The Gift Of Time
Joel Jodoin and his wife, Lana Duong, believe in the importance of donating and supporting causes they are passionate about. Most recently, they added the Niagara Health Foundation to the list of charities they support, and we chatted with them to find out why.
Why Niagara Health Foundation?
“Every year, you think about what causes you want to donate to,” explains Joel, who lives in Toronto but grew up in Niagara. “And I thought that in a perfect world, people in Niagara should be able to access all healthcare services necessary in Niagara instead of having to go to Hamilton or Toronto. So I decided to return to my roots and provide more support for Niagara. While my wife and I don’t currently live in Niagara, my family does, and I see my donations as a way of contributing to local healthcare that will be there when they need it. Much like it was there for my mom when she needed it.”
Sharon’s Battle
Joel’s mom Sharon collapsed on her 69th birthday in July 2021. The ambulance brought her to the St. Catharines site, where the team began running tests to see what was happening. “That was the beginning of a time when we really started to lean on the services of Niagara Health,” Joel remembers and adds that his mom had to undergo many tests before they received the diagnosis: stage four lung cancer.
“Her Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Cuthbert, took the time to explain everything to us, and he explained it in layman’s terms, making sure we fully understood what was happening to my mom. Sadly, he told us early on that she would likely not be a candidate for chemo. He recommended palliative treatment for my mom instead but was still open to exploring every avenue with us. I really appreciated his demeanour. He shared all the facts with us without getting caught up in our emotions, which was what we needed.” To manage Sharon’s pain, Dr. Cuthbert recommended radiation treatment. “She was in so much pain at that point,” remembers Joel. “She was sleeping all the time because of the medication to mitigate the pain.”
Once her treatment started, Sharon felt she was in good hands at the Walker Family Cancer Centre. “Whether it was the volunteers who greeted her when she would come in, the people who would help her to get around throughout the hospital, the nurses who worked with Dr. Cuthbert – they were all phenomenal. The volunteers would always joke with her and lighten her load with their kindness. When her treatment ended, she even brought them all Tim Hortons gift cards. The nurses were amazing to my mom but also incredibly good to us. We could call with our questions and concerns at any time, which was helpful and reassuring.”
The Gift of Time
The most important thing of all? It worked. Sharon and her family knew they wouldn’t have much time left together, but the time they did get was as good as it could possibly be, thanks to the treatment she received. “As soon as the treatment started, she was in substantially less pain,” explains Joel, “which meant we could enjoy the time we had left with her. Whether it was watching movies or doing something else fun she wanted to do… all of that was only possible because of the treatment she received. I honestly couldn’t imagine what it would have been like for her, for us, if she had not received that treatment. Lana and I actually got engaged during that time,” Joel shares with a smile. “We didn’t get married while my mom was still here, but she got to enjoy that incredible moment with us – she even helped pick out the ring!”
Joel and his wife Lana are grateful for the time they had with Sharon before losing her. “Seeing the impact for my mother-in-law and how much the team supported her and us during that whole process – it made sense to us to give back to that, just so that it will help another family or another patient down the road,” says Lana about their reasons for donating to the Niagara Health Foundation. “My uncle in Toronto actually caught Covid in 2021,” she adds, “and at the time there were a lot of people in the Toronto area who had Covid and overwhelming hospitals in Toronto and the GTA.” Due to the lack of beds, Lana’s uncle was sent to the Intensive Care Unit at the St. Catharines site. “He was extremely sick and our family had a bit of a scare,” she remembers. “Thankfully, he made a miraculous recovery, and was transferred to the Welland site, where he continued his recovery.” The care he received at Niagara Health for close to two months is another reason for Lana and Joel to support the Niagara Health Foundation. “Our family was extremely grateful for the doctors and the care he received during that time. Niagara Health saved his life.”
Joel and Lana know that one donation may not change everything, but they hope that it will get Niagara just that little bit closer to being self-sufficient in terms of healthcare: “Sooner or later, as a Niagara resident, you will need their services. It’s unfortunate that our lightbulb went off on Niagara Health Foundation after we needed it.”
On December 4, 2021, Joel’s mom Sharon passed away peacefully at her home. “You always wish you had more time, but the time we did get – that short period that was left was very, very valuable.”
