Brian & Debbie’s journey:
“We’ve had the same leg amputated and the same surgeries”

On July 26, 2025, Brian and Debbie Haynes took their motorcycle for a ride and collided with an oncoming vehicle near Orillia, Ontario. Both were airlifted by Ornge to Sunnybrook, where they continue to recover. Brian shares his thoughts on the care they are receiving from teams in the Tory Trauma Program and St. John’s Rehab.

Patients like Brian and Debbie are why Sunnybrook has proposed a new Critical Care Centre to transform the way we deliver critical care for people across Ontario.

Brian’s words:

Being together has helped our healing. I don’t have much memory of the collision, or being airlifted, but remember waking up at Sunnybrook. The first thing I did was call out for Debbie.

The care team realized we were husband and wife. They pushed our beds closer and adjusted the curtain so we could hold hands.

We’ve had the same leg amputated, the same surgeries. I fractured my ribs, spine and neck. Debbie has a broken finger and some pretty bad lacerations.

Our first ten days were at the Bayview campus. The nurses and doctors were running, they’re so busy. But they always treated us with such kindness. They’re open, and they listen.

There have been ups, and downs, but we’re doing this together. We’re at St. John’s Rehab now, still in the same room. It takes me a good five minutes to get up and go over to hug Debbie, but we get it done.

Living up north, and knowing we have a channel to the best care at Sunnybrook, it’s just so reassuring. We’re incredibly grateful.