Hi Folks. I'm new here but I found this forum while surfing for news on Gord over the internet. Although I'm not currently living in Canada, you could say that I have a unique perspective in that I come from Orillia (Gord's hometown) and ALSO I worked at McMaster University Medical Centre (where he is currently recuperating) until recently.
From the accounts I have gleaned off the news websites, the surgeon who performed his operation (Dr.Marcaccio) is a skilled gastrointestinal surgeon. His specialty is working with Upper Gastro-Intestinal bleeding. I've read from this forum that Gord appeared tired the night before and that he was admitted with a "breathing tube" on arrival at McMaster Hospital.
This is consistent with massive internal hemorrhaging causing acute blood loss. He would have developed a very low blood pressure requiring large amounts of fluid and blood transfusion, and likely had to be intubated with a breathing tube to manage his pain with medication and keep him supported during a time of decreased consciousness owing to perfusion loss to the brain.
I don't need to get more graphic than that, as these details may already be enough to make some of you squeamish. The cause could be from several things - perhaps ulcers or the like, but unfortunately, this is also a scenario that goes with Gord's past battles with alcohol. Hopefully, he can make a fast and complete recovery from this illness, but it will likely leave him feeling weak for some time to come - particualarly if he lost a substantial amount of blood, which it sounds like he did.
I never knew Mr. Lightfoot personally, since he didn't visit my hometown much when I was growing up, but I did go to the same highschool that he attended, as well as knowing several members of his family. I've seen him in concert and known his songs by heart even long before I met him.
I consider him to be one of those people who impacted my life, even if I never really knew the man first-hand. My parents crossed paths with him on several occasions and followed his career from his early beginnings on Canadian television. To this day I can't look out over Georgian Bay without thinking of how the same sights I'm seeing inspired some of his best-known songs. I grew up mimicking his singing voice on some of his songs, "Early Morning Rain" being one of my favorites.
I'm only relating these details to fill in some of the gaps in what is known about his illness. I hope that Gord makes a full recovery and may continue on in a full and fruitful life and career. I'm counting on seeing him play Massey Hall in Toronto again in the future.
One last thing: the hospital he was taken to originally is called Soldiers' Memorial Hospital. I volunteered there as a student, had my tonsils taken out there during my teens and had my father pass away there in the ICU. Gord was playing a benefit concert to help them raise funds. It would be appreciated if any of the readers of this forum who feel compelled to make a gift to Gord to send a donation to the hospital in his name.
Thanks, and God Bless.
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