Category: Patient Care

Sadly, Kelda Whalen passed away on August 27, 2025. We are grateful for her generosity to our hospital and the legacy she leaves behind.

Published: August 2025

Read time: 3 mins

If Kelda Whalen were to place a dot on a map of the world for every location she has been, there would be an abundance of dots. Between her dedicated work in the foreign service and her love of travel, she has travelled the world extensively — but always returned to her hometown of Ottawa. That’s where she’s enjoyed the beautiful landscape, the arts community, and giving back to charities and organizations that were important to her, including The Ottawa Hospital.

Born in Ottawa at the Civic Campus, her travelling instincts came naturally, thanks to her father who was in the Canadian Armed Forces. Her family constantly moved across Canada to different military bases during her childhood years, and her father’s work even took them to Germany twice.

By the time she turned 21, she wrote the foreign service exam on a whim. She passed and that launched her career into quite a different direction than she thought when she was growing up. “Originally, my plan was to go to library school, but life had a different path for me,” says Kelda.

Kelda travelling in Jamaica

Exploring the world, but Ottawa was always home

Over the next decade or so, she was posted around the world. Each city bringing a unique opportunity she’d never forget. Kelda’s first posting was Dublin, Ireland. “It was a delightful place, even though it rains all the time,” recalls Kelda.

Next stop was London, England — a city she thoroughly loved. “I was there at a fortunate time when the dollar was up, and the pound was down. This allowed me to explore my love of arts, and I got to enjoy all these fabulous plays.”

Kelda celebrating Canada Day on Elgin Street

After four years in England, Kelda was stationed in New Delhi and then Hong Kong. Afterwards, she returned to Ottawa for a short time before one of her superiors made her aware of a temporary posting in Beirut. “I immediately said, ‘I want it!’ It was 20 above Celsius in Beirut that day and 20 below in Ottawa, so I took it.”

This deployment was a different experience than any other. Despite it being dangerous at that time because of political unrest, she was still able to tour the surrounding countryside, which she recalls as being quite lovely.

A devastating turn of events

Her last big trip was to Damascus, and then she returned to Ottawa in between deployments. It was the summer of 1982, and while there were plans for her to be deployed once again, life took a dramatic turn on one hot summer evening.

After a Saturday evening swim at the pool in her apartment building, she decided to go into the sauna. “I had only taken two saunas in my entire life, and why I decided to go into the sauna, I don’t know. I had low blood pressure — I was overcome by the heat, and I fainted,’ recalls Kelda.

She got up right away but subsequently fainted four more times before falling against the door of the sauna and onto the locker room floor. “I managed to get myself up and thought it was odd, but overall, I didn’t feel unwell. It turns out by fainting five times in a row, I damaged a part of my brain called the basil ganglia, which controls the body’s ability to move.”

Diagnosed with dystonia after fainting multiple times

Within two days, despite feeling fine, Kelda looked in the mirror and she could see the muscles in her neck standing out as though they were spasming.

Sadly, it took many years, before she learned what had happened. Finally, in 1996, she was diagnosed with dystonia. It is an uncommon neurological condition that causes muscles to contract uncontrollably, leading to twisting movements, abnormal postures, or repetitive motions. These muscle contractions happen because the brain sends faulty signals to the muscles, even when the person doesn’t intend to move.

At the time, Kelda was referred to a Toronto hospital and to Dr. Andres Lozano, well-known globally for deep-brain stimulation surgery. Unlike today, it was a time when Ottawa didn’t have the capacity or expertise for this.

“I was 31 when I first fell. That ended my career in the foreign service — I couldn’t go abroad because I was in pain from the spasms. I’ve had multiple neurosurgeries over the years at The Ottawa Hospital, but sadly, none have been able to alleviate the symptoms of dystonia.”

But this condition didn’t stop Kelda completely. She persevered and continued to work part time as an immigration officer before she retired in 2002.

She also didn’t let dystonia hold her back from travelling, which she continued to do extensively with friends. As travelling became more difficult, she shifted to cruises and then van excursions. She’s visited Venice, Italy three times — it’s her all-time favourite destination.

“As I get older, I have more and more difficulty walking. I had an A-linker, known as a walking bike, from 2019 to 2023, and I’d go out every morning at 6 a.m. because I’m an early riser. I liked to go out along the canal and enjoy the early morning peace.”

Kelda visiting the Panama Canal

Finding a way to be remembered when she’s gone

But even her morning excursions have become more challenging over time as her ability to walk deteriorated and falls were more frequent. Despite the increasing difficulty, it didn’t stop her from getting out. In fact, it was during one of her walks that she began to think about her legacy and how she wanted to be remembered when she was gone.

“When I spoke to my financial advisor, she talked to me about the new hospital and the opportunity to have a patient room named after me, and that’s when I decided to leave a gift in my will to the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.”

— Kelda Whalen

“I wanted to leave a sign, and it was during a walk to the Governor General’s front garden when I saw benches with small plaques to say they’ve been donated by someone,” says Kelda. “When I spoke to my financial advisor, she talked to me about the new hospital and the opportunity to have a patient room named after me, and that’s when I decided to leave a gift in my will to the Campaign to Create Tomorrow.”

As a longtime patient of The Ottawa Hospital, including for multiple neurological surgeries over the years, the idea of single-patient rooms for the new hospital campus is certainly appealing to Kelda.

"I just want people to remember me when I’m gone.”

