"You hear about it all the time, but you never think it will happen to you!"

The loyal and dedicated support of our annual donors has facilitated many of the Jewish General Hospital’s accomplishments.  We continually strive to provide our patients with exceptional treatment and care, while also continuing our world-class research. Your generous contributions both encourage and enable us to continue to succeed in these areas.

The letter below is from a family who has experienced first-hand the exemplary care and compassion that the Jewish General Hospital provided, and how your support is vital in our mission to foster healthcare excellence.

Dear Reader,

I was home alone, just getting ready to take a shower before going to work, when I suddenly felt pains shooting through my left arm and chest. I’d never experienced anything like it. I started to sweat. For 20 minutes I was thinking “these are heart attack symptoms butthey can’t be, I’m only 48!” After waiting another 10 minutes, the pain wasn't getting any better, in fact it got worse. I called my brother Ilan, who is a doctor, and my next door neighbor Vicky, who called 911 and rushed over.

When I arrived at the Jewish General, I knew that my life − and the future of my family − was in their hands. From triage, I was wheeled off for an electrocardiogram, which showed I had definitely suffered a heart attack, and then taken straight into the Catheterization Lab.  I knew that my wife Marcy, my 17 year old daughter Megan, and my 14 year old son Joshua would be devastated. Was I going to live or die? My family depends on me. What would happen if I was no longer here to take care of them? Thanks to my doctor and the modern equipment at the JGH, my children still have a father and my wife still has a husband. They literally saved my life. First my heart blockage was found and an emergency angioplasty was performed (a thin tube is threaded through a vein to the blockage and then the balloon on the end of the tube is inflated to widen the artery and restore blood flow). A stent was then inserted to keep my artery open.

Next, I was wheeled to the Coronary Care Unit (CCU) where I was put on intravenous and blood thinners. My recovery at the JGH was nothing short of amazing. In fact, by supper time the next day, I was off intravenous, had only a heart monitor attached to me, and had been moved to a regular room! When you consider that speed is the key to saving heart attack victims, you can see how fortunate we all are to have the JGH here in our city. My life was saved in just 2 hours! Of the 1,700 cardiac patients the Hospital treats annually, 105 are emergencies like mine and the survival rate is 98%!

I’m back home now and my blood levels are back to normal, I’m on a good diet and the doctors are very encouraging. Reflecting back on this ordeal, I can’t tell you how scared I was, I’m sure you understand when I tell you that I did not want to die! My gratitude to the Hospital is beyond measure. I was in the hospital just 4 days − Tuesday to Friday − and I have the highest praise for everyone: Dr. Willis Grad, the attending ER physician, Dr. Dominic Joyal who performed my procedure, Dr. Mark Eisenberg and his residents in the CCU, my endocrinologist, Dr. Tina Kader and Dr. Ann Walling, my follow-up cardiologist and last but certainly not least, all the wonderful nurses! They treated me like a VIP.

The truth remains, however, that I wouldn’t be writing this letter today if it weren’t for the speed and quality of care that I received. I also know that it’s generous people like you who help the Hospital maintain that care through much-needed funding. That is why I ask you to continue supporting the incredible team at the Jewish General. I know they cannot do it alone. Whatever amount you can give, please do it today with my deepest thanks − and that of my family − for the life you’ve returned to us all.

Sincerely yours,



Danny Benjamin
On behalf of the Jewish General Hospital Foundation