"We do the necessary research and polish the copy until each sentence shines."
Chris Atack, Atack Associates

From the desk of the Executive Director , Beaumont Region Health System

(NB: names have been changed for the privacy of the individuals and organizations involved.)

During the SARS crisis, we had to do things differently. We had to wear double gowns and face shields. We had to communicate with patients by "smiling with our eyes." We had to deal with the unexpected every day.

Dear Mr Sample:

I went to a baseball game after work the other day, to watch my sons play. As I sat down, I noticed the other parents move away. They were afraid to be near me. They didn't mean to be unkind.

They just didn't know how well prepared I was working at the Beaumont Region Health System, how protected the staff was. How we were helping the community stay safe. The parents were just frightened by everything they had read in the papers - afraid I might infect them with the deadly SARS virus.

We risked exposure to SARS every time we saw a new patient. We protected patients with other medical problems from SARS, treated them if they had been exposed, and delivered medical care to them - often under very difficult conditions. Through the masks, it was hard talking with the patients, hard letting them know how we felt. We "smiled with our eyes" from behind our masks.

We became very close to our patients - closer than usual because visitors were not allowed into the hospitals. We became their family, friends and sometimes the only visitors they would see. It brought our staff and the community closer.

As if that wasn't enough, we had to live with the stress of wondering if we would contract SARS, and how we could protect our loved ones.

The staff at the Beaumont Region hospitals were driven by an incredible sense of serving the community. When I thanked someone for working long hours, he said: "I'm doing this because it's the right thing to do. I hope someone would do this for me if I was in the same situation."

The long hours and extra precautions paid off. Not one of our staff was infected by SARS. Our hospitals were officially commended for their superb infection control. And most important of all, our patients received top-quality care throughout the crisis.

The Beaumont Region Health System was there for our community when we needed it. And now, we need you to be there for us.

Our health care staff desperately need more equipment and more modern facilities. Your generosity will help us buy us the equipment we need to deliver the best health care.

Your donation of $50, $100 or more will deliver the best health care as we stay current with all the advances in medical technology. It will assist us in offering a full range of medical services to you and your family.

And, it will prepare us for threats posed by diseases like SARS and West Nile Virus. We must be ready for whatever the future holds. With your support, we can be.

SARS changed life forever at the Beaumont Region Health System. It showed us we need new processes to contain the infectious diseases we're likely to face in this new era. It takes time and money to develop these processes.

The epidemic also showed us how urgently we need a whole range of new medical equipment. Our nurses, doctors and health care workers have shown outstanding skill and dedication. But to deliver the best possible care to our community, they must have the most modern tools as well.

Meeting these needs could literally be a matter of life and death. Please help us today! Your gift will make a difference. With your donation, we will acquire urgently needed equipment and develop better ways of delivering health care for you, your family and your neighbours.

In the post-SARS world, we still have to do things differently. Most of all, we have to be prepared for any challenge. Your generous support will help us be ready.

When SARS struck, we showed you that you could count on us. And we know we can count on you. On behalf of your neighbours, friends and family, thank you in advance for your generous gift!

Gratefully,

Dr. Tanya Dawson
Executive Director, Beaumont Region Health Centres

P.S.

Please take a moment right now to write a cheque and put it in the enclosed envelope. With your support, we'll be there for your family, friends and neighbours when they need us. We're counting on you.

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