Spotlight: James Reynolds
Far Exceeding Expectations: Stroke patient thrilled by new building
A bird is perching outside the window, twigs in its beak, as sunshine pours into James Reynolds’ room in the new West Park building on Sunday, April 14 – patient move-in day. It’s a sign of spring, a perfect metaphor for the new beginnings for James, and for West Park.
Just hours ago, James was the first patient from the Neurological Rehabilitation Unit to move into the new building.
“It’s way, way, way beyond my expectations,” he says.
James is a 59-year-old landscaper from Etobicoke, a proud father to two children. He had a stroke in mid-February, paralyzing the left side of his body.
He spent a month in acute care before arriving at West Park in mid-March. James didn’t know what to expect, but being wheeled in, he was greeted by the smiling face of Sandra Campos, Neurological Service Unit Coordinator, which “made me feel good.”
James spent the next three weeks having physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy, all while gazing out the window of his shared four-person room to West Park’s new hospital building, wondering what to expect. He had some hesitations, “In any move, it’s an adjustment. You live and learn and work with it.”
But those hesitations were blown out of the water when he was wheeled into his room on the 2nd floor of the new building.
From the windows that let in ample natural light, to the “fancy” new bed and the space to make a 360 degree turn in any patient area of the hospital, the new building surpassed James’ expectations.
He’s most impressed by the gym, to which, a week after arriving at the new hospital, he was able to walk to with a walker, under his own power. Sandra Campos said the moment gave her “goosebumps.”
The gym, conveniently located just a short walk or wheel from his room, is where James says, “the magic happens. You don’t think it will, but it does.” 
The exercises and activities he does here under the careful guidance of his care team are the “magic” that have helped him re-learn how to walk and use his left hand.
His recovery isn’t over, and after he’s discharged from West Park in mid-May, he’ll return weekly for physiotherapy appointments to continue to build back his strength and abilities. For these appointments, he’ll use in the outpatient gym, which – much like the inpatient gyms on each floor – is bright, airy and modern, filled with the very best in rehabilitative and exercise equipment.
James feels that with all the upgraded technology and equipment, as well as ample fresh air and natural light, this new building is going to help patients get better even quicker. And “it’s going to give a lot of people a better reality and a bigger hope.”
