As we approach the holiday season, a time of gratitude and reflection, I wanted to take a moment to share with you the meaningful work we do in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at St.Thomas Elgin General Hospital (STEGH).

My name is Dr. Martin Cieslak, and I’ve had the privilege of serving as an Intensivist at STEGH for nearly 10 years.

In my role, I have the honor of guiding patients and their families through some of life’s most challenging moments. While these situations can be difficult, the relationships I build with patients and their loved ones are incredibly rewarding.

It is deeply fulfilling to be part of their journey toward recovery, providing hope and care as they need it.

In the ICU, time is life. As you can imagine, the fast-paced environment of the ICU requires us to have the latest state-of-the-art medical equipment. With the right tools, we can continue to deliver life-saving care when every second counts.

Replacing critical equipment including a Portable Ultrasound Machine, Zoll Defibrillators, and Code Blue Crash Carts, is at the very top of the ICU wish list. Our current equipment is old and outdated.

Think of it like comparing your cellphone device from 10 years ago to today’s models.

Please consider making a special holiday donation. Your donation today would help us restore not just heartbeats, but hope, healing, and the best possible care for patients and families who need it the most.

Specifically, your donation will help support the purchase of:

A new Portable Ultrasound Machine: With essentially every patient in the ICU requiring an ultrasound scan, the importance of up-to-date technology cannot be overstated. In emergency situations, a new machine would not only provide more accurate scans, but in a more time efficient manner.

New Zoll Defibrillators: These multi-purpose devices help restore normal heart rhythms and are essential during code blue situations (when a patient suffers cardiac arrest). The updated technology from new Zolls will help assess heart rhythms more accurately and effectively.

New Code Blue Crash Carts: These will help provide faster access to all the critical equipment we need during emergencies. Having well-equipped crash carts is vital to ensuring we are always ready to respond as quickly as possible.

Acquiring these new pieces of equipment would vastly aid with the urgency and quality of care in the ICU, allowing us to save more lives.

Thank you for considering a donation to support the ICU at STEGH. Your support will enable the purchase of state of the art equipment at STEGH. Additionally, your generosity will help many families during the most challenging times of their life.

Wishing you a warm and joyful holiday season.

Sincerely,

Dr. Martin Cieslak, (M.B, B.C.H, B.A.O, F.R.C.P.C)

Intensivist, Intensive Care Unit (ICU)

St. Thomas Elgin General Hospital