Read the original article Paula is a nurse practitioner at the Ottawa Newcomer Clinic, a program of Somerset West Community Health Centre. She shares how the clinic managed to provide vaccinations, dental care, screening and other health care services during the recent arrival of Syrian refugees. “We see government-assisted refugees in this clinic. At the beginning, our … Read More
Read the original article I was at a get together with some girlfriends. We were playing accordion and singing songs, and all of a sudden I had an exploding headache. I remember the ambulance ride and arriving in the emergency department. After that I was basically out of it for five weeks. An … Read More
Read the original article Siffan is a manager at a clinic for refugees in Ottawa. She shares the rewards and challenges of working with a diverse clientele who are often traumatized yet resilient and hopeful about a new start in a new country. “The number of clients that came from Syria between December 2015 … Read More
Read the original article Inas and her husband left Syria for Turkey before eventually resettling in Canada. She talks about the pressures of keeping her family afloat while managing her multiple sclerosis — and finding hope for the future. “I have multiple sclerosis. I used to live in Aleppo. The drugs that I took … Read More
Read the original article Joan’s dad is a veteran with advanced dementia. She talks about the decision to move him into a veterans’ long-term care facility in Ottawa, the joy he gets from life, and the ways they’re still able to show their love for one another. “My husband and I started noticing things … Read More
Read the original article Gertrude Létourneau (Trudy) is a professional singer and classical flutist who has worked for 16 years at a Veterans’ Health Centre as part of a music program for the residents, many of whom have dementia. “As I see it, many of our residents are trapped in a bubble of … Read More
Read the original article Residential school trauma and frustration with the system left Simeonie drinking heavily and homeless for over a decade. He talks about how the 2008 Prime Minister’s apology was a turning point for him, and how a managed alcohol program has made his life better. “I went to a residential school and … Read More
Read the original article Zeeshan’s mother lost her mobility and speech after brain surgery to remove a benign tumour. Her recovery in rehab was disrupted by fevers and infections that led to her being repeatedly transferred to acute care. Zeeshan and his wife Sohni tell the story. “My mother had a benign brain tumour called … Read More
Read the original article Camille has advocated for social change and health equity both as an activist and as a leader of Toronto’s Local Health Integration Network. She discusses what’s changed in health care and what still needs to change. “I was 20 when I arrived in Canada from Jamaica as a single parent. … Read More
Read the original article As a health humanities professor, Andrea teaches university students and health care providers how to use the arts to think about illness, death, aging and healing. She explains how paintings, comics and fiction can build more empathy between providers and patients, and help nurses and doctors avoid burnout. “There’s … Read More
