A heartfelt thanks

Dear Editor,
My husband and I have been attending the weekly session of the Heart to Heart Program set up by Nicole Therrien, Nurse Practitioner. With her unique charm and delightful accent, Nicole certainly created a warm, welcoming and comfortable setting to deliver valuable information and permit open and trusting communication among members of the group.
We would like to acknowledge and express appreciation for the local expertise of the ‘top notch’ professionals we are fortunate to have in our community. They willingly and enthusiastically shared their knowledge and expertise with us. After already putting in a full day at the secular work.
Dr. David Singleton was well received by the group as he met with us for two sessions. He explained, in easy to understand language, more about the physiology of the heart and what actually happens physically when one experiences a cardiac event. Also, he discussed the classic symptoms of a heart attack, the risk factors and various other related topics; readily answering many questions raised by the group.
Rooksana Randeree, Clinical Dietition for our area, dealt with Eat Smart Eating Habits, providing information on developing a healthier lifestyle through diet modification and healthier food choices.
We were so impressed with Sara Berg, our Pharmacist, who discussed mediations - especially those pertaining to cardiac patients. She described each medication - its purpose, possible interaction and its value in dealing with a particular condition. Sara proved to be very knowledgeable and confidently answered the many questions presented to her.
Karen Ruff, community counsellor for Mental Health, visited us for two of our sessions as well. In her quiet and gently way she presented valuable information, helping us learn how to develop skills to manage and cope with our individual situations. Good, healthy humour permeated much of the sharing, contributing to a very relaxed and comfortable atmosphere.
Deidre O’Sullivan, Physiotherapist, discussed a variety of ways to become more active, thus promoting a heart healthy lifestyle.
One of the benefits I personally gained was the opportunity to talk to other spouses who were in a similar situation We were able to discuss what stress we experienced throughout our mate’s ‘event’ and how we coped.
Last, but not least, we certainly appreciated the generosity of the Health Unit and their contribution of funds for the tasty and healthy refreshments. Thanks, Heidi!
The sharing and resulting bond and comradery in a group such as this is invaluable. To reaffirm this, everyone in the group was somewhat sad and reluctant to see these session come to an end. We have now made definite arrangements to meet once a month to keep in contact, to encourage and support one another.
In conclusion, we again want to express our thanks and appreciation to the various ones who made these sessions so educational, enjoyable and so beneficial.
–Patricia and Frank Stoyka,
Arbor Vitae