“Dr. Kidane never lost sight of David and I as human beings going through a terrifying experience.”
David Loutit sharing his musical talents with residents of the St. Norbert Personal Care Home after his care at HSC Winnipeg.
There are some things in life you never forget. For me, the day I met David and our wedding day will forever be etched in my memory. And, until the day David and I leave this earth, we will both never forget the care he received from thoracic surgeons Dr. Biniam Kidane and Dr. Richard Liu at Health Sciences Centre.
David was celebrating his 77th birthday in May 2020, when he began feeling sick, we took him to get checked out at Selkirk Regional Health Centre, the closest hospital to our home in Garson, Manitoba. The doctor’s scoping found that David had high-grade dysplasia (abnormal cells) in his esophagus.
David was referred to HSC to see Dr. Kidane for a biopsy.
Because of COVID restrictions, I had to drop David off for his appointment at the Wilf Taillieu Thoracic Surgery Clinic and Endoscopy Unit without joining him inside. But Dr. Kidane made it a top priority to keep me constantly updated. Dr. Kidane called me from David’s hospital room phone and told me about every scan and test he had planned for David, and he made sure I understood everything.
Unfortunately, something I had to understand was David’s diagnosis of esophageal cancer.
This is where I want people to really understand what I am going to say. I know Dr. Kidane is a surgeon. I’ve met many surgeons, but none like him. Dr. Kidane never lost sight of David and me as human beings going through a terrifying experience. I was amazed by this level of care.
Dr. Kidane called me from David’s hospital room phone and told me about every scan and test he had planned for David, and he made sure I understood everything.
Everything went seamlessly, considering how hard the hospital was hit by COVID. Dr. Kidane and his team got David in for his appointments quickly and handled the scheduling of many scans—it helped me feel more in control of everything that was going on.
Dr. Kidane was quick to talk to us about an endoscopic submucosal dissection—a procedure he developed in 2017 and the least invasive one he could perform given David’s esophageal cancer.
Time was of the essence, and we wanted the procedure to happen as soon as possible. Upon making sure we were comfortable with this, Dr. Kidane introduced us to his colleague, thoracic surgeon Dr. Richard Liu, who had the earliest availability.
Dr. Liu took after Dr. Kidane in all the best ways. Not only was he a skilled surgeon who could perform the same procedure, but Dr. Liu was just as kind, caring, and gracious. He, too, made sure I was as updated about David’s care over the phone, and happily answered any questions.
Dr. Richard Liu, HSC thoracic surgeon, was kind, caring, and gracious. He made sure I was updated about David’s care over the phone, and happily answered any questions.
The procedure was a success, and David is cancer-free as of February 2023, and will go back to confirm remission in 2024. We had seen Dr. Kidane and Dr. Liu for three years, and every time we spoke with them, they put us at ease. They spoke to us like we were old friends, and that reassured us as much as their skills as surgeons did, if not more.
The nurses also deserve a shoutout. I’m sure Dr. Kidane purposely picked a team of the most incredible, caring, compassionate people possible, and together they thrived.
The care David received at HSC was truly amazing. Every single staff member was incredible, and I cannot thank them enough for saving my husband. I especially want to thank Dr. Kidane and Dr. Liu for their kind hearts and amazing skill. The two of them kept us together as a family; they kept our unit together.
Sincerely,
Lori Loutit
Support from our donors helps units like the Wilf Taillieu Thoracic Surgery Clinic and Endoscopy Unit save lives like David’s. You can show your support and be a part of the reason a patient has a positive outcome by donating on our website, or by calling 204-515-5612 or 1-800-679-8493 (toll-free).
