The power of community: TOH Auxiliary donates $1.425M to support patients
Category: Creating Tomorrow
Sometimes shopping pays off. The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) Auxiliary just generously donated another $1.425 million thanks to funds raised, including through their retail spaces.
This incredible contribution will help provide urgent support to patients and frontline teams through the purchase of an EBUS, used to help diagnose cancer in the nodes around the lungs; neonatal ventilators, to help our smallest and most vulnerable patients breathe and develop; and an emergency fund for patient needs.
“The Ottawa Hospital is the regional centre for therapeutic respiratory procedures, and without quality equipment, we could not provide this care to our patients. Thank you TOH Auxiliary and all who shop at their stores!”
– Joni Ettinger, Director of Critical Care and Allied Health at The Ottawa Hospital
For more than a century, the TOH Auxiliary has been a driving force behind patient comfort and care — and their impact deepens every year. They are able to continue these transformational donations thanks to the proceeds from a network of retail spaces — including on-campus gift shops, a medical supply store, and a growing online store.
Over the last decade, they’ve donated more than $16 million to The Ottawa Hospital, supporting everything from emergency clothing to cardiac monitors to advanced navigation systems for brain and spine surgery.
“The Ottawa Hospital Auxiliary fills an essential role in our hospital family,” says Catherine Higgens, President of the Auxiliary Board of Directors. “They’re more than volunteers — they’re champions of care, always finding new ways to support patients, families, and frontline teams.”
This latest gift will have a profound impact — not just in dollars, but in the compassion and commitment behind every hour volunteered, every gift wrapped, and every meaningful patient and family interaction in their shops.
Simply put, the Auxiliary inspires us all. They remind us of what’s possible when generosity and volunteerism meet purpose — and our hospital community is stronger because of it.
Our Foundation’s strategic plan charts an ambitious path in support of The Ottawa Hospital and, ultimately, the patients, donors, and community members we serve. We are committed to helping reshape the future of healthcare for our region and creating a better tomorrow.
The strategic objectives of our plan are:
Inspire the community’s generosity to advance the TOH mission and vision to reshape the future of healthcare
Successfully complete the Campaign to Create Tomorrow
Prepare for futures philanthropic priorities supporting the strategic plan of The Ottawa Hospital
Empower our team to meaningfully connect with donors and volunteers
Increase the profile and reach of the TOH brand
Promote The Ottawa Hospital’s regional healthcare strategy, national research and innovation leadership, and global recognition.
Reach key segments of donors in our community with innovative approaches for engagement
Sustain a community presence that nurtures The Ottawa Hospital brand and supports and cultivates gifts by acquiring, valuing, and retaining donors at all levels
Connect meaningfully with our donors, volunteers, and community
Deliver an exceptional donor experience
Build an exceptional volunteer team that reflects the diversity in our community
Advance the responsible use of technology
Invest in leading-edge infrastructure, technology, and processes to enhance the donor experience and optimize effectiveness
Develop and implement a comprehensive data strategy for the Foundation
Investigate and implement new tools incorporating AI to connect with our donors
Empower our people
Commit to a rewarding work experience and talent management program for employees, positioning the Foundation as the leading charity employer in the region
Build an inclusive staff team that reflects the diversity in our community
Message from our President & CEO and Board Chair
In 2022, we launched our Campaign to Create Tomorrow — the most ambitious fundraising campaign in the history of our city — with a goal of $500M. We’re now more than 70% of the way there and remain committed to achieving our goal over the next three years.
But it is more than just a fundraising target — it’s a shared commitment to help The Ottawa Hospital reshape the future of healthcare for today and for generations to come. Our Foundation’s strategic plan is critical to that vision, so we remain focused on the successes that are still to come.
Thank you for walking this path with us. Together, we are building a future where extraordinary care isn’t just a goal — it’s a promise.
TIM KLUKE President & CEOThe Ottawa Hospital Foundation
JANET McKEAGE Chair, Board of DirectorsThe Ottawa Hospital Foundation
TIM KLUKE President & CEOThe Ottawa Hospital Foundation
JANET McKEAGE Chair, Board of DirectorsThe Ottawa Hospital Foundation
Inspire the community's generosity to advance The Ottawa Hospital's mission and vision to reshape the future of healthcare
Successfully complete the Campaign to Create Tomorrow
Prepare for futures philanthropic priorities supporting the strategic plan of The Ottawa Hospital
Empower our team to meaningfully connect with donors and volunteers
Increase the profile and reach of The Ottawa Hospital
Promote The Ottawa Hospital’s regional healthcare strategy, national research and innovation leadership, and global recognition.
Reach key segments of donors in our community with innovative approaches for engagement
Sustain a community presence that nurtures The Ottawa Hospital brand and supports and cultivates gifts by acquiring, valuing, and retaining donors at all levels
Connect meaningfully with our donors, volunteers, and the larger community
Deliver an exceptional donor experience
Build an exceptional volunteer team that reflects the diversity in our community
Advance the responsibile use of technology
Invest in leading-edge infrastructure, technology, and processes to enhance the donor experience and optimize effectiveness
Develop and implement a comprehensive data strategy for the Foundation
Investigate and implement new tools incorporating AI to connect with our donors
Empower our people
Commit to a rewarding work experience and talent management program for employees, positioning the Foundation as the leading charity employer in the region
Build an inclusive staff team that reflects the diversity in our community
Highlights of our success
To hear how we’re progressing on our Campaign to Create Tomorrow, visit: creatingtomorrow.ca
We will strive to be the most efficient, effective, and respected hospital foundation in Canada, providing optimal support to The Ottawa Hospital.
Our mission
We are a team of professional staff and community leaders passionately committed to inspiring, enabling, and celebrating community support for The Ottawa Hospital, in the pursuit of discovery and with exceptional kindness and courage, our hospital colleagues bring hope to every patient through world-class care and research.
Our values
We strive to inspire and help the community support The Ottawa Hospital.
We are donor-centered in all our activities.
We work hard to build lifelong relationships with our donors.
We are committed to serving our community in both of Canada’s official languages.
We are committed to being accountable to all our stakeholders.
Published: June 2025
Between a quarter to a third of people having major liver surgery, often due to cancer, will need a blood transfusion. Now, imagine being able to reduce the need for this type of transfusion and the impact it would have on a global scale. This has been a vision for Dr. Guillaume Martel, a surgeon and scientist, who holds the donor-funded Arnie Vered Family Chair in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Research at The Ottawa Hospital and University of Ottawa.
