Why is it important to you that Jewish Heritage Month is acknowledged and celebrated at Sunnybrook?

Gail: Being “othered” impacts your life. Whether it’s having large corporate events held on Jewish holidays or hearing little comments and misconceptions about Jewish people, it can chip away at you. Having Jewish Heritage Month recognized and celebrated is an opportunity to educate and create change. I personally love to learn about cultures and traditions and people. That’s how tolerance is built and change can happen.

Ariela: Recognizing Jewish Heritage Month can help our patients, families, staff and physicians feel respected and acknowledged. This visibility can help folks feel more open and comfortable asking for their needs to be supported, like for a rabbi to visit in hospital or a kosher meal selection.

Gail: Last year’s Jewish Heritage Month event really resonated with me and I wanted to get involved this year.

What do you wish people knew or understood about Judaism?

Ariela: A lot of what people “know”, they learned as a tidbit from social media sources. These tidbits often circle around bias and discrimination rather than historical facts and information. We know the stereotypes that circulate. I wish people understood that there’s far more to Judaism than what they might have seen or heard. There is diversity in Judaism just as there is everywhere. There are more than 5,700 years of history and there are Jews all over the world — Mizrahi, Sepharadi and Ashkenazi Jewish cultures from Africa, South America, Middle East and Europe.

Gail: And, there is a Jewish culture that’s very separate from religion. Some people may celebrate the Jewish holidays and traditions, some of which are religious, but not be religious or follow other tenets of the faith.

How does Judaism impact yourself at work?

Ariela: The core values of Judaism align with Sunnybrook values. One that comes to mind is respect. Respect your neighbour, your parents, your colleagues, your peers. I lead a team here at Sunnybrook and I try to lead with respect. Our team is made up of people from many backgrounds, cultures and religions. We can work together with respect and create an environment where we are able to bring our whole selves to work. I have had staff research and learn what Hebrew greetings to say to me on the holidays and I do the same to them.

Gail: I agree with Ariela. And you know, food always connects people. One thing our team does is have treat day where people bring in foods to share. We learn about each other’s traditions and celebrate together.

Is there anything you’d like to add?

Gail: It’s important to remember intent versus impact. Your comment or misconception or exclusion may not be malicious. But the impact may truly be harmful. It’s something to consider as we have conversations about equity, diversity and inclusion.

Ariela: It’s so important for us to have these conversations. Jews have been forced to hide or to convert for so long. Now we have the freedom to be safe and to talk about it. It’s so important.  We all have diverse backgrounds and experiences, and we carry that with us to work and through the world. Being open and respectful of others helps us all bring our whole selves to work.

The post Staff Q and A: Reflecting on Jewish Heritage Month appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Que Rock is an Anishinaabe multidisciplinary artist and professional muralist from Nipissing First Nation. His traditional name is Manitou Neeman – Spirit Dancing. Que is currently based in Toronto.

Que recently designed and painted a wall-to-wall mural in Sunnybrook’s new Indigenous Wellness Space, with the help of assistant Sadie Marshall.

The Indigenous Wellness Space is a room within the hospital’s Bayview Campus that is now available for Indigenous patients and families for meeting and ceremony, and for Indigenous care partners who are on site to have a space to work or meet with clients. Medicine bundles, a ceremonial drum and a rattle are available as well for use within the room and around the hospital.

Here, Que talks a little bit about the mural, the meaning behind it, and why it’s important to have an Indigenous Wellness Space – and Indigenous art – in a hospital.

What goes into designing and creating a mural like the one you’ve done in the Indigenous Wellness Space?

When creating a piece, I always take into consideration the environment that I’m in. Because we’re in a hospital setting, I just automatically thought of the visual healing arts that I was raised into — my Anishinaabe culture — and that it was a perfect marriage for the environment. Our medicines are all based off of the earth elements and how we pick our medicines. I decided to do a floral pattern and include a few layers of Anishinaabe teachings and our value system, including our medicine wheel. I tried to create a visual healing experience for the viewer by using geometry patterns.

