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Following in the footsteps of many of the women in her family, Sarah completed her consolidation at CHEO on 6East 21 years ago. While she left CHEO to start her nursing career, those few months in her final placement left a lasting impact on Sarah. She knew there was something different about CHEO.
Eleven years ago, Sarah came back as Nurse Educator for CHEO’s mental health programs, working with many of the people who shaped her career.
While she always knew CHEO was a special place, it wasn’t until Sarah started her own family that she realized that the staff are miracle workers.
Sarah’s daughter Molly is one of those miracles.
Shortly after her first birthday, Molly began to lose her hearing. A trip to the ENT clinic confirmed she had a progressive severe hearing loss. Over a short period of time, she lost her hearing completely. Molly’s diagnosis was a shock and turned Sarah, and her family’s life, upside down.
A longtime nurse, Sarah reflects, “When it’s your child, everything you know goes out the window. I needed everything to be explained and my questions answered. My colleagues at CHEO did that.”
Luckily, Molly had an excellent treatment team in Clinic B. They soon became like a second family and taught Molly how to hear and speak while coping with this life-altering change.
Molly’s diagnosis came when Sarah and her husband were planning their wedding. Knowing Molly would have to have her head shaved for her surgery – and with the wedding so soon – the OR team saved a clipping of her hair and took off as little as possible. Shortly before Sarah’s wedding and Molly’s second birthday, Molly’s implants were activated, and she could hear once again – just in time to dance to the music at the reception.
Since then, Molly has revisited the OR, had MRIs, X-rays, and been to more clinics than Sarah can count.
“We have celebrated holidays and birthdays at CHEO,” says Sarah. “During each clinic, visit, and admission, everyone has been amazing, and the care given to our whole family has been inspirational. To see Molly live a life so full of possibilities is in part thanks to CHEO!”
Sarah often runs into those involved in Molly’s care, who always stop to ask how Molly is.
“The fact they remember us shows that staff at CHEO really do care about families. They helped us through a life-altering change and made our wedding a celebration one we will never forget. We weren’t just another patient or number,” praises Sarah.
Today, Molly is thriving. She goes to art club, plays on a soccer team, and excels in school. Being a CHEO staff and mom has been an eye-opening perspective for Sarah. “CHEO puts families back together when they are at their darkest moments, unsure of how life will look.”
CHEO is filled with caring and committed people like Sarah. Join us.