Joe LeBlanc and Marcella Richards
December 3, 2025
-by Marcella Richards
Meet Joe LeBlanc and Marcella Richards – Joe was born in Neil’s Harbour and Marcella grew up in Belle Cote, Cape Breton. This terrific couple share their time between Kitchener, Ontario and their home in Belle Cote where they enjoy being with their friends and numerous relatives.
Joe and Marcella were on a special mission this year, to see the nurses and doctors at the Inverness Consolidated Memorial Hospital’s (ICMH) emergency department, to say “thank you” for saving Joe’s life.
Last year on a typical summer day, Joe went fishing in Orangedale with his cousin, Germie Delaney. Germie, who owns a home in Orangedale, decided to stop there to cut the grass. While Germie was in the house, Joe started mowing the lawn. In just a few short minutes, Joe’s life changed when the most random and inconceivable thing occurred.
“I started to mow the lawn near a fire pit when something shot out from underneath the lawn mower and hit me in the face,” explains Joe. “I felt it, kind of went to my knees and started yelling to my cousin Germie. He helped me to the house, sat me down, gave me some ice and then I started feeling woozy suddenly. Right away we headed straight to the Inverness hospital.
I remember when Germie and I got to the Inverness hospital, and I told him I was going to get sick and that was the last thing I remembered for next six weeks,” recalls Joe.
Germie recalls going to ICMH’s emergency department with Joe. “Joe was answering all my questions in the truck and when we got to the hospital, he was telling me where to get his list of medications and health card. He only had a mark on his nose and a tiny drop of blood near his eye, but he wasn’t feeling well at all. That was scary. He was triaged immediately. They asked a ton of questions about what exactly happened and right away he was sent for a CT scan.”
“That is when all hell broke loose – everyone started running,” says Marcella. “The staff knew something major had happened and called LifeFlight.” She was told the most shocking and frightening thing – Joe had a brain bleed. A nail had come out from under the lawn mower, hit Joe on the nose, went up through his tear duct then up to his brain. Marcella was in shock with the news but will never forget what happened in the Inverness emergency department that day. “It was incredible to see, the efficiency…all hands-on deck, they were just coming out of the woodwork,” she says. “Staff at the Inverness hospital were so professional, acting quickly and effectively to stabilize and prepare Joe for his LifeFlight to Halifax. Time was so critical. They saved his life.”
“If it wasn’t for the quick diagnosis, quick action of Inverness’ emergency department staff and having the CT scan, I wouldn’t have made it to Halifax where I had a seven-hour surgery to remove the nail and address the brain bleed,” says Joe. “I am so thankful to Germie and Marcella who helped me through it all.”
Joe and Marcella were so touched to see the ICMH emergency department staff again this year. “When we went to ICMH emergency department this summer to express our gratitude, I had no idea how emotional I would be to see the staff again,” Joe recalls. “I was so grateful to all of them. They saved my life. Thank you.”
Joe’s story shows how crucial it is to have a well-staffed and well-equipped hospital in our rural area and how important the emergency department is as this could happen to you. You can help ensure ICMH has up-to-date equipment by donating to the ICMH Charitable Foundation. Your donations purchase important equipment which helps our staff care for you in the best way possible when you come here for help. You can make a difference in people’s lives.
To make a donation, go to www.icmhfoundation.com or send a donation in the mail at ICMH Charitable Foundation at PO Box 610, Inverness, NS B0E 1N0 or call 902-258-2236. Thank you!