I was taught through ceremony — that is our Anishinaabe education system. So for us, it was being part of ceremonies growing up and then learning how to channel those ceremonies, learning how to communicate them, and then eventually becoming an artist. I learned about the geometry patterns that are in nature, and then how to recreate that in my paintings. This is sacred geometry, essentially, the laws of nature. And it’s showing us and teaching us the repetitive things that are constantly happening. I use these foundations of my Anishinaabe culture in my work.

How important do you think having this space — and having art within this space — is to healing?

Oh, this is huge. It’s really important to have space for Indigenous people, considering that we feel that we’re not really welcomed in a lot of places. I think when people see imagery that they can identify with, that they can recognize, that they’ve been raised with, it creates a sense of comfort and a sense of welcoming.

Can you tell us a little bit about the mural and its elements?

I love these opportunities because it challenges me to create something unique for the space. I challenge myself to recreate some of the teachings that I’ve been taught and embed the sacred geometry that’s in everything in life and in nature, while also creating a nice balance overall within the room. I want to like feel like it’s always been here.

It’s really important to me that people understand the meaning behind everything, for non-Indigenous people, and Indigenous people too, who are learning their culture. For that reason, there’s a consistency throughout the entire design.

My culture is based off of the laws of nature and so we really are paying attention to a lot of numbers, and those numbers have multiple meanings to them. You’ll see lots of groups of two, four and seven.

I repeated duality teachings, which is the balance of the polarity, the balance of all life. So there’s a consistency and patterns of two that you’ll see.

There’s also a consistency and balance of four. The four is based off of the Medicine Wheel teachings. And the Medicine Wheel is a guiding principle. It’s a tool that we use to help us understand and navigate our own natures and also the natures that are from our environments that we live in. The Medicine Wheel is a strong symbol for healing in most Indigenous communities. Although there are various types of medicine wheels, I chose to use the Anishinaabe Medicine Wheel from Ontario so that it would be accurate to this area. The Medicine Wheel starts off with the four directions: north, south, east and west. And then each direction is allocated different layers of nature. So, after you have your four directions, you have the four elements: earth, wind, water and fire. Then you have the four seasons: summer, spring, winter, fall. Then you also have the four natures of humanity. Every human has a spirit. They have emotions. They have a body. They have a mind. And the layers continue to keep growing and growing and growing. In the south, where you have the earth nation, I did it resembling a turtle based off of our creation stories with Turtle Island.

Another value incorporated into the artwork is the seven grandfather teachings. The seven grandfather teachings are layered with a value system of how you treat yourself and how you treat other people. And so I’ve included that. So you’ll see a lot of patterns that have seven in them and those are references to the seven grandfather teachings.

What else will people see in this work?

You will also see some of the medicines. We have four sacred medicines. Tobacco is our most popular medicine that we use when we’re doing a lot of our ceremonies. It’s pretty much part of every ceremony. There’s an old saying “Tobacco first.” And that’s what I was trying to show here. I depicted the tobacco that actually I grow. I’ve been given seeds that have been in my family for more than 2,000 years. It’s a special tobacco; it doesn’t really grow often. It’s really old and very unique because this tobacco flowers. It has a very nice beautiful yellow flower that comes out of it. Most tobacco plants don’t do that.

You will also see Spider Woman. She wove the first human being and then we were lowered down from the Big Dipper, from our umbilical cords to Turtle Island.

You will see a butterfly, representing the story of the first grass dancer Rocky Boy, who could not walk until he was at a gathering and heard the beat of the drum. A butterfly landed upon his forehead and helped him dance.

You will see a heart, representing the care that went into creating us.

What do you hope staff, patients or visitors take away from experiencing your art in this space?

I would love for people to feel really safe and really comfortable. Welcomed. This style of art is a visual healing art. It’s very layered; it has a different effect on the viewer, depending on what they see. My goal is to create a healing experience, or at least something that resonates within the DNA, where they’re feeling really good overall after being in the space.