When Dr. Martel was training as a fellow in Montreal, he witnessed a technique for liver surgery that was new to him. It reduces the amount of blood loss during a liver operation, and the idea both fascinated and intrigued him. But when he did some digging, the young doctor realized there wasn’t much background on the technique and there were no clinical trials — no concrete evidence to prove its value.
Dr. Guillaume Martel
Liz and Arnie Vered with their six children and son-in-law
In August 2019, Dr. Guillaume Martel was announced as the first Arnie Vered Family Chair in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Research. Dr. Martel is a gifted surgeon at The Ottawa Hospital who has saved and prolonged the lives of countless patients, particularly those with cancer. An international search conducted for this Research Chair found the best candidate right here in Ottawa. This Research Chair provides the opportunity for innovative clinical trials and cutting-edge surgical techniques that will benefit our patients for years to come. This was made possible through the generous support of the Vered Family, alongside other donors.
“When Arnie got sick, he needed to travel to Montreal for treatment. It was so hard for him to be away from home and our six children. We wanted to help make it possible for people to receive treatment right here in Ottawa. This Chair is an important part of his legacy.” – Liz Vered, donor
Launching the largest trial of its kind
When he arrived at The Ottawa Hospital, it became a personal mission to learn more about the technique, known as hypovolemic phlebotomy, where a controlled amount of blood is removed from the patient before liver surgery, then reinfused back into the patient afterward. Once he and his team, including anesthetist Dr. Chris Wherrett, perfected the technique, they decided to do their own research, in order to have concrete evidence showing the impact of this practice-changing medicine.
Often, donations from the community help get the early phase research projects off the ground, attracting large-scale funding through grants to launch in-depth investigations. Once Dr. Martel’s team had tested the safety and feasibility of the technique in major liver surgery as part of a phase 1 trial at our hospital, they launched the largest trial of its kind, thanks to funding from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research.
Over five years, ending in 2023, 446 people were recruited at four Canadian hospitals, including The Ottawa Hospital, to participate. “Once under anesthetic, patients were randomly selected to receive either hypovolemic phlebotomy, to decrease blood transfusions, or to receive usual care,” explains Dr. Martel.
Only the anesthesiologist knew which patients were in which group.
Rowan Ladd participated in a clinical trial at The Ottawa Hospital
Raising her hand to participate in research
One of those patients enrolled was Rowan Ladd, a former analyst for the Department of National Defence, who was diagnosed with colon cancer in December 2020 at age 44.
“I was so scared and fearful — fearful that I was going to die.”
In the time leading up to her diagnosis, she recalls having many signs that she shrugged off as stress-related, so when the mother of two heard she had cancer, she was shocked. “I was so scared and fearful — fearful that I was going to die.”
Within three months of her diagnosis, she had a colectomy, a surgical procedure that removes all or part of the colon, and four months later she was back to work.
However, two years later, a regular MRI check showed a spot on her liver. Her cancer had spread, it was devastating news, and that’s when she met Dr. Martel. “You hear stage 4, and you think that’s it. But Dr. Martel explained that not every stage 4 means immediate death. He had patients he operated on who were alive years later,” says Rowan.
“I’m a big proponent of research. This study sounded interesting because they had great results in the pilot trial.”
When it came time to remove the tumour, Rowan didn’t hesitate to raise her hand to participate in the clinical trial. “I’m a big proponent of research. This study sounded interesting because they had great results in the pilot trial,” says Rowan. “You’re told before surgery that the liver is so full of blood vessels that there are risks of major bleeding. I thought it was great that researchers were trying things to reduce those risks.”
It was one thing to say yes to the trial, but Rowan was hopeful to be picked for the technique. Her surgery took place in October 2022, and later learned she was in fact randomly selected to have hypovolemic phlebotomy.
Rowan with her dog
Rowan with her two daughters and husband
Reducing the risk of blood loss
For patients in the hypovolemic phlebotomy group, the anesthesiologist removed the equivalent of one blood donation (about 450 mL) into a blood bag before surgery. If the patient needed blood during surgery, their blood was used first. Otherwise, it was re-infused before they woke up.
“Blood loss is a major concern in liver surgery. Taking out half a litre of blood right before major liver surgery is the best thing we’ve found so far for reducing blood loss and transfusions,” says Dr. Martel. “It works by lowering the blood pressure in the liver. It’s safe, simple, inexpensive, and should be considered for any liver surgery with a high risk of bleeding.”
“Being part of this trial was a really positive experience, and the team was wonderful. I’m so glad I was picked, and I’m glad it will help other people.”
For Rowan, she was thrilled to be selected. She did not need a blood transfusion, and after four days in hospital, she was back home with her family in Dunrobin. Now, two years later she remains cancer-free.
“I looked at this surgery like it saved my life. I was unlucky to get cancer, but it woke me up. Now I live life, and I really enjoy it, where before I was just existing,” she says. “Being part of this trial was a really positive experience, and the team was wonderful. I’m so glad I was picked, and I’m glad it will help other people.”
The cost of saving blood for those who need it most
Liver surgery is considered a major operation. There is a higher-than-average risk of major bleeding and a consequence of that is the need for a blood transfusion during the operation to help keep the patient alive, help them recover, and thrive.
“Blood transfusions can save lives, but if you don’t need one to save your life then it’s better to avoid it,” says Dr. Dean Fergusson, senior author on the study and Deputy Scientific Director, Clinical Research at The Ottawa Hospital.
Meet Dr. Dean Fergusson
Learn more about Dr. Dean Fergusson, senior author of the study and Deputy Scientific Director of Clinical Research at The Ottawa Hospital.
“There’s not an infinite amount of blood available in hospitals — it’s a precious resource.”
One blood transfusion in Canada costs about $500, mainly in human resources. The blood bags and tubes used for hypovolemic phlebotomy cost less than $30. As Dr. Martel points out, “There’s not an infinite amount of blood available in hospitals — it’s a precious resource.”
He also raises that blood collection has a considerable carbon emission. “We take it from donors and clinics, then we transport the blood. It needs to be processed and separated into components in a facility, then it needs to be stored. That all adds up to a pretty significant carbon footprint,” adds Dr. Martel.
What does this mean for patients?
