Pat Mackey on living with a terminal cancer diagnosis – a patient's perspective

Pat (Patricia) Mackey was an inaugural member of North York General Hospital’s Patient and Family Advisory Council. Following her cancer reoccurrence in the winter of 2013 and while receiving care at the Freeman Centre for the Advancement of Palliative Care, she generously shared her time, candid thoughts and observations, on video, of what it is like to live with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

Pat's wish was that by sharing her experience, patients and families will know that “palliative care is about finding energy and joy in your day, not focusing on the illness."

Watch the video: Pat Mackey: Living with a terminal cancer diagnosis.

On February 24, 2014, Pat passed away surrounded by her family.

 

During her time as a Patient and Family Advisor, Pat was committed to enhancing care at NYGH and was an integral team member in the development of an Integrated Care Collaborative (ICC) for breast cancer care. She also sat on our Emergency Preparedness Committee and on the Patient and Family Advisory Council.

In recognition of Pat's contributions to furthering patient- and family-centred care at North York General, her family has established The Patricia Mackey Patient- and Family-Centred Care Educational Award.

This article appeared in the March 2014 issue of The Pulse.

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