Rolland Desjardins jumped at the chance to be the first patient at RVH's new advanced cardiac care unit.
The Phelpston man has the distinction of being Patient Number One to get an angiogram at the Simcoe Muskoka Regional Heart Program which opened just last week.
"For me it was great because instead of waiting maybe a month or two to get this procedure, I got it right away. Twenty minutes later I'm at home relaxing so it's way better for everybody," said Desjardins, a training manager at Air Canada, former air force pilot and now private pilot.
"It would've been like an hour and 15 minutes to Southlake from my home and then you get the procedure. I was lucky it went well but what if it doesn't go well. You have a condition and you to drive all the way home."
Desjardins was one of several heart patients on hand Wednesday for the grand opening of the state-of-the-art cardiac intervention facility at RVH.
He met Premier Kathleen Wynne and Health Minister Dr. Eric Hoskins who were among dignitaries at the event.
The other patients who spoke at the opening formed the 'before' story.
Until now, North Simcoe Muskoka was the only region in the province without an advanced cardiac centre, meaning 3,600 heart patients travelled to centres outside the region for heart procedures every year.
Bob Kennedy stood at the podium with his five-year-old grandson Wesley Friesen who crafted a thank you card for the Premier.
The services now being offered at RVH weren't available to Kennedy when he had his heart attack five years ago.
"Instead I waited six days before I could be shipped out to a cardiac centre to get the care I needed," Kennedy told the audience.
"I felt like I was a ticking time bomb. Knowing I had a heart issue yet knowing it wasn't being fixed immediately. Those days of really not knowing what I was up against and not sure if I would see my as yet unborn grandchild. It was a very stressful time."
Kennedy went on to say, "The worst part of the whole ordeal for me was the stunning realization that the services weren't available here at RVH. It's a game changer in the delivery of care for heart patients throughout this region."
Another patient named Mike recounted how he had a heart attack last Thanksgiving weekend. His wife Rebecca, who ironically works at the RVH cardiac centre, recognized his symptoms.
"Barrie is our home. RVH is our hospital and this is where we get our care. But not this time," he said, getting emotional at the memory. "As Rebecca stood helplessly by, I was moved onto a stretcher and into the back of an ambulance to be transported down the highway to get the care that was going to save my life. I'm not ashamed to admit how scared I was."
His story had a happy ending but he said heart patients will now have the comfort of knowing expert care is available close to home.
Treatments are being phased in over time and by 2020, the heart program will operate 24/7 with nine doctors.
