The power of positivity

“You're in hospital and you're alive, don't look at what you're missing. Look at what you've got,” Bud Polhill reminded himself and others during his stay at St. Joseph’s Health Care London’s Parkwood Institute.  

The 85-year-old's relentless optimism is remarkable in the face of the events that led him to become an inpatient at Parkwood Institute. Severe complications after knee surgery sent the former London city councillor to intensive care, where he was unresponsive for several days. It was a frightening time for Polhill’s family who were told that he might not make it.

Despite the odds, Polhill, who served on council for 26 years between 1988 and 2014, pulled through. As he recovered at Parkwood Institute’s musculoskeletal rehabilitation unit, it didn’t take long for his powerful positivity to lift the spirits of staff and residents.

“This is my attitude: never underestimate the power of negative thinking,” he says. “If you think negatively, then it will happen. Don't think negative. Think positive all the time.”

Polhill’s skill for spotting silver linings let him make the most of his time at Parkwood Institute. Ever the affable politician, he spent his days talking with staff, getting to know residents and appreciating small comforts, like warm blankets and good meals.

“When they said, ‘we're going to bump you ahead because you're making such good progress, we're going to let you go home a week early,’ I was kind of disappointed,” Polhill laughs.

Recovery can often be an isolating experience for inpatients away from familiar environments and loved ones, but Polhill found a unique community living alongside others moving through their own recovery journeys.

Polhill drew inspiration from others and passed it on when he could. Knowing first-hand how challenging recovery was, he was able to truly understand and celebrate the victories of his temporary neighbours in the unit.

One of the most memorable and moving moments for Polhill was witnessing another patient’s triumph as they were finally able to walk to the end of the hall. Polhill couldn't help but stand and applaud, receiving a big smile from the patient in return.

“When you’re down and somebody else appreciates that you're trying to get yourself back up, that makes you feel really good,” he says.

Once discharged, Polhill wanted to give back and express his gratitude for the staff who had made his experience an encouraging one. He called St. Joseph’s Patient Relations department to compliment the unit’s atmosphere, the staff’s kindness and the hearty menu – particularly the spareribs and shepherd's pie.

“I feel truly blessed to have gotten his call because it was just so uplifting,” says Krista Lake, Patient Relations, Privacy & Risk consultant. “It's a gentle reminder of what we're all capable of when we can be positive.”

It was a powerful moment when Polhill’s story reached Erin Watson, Clinical Director, Specialized Geriatric Services. She hopes her team takes it to heart and feels proud of the work they do.

“It's stories like this that keep you going through some pretty tough times in health care,” she says. “I would love to tell our team that, despite everything that is hard about what we do every day, sometimes we get it perfectly right.”

As for Polhill, he’s already back at work at his auto body shop. Happy to share his story, he reflects with gratitude on his time at Parkwood Institute.

“I don't say I want to do it again,” he admits, “but it was a very positive experience for me.”