The post Meet Que Rock: the Anishinaabe artist behind Sunnybrook’s new Indigenous Wellness Space mural appeared first on Your Health Matters.

“Rightfully a lot of attention is paid at the time of diagnosis and active treatment,” Dr. Al-Khaifi said. “Many breast cancer survivors have told me that while they felt they had a lot of information and support during their active treatment, once treatment stopped, they lost the continuity of care with the physician.”

It means patients are often left wondering what to expect, what to watch out for with respect to cancer recurrence, and what to do about ongoing side effects of treatment.

“After treatment ends, it’s very common for side effects to continue,” Dr. Al-Khaifi said. “It’s not just a ‘return to normal life.’ Pain. Lymphedema. Anxiety. Depression. Self-image changes. Sexual dysfunction. Menopausal symptoms that are caused by cancer treatment. And the fear of the cancer coming back. All of these contribute to the patient’s quality of life.”

Long-term survival rates after the diagnosis of breast cancer are improving, with a 5-year survival rate in Canada of 90 per cent.

“The continuing improvement in survival rate, coupled with an aging population, contribute to an increase in survival population. As a result, follow-up care with a focus on quality of care is increasingly important,” Dr. Al-Khaifi said. “Research shows that a quarter of breast cancer survivors report anxiety, depression and fears around recurrence, and anecdotally based on my experience with breast cancer patients, I believe the rate is much higher.”

Dr. Al-Khaifi wanted to improve the lives of breast cancer survivors and that’s why she developed and proposed the Sunnybrook Breast Cancer Survivorship Care Clinic. Currently she is the physician lead of the survivorship program at the Louise Temerty Breast Centre.

“I met a patient who had completed treatment and had a good prognosis. She was so acutely anxious of cancer recurrence and her self-image was so low after her body changes that she told me she didn’t leave the house. As a healthcare team, we have to support the whole person. We have to provide women like this with more support and resources after their active treatments like chemotherapy and radiation end.”

Dr. Al-Khaifi works with patients to create an action plan and address their side effects and concerns, and promote a healthy lifestyle to help reduce the risk of recurrence. She also works closely with family doctors to assist in the transition of care back to the community physician.

“Research shows family physician-led survivorship care is as good as specialist care with no difference in recurrence-related serious clinical events. Patients are generally more pleased with their care because it’s closer to home and more comprehensive, and their quality of life improves.“

The care is also individualized, she adds.

“Everyone is different, and everyone responds and reacts to cancer treatment differently. We use a practice-based, evidence-based and personalized approach to help support the whole person through their cancer journey.”

The approach can also have an impact on the healthcare system, she adds, by helping open up cancer physicians’ caseloads for active treatment patients.

“Plus, educating patients on what’s ahead and providing follow-up plans can help reduce fears, which reduces the demand for unplanned care and the amount of imaging, and the costs associated with that.

“So, this approach can be cost effective and beneficial for the healthcare system as well as patients. Further, this may support better coordination between cancer teams and family physicians through treatment summaries and survivorship care plans.”

The post Dr. Muna Al-Khaifi on closing the gap in breast cancer treatment appeared first on Your Health Matters.

“My late mentor Dr. Jack Tu had a long-standing interest in cardiovascular outcomes research with respect to ethnic background given that we live in such a diverse country,” he said. “We need to do more research so that we know what is happening, and so we can find the best ways to prevent disease and care for patients from different backgrounds.”

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Ko worked with a team to look at how COVID-19 affects people with different ethnic backgrounds.

But, he says, conducting this kind of work isn’t easy.

“It’s difficult to do because of the lack of data,” Dr. Ko says. “There’s no standardized way of collecting demographic data such as race and ethnic background, and that lack of information makes it really hard. Maybe this stems from fear of stigmatization. But more data is important so that we can find out what is happening and we can design ways to help.”

He says while many healthcare institutions have shied away from collecting demographic data in the past, it’s important that we find an appropriate way of asking for this information.