– Kelda Whalen

As someone who has always donated to organizations in her community, including the arts, supporting others with dystonia, as well as our hospital, by leaving a gift in her will, Kelda will always be remembered for reshaping the future of healthcare. Her name will be seen by other patients, their families, staff, and physicians who walk by the room that will be named after her when the new hospital campus opens. It’s a fitting way to help future patients who will need the hospital like she has.

Despite her health continuing to deteriorate, she continues to think of others. “Maybe I’ll get a patient room in neurology named after me, but I’m not too fussy, where it will be. I just want people to remember me when I’m gone.”

Categories: Creating Tomorrow, Donors, Gift In Will, Neuro, New Campus Development, Patient Care
Story Highlights

Published: August 2025

Read time: 3-4 mins

Published: August 2025

Read time: 3-4 mins

For young patients facing cancer, every milimetre matters — radiation treatment must be delivered with extreme precision to make every effort to avoid damaging the healthy, and sometimes still growing, surrounding tissue. Thankfully, The Ottawa Hospital is a leader in this field, providing care for all residents in Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Nunavut, including children. Recently, our hospital took a big step forward to give patients a better chance at a full recovery with fewer side effects from radiation. For younger patients, who are still growing and have a full life ahead of them, this is critical progress.

It is estimated that about 50% of patients diagnosed with cancer will need to receive radiation treatment during their cancer journey — either as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with chemotherapy and/or surgery. While the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) remains the primary treatment center for pediatric cancer in our region, radiation treatments for young patients are administered at The Ottawa Hospital. This collaboration ensures that children and their families receive the most comprehensive care available.

Cody Church and Dr. Vimoj Nair

Meet radiation oncologist Dr. Vimoj Nair

Learn more about how Dr. Nair specializes in radiosurgery, an extremely precise form of radiation that doesn’t involve a single incision.
Read our Q&A with Dr. Nair

Supporting pediatric cancer survivors into their adult years

Dr. Vimoj Nair, a radiation oncologist, is one of two specialists at our hospital who specialize in the treatment of children and young adults with cancer. He explains why the precision of radiation is vitally important to avoid serious complication from the treatment, later in life. “When a young patient goes into remission and they turn 18, they graduate from CHEO. As many as 80% of childhood cancer survivors will develop a serious or life-threatening late effect by age 45. As a result, they need a lifetime of monitoring, and that’s where we come in.”

This form of long-term follow-up care comes from a program known as the Pediatric Oncology Group of Ontario (POGO) clinic. It’s a specialized clinic that supports pediatric cancer survivors through their adult years, and our hospital provides this support for those facing long-term effects of cancer treatment.

Hodgkin’s lymphoma is an example of a cancer that impacts teenagers and has a high chance of remission. Radiation is often a part of the treatment plan.

Supporting pediatric cancer survivors into their adult years

For young patients facing cancer, every milimetre matters — radiation treatment must be delivered with extreme precision to make every effort to avoid damaging the healthy, and sometimes still growing, surrounding tissue. Thankfully, The Ottawa Hospital is a leader in this field, providing care for all residents in Eastern Ontario, Western Quebec, and Nunavut, including children. Recently, our hospital took a big step forward to give patients a better chance at a full recovery with fewer side effects from radiation. For younger patients, who are still growing and have a full life ahead of them, this is critical progress.

It is estimated that about 50% of patients diagnosed with cancer will need to receive radiation treatment during their cancer journey — either as a stand-alone treatment or in combination with chemotherapy and/or surgery. While the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) remains the primary treatment center for pediatric cancer in our region, radiation treatments for young patients are administered at The Ottawa Hospital. This collaboration ensures that children and their families receive the most comprehensive care available.

Meet radiation oncologist Dr. Vimoj Nair

Learn more about how Dr. Nair specializes in radiosurgery, an extremely precise form of radiation that doesn’t involve a single incision.
Read our Q&A with Dr. Nair

“This type of cancer usually occurs in the chest around the heart. While radiation successfully cures the cancer in more than 90% of patients, it can also inadvertently expose the adjacent heart to moderate doses of radiation, increasing the long-term risk of heart disease or failure,” explains Dr. Nair. “At the POGO clinic, monitoring is done for such late effects — we’re talking for 20 or more years into the future. So, our team is always on the lookout for new technology to reduce such late side effects from therapy in young patients and pediatric patients who have long survival chances.”

New treatment provides the lowest dose of radiation

Our team of specialized radiation experts is constantly looking for new ways to ensure the best outcome for our patients — long term. Thinking outside the box, they used an innovative combination of technologies to treat a tumour located near the heart of a young patient with lymphoma — a first in Canada for this type of pediatric case.

While similar approaches may have been used in adult patients, the use in pediatric patients remains extremely rare. “This technique was perfected at The Ottawa Hospital for this type of patient. It significantly reduced radiation exposure to the heart and lungs, offering meaningful protection against long-term side effects — an especially important consideration for such a young patient,” says Dr. Nair.

Imagine being able to keep a patient’s body so still, not even a small breath could alter the intended target. Cody Church is a medical physicist at our hospital. Along with his team of colleagues, including Kim Charbonneau, he led the implementation of a device called the active breathing coordinator (ABC).

