‘I’m just so thankful we moved here’: Family grateful for care at QEII Health Sciences Centre

Kevin Rainey talks about the remarkable support he felt while battling a brain tumour.

Kevin Rainey says he’s able to enjoy quality time with his wife Marie and daughter Nessa because of the care he received at the QEII Health Sciences Centre two years ago.

A CT scan ordered by Kevin’s family doctor in Guysborough, N.S. revealed the life-changing news.

“I had a tennis ball sized tumour between the two hemispheres of my brain,” Kevin explained. “I can’t even put into words how stunned we were to find that out.”

The 65-year-old had been experiencing sinus issues for years.

“I was going through a box of Kleenex every night,” he added.

The Rainey’s settled in Guysborough a couple years prior, moving from British Columbia to enjoy retirement.

Kevin’s wife of 42 years says news of the tumour was devastating.

“I was really scared that I was going to lose him,” she said.

“I’m a pretty spiritual guy so I had a sense of peace about a lot of it,” Kevin explained. “But the thing that wasn’t peaceful was knowing that my daughter might not have a dad, or my grandson might not have a grandfather, and my partner in life here would be alone.”

Within days of receiving the diagnosis, Kevin met with neurosurgeon Doctor David Clarke at the QEII in Halifax.

A nearly nine-hour craniotomy followed. During the surgery, Dr. Clarke had to rebuild the entire bottom of Kevin’s skull because the tumour eroded it over time.

While recovering, a brain infection sent Kevin back to the QEII for a second craniotomy and 18-week course of twice-daily IV antibiotics.

Two additional brain surgeries performed through the nose followed.

But during it all, both Kevin and Marie say the staff at the QEII were always there for them, offering comfort and quality care.

“I’m so thankful for Dr. Clarke for that,” Kevin said. “I’m so thankful that we in Nova Scotia have that capacity and that capability.”

“I cold ask anybody, anything at anytime,” added Marie. “You know, they were so helpful.”

These days, Kevin says he feels pretty good, with his sense of smell being the only lasting complication from surgery.

He continues to go for regular MRI’s and appointments, as necessary.

“I’m just so thankful we moved here,” said Marie. “We have great doctors and nurses care, and good neighbours. The whole community, everybody rallied around us.”

“The kind of care that I’ve received here in Nova Scotia, at the QEII and in Guysborough was so personable,” added Kevin. “And it just makes a lot of that road, and a lot of that routine so pleasurable. I used to look forward to going down and seeing my friends.”

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