I have vivid memories of seeing my parents and grandparents holding him on the red couch in our living room. I remember peering at his smiling face through the rails of his white crib and eventually climbing in to cuddle, kiss and hug him. I have strong recollections of gently pulling him onto my lap in his crib and feeding him his bottle. Strong in my memory are the words, he was such a good boy, he never cried, he was always smiling and happy…spoken by my parents and Baba. I don’t know if it was his admission or a visit, but I remember walking through a room at the institution, with tall windows, full of cribs with crying children, specifically a curly, red-headed dancing girl with hydrocephalus. Ronnie’s crib seemed to be in the centre of this room. Clear in my mind is my mother’s voice saying, “…they all said it was for the best.” I still recall being wrapped in a blanket on a December morning, and my crying father carrying me to a neighbour’s house the day of his funeral. To this day, my sisters, children, nieces, and grandchildren still visit Ronnie’s gravesite on Cawthra Road in Mississauga (Cooksville) regularly.

Ronnie was diagnosed with Mental Deficiency without Psychosis, I.Q. Idiot - Internal Hydrocephalus and Microcephaly was found at autopsy. The autopsy report states that he died of Toxemia, Perforated Stomach and Mild Pneumonia. Records written on November 15, 1957, state that, “Patient has lumps in his abdomen, which are probably feces.”, and he was given saline enemas and Milk of Magnesia regularly during his twenty-eight day stay to relieve his chronic constipation: STAT at times. Ronnie consistently, “Did not take fluids well.”, On November 25th, this sixteen-month-old child, “….is taking fluids poorly. Takes fluids better from a spoon than a bottle. Bottle feeding discontinued.” On November 28, 1957 he was given Serpenray, (sedative) to quell his fretting and, “The patient appeared comfortable when examined.” For the entire time he was in residence he had a fever over one-hundred degrees, was fretful and cried, was diagnosed with pneumonia, and given alcohol rubs, chloromycetin (eye infection antibiotic) and chlor-tripolon (decongestant). 

A letter was sent to my parents on December 9th as a follow up to our mother’s inquiry as to Ronnie’s current health on December 6th. I can only imagine how she felt receiving it via Canada Post only days following his death. The letter From Dr. Wilson, M.D. states, “Ronald has had some elevation in temperature most of the time since admission. He had a respiratory infection the day he was admitted. Since then, his chest has improved, and appeared to be clear most of the time. At times he has some degree of asthma, but this is not of a serious nature. He is getting teeth, and this may cause a slight elevation of temperature. At times he is fretful and cries. He will often stop crying immediately when approached and given attention. His appetite is usually satisfactory, and he is adjusting slowly to his new environment.” The four days before he died the notes also read, “Patient was better. Constipation persists”, “Spent a good day”, “Good appetite”. On December 11th, “Spent a good day. Fretful at intervals.” However, on December 12, 1957 after seven days of Toxemia, his stomach perforated causing the contents to spill and further poison his body, causing his excruciatingly painful death.

There is also a Discharge Report from the Hospital for Sick Children dated August 21, 1957 in my brother’s file. It states that he was admitted in March and in July of 1957 for an, “…upper respiratory infection”. He was given, “…sulfa, triple sulfa suspension drams, ephedrine nose drops and phenobarb.” However, while a resident at the Orillia Asylum, it is confusing to read that there is no record that any of these medications were administered. 

Even with this file in hand, that has answered so many questions, I have had for decades; I now question the adequacy of the care my brother received. He had a fever over one hundred degrees, cried and was fretful for twenty-eight consecutive days with minor intervention. The Medical Certificate of Death indicates that “Approximate interval between onset and death-Toxemia-7 days.”

My brother’s name was often misspelled and our home address was typed incorrectly and another road often typed on many of the documents in his file as well.

I appreciate the time you have taken to read my heartfelt letter written through the grief I still feel. I want his name – Ronald Allan Sutherland – to be remembered, so that no other helpless child has to endure similar neglect. I welcome your advice and input.

Respectfully

Diane Sutherland Cummings

cc: Hon. Doug Ford, Premier of Ontario                                                     

Her Honour the Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario   

Hon. Sylvia Jones, MPP, Ontario Minister of Health                                                                                   Adam Chambers, MP, Simcoe North                                                   

Hon. Jill Dunlop, MPP Simcoe North                                                             

Vici Clark, Project Coordinator, Family Alliance, Durham Family Network                 

Marilyn Dolmage, Litigation Guardian