Meet medical physicist Cody Church

Learn more about how medical physicist at The Ottawa Hospital is using the latest technologies to personalize treatment
Read our Q&A with Cody Church

“The device communicates with our machines to turn the radiation beam on and off based upon a threshold that we set,” explains Cody. “We calibrate the device to each patient’s comfort level so that when they inhale to that point, the device will hold their breath and the radiation beam will turn on. When the hold-breath hold is over, the beam is paused, allowing the patient to regain comfort before the next breath-hold.”

Older models of the ABC required the therapist to manually turn the beam on and off, making treatments longer and precise targeting more difficult.

“With standard technology, radiation is delivered while the patient breathes, which means everything within the radiation field — both the tumour and surrounding areas like the heart — can be irradiated. Since breathing causes the heart and other organs to move, this results in less precise treatment,” explains Dr. Nair. “With this new technique, we stop that motion by having the patient hold their breath during the radiation. This ensures the treatment is delivered only to the tumour, allowing for far more accurate and targeted radiation with least dose to the surrounding healthy tissues and hence less late toxicities in this young person.”

Meet medical radiation therapist Kim Charbonneau

Learn more about how medical radiation therapist is solving the mystery of how to deliver the best care to every patient who comes to her for radiation therapy at The Ottawa Hospital.
Read our Q&A with Kim Charbonneau

How this innovative technique works

The goal is to deliver an exact dose of radiation to the cancerous tumour, targeting malignant cells to destroy or shrink them, without affecting the surrounding normal cells. This accuracy helps limit the side effects for the patient.

The ABC device has a small plastic mouthpiece, similar to that of a snorkel, that sits on the patient’s teeth. A bendable arm is connected which controls the software that monitors breathing. It’s a process the patient practices many times to prepare for this moment.

“The idea of the device is to have precise control of the breath-hold volume so that we accurately reproduce the position of the tumour and surrounding healthy tissue every time. It might sound extreme to have a machine controlling your breathing for you, and the first time you experience it, it’s a little shocking, but after you understand what the feeling is like, you get it right away,” explains Cody.

This treatment was delivered by the patient inhaling for 30 seconds, known as an inspired treatment. While it can also be delivered through exhaling, there are more benefits when the patient inhales. “There’s a reason why we like the inhalation a bit better for this treatment because the heart will push down and away when your lungs fill up with air, moving it away from the intended target.”

On average, the patient would repeat this process between nine and 15 times during one radiation treatment.

If at any point they feel like they can’t proceed or keep up, the care reverts to the original standard treatment plan to ensure they get the best outcome possible.

Giving young patients in remission the best chance at a long, healthy life

This new option, especially for young patients, brings fresh hope for a long, healthy life. “This is the best surrogacy for what’s happening inside the body during treatment compared to other technologies that are available. Usually, these are things like markers on the chest to monitor as a patient breathes, or some optical camera shining on the chest looking at the skin. All have pros and cons, but with the ABC, we are measuring what’s happening inside,” explains Cody.

It’s important to note, this type of radiation treatment is not for everyone. It depends on a patient’s capabilities — adults or teenagers — the details of their case, and making sure there is constant coaching and preparation. But the team is excited to be able to offer it as an option now, especially to young patients.

“It’s the most efficient delivery possible and pediatric patients are the ones who benefit the most, so it just seemed like the perfect marriage in terms of applying it in a first group,” says Cody. “It’s an honour to be a part of something that helps patients. I feel like every incremental improvement we can bring for our patients deserves our full effort.”

Active Breathing Coordinator Team
Categories: Cancer, Patient Care, World-Leading Research

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
The Vered family joined together for a photo.
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.”

— Rowan Ladd

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.”

— Rowan Ladd

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.” 

— Rowan Ladd

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.
Read our Q&A with Dr. Fergusson

“There’s not an infinite amount of blood available in hospitals — it’s a precious resource.”

— Dr. Guillaume Martel

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.” 

— Dr. Guillaume Martel

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.

Listen Now:

Categories: Cancer, Patient Care, 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."

— Dr. Alan Chalil

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.
Read our Q&A with Dr. Chalil

The first stereo EEG at The Ottawa Hospital

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.”

— Dr. Alan Chalil

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.

Listen Now:

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.”

— Chantal Theriault

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.

Chantal kickboxing at Therien Jiu-Jutisu & Kickboxing

Photo credit: Ashley Fraser/Postmedia

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.”

— Chantal Theriault

“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.
Learn More

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.”

— Dr. Michael Schlossmacher

“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.
Read our Q&A with Dr. Grimes

“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 Theriault
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, Patient Care, World-Leading Research

Published: March 2025

Imagine the sensation of a sudden, sharp electric shock to your face, intense and unyielding. Now, imagine that happening repeatedly, day after day, without any warning — pain so excruciating it brings you to your knees. This was a daily struggle for Michelle Kupé. After months of testing, she was diagnosed with trigeminal neuralgia, a rare condition that had a debilitating effect on her life. Desperate for relief, she sought help from The Ottawa Hospital’s neurosurgery team, hoping to regain control of her life.

In December 2017, Michelle scheduled an appointment with her dentist to investigate a strange buzzing sensation in her cheek, which she initially thought was a tooth infection or dental problem. After taking x-rays, the dentist found no issues with her teeth, but the sensation persisted, leaving Michelle with the feeling that something wasn’t right.

By the time the new year arrived, Michelle was preparing to set off on a cruise with her girlfriends. However, the persistent buzzing sensation and the overall sense that something wasn’t right led her to return to the dentist’s office. With no clear explanation for the strange sensations, she was prescribed antibiotics to rule out a sinus infection or other potential issues. During her trip, Michelle couldn’t shake a nagging thought. “The entire time I was there, I kept thinking, ‘Something has happened to me… and I’m not well.’ I was deeply aware that my life was taking a different turn. Something was wrong.”

