London, Ontario: For several years, Lisa and Dennis Carroll have dedicated their lives to honoring the memory of their daughter Rachel. Their journey is marked by showcasing the exceptional care delivered by the trauma team at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) and offering generous donations in return.
Lisa and Dennis Carroll have generously pledged $1,000 annually for the next 10 years to establish the Rachel Carroll Wellness Award. This award is dedicated to the memory of their daughter, a young woman who possessed a zest for life and a passion for travel.
“Rachel's accident and her subsequent hospitalization at LHSC was life-altering for her,” said her father Dennis and stepmother Lisa. “Her recovery, though painful and long, was aided by countless compassionate doctors, nurses and staff. A trauma social worker by the name of Karen Pierre was instrumental in helping Rachel in her recovery along with helping us navigate successfully through this journey. Rachel's transformation post-recovery was profound. She embraced a simpler life, focused on health, family and spirituality—a true embodiment of Pura Vida.”
Rachel's life took an unexpected turn when she suffered traumatic injuries in a car accident while travelling in Costa Rica. The trauma team at LHSC played a pivotal role in her recovery, inspiring her to embark on a new path focused on healing and spirituality. Tragically, Rachel passed away from a brain aneurysm in October 2019, just as she was about to begin another adventure.
Amy Maskish, a trauma nurse practitioner at LHSC, expressed her heartfelt gratitude to the Carroll family, “Receiving this generous donation is a reminder that even the simplest gestures to a health care provider leave lasting impressions on patients and families. This donation reaffirms that the well-being of both healthcare professionals and survivors matters,” Maskish said. “Rachel's memory, forever remembered in this award, serves as a symbol of gratitude from patients and families to those that provide them care.”
This year's award winners are Valorie White, a physiotherapy assistant and Amy Gale, a charge nurse on the ortho trauma unit, who will be awarded $1,000 each. Their outstanding contributions were celebrated during the annual Trauma Survivors Night on May 28, an event that holds great significance for the Carroll family.
The Rachel Carroll Wellness Award aims to recognize individuals who, like Rachel, demonstrate a love for learning and a commitment to helping patients heal from trauma. It is a testament to Rachel's spirit and the profound impact the trauma team had on her life.