Donor Stories
Showing Gratitude and Appreciation  Gail McNair
Patients on the palliative care unit, K1E, will rest comfortably on a specialized mattress donated in memory of Graydon McNair by his family and friends. Graydon spent his last three months under the care of doctors and nurses on the unit.
Graydon was first admitted to Sunnybrook in 1991 for cancer surgery. After 12-years his cancer returned requiring him to undergo treatment at the Odette Cancer Centre. In 2006, his illness progressed and he was admitted to the palliative care unit until his passing in June. “The care Graydon received was just fabulous,” says his wife Gail. “The nurses on K1E were always attentive to the needs of Graydon and our family.” Eleven days before Graydon passed away he returned home to enjoy a retirement party in his honour and had the chance to visit with family and friends. “We felt the specialized mattress prevented the development of skin breakdown,” says Gail. “Our family witnessed how it gave Graydon great comfort and increased his quality of life during the last few months.” His family and friends decided to make a donation of a similar mattress to the patients on K1E so they too could enjoy the same comfort, and to honour the great care and support Graydon received. Through the support of family and very special friends they have demonstrated their commitment by raising $9,000, enabling K1E to purchase a specialized mattress. “This is our way of showing gratitude and appreciation to the nurses of K1E and to medical oncologist, Dr. Scott Berry,” says Gail. Learn more about the Odette Cancer Centre
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