Hospital blood bank data and patient medical records show 7.6% of those who received hypovolemic phlebotomy had blood transfusions in the 30 days after surgery compared to 16.1% of those who received usual care. Hypovolemic phlebotomy caused no more complications than usual care.
“With this technique, your odds of requiring a blood transfusion drop by half, without any added risk to you. So, it's a win-win.”
Surgeons also say the technique made surgery easier because there was less blood obscuring the places they needed to cut.
According to Dr. Martel, this is a gamechanger for patients anywhere having major liver surgery. “With this technique, your odds of requiring a blood transfusion drop by half, without any added risk to you. So, it’s a win-win.”
Now the goal is to spread the word and educate surgeons around the world. The hospitals that participated in the trial, including The Ottawa Hospital, have implemented the technique as standard of care, and it’s believed other hospitals globally will start to adopt it when they learn about the transformational results.
Listen to Dr. Guillaume Martel in episode 40 of Pulse Podcast discuss complex abdominal surgeries and the Arnie Vered Family Chair in Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Research.
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Categories: Cancer, Patient Care, Patient Care, Patient Care, World-Leading Research, World-Leading Research, World-Leading Research, World-Leading Research
Published: May 2025
The Ottawa Hospital is creating a comprehensive epilepsy program — a one-stop shop, if you will — that will have a huge impact on patients. As a complement to this specialized care, the hospital completed its first-ever stereoelectroencephalography (stereo EEG) procedure on January 13, 2025. This minimally invasive surgery identifies the precise areas in the brain where seizures originate and provides care teams with detailed information to develop more targeted and effective treatment plans for those with epilepsy.
Previously, patients from our region needed to travel to Southern Ontario for this type of procedure. Now, care can be delivered closer to home, saving patients time, money, and allowing them to stay close to family.
“We’ve all seen it on TV or in the movies.”
Epilepsy is a neurological disorder, and a seizure is a sudden burst of electrical activity in the brain that causes a temporary disturbance in the way brain cells communicate with each other. The kind of seizure a person has depends on which part and how much of the brain is affected by the electrical disturbance.
A seizure may take many different forms, including a blank stare, uncontrolled movements, altered awareness, odd sensations, such as smelling something that’s not actually there, or convulsions.
Model demonstration of stereo EEG
Dr. Tadeu Fantaneanu, the Medical Director of the Epilepsy Program in our EEG laboratory, explains the latter is known as tonic-clonic seizure, previously called a grand mal seizure. “That’s when the person falls to the ground, foams at the mouth, and shakes. We’ve all seen it on TV or in movies.”
Our program serves approximately 13,000 people living with epilepsy in our region. We also have what’s called a transfer and transition clinic with CHEO. “Those are patients who have had epilepsies since they were quite young, potentially since birth or later on in their childhood years or adolescent years, and they get referred to us when it comes time to transfer into adult care,” he says.
According to Dr. Fantaneanu, epilepsy can affect anyone at any age, but there are two peaks — prior to age six and over 65. In young patients, it’s usually because of genetics, and in older patients, it’s often because of the damage that a brain will accumulate over a lifetime.
Building a comprehensive epilepsy program
In the last five years, our hospital’s Epilepsy Program has grown tremendously, thanks to a partnership with the Ministry of Health and a $12-million grant, as well as donations from the community. As Dr. Fantaneanu explains, the goal of the grant is for The Ottawa Hospital to become a regional epilepsy surgery centre. That’s a provincial designation and it will ensure that we will have the ability to perform high-level surgeries that are not currently available in this region.
Dr. Tadeu Fantaneanu and Dr. Alan Chalil from our Epilepsy Program
Dr. Fantaneanu says this is something patients in Eastern Ontario desperately need. “They could have their tests and care done here, but eventually, if surgery was needed, they would be a referred to a hospital in Toronto or London — as many as seven to eight hours away.”
Travel that takes time, money, and patients away from their loved ones and careers. “Patients would have to be away from their families at a vulnerable time in their lives, when they’re admitted in the hospital, potentially after a brain surgery,” he adds.
Over the course of the past several years, Dr. Fantaneanu and his team have built up testing capabilities for patients and the monitoring unit continues to grow. It’s where the team evaluates patients who have seizures. It’s currently a four-bed unit and at the new hospital campus it will be a six-bed unit — all private rooms.
Attracting the best and the brightest in epilepsy care
It was the impressive plans to build a comprehensive epilepsy centre that attracted Dr. Alan Chalil to our hospital in 2024, to become the Surgical Director of the Epilepsy Program. He is a neurosurgeon with training focused mainly on epilepsy and surgical treatment of epilepsy — that includes implantation of stereo EEG. He completed his training in London, home of the largest surgical epilepsy centre in Canada, and Emory University in Atlanta.
“It was a very unique opportunity because it seemed like bringing in my training would be the last piece of the puzzle to fit into that whole picture in terms of how to treat epilepsy,” says Dr. Chalil. “Coming to a new team that’s being developed was a nice opportunity and also a big challenge.”
“Epilepsy surgery is about finding that delicate balance: freeing the patient from seizures while preserving the brain’s normal function. That’s why it means so much to me."
As he explains, while epilepsy surgery has been practiced for over 80 years, the transition to stereo EEG in North America continues to highlight many unknowns. “Epilepsy doesn’t have to define a person’s life, but its unpredictable nature can still disrupt it in profound ways. Seizures can interfere with everything — work, relationships, social life, even financial stability,” explains Dr. Chalil. “Epilepsy surgery is about finding that delicate balance: freeing the patient from seizures while preserving the brain’s normal function. That’s why it means so much to me.”
Meet neurosurgeon Dr. Alan Chalil
Learn more about how our experts in The Ottawa Hospital’s life-changing Surgical Epilepsy Program are giving patients their lives back every day.
An EEG is the recording of brain waves by putting small electrodes on the patient’s head, which are connected to a computer, and recording electrical activity in the brain. It helps diagnose a variety of brain conditions.
In contrast, the stereo EEG places these electrodes inside the brain through tiny pinholes. In January 2025, Dr. Chalil performed our hospital’s first-ever stereo EEG. This minimally invasive surgery identifies the precise areas in the brain where seizures originate.
“There could be anywhere between 10 to 20 electrodes per patient. We make a small nick in the skin, like a pinhole, and then drill into the skull,” he explains. “We have a defined trajectory — we know exactly where we are going and what structures we’re going to pass through to get to our target. Then we put the electrode in. It takes about 10 to 15 minutes per electrode.”
