even greater portion of the hospital’s share of funding.

Outside MGH’s walls this year, we continued to collaborate with East Toronto Health Partners, our Ontario Health Team, to advance integrated care through mobile vaccine clinics, Health Access Taylor-Massey, Community Outreach Centres and our dedicated Cold, Flu and COVID-19 Clinic for Kids.

None of this would have been possible without the support of our hospital community. We also express our sincere and utmost gratitude to everyone at MGH who continues to show up day after day to deliver high-quality, patient-centred care to those who need us most.

Seeing your wonderful work, people throughout East Toronto know they are in good hands. And their gratitude runs deep. In the spirit of giving this holiday season, we asked some members of our MGH family to share virtual candygrams.

Each week leading up to the holidays, we will update this page with candygrams and greetings from our teams that help celebrate our incredible partners and community members. We hope you enjoy these festive “treats” as much as our teams enjoyed putting them together.

Wishing you a safe, joyous and healthy holiday season.

 

To: Patients and community members in East Toronto

From: Ruby Quiambao, Registered Nurse (RN), MGH Emergency Department

“This year once again saw healthcare workers at MGH rising to the occasion – but your kindness, patience and support have made the act of delivering care a little easier.

Whether it’s through getting vaccinated, wearing a mask or following other safety measures, thank you for continuing to do your part to help protect yourself, your loved ones and your community. Thank you for choosing kindness over negativity, compassion over indifference and for continuing to trust MGH as your preferred place to receive care, especially in our new Child and Youth Emergency Zone. Our teams are so proud to be able to provide urgent paediatric care in this family-friendly space and are grateful for your continuous support.

And to those who have shared positive messages and wished our teams well – thank you! Your words mean the world during what has truly been an unprecedented time in healthcare. Happy holidays and wishing you a safe and healthy year ahead!”

 

To: Staff, credentialed clinicians and learners

From: Erin Beange, Interim Clinical Resource Leader, MGH

“As I reflect on this past year I’m incredibly proud of our team. Your tireless efforts, dedication and courage have allowed us to deliver high-quality, patient-centred and compassionate care day in and day out. Your ongoing communication, collaboration and support for one another keeps our flame of resiliency glowing bright.

Thank you for continuously checking in on your colleagues! Even while expanding and adapting our services to meet ongoing surge and demand – while also training and onboarding new team members as needed – you always made sure to look out for one another. Every day, the familiar faces I see in the hallways at MGH remind me that the connections we make and the interactions we have with our patients, friends and colleagues matter.

I am continually humbled by the clinical expertise of our teams, and the leadership and commitment you demonstrate on a daily basis. I am grateful for your dedication to this organization and our community and feel incredibly fortunate to be able to learn from you both professionally and personally.

Please take the time to recharge and find joy in connecting with your family, friends and loved ones. I wish you all a safe and peaceful holiday season."

 

To: Community and health system partners

From: Dr. Dennison Lai, Family Physician and Member, East Toronto Family Practice Network

“From launching vaccine clinics and integrated care initiatives to conducting hyperlocal outreach and sharing important health information with our communities, we’ve collaborated significantly this year to help ensure our patients in East Toronto can get the care they need close to home.

It’s so rewarding to be a part of a larger team that works together across the health, social services and community care system. Together, we do more than offer health services – we strive to address the social determinants of health and improve health equity. We value the insights we share with one another and the feedback we get from local residents in an effort to better the health of everyone in East Toronto.

Through our shared leadership, we’ve been able to form close friendships and a trusted network that breaks down barriers to care. As someone who grew up in the East Toronto area, I want to thank you all for working together to get things done and strengthen the health of our community! Wishing you all a happy holidays!”

 

To: Everyone who donates to MGH

From: Venkat Govindarajan, Volunteer, MGH

“My wife and I have both benefitted from excellent care at MGH, so we decided to contribute both financially and with our time. As part of my volunteering, I go to many different areas of the hospital, including Palliative Care, and have admired the positive attitude of the teams here. I know that behind every person’s mask, there is warmth and compassion. And you are an important part of that.

Your donations enable the hospital to build modern spaces and invest in new equipment to support staff in their work. Those are the things you can see. Equally important is the impact of your gift on the morale of people providing care and assistance. Knowing that you are with us and beside us, extending your own helping hand, means a lot. MGH truly is the heart of the east and it’s because of your kind generosity.

My heartfelt thanks to you. Season’s greetings from me, my wife and my fellow volunteers.”

 

To: Volunteers

From: Gina Costa, Registration Clerk, MGH

“Only a truly special group of people would choose to spend their free time helping others. At MGH, your dedication to and knowledge of our organization does not go unnoticed by our teams!     

Every day, you go above and beyond to help ensure our patients remain our top priority. From comforting patients and helping them get to their appointments safely to answering questions and accommodating those with accessibility concerns – you do it all with a smile on your face and a positive attitude!

Our teams in Admitting and other areas of the hospital are so grateful for all that you do. I am excited to continue working with you all, especially as some of our teams move into the new Ken and Marilyn Thomson Patient Care Centre in the New Year. Wishing you a safe and happy holiday!”