Michelle in the hospital

Trigeminal neuralgia’s excruciating progression

As the buzzing sensation and pain intensified, Michelle returned to the dentist for a third time. It was then the dentist suspected the symptoms might suggest a rare condition called trigeminal neuralgia — a condition that causes severe, electric-shock-like pain on one side of the face. The dentist advised her to make an appointment with her family doctor and see a neurologist as soon as possible.

“It went from this buzzing sensation in my face to feeling like I was being electrocuted. It felt like I was being stabbed, like an electric current was running through my face.”

— Michelle Kupé

As she waited to see a neurologist, the symptoms worsened. “It went from this buzzing sensation in my face to feeling like I was being electrocuted. It felt like I was being stabbed, like an electric current was running through my face.”

As each attack eased, Michelle was terrified to touch or move any muscle in her face, fearing the pain would return. Eventually, she saw a neurologist, who confirmed that she had trigeminal neuralgia. But while one mystery was solved, another emerged. There are three potential causes for this condition: multiple sclerosis, a brain tumor, or vascular compression.

All about trigeminal neuralgia

Trigeminal neuralgia is a rare and exceedingly painful chronic pain disorder that involves the trigeminal nerve on the side of the face. The nerve runs from the top of the ear and then splits into three branches that run to the eye, the cheek, and the jaw.
Learn more

As Michelle waited for an MRI, she continued to run her successful real estate business and care for her five children. Her condition remained stable with medication into the spring of 2018, with occasional, painful flare-ups. But, as time progressed, things started to deteriorate quickly, with attacks becoming more frequent and debilitating. Eating, brushing teeth, and even smiling were becoming unbearable.

“I remember thinking, I don’t think I’m going to be able to go on. Something as simple as a light breeze could cause an attack,” she recalls. “With thoughts of another winter approaching, my husband and I talked about moving somewhere warm because I couldn’t imagine a cold wind hitting my face.”

Debilitating shocks to Michelle’s body

MRI results eventually revealed her condition was the result of a vascular compression and she was referred to Dr. Adam Sachs, current Division Head of Neurosurgery at The Ottawa Hospital.

Dr. Sachs and his team see patients for a wide variety of facial pain, but he says trigeminal neuralgia can be one of the worst. It affects the trigeminal nerves, which carry signals from the face to the brain, and causes intense pain like an electric shock on one side of the face. “The MRI showed that a vessel loop of an artery that goes to the brain stem and cerebellum was compressing the trigeminal nerve — that was the cause of the pain,” he explains.

Director of Neuromodulation and Functional Neurosurgery and Scientist at The Ottawa Hospital

Find out how Dr. Sachs thinks brains are like computers, what he loves about The Ottawa Hospital, and why you might find him fighting a co-worker on his break.
Read our Q&A with Dr. Sachs

“It feels like a high voltage electrical shock running through your face or some people describe it as a dagger being jammed into their face.”

— Dr. Adam Sachs

For patients, like Michelle, the condition can be unbearable. “It feels like a high voltage electrical shock running through your face, or some people describe it as a dagger being jammed into their face,” explains Dr. Sachs. “People are using those terms not to be colourful, but because that’s the closest thing they can come up with, and we hear these terms again and again.”

Modern microsurgical technique with the help of Teflon

While surgical treatment has been available for decades, recent advances have provided new treatment options — modern microsurgical techniques that are more effective and safer. As Dr. Sachs explains, the tools they have today are state-of-the-art.

When it comes time for surgery, it’s an intricate procedure with the patient’s head turned because the surgical team must access a small space at the back of the head called the cerebellopontine angle or CP angle. “That’s where we see all the nerves and the arteries that go to very critical structures of the brain stem. It’s close to the facial nerve, and if damaged, it results in facial palsy.”

In Michelle’s case, the artery had a large vein wrapped around the nerve, and so Dr. Sachs called in his colleague Dr. John Sinclair to assist with the surgery because of the complexity.

“We decided even though it was a large vein, to carefully dissect it off the nerve in addition to the artery. Then we put little Teflon pads under both the vein and the artery to keep them away from the trigeminal nerve,” says Dr. Sachs.

The Teflon creates a physical barrier that will keep the vein and the artery from the nerve, but also keep the blood flowing through them, so they will continue to function.

“We tear it up to microscopic pieces of the Teflon, shaped like cigars, and it creates a barrier because it stays — it’s not going to absorb into the body,” explains Dr. Sachs.

For the most complex parts of the procedure, the neurosurgical team uses high-magnification microscopes and microscopic knives.

Pain is an invisible disease

When it comes to cases of trigeminal neuralgia, our hospital sees patients from across Eastern Ontario. According to Dr. Sachs, not all cases are debilitating like Michelle’s, but for many, the pain they are experiencing is made worse by the fact that those around them don’t always understand what the patient is going through.

"She wasn't even able to smile or laugh for a year. Every time she would smile, she’d have these attacks and pain. So, treating pain is rewarding as a physician because we're able to help relieve it, and that can be transformative for the patient.”

