Robert Peak is grateful for third chances. When he was 36 years old, he underwent a triple bypass at Hamilton General Hospital. His cardiologist said he had to give up smoking and get more exercise, and he did - for awhile. But eventually Robert fell back into old habits.
The years passed and Robert’s health remained relatively good, except his legs would ache after a day on the golf course, and he felt like he wanted to nap most afternoons. "Looking back, I think it was a bit of low-level depression. Nothing I could put my finger on, but I didn’t feel great."
He was 66 years old in September 2009 when Robert was told he had three completely blocked arteries. He threw the cigarettes away the day he got the news. Three months later, Robert underwent a quintuple bypass procedure, again at the General.
"Even though I’m 30 years older, I’m amazed at how much shorter the recovery time is now. Medicine has made some great progress. Everyone was terrific. The people who delivered the meals, the ones who cleaned the room or made the bed – it didn’t make a difference what their job was – they did it with a smile and a kind word. I liked that. It makes you feel better. There were even a couple of nurses who remembered the nurses who took care of me 30 years ago."
Robert was so appreciative of the care he received that he made a donation to the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation.
"I’ll make a gift every year. And I’m planning to leave a gift in my will. I got a third chance at life and I’m grateful for it. This is how I can thank everyone involved."
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