Comeback Kid guitarist Jeremy Hiebert has been hospitalized due to a severe bout with appendicitis. Hiebert detailed his experience with the Canadian healthcare system below, assuring everyone that he's on the road to recovery despite some long wait times and setbacks. We wish Hiebert all the best.
"Sunday morning, I woke up feeling a little weird in my abdominal area, but I didn't think much of it. We had plans to visit my parents, so we went ahead with that. Throughout the day, I was running around with the kids and by dinner time, I felt even worse. I decided to lie down instead of having dinner and felt that way for the rest of the evening.
"On Monday, I definitely felt worse, so after dropping off Jack at his summer day camp and Rosie at her daycare, I stayed in bed for most of the day. When Ainsley got home from work, she noticed that I wasn't myself and convinced me to go to the ER. She was already in the car with the kids, and as I was on my way out, I sat down on the front steps, sweating profusely. She called 911, and the paramedics arrived. I was in rough shape when they got there, but I started feeling a bit better in the next 5-10 minutes. They checked my vitals and said there were no concerns, giving me the option to go with them or not. They mentioned the 8-hour wait time. Sitting in a chair until the early morning didn't appeal to me, so l opted for a walk-in appointment the next morning.
"Tuesday morning, I felt even worse. I took the kids to their spots and immediately went to bed for an hour before my walk-in appt. I forced myself up and got in quick. The doctor suspected appendicitis based on the initial exam and called Grace Hospital to let them know I was coming. I arrived and saw the posted 8.5-hour wait time. They had wait times for other hospitals listed, and while some were shorter, most were similar. Figured it was best not to take a chance and just commit to Grace Hospital since they prioritize based on severity at triage. Ended up waiting for about 6.5-7 hours to get a room.
"On Wednesday, about 16 hours after the CT scan, I went into the operating room. Everything seemed okay when I came out of the OR, but as the afternoon and evening progressed, my stomach kept bloating. It was tight as a drum, looked and sounded like a giant watermelon. I also started running a slight fever again, but I thought it was normal.
"On Thursday morning, I had a doctor's visit, and they told me that my appendix had actually ruptured. Since the CT scan showed an unperforated appendix, it must have happened between the scan and the surgery, within those 16 hours. They informed me that I would have to stay longer for them to continue pumping antibiotics through an IV and monitor me.
"Anyway, that's where things are at. I want to make it clear that I am not bashing socialized medicine. In fact, I am actually a huge proponent. I just believe that it can and has been done better, considering that other countries have more efficient systems. People who criticize Canada's healthcare and wait times have the right to hold those in power accountable. I think most cities could benefit from having additional hospitals to alleviate some of the burden. I may not be rich, but l'm more than willing to pay a penny more in either PST or GST or HST so that someday I don't have to spend 25 hours in a hospital waiting for appendicitis surgery for my child or you with yours. Sorry for ending this with a rant, but that's just the way I am."