— Dr. Adam Sachs

“Michelle is a very personable individual. She loves to be around family, friends and to laugh and enjoy life. She wasn’t even able to smile or laugh for a year. Every time she would smile, she’d have these attacks and pain,” explains Dr. Sachs. “So, treating pain is rewarding as a physician because we’re able to help relieve it, and that can be transformative for the patient.”

“I remember waking up from surgery and knowing immediately that I didn’t have electricity running through my face. The relief was immediate,” says Michelle.

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The following image contains content that may be unsettling or sensitive to some viewers.
The scar from Michelle’s surgery

"The relief was immediate."

— Michelle Kupé

The gratitude she feels runs deep, not only for those who helped take away the agonizing pain, but also for the nursing staff in the neuro ICU — she can’t remember all their names, but she will never forget their compassion.

“This one particular nurse was so kind. I remember slowly waking up after the surgery with him rubbing my arm and saying, ‘You’ve had a rough day today, but you did great,’” she says. “I felt encompassed by caring people who had my best interests at heart. I never for a moment felt abandoned when I was at my most vulnerable.”

Regaining her life back

After five days in the hospital following her surgery, Michelle returned home to her five children and husband Rob. Within five months, she was able to return to work, but continued with physiotherapy for about a year. Today, she can experience bad headaches and is still seen by the pain clinic, but she’s living a full life again — now as an empty nester with her kids grown up and exploring the world.

Michelle reflects on a full circle moment from many years ago when her parents first heard about Dr. Sinclair returning from the United States to his hometown of Ottawa and his efforts to bring a CyberKnife radiosurgery robot to our hospital.

“My parents heard about this CyberKnife and they rallied to support his efforts. Who would have known that years later the neurology department would be where their daughter would end up? We had no other connection really with neurology at the time, and yet this emerging neurosurgery tool was something my parents were really passionate about making sure people had access to.”

It’s a perfect example of the impact of philanthropy and never knowing who it will benefit.

“We believe things don’t happen by accident. The way it lined up and how it all unfolded was part of the plan for my life and shows it’s important to keep giving back.”

Michelle's five children
Michelle with her husband, Rob Kupé
Listen to Dr. Adam Sachs talk about the role vital role of the neurosurgical team at The Ottawa Hospital.

Listen Now:

Categories: Neuro, Patient Care, Technology

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.

Testing shows the BRCA2 gene mutation

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.”

Categories: Cancer, Patient Care, World-Leading Research

Published: January 2025

Always an active person, Kumar Visvanatha started to notice a concerning change in his habits in 2020. Now retired from the high-tech industry, he often spent time cycling, travelling to Colorado to hike, or flying, as he was a licensed pilot. However, with the arrival of the pandemic, like so many others, he was often isolated from doing the activities he loved, and this started to have a significant impact on his wellbeing.

“This is when I started feeling anxious, down, and lower energy. I thought there was something physically wrong with me. I never thought about depression.”

— Kumar Visvanatha

Little did he know, this downward spiral would continue, and in 2022, the situation was exacerbated when Kumar started to have back pain, which eventually became a chronic issue, and his quality of life became progressively worse. Without a family doctor, he bounced between physicians at walk-in clinics, but he wasn’t getting any answers or relief.

Kumar enjoying days in the air when he had his pilot license.

“This is when I started feeling anxious, down, and lower energy. I thought there was something physically wrong with me. I never thought about depression,” says Kumar.

Eventually, Kumar no longer recognized himself, so he turned to the mental health team at The Ottawa Hospital for help.

A downward spiral into depression

After several tests, Kumar learned there was nothing physically wrong with him, but he continued to see his quality of life decline. By the summer of 2023, this normally active and engaged man found himself in a place he’d never been. “I didn’t recognize the person I had become. When I looked in the mirror, I didn’t know who I was,” shares Kumar.

“I didn’t feel like I had any hope.”

— Kumar Visvanatha

His energy levels were low, he couldn’t sleep, he didn’t want to do anything — as he describes it, he would “mope around the house.” Kumar also didn’t go out to social events because he didn’t understand what was happening to him or how to explain it to others who were used to him being active and social. Kumar felt completely isolated. “I didn’t feel like I had any hope.”

That’s when his partner insisted on bringing him to the Emergency Department at The Ottawa Hospital’s Civic Campus in July 2023, and he first met Dr. Andrew Greene, a psychiatrist at our hospital. “He’d essentially hit his rock bottom. He was feeling like he’d never be himself again,” explains Dr. Greene.

Seeking help for depression at The Ottawa Hospital

This wasn’t Kumar’s first introduction to The Ottawa Hospital, but this time was under very different circumstances. Before retirement, Kumar worked at JDS Uniphase, where the team rallied to raise $15 million for the Critical Care Unit at the General Campus — which is now named the JDS Uniphase Employee Legacy Critical Care Wing. Kumar had no idea that one day, he would be on the receiving end of critical mental health care at The Ottawa Hospital.

Thankfully, the Mental Health program provides early diagnosis and treatment of severe mental illness. With two psychiatric emergency services and 96 acute in-patient beds, our hospital is often the first place those experiencing a mental health crisis in our city will turn to for help. Beyond that, we operate three regional programs that treat patients with first episode psychosis, eating disorders, perinatal mental health, as well as a mobile crisis team in our community.  The Mental Health program is also a leader in research, which brings innovative new therapies to patients.

