When Pina Motta walked into a new Calgary emergency room last week it was a much different scene than what she witnessed 12 years ago.

It was in Jan. 1, 2001 when the foothills resident took her son Vince first to Rockyview Hospital in Calgary, where she said the line was out the doors, and then to Foothills Hospital where they waited four hours without being seen before they left. That night they went to the High River Hospital, where it was discovered Vince was suffering with appendicitis. Pina said the hospital was understaffed with only one doctor and two nurses working the emergency room that night.

Although they told a nurse Vince had asthma, he was administered an anesthetic which ultimately shut down his lungs.

At 23-years-old Vince died and the Motta’s took up the fight to change the health system. They were big proponents for the opening of the south campus hospital in Auburn Bay.

The hospital is now built and began opening in phases starting in September. On Jan. 14 the emergency room opened and the Mottas say it brings them hope things are changing in the health system.

“We don’t want what happened to us to happen to other people,” Pina said.

Vince’s father Tom had an MRI performed at the south campus hospital and Pina said it was a much different scene than when they were seeking help for Vince.

“Its amazing,” Pina said.

Tom said he was brought in right away for his MRI and the hospital was not jammed full of people waiting to be seen.

Pina said it was a relief to see a Calgary hospital not overcrowded with people waiting to see a doctor.

“It makes me feel good to see people can go in and out,” she said.

The Mottas hope the new hospital’s emergency room will relieve pressure at other Calgary emergency rooms.

Tom said the south campus hospital will need to be fully staffed in order to really make a difference, however.

“They need to hire good doctors and pay them enough so they will stay because you hear they go to the U.S. where they can make more money,” Tom said.

They both say they would like to see a plaque or some kind of remembrance to their son at the new hospital.

“We would like to have Vince’s name involved with it somehow,” she said.

It’s been 12 years since Vince’s death, but the pain is still there, the Mottas say.

“It’s always there – it never goes away,” Pina said. “It will be with you the rest of your life.”

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