Every Minute Matters:
How RVH Saved Julie’s Life
One ordinary afternoon, Julie Thomas’s heart stopped beating.
In seconds, her life pivoted from chatting with a friend to fighting for survival on her bedroom floor. There was no warning. No time to prepare.
At 53 years old, Julie is a wife, mother, daughter, colleague, and neighbour. She works for the police service, bakes cakes for friends and family, and loves taking long walks—even on the coldest winter days. But on that January afternoon, she became one of the rare 1-in-10 survivors of a “widow maker” heart attack. She is alive today because world-class cardiac care was available close to home, care made possible by people like you.
A Race Against Time
While speaking on the phone with a friend, Julie mentioned she had severe heartburn. Her friend urged her to check her blood pressure. But as Julie climbed the stairs, she began to sweat heavily and struggle for breath. By the time she reached her bed, a crushing pain seized her chest.
Moments later, she lost consciousness.
Her friend immediately called Julie’s husband, who rushed home to find her collapsed and unresponsive. He dialed 911. That call set in motion a chain of events that would save her life.
The Power of Specialized Care Close to Home
Paramedics arrived quickly, recognized the signs of a major heart attack, and called a Code STEMI—a special alert that allows patients to bypass their local hospital for faster, specialized cardiac treatment. Within minutes, Julie was rushed to Royal Victoria Regional Health Centre (RVH), where the cardiac team performed emergency angioplasty to reopen a blocked artery and save her life.
Without that swift action—and without having advanced cardiac care available nearby, Julie likely wouldn’t have survived.
Compassion in Action
When Julie awoke in the cardiac recovery unit, she was surrounded by her family and a compassionate RVH medical team. They patiently answered questions, explained every step to her loved ones, and treated her as more than a patient—they treated her as a neighbour.
One nurse, who lived on Julie’s street, even visited her at home during recovery to listen to her heart and reassure her everything was healing well. These moments of human connection were as vital to her recovery as the medical treatment itself.
“The paramedics told me I was fortunate to have RVH so close. Their cardiac team is exceptional.”
Julie Thomas, grateful patient.
Recovery and Transformation
After two and a half days in hospital, Julie began her recovery journey with RVH’s Cardiac Rehab Program. A tailored plan of diet, exercise, and support helped her regain her strength.
Almost two years later, she has lost more than 80 pounds, exercises daily, and lives with a renewed sense of gratitude. RVH didn’t just save Julie’s life—they transformed it.
Why Your Support Matters
As our community grows and ages, demand for specialized cardiac care will only increase. The Keep Life Wild campaign is building the future of healthcare in Simcoe-Muskoka—expanding RVH in Barrie, constructing a new healthcare facility in Innisfil, and adding hundreds of beds, surgical suites, and specialized programs.
Your donation ensures that when minutes matter—when someone’s mother, father, sister, brother, or friend faces a life-threatening emergency—care is available right here at home.
Help Save Lives in Our Community
Your gift today will fund the equipment, training, and facilities that save lives, so that every neighbour, friend, and family member has the same chance Julie had.
Or consider becoming a monthly donor to provide steady, year-round support.
P.S. From the moment Julie’s husband called 911 to the instant she was in surgery, just minutes passed—minutes that saved her life. Your contribution today will ensure others have access to those precious, life-saving minutes.