“An EEG, or electroencephalogram (left), uses electrodes attached to the scalp to measure and record the electrical activity of the brain. A stereo EEG (right), also known as stereo-electroencephalography (SEEG), is a minimally invasive procedure where electrodes are placed directly into the brain in order to pinpoint the sources and networks involved in generating epileptic seizures.”
Once the patient wakes up, with the implanted electrodes, they get a CT scan. From there, Dr. Chalil will build a model for his colleagues on the neurology team that tells them where each electrode is placed in the brain. This helps determine where the seizure is starting and where it is spreading.
“The patient is then admitted to the Epilepsy Monitoring Unit (EMU) for a week or up to a month, sometimes even longer, until we get enough seizures to study,” he says.
The team then correlates the electrical signal they saw from the electrodes during a seizure, along with their previous information, and come up with a treatment plan. Treatment options can vary from removing a small section of the brain, to deep-brain stimulation, or even a newly acquired piece of technology called the radio frequency generator.
This new tech can be brought right to the patient’s bedside where Drs. Fantaneanu and Chalil can send an electric signal to generate a lesion that’s about 3 to 5mm thick. “It’s very small, but it’s very effective. And that lesion could cause a disruption in the epilepsy network and eliminate seizures up to 30% of the time,” Dr. Chalil explains.
While that number isn’t huge, he adds it’s reasonably effective because no other surgery is required.
“It's the last piece in a big picture to make Ottawa a centre of excellence for treatment of epilepsy.”
As the team continues to further establish the program, they look to add new laser technology to provide patients with even better results, which can eliminate seizures from 60 to 75% of the time, depending on the type of seizure. They also hope to use these techniques in the coming year, driven in large part by an ongoing randomized controlled trial. “It’s called the slate trial, and it will give us a definitive number of comparisons between temporal lobe resection and laser ablations in treating a specific type of temporal lope epilepsy,” says Dr. Chalil.
For now, the completion of five stereo EEGs is a significant step. “It’s the last piece in a big picture to make Ottawa a centre of excellence for treatment of epilepsy. If we demonstrate that we can do it, interpret it safely, and produce meaningful surgeries out of it, then these patients will not need to travel anywhere else,” says Dr. Chalil.
Dr. Tadeu Fantaneanu and Dr. Alan Chalil
Learn more about The Ottawa Hospital’s Epilepsy Program in episode xx of Pulse Podcast with Dr. Tadeu Fantaneanu.
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Categories: Innovation and Technology, Patient Care, Strengthening Critical Services, Technology
Published: April 2025
Three times a week, you’ll likely find Chantal Theriault kickboxing to stay in shape — physically and mentally. It’s a sport she picked up easily from her father, Jean-Yves “The Iceman” Theriault — a world kickboxing champion. It’s the strength she developed from this sport, along with her sense of humour, that helped her navigate through an astonishing medical diagnosis five years ago. At the age of 37, Chantal learned she had early-onset Parkinson’s disease — this was one hit she didn’t see coming.
The distressing news for this otherwise healthy young woman was delivered during the peak of the pandemic in the summer of 2020. Initially, there were many more questions than answers. Still, never one to back down from a challenge, no matter how insurmountable this one appeared to be, Chantal came to terms with the news, educated herself, and put her trust in the committed physicians and researchers at The Ottawa Hospital (TOH).
Chantal is all too familiar with our hospital but from a different vantage point. She’s a program coordinator in the Critical Care Department. She’s been a part of the TOH family for 22 years — she started in Admitting Services and worked her way to where she is today on the Intensive Care Unit team. It’s a team for which she has the utmost respect, and she plays an important role.
“Any resident that must do their rotation in the ICU comes through me. I do the scheduling for the Civic and the General campuses. There are about 300 residents that come through the year,” explains Chantal.
Working in the ICU for so many years, she has garnered the utmost respect from her colleagues for the high quality of her work and her pleasant demeanour.
Chantal with her father, Jean-Yves Theriault and sister, Brigitte Theriault
It started with tremors in her hand
As Chantal was busy with her work, during the height of the pandemic, she developed a tremor in her arm. “It started in my hand and then made its way up my arm, and eventually I could feel it in my leg a little bit. I initially thought I pinched a nerve in my neck.”
“When I walked, he noticed that my right arm didn’t swing. That was a big sign. After a few other tests, I learned I had early-onset Parkinson’s.”
As an avid kickboxer, she exercises regularly and has dealt with a minor injury or ache in the past. She was going to try her chiropractor, but she kept putting it off and eventually, it was recommended she might want to see her family physician, as the symptoms progressed.
After several tests, including an MRI, which showed nothing concerning, she met with a neurologist at The Ottawa Hospital, who put Chantal through several physical tests. “When I walked, he noticed that my right arm didn’t swing. That was a big sign. After a few other tests, I learned I had early-onset Parkinson’s.”
At that point, Chantal’s mind just completely shut down, as she describes it. “The two people that I think of right away when I hear Parkinson’s are Michael J. Fox and Muhammad Ali. I wondered, ‘What the hell do I have in common with these people?’”
What is Parkinson’s disease?
Parkinson’s disease is a movement disorder that affects the nervous system. The symptoms start slowly but progress over time, and although tremor is a common symptom, slowness and stiffness are additional features present early on. The risk of Parkinson’s increases with age, and men are more likely to develop it than women. When a person is diagnosed before the age of 40, it’s often referred to as early-onset Parkinson’s.
That day of her diagnosis, Chantal went home and had what she describes as a moment of woe, and then she moved on — grateful to work at The Ottawa Hospital and to be surrounded by some of the best care team members in the world.
“There will be mobility issues someday but that's down the road. Right now, I have things to do. I have a life to live.”
“I don’t know what this means or what the progression timeline looks, but I’ve got a team behind me — I’ve got this. There will be mobility issues someday but that’s down the road. Right now, I have things to do. I have a life to live.”
All about Parkinson's
For many people, the first time they heard about Parkinson’s disease might have been when Michael J. Fox shared his diagnosis in 1998. For many others, the first time they heard about Parkinson’s might have been when someone they know received a diagnosis — a parent, a friend, a co-worker, or maybe even themselves.
