In 2015 Sharon Arsenault sat down with oncologist Dr. Robert Meyers at Trillium Health Partner’s (THP) Credit Valley Hospital and was told she could likely expect to live another two years. She was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. It had spread quickly, throughout her skeletal system, back, sternum, around her ribs, down into her hips, adrenal glands and liver. “What I took for granted and thought of as normal in my life ceased to exist in that very moment.” She was told her cancer was treatable, not curable.
With a bleak prognosis, Sharon turned her life over to a team of oncologists and nurses at THP, including Dr. Meyers and her primary care nurse, Helen Dwyer who played a tremendous role in her first two years of treatment. Sharon just wanted to fight the cancer as best she could with whatever time she had left.
“From the beginning, I felt comfortable and safe at THP. I was more to them than just a patient number,” Sharon recalls of those early days. In fact, the compassionate care she received extended beyond her clinical care teams of doctors and nurses. Wherever Sharon went, she felt supported.
“One day a member of THP’s maintenance team found me sleeping on a small sofa in the reception area when I was in for treatment. She made arrangements to have me move into a bed,” Sharon recalls of just one of the many small acts of kindness she experienced throughout her time at THP’s Credit Valley Hospital.
Nearly seven years later and Sharon’s cancer is stable. She is on a maintenance program and goes in for treatment every three weeks. As hard as navigating life with cancer has been for Sharon, she has spun her experience into a positive, taking it upon herself to try to introduce herself to some of the first-time chemo patients that come into the Carlo Fidani Regional Cancer Centre, providing a semblance of comfort and support. After all, she knows how terrifying it can be and how invaluable an ear to listen or a warm smile can be.
“Cancer was a horrible diagnosis but it has turned into a purpose in my life – I could do something that would make a difference to someone else, and not just sit there and fight for my own life. I wanted to make the fight worthwhile,” she says of the long-lasting friendships she’s made with fellow patients over the years.
Of course due to the ongoing pandemic and with social distancing still strictly enforced at THP, Sharon has to remain seated in her chemo chair now, but that doesn’t stop her from friendly waves and shouts of encouragement across the room when a new patient comes in.
“I can’t walk around but I can still call across the desk and say, ‘Hi. You’re going to be okay!’” she says.
This sense of kindness and community inspired Sharon to leave a legacy gift to the hospital through her Will, something she feels so thankful to be able to do.
“I can’t take my money with me, but I can leave it to a worthy cause and I am so grateful to be able to do that.”
For Sharon it was an easy decision that her lawyer and the Trillium Health Partners Foundation helped her with as she was updating her Will recently. The planned gift to THP’s Carlo Fidani Regional Cancer Centre at Credit Valley Hospital will provide her estate with some tax breaks but knowing that some of her hard-earned money will help support the THP community of staff and patients transcends any dollar value.
“My wish is that anyone diagnosed with cancer can receive the same level of health care as I did. No matter how large or small the gift, I think we can all make a difference in someone’s life, just like THP has made in mine.”
Inspired by Sharon? Learn more about leaving a planned gift in your Will at trilliumgiving.ca/give-support/wills-estates/. No matter the size of your estate, you can make a big difference in the future of health care in our community. If you have already left a gift in your Will to the Foundation, or have questions about making a legacy gift, you can contact Lindsay Murray, Senior Development Officer, Philanthropy at 416-271-1115 or lindsay.murray@thp.ca