Former RR man buys recruiting doctors while he fights cancer

By Ken Johnston
Editor

It is one thing to be fighting for your life, but it is entirely another when one is doing just that and at the same time fighting for their home town even though they no longer live there.
Next Monday a benefit will be held in Rainy River for former resident Shae Hagarty. Hagarty has been hospitalized since early October fighting cancer, as well as other health problems.
Hagarty and his wife and kids are hoping he will be out of the hospital in the next few weeks, with a goal of moving back to Rainy River where they have recently bought a home. However, Shae had a set back about ten days ago that landed him in the Intensive Care Unit. But last week, in a phone interview with the Record, he said, “I am making progress every day. Once I can get up and move around on my own we will look at the move. My goal is to be in Rainy River for Christmas.”
So what does someone who is stuck in the hospital do with their time, besides taking treatments, tests, etc.?
Well Hagarty is at a teaching hospital in St. Boniface, MB. He has student doctors, “residents,” coming through his room regularly. With home being where the heart is, and anyone who know’s Shae, knows he has a big heart, Hagarty has begun a doctor recruitment effort.
With the departure of Dr. Beller this fall, and word that Dr. Chu was backing out of coming to RR to practise, he took it upon himself to offer a sales pitch to the residents. “I told them if they are looking for a place to practise where they will be appreciated Rainy River is a good one!”
At last count he estimated that he spoke to between 6 and 10 residents and of those at least 1 or 2 were interested enough to call Dr. Singleton in Rainy River and check it out.
The Record inquired via email with the Singletons on whether they have had any such interest but to date have not had a reply.
Hagarty said that he hopes to live here soon and felt that he, “Had to try something (to help).”
A trust fund has been set up at CIBC for anyone that would like to make donations to help the Hagarty’s with their expenses as Shae keeps fighting for his life. In the mean time he plans to keep trying to get Rainy River a doctor.