The challenge with depression is it pushes people to do and think the exact opposite of what’s needed to get better. It pushes people to isolate themselves, stop going outside and doing activities.
— Dr. Andrew Greene

One of the first observations Dr. Greene made was that Kumar was self-aware of what was happening and wanted to get better, but he needed help to ensure things were going to change. He was diagnosed with major depressive disorder — a mental health condition in which someone is feeling very low and not able to enjoy things the way they normally would over a prolonged period.

“It’s very persistent. Typically, we’re talking about this going on for months or sometimes even years. The challenge with depression is it pushes people to do and think the exact opposite of what’s needed to get better,” says Dr. Greene. “It pushes people to isolate themselves, stop going outside and doing activities. That tends to make it progressively worse.”

After an assessment in the Emergency Department, Kumar was sent home with medication and a plan to attend the transitional skills program.

Transitional Skills Program offers solutions

Kumar agreed to participate in the half-day hospital program, called the Transitional Skills Program, where the patient participates four days a week and focuses on cognitive behavioral therapy.

“We’re helping people address the way they’re thinking about things,” explains Dr. Greene. “In some cases, perhaps in a negative way or ruminating with very dark thoughts, and how that’s affecting their mood. We also look at how their behaviours — things they’re doing or not doing — are impacting their mood.”

Kumar credits the program with having a significant impact on his recovery. “Among the various topics taught in the course, I really resonated with mindfulness, self-compassion, and cognitive behavioural therapy, and I use these skills regularly today.”

 

“It happened gradually. I started to have more energy, and then I found myself walking and cycling again."

— Kumar Visvanatha

He also credits other aspects of the program, including the emotional regulation group, the goal setting group, and gratitude journal, as a few examples.

Over time, Kumar continued to have appointments with Dr. Greene, and there was a process of finding the right medication and dosage. In addition to the in-hospital program, he also met regularly with a therapist.

It certainly took time and patience, but by April 2024, Kumar started to see signs of his old self returning. “It happened gradually. I started to have more energy, and then I found myself walking and cycling again. This too was medicine for me, and I slowly started getting better.”

Back to his active, healthy living

“Major depressive disorder is a temporary illness. I can't tell you when it's going to get better, but it is going to get better. That’s really important for people to understand.” 

— Dr. Andrew Greene

It was an important message for patients like Kumar to hear. “I didn’t see this coming. I really didn’t understand depression. I remember thinking if you’re sad or something, get out and do something fun. But I know now that you can’t just snap out of it. And I’ve learned depression can happen to anybody.”

Today, Kumar is back enjoying life and active again. He’s truly grateful for the care he received and for the support from his loving partner and a couple of very close friends, who were there whenever he needed them. They would check on him regularly and insist on getting outdoors and going for walks.

And now when he looks in the mirror, he sees someone different than he did two years ago. “I see myself again … but I’m a little older,” Kumar says with a smile.  

Kumar in the Colorado Rockies

If someone needs help:

If you know someone who may be suffering from depression and needs help, the best place to start is by visiting your family doctor. If you don’t have access to a family doctor, you can go to AccessMHA.ca. This is a centralized intake service for our region that brings together all the mental health and addiction services. Once you register yourself, you will get a phone appointment with an intake worker, who will help match you with the appropriate care.

The Distress Centre of Ottawa and Region is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing any type of mental health crisis and can be reached at 613-238-3311. If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call or text 9-8-8: where a crisis supporter will help you without judgment.

Listen to Dr. Andrew Greene guest on Pulse Podcast to learn more about depression and mental health care at our hospital.

Listen Now:

Categories: Mental Health, Patient Care

Among the hundreds of birth announcements in the Ottawa Citizen over the years mentioning Dr. Manuel “Manny” Gluck as the delivering doctor, two are of particular note and significance, especially today: Justin Trudeau and Alexandre “Sacha” Trudeau, born on Christmas Day in 1971 and 1973 respectively. What are the odds?

Both boys were delivered by Dr. Gluck, a prominent Ottawa obstetrician and gynaecologist, who worked out of the Ottawa Civic Hospital. Dr. Gluck, who was the family doctor for the Trudeau family, passed away in 2023, but after almost two decades at the Civic, his memory and his impact lives on for countless families.

“He was really proud to be a doctor and really proud to bring babies into this world,” says his wife, Cheryle Hothersall-Gluck. “To hold a newborn in his arms, to deliver life, well, that meant everything to him.”

Dr. Gluck was also instrumental in helping shift societal norms surrounding childbirth, championing the idea that fathers should be encouraged to be in the delivery room. This paved the way for many families to embrace this precious moment together.

Known by so many patients for his kindness and remarkable ability to listen with deep compassion, it’s interesting to note that medicine wasn’t Dr. Gluck’s first choice. He started his professional career as a biochemist with the Department of Agriculture before graduating with a medical degree from the University of Ottawa in 1956. He worked at Mount Sinai Beth Israel in New York City and Jewish General Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital in Montreal before returning to his hometown of Ottawa and becoming an integral part of the very fabric of the Civic.

As for his relationship with the Trudeaus, Mrs. Hothersall-Gluck says her husband was rather nonchalant about that.  

Cheryle Hothersall-Gluck and Dr. Manuel (Manny) Gluck

“Well, I heard that Margaret really liked him, and Pierre did too,” she recalls, “and so it just came about that he continued to deliver their babies!”

Dr. Gluck died on August 25, 2023, at the age of 95 within the walls of the same hospital where he brought forth so much life.

