My name is Bill McNulty. You may know me best as Richmond’s City Councillor, serving since 1993—but today, I write to you simply as Bill, your neighbour in this beautiful city. I have spent 46 years living in Richmond, actively volunteering, organizing events, and fundraising for local causes. I have seen firsthand how our community flourishes when we pull together.
Early on, I decided along with my Rotary club, that Richmond Hospital was the number one facility we wanted to support, because this is something we all may need at some point in our lives. In fact, just 2 years ago, I myself needed Richmond Hospital. After a routine check-up, my doctor noticed an abnormal result from my urinalysis. I needed to have a procedure to rule out bladder cancer, and was sent to one of Richmond Hospital’s top specialists.
When I experienced an unexpected health scare, the specialists at Richmond Hospital provided me with compassionate, expert care. There’s nowhere else I would have rather been.
“As soon as I met Dr. Reza Hamidizadeh, I knew I was in the hands of an expert.” — Bill McNulty
Gifts from the community helped me receive expert care at Richmond Hospital. Your support ensures that in times of need, the best quality of health care is available to our family and friends nearby. Every gift, big and small, makes a difference. Would you please give today to support local health care in our community?
When I first got the call from my doctor, I was surprised. I have been healthy and active all my life. As a rule, I try not to worry before I know I have something to worry about. But in the back of my mind, I couldn’t help thinking, it’s often cancers that go unnoticed that end up being the silent killers. My doctor referred me to Dr. Reza Hamidizadeh, one of Richmond Hospital’s highly skilled urologists.
As soon as I met Dr. Hamidizadeh, I knew I was in the hands of an expert. Although the procedure I was scheduled for sounded intimidating, he assured me that it was routine and would be over quite quickly. The procedure, done in the ambulatory care clinic of Richmond Hospital, is called a cystoscopy, which entails the doctor examining the bladder lining through a scope inserted through the urethra. I was given local anesthetic and was able to watch the procedure on the monitor. Dr. Reza Hamidizadeh found a small growth on the lining of my bladder and advised me that a biopsy would be necessary to check whether the growth was cancerous.
Fortunately, Richmond Hospital is home to incredibly talented surgical and medical teams. Many years ago, diagnosis and treatment of this urological condition would have required invasive surgery and lengthy recovery. Your gifts help support the highest level of excellence at Richmond Hospital.
Two months later, I was scheduled for day care procedure called a transurethral resection of a bladder tumour. When I arrived, the nurses helped me feel at ease. The procedure was done under general anesthetic. When I awoke, the doctor told me he had taken a sizable sample, and had in fact, removed most of the growth. I felt almost no pain and remarkably, was able to go home by noon.
Now it was just a matter of waiting for the biopsy results to come back. When there is even a remote possibility of cancer, it can be very unsettling. In a week, I got the phone call I’d been waiting for. I was cancer-free!
My experience at the hospital was brief, but one thing I can say for sure, is that when something more serious comes up, this is the place I want to be! I’d like to say a heartfelt thank you to the doctors and nurses who provided me with such incredible care.
Everyone in Richmond deserves the best healthcare possible. Your gift today helps ensure this level of care is available well into the future. Please join me in giving back! Together, we have the power to leave a legacy of lifesaving care in our city.
Sincerely,
Bill McNulty
Councillor Bill McNulty
Supporter of Richmond Hospital
P.S. Please give today. When we work together, we see real change happen in our community!