She also used humour to help get through some of those early days of living with Parkinson’s, including a new tattoo that she got done on the inside of her right arm. It reads, ‘Shaken not stirred’.
Another big step in this new journey for Chantal was meeting Dr. Michael Schlossmacher, Director of the Neuroscience Program at our hospital. “He is the most incredible human being — super supportive, super down to Earth,” says Chantal. “He takes the time, and he encouraged me to bring a family member during my follow-ups if they have questions.”
That’s also around the time where the impact of research came into play for this young woman. She’s enrolled in two research projects at our hospital, including one Dr. Schlossmacher is leading.
The global impact of Parkinson’s research
It’s research that drives Chantal. She’s put all her efforts into helping to advance treatment options and hopefully to help scientists find a cure for the disease someday. That’s what motivated her to create the Kick It for Parkinson’s fundraiser, which supported The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research — an organization that has funded research here at The Ottawa Hospital.
In December 2024, an international team led by Dr. Schlossmacher received a US$6 million grant from the Aligning Science Across Parkinson’s (ASAP) initiative, in partnership with The Michael J. Fox Foundation, to continue their work on reduced sense of smell in Parkinson’s disease — a testament to our leadership in research.
“Our interdisciplinary team is on the leading edge of this topic, making discoveries that could one day impact diagnosis, prevention, and possibly, patient care.”
“Understanding the loss in sense of smell in Parkinson’s is having its moment right now,” says Dr. Schlossmacher. “Our interdisciplinary team is on the leading edge of this topic, making discoveries that could one day impact diagnosis, prevention, and possibly, patient care.”
More recently in another study, the first clinical trial of its kind showed interpersonal psychotherapy may be better than other types of psychotherapy for treating depression in patients living with Parkinson’s. People with Parkinson’s often experience depression, but there’s been little research to show what type of psychotherapy works best.
The trial, led by Dr. David Grimes, Director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic and Dr. Diana Koszycki at the University of Ottawa, assigned 63 people with Parkinson’s and depression to one of two types of psychotherapy for 12 sessions. The group with interpersonal psychotherapy had significantly lower depression scores.
Director of the Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic
Find out how Dr. Grimes got pulled into the field of neurology and what advice he has for people diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
“Psychotherapy is an important option for treating depression in Parkinson’s. Healthcare providers should consider recommending it alone or in combination with antidepressants,” says Dr. Grimes.
It’s patients like Chantal that make this type of research possible. “I’m very proud to have the opportunity to be part of the studies I’m involved in. This was a life-changing diagnosis, and if taking part in these studies is what’s going to make a difference, then I’m going keep doing it,” she says.
Dr. Schlossmacher adds that working with patients is a privilege and calls their courage and commitment “humbling”. He refers to Chantal as a source of inspiration and motivation for him and his research team.
Building a new neuroscience centre
The new neuroscience centre, to be located at the new hospital campus on Carling Avenue at Preston Street, will have the potential to be among the best in the world. It will combine cutting-edge research with clinical treatments to accelerate the development of new therapies for conditions such as Parkinson’s, stroke, epilepsy, multiple sclerosis, and more to help patients just like Chantal.
"“There's going be a cure for Parkinson's, maybe not in my lifetime but there will be. I hope that I get to see it and then I can say, I was part of that study.”
Chantal is a program coordinator for the Critical Care Unit
As the research continues to move forward, Chantal will be more than a spectator as she continues to help advance scientific discoveries through her participation and fundraising whenever she can.
As her tremors are controlled today by medication, she’s proud to be a part of the TOH family that’s working towards progress. “There’s going be a cure for Parkinson’s, maybe not in my lifetime but there will be. I hope that I get to see it and then I can say, I was part of that study, or when Dr. Schlossmacher gets the Nobel Prize or something, I can say I know him.”
As she takes a moment to pause, tears fill her eyes, then Chantal continues. “It makes me proud. It makes me very proud to work for this organization.”
Download or steam episode 108 of Pulse Podcast to hear from Chantal Theriault and her journey with early-onset Parkinson’s.
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Categories: Neuro, Parkinson's
Published: March 2025
For sixteen years, Team PIPR (Partner’s Investing in Parkinson’s Research) has been committed to advancing Parkinson’s research through participation and fundraising at Ottawa Race Weekend. This dedicated group is focused on providing support to grow Parkinson’s research, the effect of donor contributions, and the meaningful impact their efforts are having on the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.
After years of dedication to helping fund research at The Ottawa Hospital, in 2025, the team is hoping to cross a major milestone in their fundraising efforts — $2 million.
The evolution of Team PIPR
In 2009, a group of investment advisors, led by Andrew Frank, Richard Shantz, and Roberta Driscoll of RBC Dominion Securities, founded Partners Investing in Parkinson Research, and they quickly became known as PIPR. Their mission started with a common goal: to raise funds for Parkinson’s research at The Ottawa Hospital and to increase awareness of Parkinson’s disease.
“When we started Team PIPR, it was more about research because we were interested in finding out what Parkinson’s was and where it came from,” shares Andrew. “Many of us had been touched by the disease and wanted to understand the disease better.”
Team PIPR
As Team PIPR grew, so did the purpose behind it. There was a pivotal shift when individuals living with Parkinson’s joined the movement and began participating at race weekend.
It was no longer just about understanding research for themselves — it was about using their donor dollars to not only grasp the complexities of the disease, but also to make a real difference in helping others living with it.
“I think that’s when the team’s success started, and that’s what held it together,” says Andrew. “The families that were impacted by Parkinson’s — the caregivers and the patients — were at the table. That became a very important part of the circumstances.”
Dr. Julianna Tomlinson and Dr. Michael Schlossmacher
Physicians and researchers are a part of the team
The medical experts at The Ottawa Hospital have been incredibly supportive and important to Team PIPR’s success.
“All the doctors are so ridiculously talented, smart, caring, and passionate.”
— Andrew Frank
“The doctors showed up and participated,” he says, referring to Dr. Michael Schlossmacher, Director of Neuroscience, and Dr. David Grimes, neurologist and Director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Clinic at our hospital. They are just two of many who have joined the team and continue to make groundbreaking advancements in neurological diseases. With the neuroscience research at the new hospital campus, there is the potential to become a global leader in the field.
“Fundraising is emotion.”
— Andrew Frank
“All the doctors are so ridiculously talented, smart, caring, and passionate,” says Andrew. “They’re so collaborative with us and each other. And once you get the doctors, the donors, and the patients together at the table, it brings the emotion level way up. Fundraising is emotion.”