Categories: Creating Tomorrow, Patient Care, TOH Family

Published: December 2024

When Sophie Leblond Robert was rushed to The Ottawa Hospital’s Civic Campus — which houses the Champlain Regional Stroke Network — time was not on her side. Sophie was 35 years old, an interior designer, and married with two children, when she suffered a brain stem stroke. But our team of internationally recognized stroke experts were ready. 

The excruciating ordeal began in May 2020, when she felt a pain in her neck. She went to her family doctor first, who prescribed some medication, but it provided little relief. The same result occurred after seeing her chiropractor. Then, she felt an odd sensation in her neck as she turned to check on her kids in the car one day. A week later, as she was gardening in her backyard in mid-June when she turned and felt a tweak in her neck — she knew something was wrong. But Sophie had previously suffered from seizures, so she assumed that’s what was happening.  

Upon her arrival at the Civic’s Emergency Department, she was met by the stroke team, who assessed that Sophie had a tear in her vertebral artery, which runs from the back of the neck to another key artery known as the basilar. When a tear like that happens, it can cause clots to form inside the arteries and those clots can dangerously block blood flow to the brain.  

Lifesaving clot “busting”

The situation was urgent and the clots were life-threatening. Sophie was immediately treated with a strong clot busting medicine and prepped for a thrombectomy to have the clots removed from the main artery in the back part of the brain.  

As Dr. Daniel Lelli, a neurologist, neuro-ophthalmologist, and a member of the stroke team explains, if that artery is clotted, a patient can’t survive. 

“You need the brainstem to be able to breathe and to be alive. So, the team performed a mechanical thrombectomy and removed the clot, but unfortunately, Sophie kept having repeat clotting blocking the blood flow to the brain every time the clot was removed,” explains Dr. Lelli. 

The quick-acting stroke team decided to use multiple stents to force the main artery, the basilar artery, and vertebral artery open. Thankfully, that quick intervention reestablished blood flow and saved Sophie’s life. 

Locked-in syndrome

Because of the stroke she suffered, Sophie faced a new and frightening challenge — a condition called locked-in syndrome. This can happen when a stroke damages the brain stem, causing complete paralysis while still conscious.  

“The brain stem is a highway of nerves that go from your brain down to your arms and legs, and it also controls many other things, like moving your mouth and eyes, and swallowing,” says Dr. Lelli. 

Dr. Daniel Lelli

“The only thing I could do was open and close my eyelids. I couldn’t do anything else."

— Sophie Leblond Robert

For Sophie it was a horrifying ordeal. “The only thing I could do was open and close my eyelids. I couldn’t do anything else. I could feel pain, but couldn’t communicate that.” 

Sophie was moved to the neurological acute care unit, which is the highest level of care outside the intensive care unit, where she had a tracheostomy — this would help get air to lungs — and a feeding tube.  

Doctors didn’t know if she’d survive, and her chances of ever being able to move again were slim. 

Sophie was trapped inside her body and her family had no idea if she had any awareness of what was going on around her. That’s when her loved ones started to look for a way to communicate with her.  

Sophie’s devoted mom, Suzanne Leblond, recalls very early on she asked her daughter some questions — she asked her daughter to blink twice for “no” and once for “yes.” She asked if her name was Joanne — Sophie blinked twice. Then she asked if her name was Mary. Two more blinks. When she asked if Sophie was her name — one blink.  

“So, it was very, very evident that we could communicate with her, but it took a lot out of her, so we just had to take our time in between each question,” says Suzanne.

What is locked-in syndrome?

Locked-in syndrome is a rare neurological disorder in which part of the brainstem is damaged, causing a disconnect between the brain and body. The result is that the person’s cognitive function remains intact, but they have near-complete paralysis. Most people will be able to hear and blink or move their eyes to communicate.
Learn More

Long road to recovery

This was the first chapter in a long and painful road towards recovery, with so many unknowns. But Sophie had an integrated care team and her mom and husband with her around the clock.

It wasn’t until about the four-week mark of Sophie’s hospitalization that the next positive sign happened. One day, she was able to move one finger on her left hand — a small but important step. It also provided a little comic relief. “The first thing I could move was my left middle finger. So, I was known as the F*** you girl for a good two months,” laughs Sophie. 

"We started by showing her and her family ways to start moving the limbs to try to get the brain to relearn."

— Linda Powers
Sophie lifting her finger
Sophie getting her nails done
Sophie exercising in bed

It’s around that time when Linda Powers, a physiotherapist specializing in stroke, first met Sophie. She’s cared for patients at The Ottawa Hospital for 28 years, and most of that time she’s worked on the stroke unit. Linda brought a great deal of experience to this young patient’s rehabilitation.

“Sophie’s left side was stronger from the very beginning. We started by showing her and her family ways to start moving the limbs to try to get the brain to relearn,” says Linda.

Admittedly, this is where a significant amount of trust is built between the patient and the care team. It starts with getting the patient to sit at the edge of the bed and learning to control their sitting balance. “That was one of the first things we did with Sophie, and she needed full support — she couldn’t even hold up her own head.”

Next, it was getting Sophie out of bed. As Linda explains, this is done using a sling like a hammock, that lifts the patient up to a chair. It was another two months before they tried the pivot transfer, where Sophie would put partial weight on a leg to move from one seat to another.

It was a slow process. “But she had all the right things in place, her age, the intervention of the stroke team in those early days, the physio of course, because the more you do in the first six months, the more likely your recovery is going to be,” says Linda. “She also had an incredible family to support her when we weren’t there.”

