Judith Scotland will never forget her first appointment with the oncologist at Women’s College Hospital after her diagnosis of breast cancer.

Her appointment card told her to be at Dr. Blondell’s office on February 2, but the appointment was actually for the previous day. Scotland arrived with her husband and sister for support, only to find the office closed. Puzzled and upset, they were turning to leave when a man emerged from the office and asked if he could help. Scotland began to explain the situation, when he suddenly said, “Are you Judith Scotland? I was expecting you yesterday!” It was Dr. Blondell himself, and he quickly reassured her that he would see her that day. “He was really nice,” says Scotland. “I felt that he understood what was going on with me, because he explained everything so carefully. The whole staff was wonderful.  Cancer is not something anyone wants to go through, but it was a good experience because of the people who helped me.”

Scotland’s warm feelings about Women’s College Hospital started many years earlier, when she  delivered her son, now 24, at the hospital. “Everybody was so good to me,” she remembers. “They rubbed my back and encouraged me. My husband was very impressed by how we were treated. He even bought a thank-you card for the staff.” Her daughter was also born at the hospital.

Scotland has worked for The Co-operators for the past ten years and is currently a Group Accounting advisor. Last year she had an opportunity to nominate a charity to receive a donation through The Co-operators Suggested by YOU Donation Program. Expecting a gift of perhaps $100, she was  astounded and delighted when Women’s College Hospital was selected to receive a $10,000 donation in her name. “My treatment at Women’s College was good, everybody was so kind to me, and I really appreciate that,” she says. “There will always be a tender spot in my heart for this hospital.”

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