Peter (Pierino) Belsito

 
Peter (Pierino) Belsito knows first-hand the importance of quality medical care and the impact it has on every individual and community. It was crucial in his treatment at Sault Area Hospital.

Peter is forever grateful.

He shows his appreciation by enhancing the hospital's ability to help others through contributions to the Sault Area Hospital Foundation.

Peter and many of his family members - including his mother, Amalia, and father, Santo - have required extensive medical interventions. This was all provided at their hometown hospital where they knew they could count on exceptional attention. These treatments have often involved extended stays. SAH became Peter's home-away-from- home when he and his father were hospitalized for six months each, and his mother for a year. Each time, Peter got to know the staff including nurses, doctors and various other personnel and observed the high level of caring and support he and others close to him received.

"It became apparent to me that by giving back to the hospital, I can show my great appreciation for the exceptional care provided to me and members of my family," he says.

In recognition of the incredible care Peter received, he made a generous donation in 2008 to the Sault Area Hospital Foundation, which has now been used to buy much needed medical equipment for the Sault Area Hospital.  To make his donation even more personal and unique, Peter dedicated it in memory of his mother and father - to honour them and show his thanks for the outstanding care they received while at SAH.

Since he chose to make an In Memory donation, a plaque with his parents' names are  displayed on the Celebration of Life in memoriam wall to be forever remembered.

"The care and compassion that my family members and I received from the hospital was unbelievable, and my supporting the hospital will ensure many others will continue to receive the same level of care," Peter says.

When Peter was hospitalized in 2007, he witnessed the incredible knowledge, compassion and kindness of SAH's staff first-hand, especially those of the 200Y unit at the General Site and the Second Floor Rehab at the Plummer Site where Peter spent most of his time. All hospital personnel he encountered took the time to get to know him by name, and he reciprocated.

"The staff went above and beyond to make me feel welcome, comfortable, and at-home. I had full confidence that my care was always their top priority," he says.

They took the time to know him, his history, his personality and his story. Staff kept him company, giving him someone to talk to and joke with, and he soon became the comedian of the floors.

"This experience made me fully recognize the importance of nurses - both professionally and as individuals. It was their never-give-up attitude that helped me move forward in my treatment," says Peter.

About five months into Peter's stay, his energy began to return. He slowly started to get out of bed and walk around, with the help of the physiotherapist and nurses.

The staff constantly boosted Peter to push himself. On September 17 - his birthday - he was finally able to make it out of bed and walk down the hallway.

"When I got into the hallway, I saw the nurses and staff standing there watching me, cheering me on to keep walking," Peter remembers. "They clapped, smiled, and praised me - encouraging me to keep going and keep fighting."

Peter's passion for supporting SAH continues as he is now considering donating a gift to the Sault Area Hospital Foundation as part of his estate planning.

"Making a gift to the Sault Area Hospital Foundation doesn't have to be in the form of cash, there are many options to making a legacy gift. This type of giving means you are looking after your loved ones, and you also remember the causes you cared about in your lifetime," explains Giselle Chiarello, Major Gifts / Gift Planning Officer. "Perhaps one day someone you know or love will need the care that Sault Area Hospital can provide. Your thoughtful generosity and legacy will help to ensure that our hospital will always have the state- of-the art equipment needed."

For Peter, this type of gift means he can continue to make a difference in his community when he has passed on. Countless others will also benefit from the same compassionate care he and his family received from SAH. Peter's dedication to SAH is truly exceptional, and his donations to the Foundation - both past and future - will forever be remembered, helping so many others along the way.