Read our Q&A with Linda Powers

A full team approach to recovery

After six weeks in hospital, Sophie was still having a hard time controlling her eyes because of the stroke, so Dr. Lelli was brought on to Sophie’s case because of his specialty as a neuro-ophthalmologist.

“When she tried to look somewhere, Sophie couldn’t control the movement. Her eyes would overshoot and undershoot where she wanted them to go, and then she would get dizzy. She had a lot of trouble focusing as well. This was all because of the different muscles and the control mechanisms affected by the stroke,” explains Dr. Lelli.

Sophie with her two daughters
Sophie in the hospital
Sophie with her family

"I said if I'm doing this, I'm doing this to the fullest. I'm going wear those high heels shoes again. I'm going to drive again. I’ve got this. I'm doing this."

— Sophie Leblond Robert

He worked with the occupational therapists and physiotherapists to ensure Sophie had exercises to try and get control of her eye movement again. A shining example of the full team required to come together to aid in the recovery of a patient after suffering from a severe stroke.

Sophie’s sheer determination was a great factor in this long road to recovery. While initially she worried about being a burden to her family, she wanted her life back — every aspect of it, even though the early odds were against her. “I said if I’m doing this, I’m doing this to the fullest. I’m going wear those high heels shoes again. I’m going to drive again. I’ve got this. I’m doing this.”

Then, after four-and-a-half months on the neuro unit, facing an uphill battle and a laundry list of complications as a result of the stroke — she fought through it all and was moved to The Ottawa Hospital’s Rehabilitation Centre.

That’s where a whole new team stepped in to provide care, including Andrea Chase, a physiotherapist caring for neurological patients. She’s been a part of our hospital’s team for about 20 years. She explains that normally after suffering a stroke, patients go to the Bruyère Centre, but because of the locked-in syndrome, Sophie required the specialized team at our hospital.

"Feisty and determined"

When Andrea first met Sophie, she recalls that while she had many difficulties, she was feisty and determined. At this point, Sophie had difficulty moving her limbs, controlling her vision — sometimes just even looking in a busy environment was too much. She had a soft, weak voice and it was difficult to talk or cough or even breathe. She also had difficulty swallowing.  

“Basically, cognitively she was aware. She was herself, but all the systems we take for granted as healthy people were affected. She had many really complex needs.”

— Andrea Chase
“Basically, cognitively she was aware. She was herself, but all the systems we take for granted as healthy people were affected. She had many really complex needs,” Andrea continues. “But right from the very beginning she was determined. She told me she was going to get better. She talked about her cute little girls, her husband, and her artwork. She’s an artist, and she wanted to get back to it all right away.”
Andrea Chase

That’s where setting goals becomes a very important part of the care program. A patient is starting from the very beginning in many cases according to Ms. Chase. “We start working on simple things, almost back to child development. We might need multiple staff to work on simple things like sitting up, rolling over in bed. Then we gradually work at adding on more like standing and then walking. When she was able to get a little bit more mobile to stand and take some steps, we did take her to our virtual reality lab.”

Known as the CAREN system — it’s state-of-the-art technology that allows patients to explore and interact with room-sized 3D scenarios. The 180-degree screens work in combination with a moving platform, a remote-controlled treadmill, and surround sound. Patients are in the safety of a harness as they regain skills, strength, and confidence.

Sophie back in heels and celebrating with her husband, Martin Robert

An "extra magical" discharge from the hospital

With each day, Sophie defied the odds, getting better and better. Soon, she set out a new goal for herself. “She really wanted to go home for Christmas,” says Andrea. “And we got her home to her kids and family. It was an extra magical discharge date for sure.” 

“I just needed to be home. I wanted to make it fun for them that mommy was home.”

— Sophie Leblond Robert

It was magical indeed. Because of the pandemic, Sophie had only seen her two daughters three times in six months. “I just needed to be home. I wanted to make it fun for them that mommy was home.”

It was that sheer determination of a mother wanting to reunite with her children that pushed Sophie. She went from just walking a few steps on the parallel bars when she first arrived at the Rehab Centre to making sure she could climb steps to get home because she lived in a two-story house. She continued to defy the odds. “I’m a stubborn redhead, and I wanted to prove I could do it.” 

The milestones along the way have all been significant, including her first words, for the second time in her life. Thanks to the help of her speech therapist, Karen Mallet, learning to talk again was just as special to Sophie’s mom as it was the first time. “I’ll always remember the first time, about three months into her care, she was able to whisper ‘hello’. It was amazing,” says Suzanne. 

Speaking led to re-learning French and she’s also back to painting, and getting her driver’s license again — and oh yes, she’s back to wearing high heels.

For Dr. Lelli, to see how far Sophie has come since the summer of 2020, is amazing. He points to the stroke team that is ready to provide the most advanced treatments. “The stroke code mobilized all the resources of the hospital for that patient. It’s a wonderful team to be part of and it’s really a well-oiled machine, because the quicker we get her treated, the more likely it is that we limit the damage, and that we can enable a recovery like this one.” 

That exceptional care continues along the way of the patient’s recovery. “I didn’t know if she was going to get out of a bed again — that’s how bad it was,” says Dr. Lelli. “It’s really amazing, and it’s because of all those treatments she got, from the mechanical thrombectomy to the efforts that she’s put in and all the people that have worked around her, like the rehab specialists — and because she just wouldn’t give up.”  

Categories: Patient Care, Rehab
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