While the member numbers for Team PIPR are consistently changing, they are a mighty group of around 150 individuals, connected by their shared desire to support neuroscience research and medical advancements.
Andrew Frank’s personal connection to PIPR
In 2000, Andrew received devastating news — his mother in Toronto had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s. Feeling helpless and distant, her diagnosis sparked a profound shift in him, driving his commitment to learn more, get involved, and make a difference. When Team PIPR was founded, his mother’s fight was a constant inspiration.
“It became more than just fundraising — it was about learning, supporting, and making a real impact.”
— Andrew Frank
Reflecting on the experience, Andrew shared, “It was a very supportive group because my mother was in Toronto, and I wasn’t connected to the Toronto community. Helping people here fundraise and connecting with leaders who also had loved ones with Parkinson’s created a deep, personal bond. It became more than just fundraising — it was about learning, supporting, and making a real impact.”
For Andrew, Team PIPR became a pillar of support during a difficult time, reminding him that he could be a changemaker in his mother’s care, and the care for others. Eight years after his mother’s passing, Andrew cherishes the memories of stepping up for her during her toughest years, when she needed her family the most.
Leaders in impact for sixteen years
Sixteen years ago, Team PIPR completed their first race at Tamarack Ottawa Race Weekend. Each year, as they prepare to race together, they also rely on each other to strategically drive their fundraising efforts, aiming to raise $100,000 annually.
The core of their team is investing. “We have to invest to grow,” Andrew explains. “Look at cancer research. If you’re investing, you’re going to see returns”
Every year, individuals living with Parkinson’s, caregivers, families, and donors complete the 2K together at race weekend.
Andrew remembers one particular year when he completed the 2K with his mother, taking 50 minutes. He smiles at the memory, knowing it wasn’t about the time — it was about the accomplishment they shared.
On the day following the 2k, Team PIPR doesn’t rest. They operate a water and cheer station on the marathon and half-marathon routes, wearing their deep-red Team PIPR shirts and motivating every runner — cheering for them proudly. It’s a reminder of their mission from 16 years ago and another way to be together.
“If you expect more, you have to deliver more,” Andrew says proudly. “We wanted to learn, we had a lot of ideas, and we put in a lot of hard work.”
Andrew observes the new campus development from his office every day, confident that Team PIPR is helping reshape the future of Parkinson’s research and will continue to drive change for patients. “We found the vehicle, and I wouldn’t turn back for a second,” he says.
There’s a particular image that David Gilbert, President of Ottawa-based Paterson Group, is delighted to share. It’s a map of the Ottawa area and beyond covered with thousands of dots, each one representing a job site where the Paterson Group has worked.
There are 30,000 dots — 30,000 projects since the company first set up shop here in 1956.
The go-to consultant for Ottawa developers
Paterson Group is a consulting engineering firm, with an expertise in many areas from geotechnical and environmental engineering to materials testing and building sciences.
“We’re involved in a lot of land development projects,” David explains, “We’re based here in Ottawa, but we’ve got offices in North Bay and Mississauga, as well.”
For 69 years, Paterson Group has been the “go to” consultant for Ottawa developers and for the construction industry. They provide a wide range of multi-disciplinary consulting services, supporting every stage of development from initial site assessments to final construction.
Transformative support of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow
That’s the history of a company proud to be part of building this community. A company proud to be part of building our healthcare infrastructure, too. Paterson Group recently announced a commitment to contribute $1 million towards The Ottawa Hospital Foundation’s Campaign to Create Tomorrow that will transform healthcare in our region and help take research to unprecedented heights.
“We think it’s fantastic for our community.”
— David Gilbert
It’s by far the largest philanthropic gift the company, and its 170 employees, have made to date.
“Everyone in our company is very proud to be part of this,” says David. “We think it’s fantastic for our community.”
But he adds it’s also important for businesses in our region, for their employees, and their families.
“We need this city to be prosperous and to be a great place to raise our families and do business. So, if we’re supporting initiatives like the Campaign to Create Tomorrow, which will help build the new hospital campus right here in our own community, we’re also helping ourselves.”
That’s a message he hopes will resonate with other small and medium-sized businesses like Paterson Group.
“We can make a difference with this donation on so many fronts.”
— David Gilbert
“There are so many firms that rely on the growth of this city. So, if you have a world-class facility here, with world-renowned doctors, and cutting-edge research, you’re going to get all this amazing spin-off activity and development. And so many of us are in the development industry. So yes, we can make a difference with this donation on so many fronts.”
Now, there’s one more dot added to the map David Gilbert first shared with us — a dot where The Ottawa Hospital’s new hospital construction is underway. Paterson Group is excited to be working with PCL and EllisDon on the new site.
“We’re proud to say we’ve contributed to something so transformative for our community,” he adds. “Being part of this project is a legacy we’ll carry forward with pride.”
When David McPhedran’s parents emigrated from the United Kingdom in 1968, they didn’t have much, but Canada was known as the land of opportunity, and that’s what they sought for their young and growing family. They first established themselves in the mining town of Kirkland Lake in Northern Ontario, where David was born. This was also where his father, Dr. Edward McPhedran, provided specialty surgical services and medical consultations that made all the difference to health and happiness in that small mining town.
By 1973, Dr. McPhedran and his wife, Margaret, were ready to take their family to a larger city to explore what other opportunities Canada had to offer — they chose Ottawa. “It looked like a natural fit for the family, with good hospitals and growth opportunities, being the capital of Canada,” explains David.
While he never considered following in his father’s medical footsteps, David had great drive, and he seized the opportunities that came. Beginning with a summer job at age 15 at a local drilling firm, it was through persistence and future-thinking that David eventually took over that firm and developed it to be where he is today — the CEO at Marathon Underground Constructors Corporation.
The company started from modest beginnings 45 years ago here in Ottawa and now is one of Canada’s leading specialty underground contractors. Their work below the surface could involve anything from providing crucial energy installations for hydro in the Atlantic Ocean to pipelines in Western Canada.
Humble and kind
Humble, with a strong belief in giving back, David has focused on philanthropy, even when he didn’t have much to give. “If the community is good to you, you have to give back,” he explains.
In his efforts to be a good citizen, David often donates quietly to causes throughout our community. However, the importance of the Campaign to Create Tomorrow has made him step forward to share the news of his generous $1-million gift more publicly.
