For years, Surinder put her own needs aside to care for others. She left her job a decade ago to look after her elderly mother, and later welcomed her daughter and granddaughter into her home too, juggling caregiving for three generations at once. Then, last September, a sharp pain below her ribs sent her to the emergency room. A CT scan revealed a mass on her ovary. The diagnosis was peritoneal carcinoma.
What followed was a whirlwind of surgery, recovery setbacks, and a growing need for specialized cancer care. That search eventually led Surinder to Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre (JHCC), the only facility in south-central Ontario equipped to treat all types of cancer, serving a region of more than three million people. Each year, the hospital manages nearly 630,000 patient visits, a testament to the trust patients across the region place in its care.
When Surinder arrived at JHCC’s emergency department this spring with a bowel obstruction, she found a team ready to support her through every step of treatment. “I was never made to feel like just another patient,” she said. From nurses and doctors to porters and cleaning staff, she noticed a consistency in how she was treated. “Every interaction reflected care.”
That coordinated, specialized approach gave Surinder the confidence to begin chemotherapy at JHCC rather than travel elsewhere as she had originally planned. “I’m in the right place, in the right hands. That’s how I feel. I feel very blessed,” she said.
Donor support plays a critical role in making experiences like Surinder’s possible. Gifts from the community help fund the equipment, research, renovated spaces, and staff education that allow JHCC’s teams to deliver advanced, coordinated cancer care. That investment shapes every part of a patient’s journey, from diagnosis through treatment and recovery.
Having completed six chemotherapy sessions, Surinder is already noticing changes. She can take deep breaths again. She can walk with ease. “I know I’m on the mend, which feels great,” she said.
Her story reflects what makes JHCC a trusted regional referral centre: expert clinicians, coordinated care across every department, and programs that support the whole patient. With continued support from donors, that standard of care will only continue to rise for patients across the region for years to come.