What damage can looking directly at the solar eclipse cause to the eyes?

“Looking at the sun directly is never a safe thing to do as it can cause permanent damage to the retina called solar retinopathy,” says Dr. Eng. “This can cause permanent blindness in one or both eyes.

What should someone do if they don’t have the special protective eyewear to watch the eclipse? Are there are any specifications people should look for when it comes to protective eyewear to watch the eclipse?

“The only way to avoid the risk of damage to the eyes is to wear approved, special-purpose glasses, also known as solar filters,” Dr. Eng says. “Approved glasses meet a special international standard that is called ISO 12312-2.”

Visit the  American Astronomical Society for more information on approved glasses.

According to Dr. Eng, very dark sunglasses, homemade filters, squinting, or looking through a tinted window are not safe methods to look at the sun.

For those without access to approved eclipse glasses, the other options to view the eclipse include using a pinhole projector or watching the livestream of the eclipse. These options are safe and can be just as exciting!

Can someone watch the solar eclipse if they have pre-existing eye health concerns?

“As long as the eclipse glasses or solar filters are used, a person with pre-existing eye condition can still safely enjoy watching the solar eclipse.”, says Dr. Eng.

The key takeaway is that yes – today’s solar eclipse is a rare and exciting experience, but make sure you keep your eyes safe!

The post The wait is over – the solar eclipse is happening today! Are you prepared to watch it safely? appeared first on Your Health Matters.

That’s the message from medical professionals who say that inclusive and affirming healthcare for transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) youth is essential to mental health and wellbeing.

Recently, there has been a lot of attention on policies and practices impacting TGD youth, whether at school, in the community, or in healthcare settings.

Clinical experts say the medical case for supportive and inclusive gender affirming practices is clear.

According to the Canadian Pediatric Society, TGD youth are at elevated risk for adverse health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and self-harm – but the “risk may be mitigated by affirming experiences and environments…”.

Dr. Lauren Riggin is a youth and adolescent psychiatrist at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre. She spoke with Your Health Matters about the importance of gender-affirming care.

How would you define gender-affirming care? What does it look like?

I think it’s important to start with what is it not. It is not exclusively hormone therapy or hormone blockers. To me, gender-affirming care does includes those clinical components but it also includes treating people with basic respect and dignity, and creating an environment where they feel heard, included, and supported regardless of their gender.

An example of what I mean by that is using more gender-affirming language. For instance, instead of asking, ‘Are you male or female?’ care providers could ask, ‘What gender identity is the best match for you?’ or ‘How would you define your gender identity?’ Questions that are more broad and open-ended allow the adolescent to answer for themselves.

It also includes listening to people and treating them how they want to be treated. That means if they have a preferred pronoun or name, use it when addressing them. To me, gender- affirming care is as much about that supportive and respectful approach as hormone therapy, medication, or surgery.

What do you think people need to know about gender-affirming care involving hormones?

First, there is no pressure to pursue gender-affirming medical options. It is very much the youth’s decision based on what feels right to them. There are youth who choose to start treatment right away and others who prefer to delay it, and that doesn’t really mean anything in terms of their gender identity or gender expression. In other words, it doesn’t make young people less trans if they are not pursuing hormone treatment.

Treatment usually starts with hormone blockers which are thought to be mostly reversible with no long-term consequences – so that is good to know, especially for younger youth who are maybe more uncertain.

And gender-affirming hormone therapy (prescribed estrogen or testosterone) is a partially reversible intervention. This is often a big concern for parents who wonder, ‘What if my youth is not making the right decision for themselves?’

It is also important to note that there is a lot of evidence that suggests that physically appearing more similar to your identified gender is tremendously helpful for your mental health and reduces the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal behaviour.

As a youth and adolescent psychiatrist, what can you tell us about the mental health impacts of gender-affirming practices for trans and gender-diverse youth – whether at the doctor’s office, school, or home?

