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is a division of the Metroiand Media Group m. a moliy-oaned subsidiary of Torstar Commotion. Metroland is composed of 100 community publications acms Ontario. me York Regan Newspaper Gmup also incindosThe liberal. serving Richmond Hill and Thomhiii, Vaughan Citizen,The Eta-Banner (Nevnnanuet/Aumra), Markham Economist The Sun-Tribune welcomes your letâ€" ten. All submissions must be less than 400 words and must include a daytime telephone number, name and address The Sum’h‘lhune reserves the t to publish or not publl end to edit for clarâ€" ity and space. WDMEIIM. mun-m». The Sun-Tribune. published every Thursday 59m Sun, Georgina Advocate, YorKRegion Business Times, North of the City, pricegionsom and York Region Printing. Carrie Madhrlane “HMS. 0N MAB Jmunfiymgxom Bonnie Ronde brondmuflyrmgoom DawnaAndmws dandruw:0yrmg.oom York chion Media Group community 90546404612 Pu: 905-640-8778 cnonnaneyrmg.com ADVERTISING 905640-2612 sifled: l-m743-3353 Fax: 905-640-8778 Carolyn Norman lim Mason jnmnoynngcom lETTERS POLICY Pnonucnon DISTRIBUTION 905â€"640-2612 Milne Banville EDITORIAL and Saturday. EDITORIAL ecently, when the H1N1 vaccine was made available to the general public, I decided to get the shot. It was admin- istered efliciently and I was given a sheet about possible side effects. I glanced at it quickly, never thinking it might apply to me. I never had a reaction to a flu shot and have no allergies. 'IWo days later, after I passed out six times, my wife called 911. They arrived at my house but by then I seemed to be fine. Still, they advised us to go to the hospital. But since I “knew” what was best for me, it wasn’t until two days later, after ' g listlessly in bed, I finally to take Elaine's advice and go to Markham Stoufi'ville. The rest of the day seemed to go normally except that when I went up a flight of stairs, I had run out of breath. My wife would later ask me if I’d taken the dog out for a run. Our hospital, at the best of times, is very busy but because of the inter- estandscareofthe HlNl flu, itwas very_bmy. ' boysayto thehurse thatalth sh9fivedinSCarb9rousMhe only take her children'to Maddlam Stouffville Hospital. Christ Church’s loss, will be another’s gain Rob Shields brought ’much to the congregation at Christ Church and to the commu- nity at large. Re: Anglican departure, column by Jim Thomas, Dec. 10. Christ Church Anglican in Stouffville lost the many tal- ents of a good man when Rev. Canon Rob Shields resigned. He also introduced to Christ Church the Lenten dinners enjoyed by parishio- ners and the wider commu- nity alike. Also, he was interested in providing something for the mind and thus introduced Lenten discussion groups. The ‘Blue Christrnas' ser- vice was another valuable â€"-â€"â€"-â€"â€"â€"â€"-â€"~â€"-â€" contribution for those griev- Youcanmadletters.oolumns ing for any reason in the and storm fmm The Sun-]'fi. ChEiSEmg‘S ’ bune at yorkregionoom Rob Shields is a man of wide ranging vision and con- Ibeafdaladyflxerewithherlitfle lETTERS TO THE EDITOR Our busy hospital needs community’s support Rob, we appreciate and thank you for your 18 years withuspsour priest and friend. Deus tibi faveat cern. Our loss will be another congregation's gain. D What do you think of these issues or others? E-mail letters to the editor to jmason@yrmg.com HAVE YOUR SAY, WHITBHIIBBH- STOUFFVILLE Although it made you think about our hospital's reputation, you also thought how much of a strain it was on the hospital when people from far and wide are coming to our hospital and that we did not receive any additional funding. It was good we were finally moving forward with the expansion. That evening and the next morning I received an IV drip, blood transfuâ€" sions, an ultrasound and gastroscope test. When the doctor sat with me and explained I had bled out halfthe blood in my body through an ulcer and that I had been severely dehydrated, my kidneys had been in possible danger of shutting down and my blood pressure had been low, I finally realized how serious this had been. I was told that KATHLEEN 8r ROGER GLAZIN STOUFFVILLE David Tsubouchi SiWT ribu n e luckily they located a small ulcer that had been the source of the blood loss and it was fixable. If I had just remained in bed and the problem had not been found, in 10 days it would have been all over. Tb find a blanket for someone who was a little too cold. "Ib get a pillow when one wasn't available for a child who was in pain. Eventually when my system nor- malized enough, I was discharged. Throughout this I could see how the men and women who worked at Markham Stoufiville Hospital â€"â€" the nurses and doctors, the people who pushed the wheelchairs and beds and even the cleaning staff, really cared about what they were doing. This was not simply a job to them. They wene just as human as anyone else with their own problems. And yet they tried to bring a little empathy to someone. Or the youngman who is working long hours pushing patients from one area to another under what anyone would consider stressful circumstances who had a cheerful word for someone to make their life just a little bit better. Or a student nurse responding to a difâ€" ficult patient in a very caring way, well beyond a normal person's patience. These men and women work in cir- the hospital in its major em raising because it is preciou: The other lesson I lear again, if I had listened tr Elaine, in the first place I \ been better off. Lawyer David Tsubouchi is a Man who has served as a ward oouncilk MPP and provincial cabinet minister. PUBLISHER Ian Proudfoot 6290 Main St. W, ON. MA 167 myoflaegonmm cumstances that are diffith and we, as patients, are not understanding. All we can think about is how much time it is going to take to process us. In many cases we don't care about anyone else and certainly not the cir- cumstances of people who work there. Before all of this, I strongly believed in supporting .our hospital because of what I thought it meant to our com- munity. It wasn't until I saw first-hand under difficult personal circumstances what it meant to me and others that 1 fully understood what it truly meant. It’s not simply the building â€" although if we, as a community, don’t fully support the campaign for expanâ€" sion 1 can’t see how health care can survive in this community. We should ensure, as a community, we pull out all the stops in supporting the hospital in its major effort in fund- raising because it is precious to us. It is the nurses and doctors and all the workers and volunteers in our hos- pital who make it truly great. The other lesson I learned is, yet again, if I had listened to my wife. Elaine, in the first place I would have been better ofi. Lawyer David Tsubouchi is 3 Markham resident who has servedas a ward oouncillorand Iateras Emma m Cum Debora Kelty Robert Lazurko Busmnss Duuacron. Anvmmsmc, Dwmmrnou Nicole Fletcher Dmncmn. Omens Barry Black