How TELUS & BlackBerry Helped Save My Husband’s Life #ExpectMore #TeamTELUS

As incredible as it sounds, this is a tale of how TELUS and BlackBerry helped save my husband’s life.

Almost a decade ago, when Hubby and I were newly married, I urged him to get a cell phone.

Oh, but farmers don’t need cell phones.  Cell phones are just an unnecessary added expense.

Wrong.

Over the years, Hubby quickly discovered just how valuable technology and communications are on and off the farm.

Tractor breakdowns on far ends of our farm?  No worries.  Hubby can just call me and I can go get him.

Need help baling and hauling hay?  No problem.  Hubby can just call me and I can get over to the field and operate one of the tractors while he’s operating another tractor.

Cattle out?  Not an issue.  A quick phone call to get me to come help bring cattle back to where they are supposed to be and I’m there.

There are many practical reasons for why a smartphone can prove to be not just handy, but a necessity on and off the farm.

Hubby also enjoys having a smartphone for other reasons.

He can use the GPS, look up websites for resources, use farm apps and when he’s on the tractor, he can even listen to agricultural podcasts.  He is on his smartphone almost as much as I am on mine…and I do a lot of work from my smartphone!

How TELUS and BlackBerry saved my husband’s life

TELUS and remote communities

Here’s a little history that helps in my storytelling.  I have been a loyal TELUS customer since 2000.  Before I left Toronto and  moved to Manitoulin Island in 2004, I visited my regular TELUS store in Scarborough and asked if I would have decent cell phone coverage on the island.  I didn’t want to keep my cell phone if I knew I wasn’t going to have cell phone coverage because I was moving to a “remote” region.  I was moving to an island in Northern Ontario at a time when cell phone towers were existent, but connection was not entirely reliable and some areas were “dead zones”.

The great people at TELUS showed me a map of Canada and where TELUS covers.  I was pleased to see that TELUS had reliable service on Manitoulin Island.  I stayed with TELUS and have always been more than satisfied with my connection and with the customer service I continue to receive.  I even have cell phone coverage in areas where friends with other providers do not.  There is one spot on the Island where everyone says they do not get service, but Hubby and I get three bars!

When Hubby got his first phone, he naturally went with TELUS as well.  Ensuring he had cell service everywhere he went was really important to me.  He’s a farmer.  He’s either in one of our fields or in the bush on our 750 acre farm.  I NEED to know that in event of an accident or emergency, he has cell service.

He has never had any issues with cell service and I’m thankful that TELUS has such reliable great coverage on the Island.

BlackBerry withstands all the beating it can take on the farm

My husband is a huge BlackBerry fan.  He finds his BlackBerry to be extremely user-friendly and perfect for his needs.  It can also take a good beating on the farm and in the garage when other phones have not been able to withstand the knocks, bumps, and drops.  In all fairness, Hubby does have an Otterbox for his BlackBerry and that has saved his phone on numerous accounts.  He’s dropped his phone down the sqaure baler twice and it came out both times without a scratch!

Lifesaving technology

The worst Valentine’s Day ever.  On Valentine’s Day, Hubby was cutting firewood and a poplar he was cutting down had its limbs stuck and the tree kicked back.  The snow broke beneath Hubby and he could not get away in time.  An experienced woodcutter, he first surveyed the area, checked and double checked for potential danger, assessed the trees and the angle the tree would fall.  Despite all this, he didn’t account for the unexpected factors like the poplar kicking back and the snow giving out from under him.

Thankfully, Hubby had a smartphone.  Thankfully, Hubby had his smartphone with him.  Thankfully, Hubby was able to get to his smartphone and call for help.

We have so many reasons to be thankful.  The tree landed on Hubby’s leg and he broke is tibia and fibula, but the outcome could have been very different.  He didn’t sustain any internal injuries, he was conscious, and nothing else was broken.

Hubby was in the cold and snow for a good hour before he was able to get pulled out of the bush.  First Response and the paramedics came soon after Hubby’s sisters and brother-in-law rescued him.  Again, I am so thankful he had a smartphone and a mobile carrier that was reliable.

I don’t like to think of the “what ifs”, but I can’t help but think of what if Hubby didn’t get have his phone or what if he couldn’t get to his phone?  What if he didn’t have cell service where he was?  It could have taken hours before anyone found him on that part of our property.  He was in one of the far parts of our property and I didn’t even know he was going to be there.  He could have been under that tree, in the cold and snow for hours before he received help.  So scary!

In times of emergency on the farm and in the woods, I’m glad we can count on TELUS (and BlackBerry).  Hubby had to have surgery (twelve inch rod and screws put into his leg) and will be recovering for a few weeks.

I am so thankful for TELUS and that Hubby listened to me years ago and got a smartphone.  TELUS has proven to be undoubtedly one of the best when it comes to reliable service/connection when we’re in big cities and in the rural North.

With TELUS we’re part of a family and not just a number

Late last week, we were finally able to bring Hubby home from the hospital in Sudbury.  On his first day back home, he received a lovely surprise!  Our friends at TELUS sent him this!

Thankful to TELUS for incredible telecommunications and customer service.

You may also be interested in:

• Touching lives and connecting to care in remote communities
• Bridging the healthcare gap in remote communities
• TELUS Health
• Remote and rural communities

Disclosure –  I am a #TeamTELUS Advocate.  Though I am affiliated with TELUS, all thoughts and opinions expressed on this blog are honest and my own.