The gift of hope
For the past 34 years, St. Joseph’s has turned pink at Christmas for a very good cause – the annual Season of Celebration campaign that inspires donor support for essential equipment and items that enhance care.
In 2024, donors made gifts online, by phone and in person, giving back however they could – and we are so grateful.
Their kindness helped to fund new elliptical machines, sleeper chairs for visitors to stay close to their family member while they’re in the hospital and therapeutic rocker chairs to help people relax while receiving mental health care.
Thanks to donors, people like Micheline Steele have access to the best possible care.
Steele had big plans for her retirement. But this fitness enthusiast started to experience pain in her shoulders and neck that kept getting worse. She found it too painful to cook or clean, let alone go for a bike ride or a run.
Looking back, she recalls the grief she felt during that time. “You have an idea how you think your life is going to go,” she says. “And then it completely changes.”
A referral to St. Joseph’s Pain & Symptom Management Program changed everything for her.
Working closely with an occupational therapist, psychiatrist and physiotherapist in virtual and in-person appointments, Steele found new tools that provided relief from her symptoms. Today, her pain is finally manageable. By finding the right care, delivered in the right way, and receiving the right treatment, she uncovered hope and learned lessons that will stay with her forever – like knowing when to slow down and when to ask for help.
She credits the entire team at St. Joseph’s for listening to her right from the beginning and always treating her with kindness. “When I came to St. Joseph’s, everyone was empathetic and compassionate,” she says. “I was credible to them and that made all the difference.”