The research has mostly focused on what happens without gender-affirming care. What we know is that people who are not supported — who are not accepted within their home, school, or healthcare environment — have much worse mental health outcomes. That includes things like depression and anxiety, suicide attempts, and eventual suicide deaths. That evidence has been very well documented. And researchers believe it’s because of what’s called ‘minority stress’, in other words that people who experience discrimination are at much higher risk of depression and suicidal thoughts.

The opposite has been studied as well, although slightly less so. The evidence tells us that gender-affirming care does mitigate some of these problems. People are less likely to experience depression and suicidal thoughts if they are treated with gender-affirming care. A study conducted in the U.S. and published in the Journal of Adolescent Health in 2018 found that even something as simple as addressing someone by their chosen name leads to a reduction in depression, suicidal ideation, and suicidal behaviour among transgender youth.

I also point to the Canadian Pediatric Society position statement called “An affirming approach to caring for transgender and gender-diverse youth”, which describes the ‘minority stress’ effect and how affirming care can help reduce it.

“Transgender or gender-diverse (TDG) youth are at elevated risk for adverse health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, eating disorders, self-harm, and suicide. This elevated risk is thought, in part, to be attributable to ‘minority stress’, defined as the ‘distinct, chronic stressors minorities experience related to their stigmatized identities, including victimization, prejudice, and discrimination’. Consistent with this theory, Canadian TGD youth report high levels of exposure to harassment and violence. Risk may be mitigated by affirming experiences and environments, such as supportive parents, early social transition for those who express this desire, and inclusive and non-judgmental interactions with the health care system.”

–  Canadian Pediatric Society position statement, June, 2023

What do you hear from the transgender and gender-diverse youth you care for about what it feels like when they are not supported?

The youth that I see feel tremendously ostracized. They feel they are not living their authentic lives because they feel like they have to fake it in front of other people. That disconnect between the true authentic version of themselves and the masks that they show to other people is very distressing for them. Anyone can imagine how it would feel to not be treated with respect.

What are some of the common symptoms of depression and anxiety?

For youth with depression and anxiety, it means they are not able to enjoy the life they want to live. It could mean social withdrawal and spending less time with friends, spending less time doing preferred activities like sports, arts, or other extracurriculars, having a hard time focusing in school or falling asleep at night, low energy throughout the day, or appetite changes. It could also mean feeling like life is not worth living, that it’s hopeless and will never get better. And that can ultimately lead to suicidal thoughts.

Recently we are hearing a lot about gender identity policies in schools, and the debate over whether parents should be informed if students request a change to their preferred names or pronouns. It has been framed as an issue of parental rights versus children’s rights and 2SLGBTQIA+ rights. If we apply a mental health lens to this topic, how might that add to our understanding of it?

If we apply a mental health or medical lens to this, it comes down to an issue of consent and capacity. In general, in medical care we are asked to assess individual youth and decide if they have the ability themselves to ‘understand and appreciate’ the consequences of a medical decision. In other words, doctors have to decide if individual youth can literally grasp the information of, say, the side effects of a medication and apply that information to themselves.

It’s the same concept for health information. Part of our job as doctors and healthcare workers is to assess whether or not a patient has the capacity to give consent about the sharing of their health information. Obviously, a five-year-old does not have the capacity to make treatment decisions or decide if they want their parents involved in any sort of medical discussion. But most teens do have that capacity – they can share with a healthcare provider whether or not they want their parents to be involved, and ultimately they can also make their own health decisions.

That has been very clear in the medical world for decades, and yet in the school system there seems to be a different culture. It’s a very different model than the medical system where we sometimes tell parents, ‘Sorry, you are actually not involved in this decision because your youth doesn’t want you to be and because they are able to understand and appreciate the consequences of a medical decision themselves’. Most youth psychiatrists encourage a family-based model of care, but ultimately, the youth gets to decide how involved their parents are in their medical treatment.

How concerned are you about the stress associated with being caught in the middle of a public divide like this for transgender and gender-diverse youth?

