On January 9, 2024, Hai Thach’s life was turned upside down.
A court interpreter for over 35 years, he was at the Longueuil courthouse when he was brutally attacked.
Stabbed nearly 20 times, he was left fighting between life and death.
He was rushed to Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne by ambulance. And he survived thanks to the dedication of the physicians and the entire care team.
“They told me I was a miracle survivor. Without them, I would not be here today.”
He still remembers the attentive specialists who came to see him every day despite their busy schedules, and the staff in the different departments where he stayed while in hospital:
“Two physicians and an extraordinary team saved my life. Words cannot express my gratitude to the nurses and attendants who surrounded me.”
Filled with gratitude, Hai Thach decided to become one of the Foundation’s monthly donors in November 2024.
One year after his assault, he went back to the Hospital, his arms filled with chocolates, to personally thank the teams that looked after him—which he hopes to make a yearly ritual.
For him, monthly donations are an acknowledgement that lives on.
Human beings forget… we tend to forget quickly, especially as time goes by. For me, the monthly donation is a constant reminder of my gratitude. For as long as I live and am able to, I’ll continue to give, until the very last day of my life.
Born in Vietnam of Chinese parents, Hai Thach, now 72 years old, arrived in Canada as a refugee in 1981. His personal story fuels this deep conviction:
“For me, monthly donations are a way to give back for everything I have received in my life.”
Before the attack, his profession often brought him to the psychiatric ward where he worked as an interpreter. But it was not until he was admitted to the Hospital as a patient that he realized the full value of the care it provides:
“Sometimes we take the Hospital for granted… until the day we really need it.”
Today, he trusts the Foundation to invest his donations where the needs are most pressing.
“To me, it’s equivalent to the 7 blood bags I received in Emergency. Someone had to have donated the blood that I benefitted from. I give so that others can benefit in the future.”
His words convey not only the depth of his gratitude, but also his profound generosity.
“I hope that others will join me in supporting the Foundation, because it’s thanks to us all that more care can be provided.”