Dr. Ko says there are increasing conversations happening across Canada about how important this data is, and how to start to collecting and using it. Here in Toronto, Sunnybrook is working together with partners to ensure our efforts to collect and use demographic data are aligned across the system, and are designed to support action and accountability.

A pilot survey has launched on several units, wherein patients are asked to self-identify their ethnic background. Dr. Ko says it’s a step in the right direction.

“Without adequate data, we are just guessing around outcomes and needs,” Dr. Ko said.

With COVID-19, for example, it became clear quite quickly that some groups of people had poorer outcomes.

“Early in the pandemic, in long-term care homes, more Chinese seniors were impacted by COVID. In the community and workplaces, large numbers of South Asian men contracted the virus,” Dr. Ko explained. “This is really important information.”

“Toronto is so diverse, people come from many places and countries and we try to accept and celebrate each other’s differences. We know there are differences in health outcomes among people based on their ethnicity, but we lack the data to really understand why. By collecting that data and doing the research, we can then better determine ways to ensure everyone has access to the prevention programs, screening and care they need.”

Dr. Ko says Asian Heritage Month is a good time to reflect on this and to celebrate members of the Asian community who have made valuable contributions to the field of medicine.

“I have been afforded wonderful opportunities in Canada. I feel that it is important to have a chance to celebrate and value our diversity.”

The post How collecting demographic data can improve health outcomes appeared first on Your Health Matters.

“I wanted to learn more and to help people,” she recalls.

She says they were greeted with a warm east coast welcome.

“I was at first afraid to answer the phone when it rang, worried about the language barrier,” Bing said, “but people were so friendly and made us feel so welcome. People smiled on the street; people invited us for Christmas.”

Bing is now a nurse practitioner in Sunnybrook’s Schulich Heart Program. Her experience, she says, has been very different to that of some Chinese people in Canada, particularly in recent years when reports indicate that incidence of anti-Asian racism has been on the rise.

“I have personally not experienced this and for that I am so grateful,” Bing said. “But we have all heard about these hate crimes, particularly against Chinese people. And these are often violent and partially motivated by COVID-19 pandemic and the fact the illness was first identified in China.”

After learning of the brutal killing of six Asian women in an Atlanta spa last March, Bing and her husband wondered how to speak to their three children about the issue of anti-Asian hate.

“Our children are Canadian. They were born here and have lived here their whole lives. But they too could be victims of anti-Asian racism. So, we spoke to them about how this is a risk for them because of their skin and their culture. And that we have to stand up together against this.”

The family decided they would go together to a Stop Anti-Asian Racism rally held last March in Nathan Phillips Square. They made signs, which they also shared with their neighbours, and made the trek downtown — where they were greeted with a sea of support.

Bing and her family at a Stop Anti-Asian Racism rally in Toronto in March 2021.

“It was a rainy day and hundreds of people came out. People from all backgrounds and cultures, all in support of Asian communities. It was a great reminder for us all that we are stronger together. We too have to stand up for other communities who suffer from racism and acts of hatred.”

Bing says Asian Heritage Month provides an opportunity to celebrate diversity and to learn and support each other— something she says she’s felt throughout her now 15-year career at Sunnybrook.

“I say now that Sunnybrook is my hometown. I have received wonderful support from my colleagues, mentors and educators from when I started here as a registered nurse and throughout my continued schooling to become a nurse practitioner,” Bing said. “I would also like to express my gratitude to my previous and current managers and director for all their support and guidance. Without it, I will not be able to achieve my goals and continue to improve.”

The post “We are stronger together:” A reflection on Asian Heritage Month appeared first on Your Health Matters.

That’s how Torey Belzberg approaches the people she meets in her role as a social worker at the Odette Cancer Centre.

“I like to get to know our clients as people first, not as ‘cancer patients’,” she explains. “I ask questions about who they are, what brings them joy, and what their life is like outside of these walls. When we get to know people beyond their diagnosis, it helps foster connection and, I think, helps our patients feel supported.”

Torey says fostering those connections can be a bit more challenging these days, with so many appointments still taking place virtually. But she and her clients have been adapting.