My own transgender and gender-diverse patients have told me how invalidating it feels to have this very public debate over something which to them seems as basic as just calling them by their preferred name. They say it feels like suddenly there is this problem with who they are and what their name should be and that feels very invalidating. They say, ‘Really, I can’t express myself the way that I want to and that’s true to me? Why does anyone else care what I call myself?’

What message would you like to offer youth and their families who may be navigating gender identity at this time?

What I say to patients and families is that this is a process. Understanding who we are at our core is actually a very normal developmental process for teenagers, and people who are gender diverse have an extra level they have to go through to try and figure out what is their place in this world and how do they best express themselves.

For parents, my message is don’t worry, you don’t have to make any big decisions right now. This is a process and your job is simply to love and support your child. And if they ask you to use a different pronoun or name, do it. They are confiding in you about how they feel and view themselves and being able to respect that is really important.

For youth, my message is we’re here for you, we are supportive. Living an authentic life, true to your own identity, can be tremendously liberating. If you need time to figure out who you are, that is okay too. If you need help with your mental health, we are happy to help you at Sunnybrook. We have faith that we can help you to build a life with meaning, authenticity, and joy.

The post A Sunnybrook psychiatrist explains why gender-affirming care is crucial for youth mental health appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Sunnybrook staff who work in palliative care confront the realities of death every day through the patients whom they work with. Read six stories and lessons that Sunnybrookers have learned about living while working with people who are dying.

Karen Johansen, advanced practice nurse

While there certainly is lots of sadness working in palliative care, Karen Johansen wants people to know that it’s not all “doom and gloom.”

Apart from helping people to feel comfortable in their final days, Karen and her team also aim to help patients “live until they die,” whatever that may mean for them.

“That is something I’m very passionate about,” she says.

To name a few stories, Karen has helped a patient who couldn’t leave her bed to go outside for the last time, she’s helped a patient get married on the unit before passing, and she’s helped a Toronto Maple Leafs fan attend one more game with his young son.

“Everybody who’s nearing end of life deserves the best of the best care,” says Karen. “That’s the least we can do for these folks and their families.”

A lesson Karen’s learned while working in palliative care at Sunnybrook:

“Working in the palliative care unit makes you realize on a daily basis how short life is. We have so many people admitted to our unit who, a week or two ago, were like everyone else; they were healthy, working, going on with their lives. And all of a sudden, they’re on our unit dying. And it can happen that fast. So, it just makes you realize that life is precious, and we need to be thankful for every day that we have.”

Dana Chatzitassis, environmental services partner

Dana Chatzitassis has been working at Sunnybrook for the past 24 years, with the past eight on the palliative care unit. And while she says it’s a privilege to do the work that she does, she says that working on her unit can be especially challenging.

“We don’t get to see anyone get better and go home, and we are witness to more heartache and grief in a day than most people see in a lifetime,” says the environmental services partner.

To keep things in perspective, Dana focuses on the lessons she learns from patients and the support she receives from her team.

“The kindness, bravery and empathy I see demonstrated every day in the most difficult situations offers the best education,” she says.

Speaking specifically about her coworkers, she adds, “We are truly a second family.”

A lesson Dana’s learned while working in palliative care at Sunnybrook:

“Life is short, and the most important things in life are not things. Don’t get me wrong. Shopping is normal. But, if all you are about is what you own and who you are wearing, rather than how you make others feel around you, if you take all of the flash away, who are you?”

Jill Hedican, music therapist

If you hear music being played in Sunnybrook’s palliative care unit, chances are, Jill Hedican is around.

“I play quite a bit of live music using guitar, voice and violin,” she says.

As both a certified music therapist and a registered psychotherapist, Jill plays an important and multi-faceted role on the palliative care team.

“I am able to use music as a tool to meet a wide range of patient needs,” she says.

Some of these needs include reducing pain perception, supporting emotional expression, building community during patient group sessions, promoting relaxation through individual sessions at the bedside, and creating memories by playing music with families.

Of this unique insight into patients’ “beautiful memories, tragedies, struggles and resilience,” Jill says, “I have the opportunity to witness raw emotion and the beauty and complexity of human relationships as they unfold each day.” 

