I am writing this story today as my husband drives our 4 year old daughter to Victoria General Hospital after we waited for three hours in Nanaimo Regional Hospital with a quarter lodged in her esophagus. The only reason we were even seen in that timeline is that my daughter was literally screaming “Am I going to die?” hysterically for hours in the waiting area. Due to Nanaimo not having a pediatric surgeon, we were told we would have to go to VGH to see the surgeon there. However, no ambulance is available for at least three hours so we are now having to drive our daughter for two hours with a quarter stuck in her throat. God knows how long we’ll have to wait there. In the meantime, she hasn’t eaten since 10 am (it’s now 5 pm and we’re just leaving Nanaimo), and she’s not allowed to eat or drink until the quarter is removed. This is absolutely inhumane treatment of a child and unacceptable that this is happening in a City this size. We also should have a pediatric surgeon in Nanaimo and I am appalled that the government has allowed the health care situation in the mid island to deteriorate to this degree.