In her role, Torey provides connections to resources like financial aid, transportation and homecare. She also provides emotional support to patients and their families.

“We might chat about processing a new diagnosis or about the challenges of facing treatment,” she explains. “It’s really about supporting the emotional well-being of people during the difficult time and meeting them where they are at along their cancer journey.”

Torey (right) and a colleague inside the Odette Cancer Centre.

A cancer diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic can bring on added anxiety, Torey says. She tries to listen to her clients, validate their concerns and remind them of the steps being taken to keep them safe at Odette.

“Especially for new patients, they imagine the hospital is a busy bustling place. But the Odette Cancer Centre is its own space. It feels different, like its own quiet space within the hospital.”

As the pandemic continues, Torey says she tries to reduce her own stress by remembering some “pandemic silver linings.”

“As I reflect on it, the pandemic has enabled me to live more in the moment; to just watch my kids grow and really be present. Of course, I miss socializing and I don’t want to ever take that for granted. But there’s something comforting in having no pressure to go anywhere. It’s forced us to slow down.”

And, she adds, the pandemic has strengthened her connection to her colleagues at Odette.

“To me, our team has really exemplified the phrase ‘we are all in this together.’ We were a supportive group before COVID, and the shared experience of coping through the pandemic brought us closer as colleagues and friends. We are dedicated to caring for our patients and families, and to caring for each other.”

The post Supporting patients through their cancer journey: Meet social worker Torey Belzberg appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Should I get a booster and when?

Yes. If you have not already done so, get your booster dose. Being fully vaccinated should now mean getting your booster as well, and that’s the best way to be well protected against any serious complications from COVID-19. In Ontario, you are eligible for a booster if you are 18 or older and your second dose was at least 84 days ago.

Why do we need boosters?

Two doses of mRNA vaccines did a good job of protecting us against SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Over time, though, immune systems’ response to vaccination can begin to fade. That’s why a booster dose is needed. After the Omicron wave passes, the strategy for long-term vaccination against COVID-19 will be revisited but for now getting your booster is the best protection we have.

I see there’s still people with boosters testing positive, so what’s the point?

Yes, people with two vaccine doses and even three vaccine doses can test positive for COVID-19. With other variants of COVID-19, the vaccines did a good job of both stopping transmission of the virus to vaccinated people and preventing serious illness in vaccinated people. With the Omicron variant, the vaccine doesn’t stop all transmission. But, vaccination is still extremely effective at preventing serious illness and hospitalization caused by Omicron which is the most important goal of vaccination and reducing the impact of the pandemic on our daily lives. By reducing disease severity, we preserve our healthcare system capacity, which means that fewer public health restrictions will be necessary over time and the overall impact of the pandemic on our daily lives will lessen.

I heard some people are getting a fourth dose? Who?

People with certain immunocompromising conditions like recent stem cell transplants or organ transplants were given a “three-dose primary series.” This means to be fully vaccinated, folks with these specific illnesses were given three doses whereas the general population had two. Some of these people are now eligible for a fourth dose — their booster. You can find more info here. If you had an organ transplant or stem cell transplants or are in active treatment for cancer, please speak to your healthcare provider or learn how to book at this provincial booking link. In addition, residents of long-term care homes are being offered a fourth dose of a COVID-19 vaccine. This is to offer additional ongoing protecting to this vulnerable population.

I had COVID recently – when should I get a booster?

Update February 7, 2022: Canada’s National Advisory Committee on Immunization (NACI) now recommends that any vaccinated Canadian who gets infected with SARS-CoV-2 should wait three months before getting a COVID-19 booster shot. Read more about these new recommendations.

If you had COVID-19 after December 15 in Ontario, you’ve likely had Omicron already. If this is the case, there is no rush in getting a COVID-19 booster. We do know that natural immunity can begin to wane within a few months and for this reason vaccination has still been recommended among those who have recovered from COVID-19 once they have fully recovered. The optimal timing for that booster is not yet known but usually it is recommended you get it by three months from the infection.

