Coral’s Story  

For more than six decades, Coral has had a home at Blue Mountain. While she no longer skis herself, the mountain continues to bring her connection and joy. From the comfort of her home, she watches the skiers of Blue Mountain make their way down the slopes. This had become a lovely pastime for Coral throughout the winter months. 

That sense of routine changed suddenly after a serious fall. 

While going about her day, Coral fell and severely injured her hip. She tried to make it to her door to call for help, but quickly went into shock. A neighbour discovered her just in time, and she was taken initially to Owen Sound, as there were concerns that she might be having a stroke. After a stroke was ruled out, Coral was transferred to the Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH). 

While in the Intensive Care Unit, Dr. Collings, one of CGMH’s orthopaedic surgeons, assessed Coral and determined that she was stable enough to undergo surgery. Following the procedure, Coral observed that Dr. Collings and the surgical team went above and beyond during the operation. She believes their approach played an important role in limiting long-term disability and supporting her recovery and mobility. 

After surgery, Coral spent time on the surgical ward at CGMH, where she experienced what she describes as truly exceptional care. She was deeply impressed by the dedication of the nurses and personal support workers, often seeing them moving quickly throughout the unit as they attended to patients. 

“They did incredible work,” Coral says. “They always offered care and comfort, and I never felt alone.” 

During her stay at CGMH, Coral was cared for by many different physicians and felt fully supported by every one of them. The consistent and compassionate presence of healthcare professionals made her feel safe and reassured throughout her recovery. Reflecting on her experience, Coral shares, “I almost died, and the entire team was remarkable. I cannot say thank you enough.” 

One of the most meaningful moments in Coral’s recovery was her first shower on her own. After weeks of being supported by nursing staff, that simple act carried a deep meaning. 

“I felt so grateful just to be able to do that,” Coral says. “It made me realize how far I had come.” 

Even the everyday comforts stood out during her stay. Coral spoke warmly about the food at CGMH, sharing how pleased she was by its quality and variety. Over the course of nearly a month, she rarely had the same meal twice, a detail that made her hospital stay more enjoyable. 

Above all else, Coral remains grateful for the people who cared for her. 

She speaks especially fondly of personal support worker Carol Charlebois, who went out of her way to provide compassionate and attentive care. Carol’s kindness left a lasting impression during a particularly vulnerable time. 

Today, Coral is back on her feet and continuing her recovery, knowing it may take up to a year to fully regain her mobility. She reflects on her experience with deep gratitude. 

“If you are going to be sick, CGMH is the right place to be,” she says. 

During her time at CGMH, Coral gained a new appreciation for the reality of hospital care. She witnessed firsthand the vast number of people working behind the scenes and on the front lines, caring tirelessly for patients and the community with so much dedication. 

To put her gratitude into action, Coral made a generous donation in honour of the care she received at CGMH. For her, giving back was a meaningful way to say thank you and to help ensure the community will have a new, state-of-the-art hospital to care for generations to come. 

Coral urges all who can to donate to the CGMH Foundation, “Needing the hospital can come up for any of us very unexpectedly.” 

We are grateful to Coral for sharing her story and for her generous donation in honour of the care she received at CGMH. Her support is helping build Tomorrow’s Hospital, the new healthcare facility South Georgian Bay needs and deserves. 

*The photo used in this article is not of Coral – we usually have our grateful patients submit their photos, but we were not able to get one from Coral at this time. Coral shared her story over the phone and consented to having it shared on all of our channels.