His deep connection to The Ottawa Hospital stems from personal experience and family ties, and it’s what inspired him to make this donation to help reshape the future of healthcare in the region. His father dedicated most of his career to caring for patients in Ottawa area hospitals, including the Civic Campus, and David and his wife, Natalia McPhedran, welcomed both of their children at the Civic. Natalia also volunteered at The Ottawa Hospital, and it’s where his brother, who passed away in 2021, received cancer care.
“I saw my children’s first breaths at the Civic hospital. And I saw my brother’s last breath at the Civic.”
— David McPhedran
Access to great healthcare
Those experiences motivated him to support the campaign. “I know how important it is to have great hospitals — I’ve seen it myself,” says David. “People take it for granted and they don’t consider the importance of it.”
“A hospital doesn’t become a great institution on its own. It needs a supportive community.”
— David McPhedran
Learning about plans for the new hospital campus and what they included provided even more incentive. David reflected on his brother’s various periods spent in the hospital, sharing a room, and how challenging it was for patients to get healing rest under those circumstances.
“It’s very difficult when you’re sharing a room with someone. This modern hospital design provides the right model, and that’s one of the reasons why I’m a believer and I’m a supporter. Also, to be able to look outside and see all that green space, that really means a lot as well.”
“I think that each Ottawan deserves a place like this new Ottawa Hospital campus — as citizens that is very important.
— David McPhedran
As a business leader, who generally steers clear of the spotlight, he’s stepping forward to share his message — one he hopes will encourage his industry counterparts to consider lending their support as well. “People must get behind this campaign. These important buildings don’t get built on their own. They don’t get funded on their own either.”
This family man, who watched his own father dedicate much of his life to medicine, is stepping forward to share his message with others because he believes that the aims of this campaign are critical for our community.
“I think that each Ottawan deserves a place like this new Ottawa Hospital campus — as citizens that is very important. I think there should be equal opportunity for all people in Ottawa.”
A CANCER JOURNEY
A journey through two cancers and the BRCA gene mutation
Published: February 2025
When Jennifer Hollington was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, she didn’t see it coming. This shocking news started her down a path she never imagined, including two more significant medical developments: the discovery she had the BRCA gene mutation, and a skin cancer diagnosis.
While well-versed in the healthcare sphere because of her job with Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada, Jen wasn’t prepared for the health crisis she faced in 2020 at the height of the pandemic. However, she was introduced to a large multidisciplinary team of healthcare professionals at The Ottawa Hospital, who helped guide her through this cancer journey.
It was late July 2020 when Jen woke up in the middle of the night with intense pain in her side. After a call to Telehealth Ontario, she went to a local Emergency Department, where blood work and an ultrasound revealed the shocking news — Jen’s tests pointed to a likely diagnosis of ovarian cancer.
“It was a scary and unexpected diagnosis. I came to terms with it only after repeating it many times to family, friends, and co-workers,” she explains.
A stage 3 ovarian cancer diagnosis
By early August, Jen took a leave from her job as the Assistant Deputy Minister of Communications for Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada. Not long after that, she met Dr. Wylam Faught, head of the division of gynecologic oncology based at the Shirley E. Greenberg Women’s Health Centre at the Riverside Campus.
“He sees you as a person, not simply as a patient who is on a long list of patients.”
— Jen Hollington
Dr. Faught took time to walk Jen through what her journey might look like with what he suspected was stage 3 ovarian cancer. “We’re pretty realistic when meeting with a patient who faces this diagnosis. We try to start into the treatment journey with the patient’s eyes wide open — every patient is different.”
Jen receiving care
For Jen, this approach was exactly what she needed. “Dr. Faught was very empathic, but also realistic about the challenges of ovarian cancer, which I appreciated. He sees you as a person, not simply as a patient who is on a long list of patients. It was comforting to know that we were moving forward, but it was also scary.”
The impact of research on patients facing ovarian cancer
In 2024, an estimated 3,000 Canadian women were diagnosed with ovarian cancer. The disease impacts women of all ages, but it’s more common in women who have gone through menopause. Sadly, the current five-year survival rate is only 45%, and that’s why research at all levels plays a critical role in advancing new treatment options.
Researchers like Dr. Barbara Vanderhyden and her team at the Vanderhyden laboratory at The Ottawa Hospital are dedicated to studying this disease.
In late August, Jen underwent surgery to remove her uterus, cervix, ovaries, and Fallopian tubes, followed by six rounds of chemotherapy. Her gynecologic oncologist, Dr. Tien Le, was able to remove most of the visible cancer. The final pathology report confirmed Jen had stage 3 high-grade serous carcinoma arising from her ovary. Luckily, this meant there were very good initial treatment options to manage her cancer.
“Dr. Le told me they are increasingly looking at ovarian cancer as a chronic disease, to keep people living longer and longer. I found this especially encouraging,” says Jen.
That pathology report also indicated her ovarian tumour cells carried the BRCA2 gene mutation. Genetic testing was suggested to see if she was a carrier of the gene change. This would have further impact on immediate family members and direct further treatment for the patient.
All humans have the BRCA genes (BRCA1 and BRCA2). You inherit one from each of your parents, and if one parent has a mutation, there is a 50% chance you will inherit it. These genetic mutations are known to predispose carriers to develop hereditary breast and ovarian cancers, among other cancers.
“Patients with this mutation tend to have a much better prognosis than someone who is not a carrier of the gene change, because there are more treatment options, and the patient is more responsive to chemotherapy. It was positive news overall.”
— Dr. Wylam Faught
By the spring of 2021, genetic test results showed Jen had a mutation in her BRCA2 gene, which subsequent testing revealed she had inherited from her father. This presented another medical hurdle, namely a significant risk of developing breast and other cancers.
While the news was initially alarming to Jen, Dr. Faught explained it offered hope. “Patients with this mutation tend to have a much better prognosis than someone who is not a carrier of the gene change, because there are more treatment options, and the patient is more responsive to chemotherapy. It was positive news overall.”
Once her chemotherapy was complete, Jen was eligible for an effective new class of oral medication known as PARP inhibitors called Olaparib. “It’s only been in the last handful of years that this group of patients with the BRCA gene mutation have benefitted from this new drug, which in some cases has the potential for putting them into remission. So, within her diagnosis of ovarian cancer, there was this silver lining,” explains Dr. Faught.