My kid is 15 and was vaccinated as soon as they were able. Now that was a long time ago! When can they get a booster?

In Ontario, the booster shot has not yet been approved for those 12-17. The CDC in the United States recently announced approval for this population and it’s likely Canada and Ontario will follow suit too. We will update this page once we have more information.

I heard it’s only Moderna right now in Ontario for adult boosters, and I want Pfizer. What should I do?

In Ontario there is currently a Moderna-first approach. Adults age 30+ receive Moderna for their third dose and those under 30 may receive Pfizer based on availability. With Omicron widely circulating and the strong evidence that vaccination greatly reduces the risk of hospitalization and poor outcomes irrespective of the vaccine brand received, please take the booster shot that is available to you right now.

Sunnybrook’s Vaccine Clinic is closed to the public as Sunnybrook is currently focused on vaccinating staff and their households. To find a vaccine clinic near you, visit Ministry of Health’s website or the City of Toronto’s website.

The post COVID-19 booster doses: Dr. Jerome Leis answers some common questions appeared first on Your Health Matters.

What is complex malignant hematology (CMH)?

Complex malignant hematology includes a variety of disorders and cancers of the blood. These conditions start in the bone marrow or in the cells of the immune system.

What are the types of blood cancers?

Complex malignant hematology is divided into two main types: lymphoid and myeloid.

Lymphoid cancers affect the lymphocytes – part of the immune system. It may originate in the bone marrow or the lymph nodes.

Myeloid cancers start in the bone marrow. Bone marrow is a spongy tissue inside some of our bones that contains stem cells. Stem cells are immature cells that can develop into blood cells.

The conditions are further classified as “acute” or “chronic”. Acute conditions mean that the cancer cells are splitting and growing quickly, and affecting the immature cells. Chronic conditions mean the cells are reproducing more slowly, and typically involve more mature cells. Sometimes chronic conditions can transform into acute conditions.

Acute conditions may be life threatening left untreated and generally require the treatments to start within 1 week.

To better understand blood cancers, it is helpful to visualize how they are classified. While not an exhaustive list, the starred conditions would fall under the jurisdiction of Complex Malignant Hematology.

The goal of therapy in most CMH conditions is cure.

Lymphoid Conditions

Acute:
Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL)*
Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL)*

Chronic:
Hodgkin’s lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma – many types, including:

• Burkitts lymphomas*
• High grade B-cell lymphomas double hit*
• Primary CNS Lymphomas*

Myeloid Conditions

Acute:
Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML)*
Granulocytic sarcoma*

Chronic:
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)
Myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPN)
Aplastic Anemia (AA)*
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)*

What are the symptoms of blood cancers?

The symptoms of blood cancers or conditions can be different because of all the different types of condition.

Some of common symptoms of blood cancer, according to the Canadian Cancer Society, are:

• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Easy bruisability or bleeding
• Enlarged lymph nodes in the neck, underarm, groin or above the collarbone
• Swollen stomach or abdominal discomfort
• Frequent and repeated infections
• Fever/night sweats

Why do these conditions require such specialized care?

As a general rule, these conditions require management in specialized cancer centres. Many people require chemotherapy and or immunotherapy, and some may only be cured by a bone marrow transplant. The transplant can come either from ones own stem cells (autologous) or from an external donor’s (allogeneic). These treatments essentially wipe out the immune system, putting patients at risk for infection and at higher risk for needing blood transfusions. So, a very specialized care team and treatment space is needed to deliver the best and safest care.

More resources: 

Lymphoma Canada

Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada

Learn more about Sunnybrook’s facility for treating complex malignant hematology.

This post was reviewed and updated Sept. 15, 2021.

The post What is blood cancer? appeared first on Your Health Matters.

“The purpose of a military band is to enhance community relations and boost the morale of the Canadian Armed Forces,” she explains. “The regiment I am part of has a very rich history; it has been around since before Confederation, through both world wars, and now this COVID-19 pandemic.”

