Decades ago, I made a personal commitment to my health—regular runs, nutritious food, and a mindset to stay fit well into my retirement. By all accounts, I was ready for my “third act” with energy to spare.

But life had other plans.

Eight years ago, my world changed. During a routine coffee chat with a close physician friend, my right leg started giving out, and even holding a fork became difficult. My friend didn’t waste time—he told me I needed to get to the hospital immediately.

As someone who spent more than 40 years in health care, including many years at Osler—starting as a Human Resources Director at Etobicoke General and eventually becoming CEO of Peel Memorial—I knew Osler delivered excellent care. But I never imagined I’d be on the receiving end of it.

Living in Brampton, I’m lucky to call our local hospital my own. The care here is second to none, and I experienced that firsthand when an ultrasound revealed a shocking 95 per cent blockage in my carotid artery. Just three days later, I was in surgery. The surgeon told me, "I’ll treat you like my own father"—and he did. I received incredible, compassionate care from every member of the team.

Since then, I’ve been diagnosed with an irregular heart rhythm, and Osler’s skilled team continues to monitor me closely with annual tests. Two years ago, I began having shortness of breath. Again, it was Osler’s cardiac team that detected the unthinkable: I’d survived a massive heart attack, known as a “widow maker”.

I was in shock. After doing everything I could to stay healthy, I never thought I’d be having double bypass surgery. But thanks to Osler’s expert cardiac care, I came out the other side with a pacemaker—and my life.

I’m grateful beyond words. Osler gave me more time with my loved ones, more days to live fully, and for that, I will always be thankful.

Now, as your neighbour, I’m asking you to help make sure that others in our community can count on this same world-class care. You never know when you or someone you love might need it.

Osler has the busiest program in Ontario for treating severe heart attacks caused by fully blocked arteries. In just 40 minutes from the time a patient is brought in by ambulance, Osler’s cardiac team can clear a blockage and save a life. A Cath Lab (catheterization lab) is a specialized suite equipped with advanced imaging technology where doctors perform minimally invasive procedures to diagnose and treat cardiovascular conditions, such as clearing blocked arteries. Osler currently operates two Cath Labs, but with demand increasing rapidly, our community desperately needs a third Cath Lab to enable more of this life-saving work.

Our community is growing fast, and Osler’s cardiac team is stretched to the limit. They receive twice as many cardiac arrest cases as neighbouring hospitals, and more patients need complex procedures than ever before. Without a new Cath Lab, they won’t be able to meet the growing need.

This is where you come in. With your donation, you can help expand Osler’s cardiac services, ensuring more lives are saved. And there’s no better time to give—thanks to the generosity of BVD Group, every dollar you donate will be matched, doubling your impact up to $1 million!

Though I am now retired, I still spend my days at Osler, as a volunteer at Peel Memorial. Greeting patients and families every week, I see firsthand the difference that your support makes. The team here works tirelessly to keep us healthy, and they need our help to continue doing what they do best.

Please, join me in making a gift today. Together, we can ensure that our community has access to the best cardiac care when it’s needed most.

With deepest gratitude,

Denis MacDougall

Osler patient, volunteer, and survivor