The Gift Of Time
Joel Jodoin and his wife, Lana Duong, believe in the importance of donating and supporting causes they are passionate about. Most recently, they added the Niagara Health Foundation to the list of charities they support, and we chatted with them to find out why.
Why Niagara Health Foundation?
“Every year, you think about what causes you want to donate to,” explains Joel, who lives in Toronto but grew up in Niagara. “And I thought that in a perfect world, people in Niagara should be able to access all healthcare services necessary in Niagara instead of having to go to Hamilton or Toronto. So I decided to return to my roots and provide more support for Niagara. While my wife and I don’t currently live in Niagara, my family does, and I see my donations as a way of contributing to local healthcare that will be there when they need it. Much like it was there for my mom when she needed it.”
Sharon’s Battle
Joel’s mom Sharon collapsed on her 69th birthday in July 2021. The ambulance brought her to the St. Catharines site, where the team began running tests to see what was happening. “That was the beginning of a time when we really started to lean on the services of Niagara Health,” Joel remembers and adds that his mom had to undergo many tests before they received the diagnosis: stage four lung cancer.
“Her Radiation Oncologist, Dr. Cuthbert, took the time to explain everything to us, and he explained it in layman’s terms, making sure we fully understood what was happening to my mom. Sadly, he told us early on that she would likely not be a candidate for chemo. He recommended palliative treatment for my mom instead but was still open to exploring every avenue with us. I really appreciated his demeanour. He shared all the facts with us without getting caught up in our emotions, which was what we needed.” To manage Sharon’s pain, Dr. Cuthbert recommended radiation treatment. “She was in so much pain at that point,” remembers Joel. “She was sleeping all the time because of the medication to mitigate the pain.”
Once her treatment started, Sharon felt she was in good hands at the Walker Family Cancer Centre. “Whether it was the volunteers who greeted her when she would come in, the people who would help her to get around throughout the hospital, the nurses who worked with Dr. Cuthbert – they were all phenomenal. The volunteers would always joke with her and lighten her load with their kindness. When her treatment ended, she even brought them all Tim Hortons gift cards. The nurses were amazing to my mom but also incredibly good to us. We could call with our questions and concerns at any time, which was helpful and reassuring.”
The Gift of Time
The most important thing of all? It worked. Sharon and her family knew they wouldn’t have much time left together, but the time they did get was as good as it could possibly be, thanks to the treatment she received. “As soon as the treatment started, she was in substantially less pain,” explains Joel, “which meant we could enjoy the time we had left with her. Whether it was watching movies or doing something else fun she wanted to do… all of that was only possible because of the treatment she received. I honestly couldn’t imagine what it would have been like for her, for us, if she had not received that treatment. Lana and I actually got engaged during that time,” Joel shares with a smile. “We didn’t get married while my mom was still here, but she got to enjoy that incredible moment with us – she even helped pick out the ring!”
Joel and his wife Lana are grateful for the time they had with Sharon before losing her. “Seeing the impact for my mother-in-law and how much the team supported her and us during that whole process – it made sense to us to give back to that, just so that it will help another family or another patient down the road,” says Lana about their reasons for donating to the Niagara Health Foundation. “My uncle in Toronto actually caught Covid in 2021,” she adds, “and at the time there were a lot of people in the Toronto area who had Covid and overwhelming hospitals in Toronto and the GTA.” Due to the lack of beds, Lana’s uncle was sent to the Intensive Care Unit at the St. Catharines site. “He was extremely sick and our family had a bit of a scare,” she remembers. “Thankfully, he made a miraculous recovery, and was transferred to the Welland site, where he continued his recovery.” The care he received at Niagara Health for close to two months is another reason for Lana and Joel to support the Niagara Health Foundation. “Our family was extremely grateful for the doctors and the care he received during that time. Niagara Health saved his life.”
Joel and Lana know that one donation may not change everything, but they hope that it will get Niagara just that little bit closer to being self-sufficient in terms of healthcare: “Sooner or later, as a Niagara resident, you will need their services. It’s unfortunate that our lightbulb went off on Niagara Health Foundation after we needed it.”
On December 4, 2021, Joel’s mom Sharon passed away peacefully at her home. “You always wish you had more time, but the time we did get – that short period that was left was very, very valuable.”