A lesson Jill’s learned while working in palliative care at Sunnybrook:

“In working with patients in palliative care, offering creative and expressive outlets and opportunities for meaningful living, even as they approach death, I have learned to seek out the same opportunities for myself and my loved ones. I spend a lot of time being creative, connecting with nature, doing things I find fulfilling and trying to remember to seek support from others when I need it.”

Tricia Mills, recreation therapist

Most people don’t know that our palliative care unit offers a wide variety of recreational programs. At the heart of this important programming is Tricia Mills.

“It is a privilege to get to meet and support people at what can be a very difficult time in their lives,” says the recreation therapist.

In her role, Tricia puts on community-building programs like lunch sessions, where patients get to connect and relate with one another while enjoying a home-cooked meal. She also runs more personal programs, such as legacy work, where patients write cards and letters that are shared with their loved ones after they pass. Once, Tricia even helped a former economist, who had lost his vision, to achieve his goal of writing one last article.

“My job is very rewarding,” says Tricia. “I have learned to look for the positive in every day.”

A lesson Tricia’s learned while working in palliative care at Sunnybrook:

“One very important life lesson I have learned is not to take any day or relationship for granted. Each day is a blessing. Actions can’t always be put off until tomorrow as there isn’t a guarantee for tomorrow.”

Dr. Irene Ying, palliative care consultant

When a patient is transitioning into palliative care, Dr. Irene Ying is often the person to share that news with them.

“What I tell the medical students is: this is a skill, like doing any kind of procedure in medicine,” says Irene of the process of letting someone know they’re going to die. “It’s never going to be easy, but it does get easier when you know how to break that news in a way that’s empathetic.”

After the palliative care consultant lets patients know of their prognosis, she shifts her efforts to ensuring they feel supported as they approach end of life.

“When you give bad news, oftentimes, patients feel like their life is just spinning out of control,” she says. “So, you hold their hand through this process and give them some guidance around what’s next.”

Much of the time, “what’s next” is simply minimizing suffering. In addition, Irene likes to learn about the patient’s life and personality, to remind them that they are a human, not a disease, and she helps them enjoy their last days as much as possible.

“Most of the time, it’s really low-key goals, like going out for a coffee with friends,” Irene says of the things her palliative patients want to do. “I think it’s because you realize, all that stuff and money — what’s it going to buy me? It’s not going to buy me more time or happiness. What’s going to give me happiness? It’s going to be spending time with the people I love.”

A lesson Irene’s learned while working in palliative care at Sunnybrook:

“In one word: gratitude. There’s this pervasive sense of gratitude in my life knowing that things can change so quickly. So, I hug my kids tighter. I try to find more moments to just laugh with them and be present with them. Because time just goes by so quickly. So, I’m so grateful for everything that I have, and that contributes a lot to my general sense of meaning and satisfaction in life.”

Jordan Kerr, spiritual and religious care provider

It wasn’t until his grandmother fell ill that Jordan Kerr considered a career in spiritual care.

While in the hospital during his grandmother’s last days, the then airport worker gathered family around the bed to read one of his grandmother’s favourite bible chapters.

“Her face softened and she calmed down and relaxed,” says Jordan, of the changes he saw in his grandmother as he read to her. He adds, “It was a moment when the family came together as well.”

That moving experience prompted Jordan to change careers.

Today, the now spiritual and religious care provider works with patients and families of all faith backgrounds across the hospital as they deal with illness, death, and the uncertainties associated with these big life transitions.

“I do emotional, spiritual, religious support. When I meet with patients who are unfamiliar with spiritual care support, I will explain it by saying: ‘If you need to laugh, talk, pray, cry, yell, scream, swear or just sit quietly, that’s what I’m here for,'” says Jordan. “It’s helping someone be comfortable in spaces of uncertainty.”

