It was on a Sunday night when Elizabeth received the notification on her phone that her CAT scan results had arrived. She remembers sitting by herself, trying to make sense of the words on the screen. “I saw terms like  “spiculated mass” and “no cavitation”, and in each Google search of those terms, I was seeing the word cancer,” she explains. “And then everything moved very quickly.”

When we heard that someone was planning a “Rib Sauce Fundraiser” in support of the Walker Family Cancer Centre, it was a first. The fundraising event, hosted by one of Welland’s favourite spots, M.T. Bellies, was put on in memory of the late Ron Levinski – a loving family man, a good friend to so many and, of course, a Master Sauce Maker.

When Welland resident Deborah awoke one morning, it felt like the room was swimming and she couldn’t find her place in it. “It was a strange, disorienting feeling and disconcerting because I didn’t know what was happening,” Deborah called 911 and was rushed to the Welland hospital.

On November 15, 2023, I experienced a serious seizure while at my home. My wife found me in front of the TV, already unconscious, and shortly thereafter I went into convulsions. She called 911 and emergency services personnel including fire and ambulance were at my home within a number of minutes.

“Everybody gets sick some time. Even if it’s not you personally, then you have a friend or a relative and want them to have great care!” For Niagara Health Foundation supporter Kim K., giving to your local hospital is a no-brainer. The Niagara Falls resident has had several surgeries over the years and says she couldn’t be more grateful for the staff at the different hospital sites.

At this time one year ago, Ashley was expecting her second child and was busy planning the holidays with her husband and their then one-year-old son Henry. In February, 2023, Ashley went to the St. Catharines hospital for her 9:30am C-section, ready to hold her newborn baby. Towards the end of her C-section, her doctor called for a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) team member, sensing that Ashley’s little boy was going to need a little bit more help. “It was such a good call by my doctor because as it turns out, Charley needed to go to the NICU right away,” Ashley remembers.

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.