Our stories

How CHEO inspired Denise Melo to work with children

Meet Denise Melo, Registered Cardiology Technologist

Denise Melo’s journey with CHEO started as an infant when she suffered from a seizure. Due to reoccurring seizures, she was admitted to CHEO for observation as a one-year-old. A neurologist began following her care and told her mother that by the age of seven, Denise’s seizures should stop – luckily, she hasn’t had one since she was six. “I was well taken care of; he was a kind and good doctor,” reflects Denise.

Throughout her childhood, Denise...

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Cutting-edge CHEO research finds 'rare amongst rare’

For the Osborne family, it took over a decade to complete the puzzle of Austin Osborne’s condition. 

Austin was first seen by the genetics team at CHEO in 2007, and was suspected to have Joubert syndrome, but genetic testing at the time was negative for mutations in the genes known to cause this rare brain malformation syndrome. In 2013, his younger brother Parker unfortunately died of what was believed to be the same condition.  

“When we lost Parker, we wanted his death to make a difference for...

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April Doyle on CHEO’s lifesaving care of her daughter

Meet April Doyle, Lab Technician in Cytogenetics/Molecular Genetics at CHEO

April Doyle’s connection to CHEO predates her longstanding career at the CHEO, as a Lab Technician. It started as a toddler when she was diagnosed with epilepsy. Reflecting on her time here as a child, April remembers never feeling afraid, but the opposite – having fun! The tests she underwent were never stressful, and coming to CHEO wasn’t something she dreaded – a real testament to the care she received. Many years...

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Turning dreams into a reality

Meet Randy Sherwood, one of CHEO’s newest health care aides

Randy’s journey with CHEO started in 2011 as a cleaner in Environmental Services, but his connection to CHEO goes beyond that. At three years old, Randy came to CHEO for a near-deadly case of chicken pox.

While the pox was no match for Randy, it unfortunately caused him to develop Type 1 diabetes, which runs in his family. For 15 years, Randy came to CHEO every six months for appointments until he turned 18. All the time he spent at the...

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CHEO pours its H.E.A.R.T. into patient experience

Effective communication is a valuable aid in patient care and recovery, which is why CHEO uses the H.E.A.R.T. model to focus on individualized care that responds to patient and family health concerns, beliefs, and variables.

The H.E.A.R.T. model — (H)ear, (E)mpathize, (A)pologize, (R)espond, (T)hank you — is built into the foundation of person- and family-centred care, one of five Best Practice Guidelines (BPGs) based on current best evidence that are implemented at CHEO.

In March 2023, CHEO achieved designate

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