Dr. Patrick Bellemare, pulmonologist–intensivist and Associate Medical Chief – Intensive Care Program, is a specialist physician and has been teaching medicine at Sacré-Cœur for 27 years. He truly embodies the legacy of compassion and excellence of the Sisters of Providence, our founders, as well as the theme of our campaign marking the 100th anniversary of the Montreal Sacré-Cœur Hospital: Devoting heart and soul to every patient, for 100 years.
“At Sacré-Cœur Hospital, I found a unique atmosphere and team to face a multitude of human tragedies, transformed—one at a time—into small and great miracles.
All our successes have been team successes. I have been fortunate to be involved in some of these cases, investing a great deal of my own energy. Mrs. C., who suffered a severe hemorrhage due to placental abruption, was pulled at the last moment from what seemed to be certain death while I was a resident here. She transformed my life, making me passionate about critical care.
Later, there were Éliane and Justine, two polytrauma victims from road accidents whose survival was unlikely and who, with the help of the team, overcame the darkest prognoses to return to life. Daniel, whom a severe infection nearly took, made a full recovery to the great joy of his four children. Jordan, who unfortunately did not survive his traumatic brain injury, but who continues to live on by saving six people through organ donation following his accident.
Fate occasionally brings me face to face with the loved ones of patients who did not survive. Like Caroline, that wonderful mother who lost her son following a severe trauma. Every time I see her, she symbolizes the full potential of human resilience and gently reminds me that I do not embody the worst trauma of her life—even though I was one of the caregivers present and involved in the attempt to save what was most precious to her. The first time I saw her after her son’s death, I thought she was coming to curse me in person, when in fact she came to thank me for my humanity… I still can’t quite believe it.
In the most difficult moments (and there are some…), I think about what makes me most proud: the extraordinary team to which I belong to. In a frankly unfavorable environment, that very team helped make our institution one of the strongest bulwarks in the fight against the pandemic. In an old hospital where we “patched together” a temporary isolation structure, we were there, delivering care. The pandemic was not going to win.
I have come to firmly believe that with motivation, human compassion, and a dedicated and competent team, there is no challenge we cannot overcome.
Long live Sacré-Cœur and its team!