It was Sunnybrook’s history as a Veterans hospital that drew Carina to the organization, where she works as a Community Giving Officer at Sunnybrook Foundation.

“I’m so honoured to work at Sunnybrook; it brings all my passions together.”

This past year, Carina was able to bring another passion to her work: improving equity, diversity and inclusion.

Carina became a member of the President’s Anti-Racism Taskforce (PART) at Sunnybrook, which was established to develop and implement an action plan with specific measures to combat racism and ensure Sunnybrook is an inclusive organization for its staff, partners and the communities it serves.

Last summer, when Sunnybrook President and CEO Dr. Andy Smith sent a note to the organization acknowledging systemic racism within healthcare and saying “we need to do better”, Carina says it really struck her.

“I reflected on my day-to-day experiences and it made me realize there have been situations, micro-aggressions and other incidents and I’ve been so hesitant to speak up,” she said. “I’m now finding my voice and using it to contribute to creating and shaping the policies and starting the conversations that will benefit people equitably, to make Sunnybrook a safe space for everyone.”

As a second-generation Chinese-Canadian, Carina has watched the rise in anti-Asian racism and violence during the pandemic with fear and anger.

“It’s something that’s quite difficult to talk about,” she said. “I worry about my grandmother because I am not always around to protect her. Could someone hurt or attack her, just because of the way she looks and who she is? These are things I cannot control and it leaves me confused: how can this be happening now?”

Carina says she has paused to reflect on her own history this Asian Heritage Month.

“It was the idea of my maternal grandfather to bring his family to Canada for a better quality of life. I grew up in Vancouver in a neighbourhood that was mainly immigrants from Hong Kong and China. In grade school, we even spoke Cantonese on the playground. That was, until a teacher told us to stop. Looking back, I think that really impacted the way I have lived my life. I was told I was different and different was bad. I’ve recently been doing a lot of reflection and rebuilding of my identity as a racialized person.”

Carina has been involved in planning an upcoming virtual event for staff about the impacts of anti-Asian racism on mental health.

“I hope with this work, we find comfort, peace and connection because there’s such power and strength in sharing our stories.”

The post Carina Lam shares her story for Asian Heritage Month appeared first on Your Health Matters.

The couple, 87 and 91, received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine on March 8, 2021, and decided to mark the day as their anniversary.

Mervin and Myrna on their wedding day, nearly 68 years ago.

It was nearly a year to the day since the pandemic was declared.

“On March 11, 2020 we were enjoying our time in sunny Florida when we heard the news of the pandemic and that Canada might be locked down,” Mervin recalled. “We packed our things and booked plane tickets immediately and came straight home.”

Ever since, Mervin and Myrna have been hunkered down in their Toronto condo.

It’s been a long 12 months, of course. Family dropped off groceries and supplies. And the pair used the hallways of their building as their exercise track.

“Myrna lit candles every night for dinnertime to help break up the monotony,” Mervin says.

“It was just a little something I could do to add some excitement,” Myrna added.

Myrna says getting the notification that they were able to book vaccine appointments was the “best day of the year.”

“It was so amazing,” she says. “We are so happy to have science on our side.”

Myrna and Mervin don’t yet have plans for their actual wedding anniversary in May, as they will wait to hear what the public health advice on gatherings is at that time.

“Our celebration might be a toast of champagne on Zoom, and that’s OK,” Myrna says.

Facetime and Zoom have been a wonderful way to stay connected with their three children, eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren throughout this past year, she says.

“And the telephone,” adds Mervin. “We are so lucky to have so many ways to stay connected.

“We have just a short while longer to keep up with all the public health rules; don’t give up now. Hang in there and we will get through this.”

And Mervin’s advice for couples who are feeling cooped up as stay-at-home orders continue:

“Let things fall where they may. Don’t be demanding on each other. Myrna and I have never been demanding on each other, and it works.”

The post Couple celebrates 68th wedding anniversary by getting COVID-19 vaccines at Sunnybrook appeared first on Your Health Matters.