The Civic has been a big part of my family’s life since 1967. My mom immigrated to Canada from the Philippines after being hired as a nurse on the Female Orthopedics floor. She lived in the nursing residence on the hospital campus, which is now the Parkdale Clinic. She transitioned to work in the Caseroom and then eventually to the Special Care Nursery, where she worked for the next 25 years until she retired. I remember attending the official opening of the Rich Little Special Care Nursery as a little girl.

There have been 3 SCNs/renovations at the Civic in my lifetime.

My dad followed my mom to Canada and the Civic. He worked in the biochemistry lab for 32 years, eventually earning the title of Charge Technologist. I visited the lab frequently as a little girl, my mom dropping off my brother and I to my dad at the end of his work day before she started her evening shift. The lab underwent renovation and the parking garage now stands near where the original lab used to be.

My brother and I were born at the Civic. His first job was as Nursing Orderly and a few years later he became a Patient Care Assistant, until he decided to go to nursing school. He is now a RN in the ICU and his wife worked in the SCN, years after my mother retired from there.

I gave birth to both of my girls at the Civic and my mother and brother were working the night my eldest decided to arrive early. My baby girl was admitted to the SCN and was given special attention by her grandmother and so many of the nurses and doctors that I had met growing up and through my own career as a nurse.

I was a candy-striper at the Civic back in high school. I loved being assigned to staff the ice cream store….not really hard to imagine why! I remember the renovation of the main level concourse and the cafeteria, where I loved to get french fries and jello with whipped cream on top. While I have never been employed at the Civic, I am currently a nurse in the NICU at the General, following in the neonatal footsteps of my mom.