Tonight, as I reflect on the last two days celebrating the completion of Cambridge Memorial Hospital’s (CMH) capital redevelopment, I’m reminded of how far we’ve come. When I was preparing to go on maternity leave when CMH broke ground on this transformation, and I started saying goodbye to our old hospital. It was aging and outdated, but it held so many memories from the early days of my career.
At the time, I wondered how we could possibly transform a hospital while continuing to operate, and there were certainly challenges along the way. We faced countless changes in paths of travel, and I had many conversations with patients and families while escorting them to their destinations. It wasn’t until this week, when a new hallway finally appeared, that I understood the full scope of our headaches and the magnitude of what we’d been working toward. The hospital layout finally made sense!
This project has been a true labor of love, a much-needed transformation for our front-line staff. Walking through the hospital this week, I couldn’t help but reflect on the conversations I had with colleagues about what we had versus what now stands before us — a stunning, modern facility.
One moment stands out in particular: I was stationed in a semi-private room in the B tower where I once worked as a nurse. There are still patients and colleagues I hold close from those years, and I shared with the community how this room used to be part of a four-bed ward, with a bathroom so small that I had to squeeze in to care for patients. Now, those memories live alongside the reality of our spacious, private rooms and the vision for a brighter future.
The highlight of the day was dreaming about what lies ahead for both our hospital and our community. It was an absolute pleasure to showcase our new features, including nearly 90% private rooms in the A and B towers.
I’m so proud to have helped plan these 2 days of events, and even prouder of how smoothly they went, thanks to the leadership, staff, volunteers, and students who made it all possible. It’s amazing to witness the incredible teamwork that happens when we come together to achieve something great.
One of the most powerful moments of the VIP open house came from Sue Foxton who spoke passionately about CMH’s staff, mentioning how they had saved her life. She spoke of new life, death, and the life-saving treatments happening within our walls. As she spoke, lives were being saved — and those words resonated deeply with me. It’s a reminder of the vital role all of our staff plays in making a difference in the lives of our community.
Today felt full circle for me — a moment of reflection and gratitude for everything we’ve achieved and everything that’s yet to come. I now remind myself that our change in path of travel, throughout the years, just deepened my connection to our community and allowed conversations that inspired me to stay true to my career. The gift is in the journey!
Krysta Garton, Professional Practice Manager & Nursing Advisory Council Chair
Krysta is a dedicated healthcare professional with over a decade of experience. She has been with CMH for 14 years. She began her nursing career in 2010. She is passionate about addressing social determinants of health and promoting equal access to care for all patients. Her commitment to fostering growth and education for CMH's healthcare teams aims to provide the highest standard of care. She is inspired by the power of collaboration and is driven to break down silos within interdisciplinary teams. Kyrsta has a desire to create a cohesive environment where everyone works together more effectively to enhance the quality of care provided to patients.
