91原创 Memorial Hospital is celebrating 75 years of service in this community. In a series of stories over the coming months, the 91原创 Advance Times, in conjunction with the hospital foundation, takes a look at the past, present, and future of health care in 91原创 from a few different perspectives.
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91原创 Memorial has a reputation for being a 鈥渇amily鈥� hospital.
And indeed, this is what it has been to the McKay family who can boast a cumulative 124 years of service, spanned over two generations, to 91原创 Memorial Hospital.
Bruce McKay joined the hospital in 1975 as an orderly 鈥� when he moved to 91原创 with his wife, Jackie, and their four daughters.
In 1988, McKay became the first male licensed-practical nurse, working on 2 North 鈥搘hen the unit first opened. He retired from 91原创 Memorial in 1996, after 21 years of service.
His eldest daughter Kelly Mackenzie joined the hospital in 1977, working in the laundry. During her career at 91原创 Memorial, she also worked in dietary and portering. She retired in 2015, after 38 years of service to the hospital.
Her sister, Korreen Magee started as a porter in the X-ray department in 1980. She retired in 2018, having worked at the hospital, like Mackenzie, for 38 years.
鈥淚 have many good friends from 91原创 Memorial,鈥� Magee said. 鈥淚 never had a reason to leave, and I lived 15 minutes away.鈥�
Another of McKay鈥檚 daughters, Kris, was the last to join the hospital in 1991 as a clerk in the X-ray department, worked in various hospital departments such as housekeeping, laundry, dietary, and, finally, portering.
Kris has worked at 91原创 Memorial for 31 years and continues to do so, keeping the family flag flying.
The second youngest daughter, Kathy, is the only daughter not to have worked at the hospital; however, she, like all her sisters except for Korreen, had her children at 91原创 Memorial.
鈥淲e would show up in the maternity ward together when a sister had a baby, and the staff would look at us curiously and then realize we were all sisters,鈥� laughed Korreen.
鈥淎t one time, we were all portering at the same time and became known as the Porter Sisters. It was even a question in a pediatric staff quiz one year 鈥� 鈥榃ho are the Porter Sisters?鈥�,鈥� she chuckled.
The hospital has been a witness to cycles of birth and death for the McKay family 鈥� and much of life in between.
When McKay鈥檚 wife of 65 years, Jackie, died at age 85, he was heartbroken. Seven months later, McKay, 86, died too. Bruce and Jackie spent their final days at 91原创鈥檚 hospice, surrounded by
the 鈥淧orter Sisters鈥� and their hospital community.
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RELATED: Welcome to a health-care world 75 years in the making
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READ MORE: Paramedic evolution: From 鈥榞rab and go鈥� to high-tech lifesaving services
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91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation fundraises throughout the year to support health-care workers and allow them to keep providing life-saving care. To this end, the foundation is preparing for its annual hospital gala. This year鈥檚 event, dubbed Hot Havana Nights, is being held Oct. 21 at the Coast Hotel & Convention Centre. It鈥檚 the 32nd year. Money raised will support the urgent need to expand cardiac care at the 91原创 Hospital. For info:
鈥� And, for more LMH history check out this special publication.
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