Jen with her husband and two children
Optimizing her chances for the future
With the results of the genetic testing placing Jen at a higher risk of breast cancer, Dr. Le referred her to Dr. Erin Cordeiro, a breast surgical oncologist at The Ottawa Hospital.
“Dr. Cordeiro was clear, respectful, and kind as she answered all my questions and provided the detailed information I needed to make my final decision on one of two options,” says Jen.
Those options included continuing with annual mammograms and breast MRIs through Ontario’s high-risk screening program or having a preventive bilateral mastectomy. Armed with plenty of statistics, like how preventive surgery would reduce her risk of developing breast cancer by 95%, Jen considered the options.
“I pretty much knew right then and there, surgery was the best option for me. I was so reassured by the call with Dr. Cordeiro. I came away knowing so much more about my options as well as their advantages and disadvantages.”
Her next step was to meet with a plastic surgeon, because as Dr. Cordeiro explained it, she would remove the breast tissue and the plastic surgeon would reconstruct the breasts during the same surgery.
Then another cancer diagnosis
Shortly before the appointments relating to her mastectomy, Jen inquired with her family doctor about an itchy patch of skin near her anus that had persisted for a few years but seemed harmless enough. In September 2021, she met with a dermatologist, who did a biopsy. “He mentioned the possibility of cancer. I thought ‘Good grief, as if I need more cancer in my life.’”
Within days, the news was confirmed, Jen had a second cancer — anal margin squamous cell carcinoma — perianal skin cancer. This news introduced her to a whole new cancer team at our hospital who rallied around her.
Colorectal surgeon Dr. Robin Boushey removed an almost one-centimeter tumour. When the post-surgery pathology report indicated that pre-cancerous cells remained in the margins, Dr. Boushey referred Jen to radiation oncologist Dr. Jenny Jin.
“The pathology showed there were precancerous tumours along the cut edge of the tumour. We knew that she would have quite a high risk of local recurrence if there was no further treatment,” explains Dr. Jin.
“There’s been no evidence of any recurrence, and soon she’ll be three years out. The highest rates of recurrence are in the first two years, and so her chances are getting better.”
— Dr. Jenny Jin
Another surgery was possible, but that brought some risks and could impact Jen’s quality of life. “If she were to have more resected, it would mean that she’d likely end up with a permanent ostomy pouch for bowel movements, so we went with an organ preservation approach,” explains Dr. Jin.
By February 2022, Jen finished 25 treatments of radiation. “She’s done very well ever since. There’s been no evidence of any recurrence, and soon she’ll be three years out. The highest rates of recurrence are in the first two years, and so her chances are getting better,” says Dr. Jin.
For Jen, it was another big hurdle she’d overcome.
Jen and Nurse Hillary ringing the radiation bell at Irving Greenberg Family Cancer Centre
Jen ringing the bell at The Ottawa Hospital
The overarching support along the way
One thing that stands out to Jen along this journey has been the many multi-disciplinary teams who cared for her, including many nurses and allied health professionals. One in particular had a huge impact. Jacinthe Lepage has been a nurse at The Ottawa Hospital for over 30 years, and she’s spent most of her career working in gynecology oncology.
More recently, her role has evolved to include a first-of-its-kind nurse-led PARP inhibitor clinic at our hospital’s Cancer Centre.
“The clinic first opened in March 2023 and there’s no other clinic like it – anywhere in Canada,” explains Jacinthe. “There’s a lot of monitoring and calls when somebody is on this drug, so I’m the nurse that’s there for those patients.”
It’s this experience, compassion, and candor that Jacinthe brings to patients that resonated with Jen. “Jacinthe is fabulous, and she’s been with me through this whole experience. A voice of comfort and reason when I have questions. She’s always there.”
Jacinthe Lepage, clinical oncology nurse
“I don’t see the cancer when I talk to them, because I know that they don’t want to be identified as that. To me, it’s very important to treat the person behind all this.”
— Jacinthe Lepage
For Jacinthe, it’s a special role that she takes very seriously, and it’s different for each person. “We treat the cancer, but I see the person behind all this. I don’t see the cancer when I talk to them, because I know that they don’t want to be identified as that. To me, it’s very important to treat the person behind all this.”
As she explains, they need to be able to open up and ask any questions. “I know some are afraid to ask questions about death and dying, about prognosis and all that, but I always tell myself, if they have the guts to ask, I can’t hide anything. When they ask, it’s because they are ready for the answer.”
Hope for patients in the future facing an ovarian cancer diagnosis
Four-and-a-half-years after this cancer journey started, Jen remains cancer-free. There have been some bumps in the road, including with her breast reconstruction surgery — a process that continues. She’s even offered hope and guidance to others through the blog she started, Jenesis, which has also been therapeutic for her.
“At this point, with no evidence of disease, the risk of recurrence is quite low. Dr. Faught estimated my risk of recurrence to be less than 10%. I almost cried when he said that.”
— Jen Hollington
In November 2024, she reached a significant milestone when doctors recommended she come off the PARP inhibitor drug, which suppresses the growth of cancerous ovarian tumours. “There’s no evidence that staying on the drug would have a long-term benefit beyond two years,” explains Dr. Faught.
It was a challenging decision for Jen, as there was comfort in knowing she was taking this drug and doing well. “At this point, with no evidence of disease, the risk of recurrence is quite low. Dr. Faught estimated my risk of recurrence to be less than 10%. I almost cried when he said that, remembering that he had told me in August 2020 that the risk of recurrence in ovarian cancer is about 80%,” shares Jen.
According to Dr. Le, there is new hope on the horizon for patients with ovarian cancers. “We are embarking on a new program at The Ottawa Hospital to advance the care and improve survivals for ovarian cancer patients in the form of HIPEC treatment. This involves administering heated chemotherapy solution right into the abdominal cavity at the time of surgery for their cancers. This strategy has been shown to significantly improve the survival for patients with ovarian cancer in selected cases.”
While more and more centres are adopting this therapy, The Ottawa Hospital would be only the second hospital in Ontario to provide it to patients. It’s new advancements like this one that give patients like Jen hope for more effective treatment options and better survival.
As Jen moves forward, she embraces parts of life that she may not have noticed before. “Special moments that once may have seemed mundane have become clearer and brighter as I live each day, grateful that I am still here.”
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