My Journey with GBS

July 28, 2020 Dear Mr. Tyler Shandro, Minister of Health.  Hello. My name is Laura Jean Rutherford, I am 49 years old and I am currently a resident on 6W Martindale Long Term Care (LTC) wing at AgeCare - Skypointe facility in Calgary, Alberta. During our global Covid-19 pandemic, the situation with Canada’s LTC facilities and senior residences have come under the microscope due to the high volume of deaths and spreading of the virus seen across Canada as well as in Calgary. I am writing this letter to express to you my observations and experiences at AgeCare - Skypointe from a resident point of view as well as someone who has worked in the healthcare field for over 25 years. In addition, my concern to the recent announcements of cuts to Alberta’s health care system.  Before moving to Calgary in March 2005, I was a Health Information Management (HIM) Professional working as a coding specialist in the Data Collection area of the Health Records Department in Thunder Bay, Ontario. In

 Having had to face pretty significant traumas or challenges in my life - with a negative there is a positive. All the negative feelings you have when facing these traumas and challenges, when you look back to the situation, there is a positive. The positive is a realization something good in your life came from that negative experience. I firmly believe that, with a negative there is always a positive. Of course, the problem is it is not always instantly seen; it could take a couple of years to show one positive thing from the negative. Here are some examples from my experiences. Some was instant and some did take years for me to see them.  When I was 16 years old, my mom was diagnosed with Stage 3 breast cancer. Stage 3 of 4 stages indicates the cancer not only in compass the breast but it has spread to the lymph nodes (axillary). This lead to a double mastectomy and months of chemotherapy. From my perspective, it was difficult the mood swings due to the effects of chemotherapy, bein

Below is the letter I wrote to AgeCare Corporate (headquarters to the company which runs AgeCare - Skypointe). With all the news about what is being seen our long term facilities , I thought to share my experiences, thoughts and observations as a resident in one of their residents. At the time of typing this (July 19, 2020), I have not received a response. July 12, 2020 Dear Drs. Hasmukh Patel and Kabir Jivraj. Hello. My name is Laura Jean Rutherford, I am 49 years old and I am currently a resident on 6W Martindale Long Term Care (LTC) wing at your AgeCare - Skypointe facility in Calgary, Alberta. During our global Covid-19 pandemic, the situation with Canada’s LTC facilities and senior residences have come under the microscope due to the high volume of deaths seen across Canada as well as in Calgary. I am writing this letter to express my observations and experiences at AgeCare - Skypointe from a resident point of view as well as someone who has worked in the healthcare field for

It seemed that every sector and individual received some sort of Covid-19 financial benefits except those Canadians on long term disability. Seeing there was a place to leave a comment for our Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, so that is what I did. I wrote inquiring why there hasn’t been a Covid-19 financial benefit for those Canadians on long term disability like myself. It could be pure coincidence, but on June 5, 2020 it was announced that those Canadians on LTD will receive a one-lump sun Covid-19 benefit. It is a nice to think I was a part of one voice for those on long term disability. Below is also the link of the federal government announcement of the Covid-19 LTD benefit. https://beta.ctvnews.ca/national/coronavirus/2020/6/5/1_4970813.amp.webview.html ——————————————————————————— Received on May 21, 2020 Dear Ms. Rutherford: On behalf of Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, I would like to acknowledge receipt of your correspondence regarding Canada Pension Plan (CPP) disability

The world 🌎 has been turned upside down and sideways with global pandemic of coronavirus (Covid-19). The first case from China on December 30, 2019, and hence why the virus is called Covid-19 referencing it was discovered is 2019. It is in the same family of the SARS virus which came from China in 2003. SARS - Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, a pneumonia virus that also had fatal outcomes in Canada too. The other acronym they are using to describe Covid-19 is SARS-CoV2.   Canada’s first case was a person flying from China to Toronto on January 27, 2020. Canada’s first death of COVID-19 was s senior at Lynn Valley Care Centre was on March 8, 2020. In the end this long term care (LTC) facility had 76 confirmed cases of residents and staff as well as 20 deaths. On February 28, 2020, in Washington state (which borders British Columbia) confirmed the Covid-19 virus affected one of their LTC facilities where 127 residents/staff/visitors were infected which lead to 20+ deaths. When I he