Life was good when Barbara headed to the racetrack with her husband for a Father’s Day outing earlier this year. About halfway through the afternoon, Barbara put her head on her husband’s shoulder. That simple moment would be one of the last things she remembers about that day. Barbara couldn’t move her left leg or left arm and the left side of her face was drooping. A friend rushed to get a first responder and 911 was called. Barbara was having a stroke.

Eight years ago, Alan was feeling terrible for quite some time and couldn’t figure out what was happening. Eventually it got so bad that he had to call an ambulance. “I was almost passing out,” he remembers. After several tests, he was given news that would change his life forever. “My doctor told me that my kidney was failing and that I would need dialysis treatment,” Alan remembers. “That was quite a shock.”

If you were to meet Chelsea today, you would never guess the journey she has been through. She lives a life rooted in gratitude, which shows in everything she does. Chelsea is a mom, a wife, a mental health nurse, a volunteer, and a business owner. She loves spending time with her family, connecting with others and meeting new people. She is also an avid runner. “I run quite often,” Chelsea smiles, “and on every run that I go on, I deliberately run past the New Port Centre (New Port).” New Port, she adds, saved her life.

During Avery's recent stay at the Children's Health Unit at Niagara Health, he managed to stay as positive as possible, and a big part of that was thanks to the amazing care he received. "We had to stay at the hospital for four days following an asthma attack," his mom, Carly, explains, "and we just have to say that the healthcare team was wonderful."