As a young real estate agent in Wasaga Beach, Matthew Zuccarini is no stranger to busy days and long drives. But one afternoon, a routine trip through Collingwood took a terrifying turn. Overcome by sudden nausea and disorientation, Matthew knew something was wrong. He called his wife, Amanda, sounding confused and repeating, “I need help.”
Unable to pinpoint his location, Amanda tracked his phone, then called 911 and rushed out the door with their two-year-old son. Paramedics initially suspected a panic attack, but when Matthew’s heart rate spiked to 278 beats per minute, the situation escalated rapidly.
At Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH), Chief of Internal Medicine Dr. Mike Randazzo made a critical call: “I think we’re going to have to shock him.” Moments later, Matthew flatlined.
What happened next felt like something out of a dream. Matthew recalls watching the scene unfold from above. He recalls seeing the medical team working urgently and hearing Amanda answer questions about his medications, but one detail eluded her. In that moment, Matthew saw his late father, who gently guided him back to his body. As his vitals returned, Matthew spoke his first word: the name of the missing medication.
Matthew spent two weeks in the ICU. It was the longest he’d ever been away from his son. Understanding the emotional toll, the ICU nurses arranged a special visit in the hospital courtyard for Matthew and his son. That visit gave Matthew the strength to keep fighting.
Just one month after returning home, life offered another surprise: Amanda was expecting their second child. Thanks to the care he received, Matthew was there to welcome their daughter into the world.
Matthew and Amanda are deeply grateful to the first responders, Dr. Randazzo, and the CGMH ICU team. “I should not have survived,” Matthew says. “But because of them, I did.”
In May, they invited Dr. Randazzo into their home to say thank you. After their heartfelt conversation, Matthew shared this on Instagram:
“Meeting Dr. Randazzo at my house to thank him for saving my life. I got to hear his side of the story today. It was a very emotional day. This is the man that revived me from the brink of death and allows me to be a father today to two children. I owe my life to this man. He’s my angel on earth.” @zuccarinirealtygroup
🎥 Watch as Matthew, Amanda and Dr. Randazzo share their stories.
This story is a powerful reminder of the extraordinary care CGMH staff and physicians provide every day. The care that saves lives, even in a hospital that has outgrown its space.
Now, imagine a future where wait times are shorter, emergency care is faster, and families receive treatment in a modern facility designed for our growing community. That future is coming.
Tomorrow’s Hospital will be centrally located on Poplar Side Road in Collingwood. At four times the size of the current CGMH, it will offer expanded medical, surgical, and intensive care services and bring world-class care closer to home for patients, families, and healthcare professionals.
Construction is expected to start in 2028 and will take approximately four years to complete.
Your generosity will help build Tomorrow’s Hospital, a place where people like Matthew can continue to receive lifesaving care.
Thanks to a matching gift from the Rotary Club of Wasaga Beach, your impact will be doubled, up to $23,400.
Tomorrow is built today.
Photo & Video Cred: Kimberly Vincent Photography https://kimberlyvincentphotography.com/
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