Bob & Donna’s Legacy
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Donna and Bob
St. Catharines residents Bob and Donna have been monthly donors to the Niagara Health Foundation for many years, and we recently met with them to find out why their local hospitals are a cause close to their hearts.
“We’re originally from Toronto and have lived in Montreal for some time as well,” Bob begins. “For many years, we only ever experienced those big city hospitals, and while the teams were competent and did their best, it just never felt very personal.”
Almost 40 years ago, he says, they made a decision that changed their lives: they moved to Niagara.
“It really improved our quality of life. We lived in Vineland for many years and then moved to St. Catharines. We have never looked back.”
The hospital system was, however, something Donna said they were a bit weary of. “We came from such a big city. We were a bit worried that a small community hospital system might not be able to meet that same standard, but the opposite was the case; everyone has just been great.”
Both of Donna’s parents needed care at the former Hotel Dieu Hospital, and she was amazed by the kindness and thoughtfulness of the staff. “My dad did eventually die at the old hospital. It was a sad time for our family, but the care the team provided at the end of his life was excellent.”
While they were sad to see the old hospital, which held so many personal memories for them, close, Bob and Donna are grateful for the new Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines, and for the care they have both received at Niagara Health over the years.
“We have had cataract surgery at the St. Catharines hospital and knee surgery at the Welland Hospital,” Bob says. “The surgeries as well as the recovery went very well.”
“It was really quite amazing,” Donna says. “The staff were great, and we were already getting up there, weren’t we Bob?!”
“Oh really, darling?” Bob quips. “You see, I got my knee done first, and when Donna saw mine, she wanted one, too,” he laughs and stops just short of performing an Irish Jig to emphasize his point.
“But Donna is right. She is 81 years old, I am 91 – we’re seniors. Sometimes, we need an extra minute to find our way back to the elevator or need something explained a second time, and the Niagara Health staff is always happy to go that extra mile for us.”
“They are very special people,” Donna agrees.
Grateful for the excellent care they have received over the years, Bob and Donna decided to become monthly donors to the Niagara Health Foundation. “We are on a fixed income,” Bob says, “so a monthly donation is a format that works best for us.”
“We care a lot about the Niagara Health system,” Donna explains. “We signed up for monthly donations a few years ago and budget accordingly. Whenever possible, we try to increase our monthly gifts. For us, that is a better approach than giving once a year.”
The couple has also left a gift in their will to the Foundation, “Both the Niagara Health Foundation and our Church will receive a bequest, which we have arranged for with our lawyer,” Bob says.
“Most of my relatives are gone, and all of Donna’s relatives are gone, so we could not think of two more worthy causes.”
“It’s important to us to give back to a community that has always been so good to us,” Donna adds. “The hospitals and the Niagara community are closely interconnected.”
Most recently, the couple needed our local hospitals when Donna woke up one morning experiencing memory loss. “I was sure that I had had a stroke,” she says.
After several tests, including an MRI, Donna was diagnosed with Dementia.
“Donna has always been a high achiever,” Bob smiles. “Whatever she tried, she excelled at, so seeing her lose some of her independence is quite frightening,” he says.
Yet, the couple believes that life is a journey; a journey they have been on together for 64 years.
“Bob lifts me up on the days I get down or depressed,” Donna says.
“There are a lot of small things you take for granted when you’re well that become big steps when you’re not,” Bob remarks. “I believe that you have to accentuate the positive.”
It is a sentiment that stays with us long after our conversation. Bob and Donna’s story is one of focusing on the good in life and in people, and one of gratitude – for the hospital, the Niagara community, and each other.
Bob & Donna’s Legacy
St. Catharines residents Bob and Donna have been monthly donors to the Niagara Health Foundation for many years, and we recently met with them to find out why their local hospitals are a cause close to their hearts.
“We’re originally from Toronto and have lived in Montreal for some time as well,” Bob begins. “For many years, we only ever experienced those big city hospitals, and while the teams were competent and did their best, it just never felt very personal.”
Almost 40 years ago, he says, they made a decision that changed their lives: they moved to Niagara.
“It really improved our quality of life. We lived in Vineland for many years and then moved to St. Catharines. We have never looked back.”
The hospital system was, however, something Donna said they were a bit weary of. “We came from such a big city. We were a bit worried that a small community hospital system might not be able to meet that same standard, but the opposite was the case; everyone has just been great.”
Both of Donna’s parents needed care at the former Hotel Dieu Hospital, and she was amazed by the kindness and thoughtfulness of the staff. “My dad did eventually die at the old hospital. It was a sad time for our family, but the care the team provided at the end of his life was excellent.”
While they were sad to see the old hospital, which held so many personal memories for them, close, Bob and Donna are grateful for the new Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines, and for the care they have both received at Niagara Health over the years.
“We have had cataract surgery at the St. Catharines hospital and knee surgery at the Welland Hospital,” Bob says. “The surgeries as well as the recovery went very well.”
“It was really quite amazing,” Donna says. “The staff were great, and we were already getting up there, weren’t we Bob?!”
“Oh really, darling?” Bob quips. “You see, I got my knee done first, and when Donna saw mine, she wanted one, too,” he laughs and stops just short of performing an Irish Jig to emphasize his point.
“But Donna is right. She is 81 years old, I am 91 – we’re seniors. Sometimes, we need an extra minute to find our way back to the elevator or need something explained a second time, and the Niagara Health staff is always happy to go that extra mile for us.”
“They are very special people,” Donna agrees.
Grateful for the excellent care they have received over the years, Bob and Donna decided to become monthly donors to the Niagara Health Foundation. “We are on a fixed income,” Bob says, “so a monthly donation is a format that works best for us.”
“We care a lot about the Niagara Health system,” Donna explains. “We signed up for monthly donations a few years ago and budget accordingly. Whenever possible, we try to increase our monthly gifts. For us, that is a better approach than giving once a year.”
The couple has also left a gift in their will to the Foundation, “Both the Niagara Health Foundation and our Church will receive a bequest, which we have arranged for with our lawyer,” Bob says.
“Most of my relatives are gone, and all of Donna’s relatives are gone, so we could not think of two more worthy causes.”
“It’s important to us to give back to a community that has always been so good to us,” Donna adds. “The hospitals and the Niagara community are closely interconnected.”
Most recently, the couple needed our local hospitals when Donna woke up one morning experiencing memory loss. “I was sure that I had had a stroke,” she says.
After several tests, including an MRI, Donna was diagnosed with Dementia.
“Donna has always been a high achiever,” Bob smiles. “Whatever she tried, she excelled at, so seeing her lose some of her independence is quite frightening,” he says.
Yet, the couple believes that life is a journey; a journey they have been on together for 64 years.
“Bob lifts me up on the days I get down or depressed,” Donna says.
“There are a lot of small things you take for granted when you’re well that become big steps when you’re not,” Bob remarks. “I believe that you have to accentuate the positive.”
It is a sentiment that stays with us long after our conversation. Bob and Donna’s story is one of focusing on the good in life and in people, and one of gratitude – for the hospital, the Niagara community, and each other.