A lesson Jordan’s learned while working in palliative care at Sunnybrook:

“When you encounter people making that transition into death, you become much more accepting about that spectrum of life. It brings you a consistent reminder that you are mortal too, and this is what the human experience looks like. The life lesson for me is to expect that experience. Death is no different than any other part of life.”

The post Six stories and life lessons from Sunnybrook’s palliative care staff appeared first on Your Health Matters.

She’s dedicated her time to many different roles and says working in Courtesy Services as a wheelchair escort has been her favourite. “I’ve met so many amazing people and it keeps me busy. Volunteering makes my week worthwhile.”

June says her approach to aging well is all about balance.

“You have to stay active, eat a healthy diet and forget the goodies! That said, I remember meeting a man here at Sunnybrook who was bringing his wife some chocolate. He told me she had some every day, and I thought that sounded great! I went home that night and ate a few chocolate chips, and have been doing that ever since,” she says.

“And to everyone, especially other seniors, my message is this: never give up and just keep going.”

The post Meet 98-year-old June Jennings, Sunnybrook volunteer for over 35 years appeared first on Your Health Matters.

June 22-28 is National Pollinator Week. Get to know more about these hard-working insects and their role at Sunnybrook. Michael Lithgow, Manager, Energy and Climate Action at Sunnybrook shares details below:

Why did Sunnybrook decide to install beehives at the Bayview campus?

The global bee population is unfortunately declining, and as a result urban beekeeping is on the rise. In many ways, cities can be an ideal location for beekeeping due to abundant flowering plants, fewer pesticides than rural areas, many sources of water… and hopefully few bears! In fact, Toronto became Canada’s first official “Bee City” in 2016. Sunnybrook wanted to support the bee population and also provide opportunities for staff and visitors to learn more about bees. Our large campus and plenty of green space is an added bonus.

Why are bees at risk and why are they important to the planet?

There are many factors behind the loss of bees. Climate change, pesticide use, loss of habitat, pollution, and parasites and predators are just some of the reasons. Bees are not only extremely important for humans, but also for entire ecosystems to function. Bees pollinate plants, allowing them to reproduce. These plants then contribute to the food system by feeding animals – aside from humans – such as birds and insects.

Photography by Kevin Van Paassen

Are there any other hospitals in Toronto that have beehives?

No other Toronto hospitals have hives, and we’re not currently aware of any other hospitals with honey bees in Canada. There are a few hospitals in the U.S. that host hives, and local non-hospital sites include places like U of T, Royal York Hotel, and the rooftop of several shopping malls.

Where are the beehives located at Bayview campus?

The hives are located on the hospital campus, about one kilometre away from the main hospital buildings.

Photography by Kevin Van Paassen

Who manages the hives and looks after the bees?

We have partnered with Fairhaven Farm to bring bees to Sunnybrook. Patricia, our beekeeper, routinely inspects the hives to ensure they are healthy.

How was this project funded?

There is no direct cost to Sunnybrook. In fact, we’re hoping to generate a modest revenue. In exchange for providing space for the beehives, Fairhaven will manage the hives and provide wholesale Sunnybrook-sourced honey to us for resale.

Do the bees produce honey? If so, what is done with it?

The bees will produce honey, and the amount of honey will depend on the weather. Generally the three hives can produce an average of 100-150 pounds of honey each a year. Once the hives are established, we plan to have the honey available for purchase in the Sunnybrook gift shop and at the vendor tables through Fairhaven Farm.

Photography by Kevin Van Paassen

Should people with bee sting allergies be nervous?

Honey bees don’t usually sting people unless they are provoked by individuals who interfere with the hive. The risk of a sting is no higher having honey bees on site, and the usual precautions should be taken by allergic individuals, like carrying an EpiPen and seeking immediate medical attention if stung. Bees are focused on the flowers. Wasps, on the other hand, are usually the ones that get close and personal, spoiling our picnics and barbecues.

Is there a plan to add more hives?

As the bee colonies grow, we can help them expand into new hives. We are fortunate to have plenty of space to expand if and when appropriate.

The post Urban beekeeping: Honey bees arrive at Sunnybrook appeared first on Your Health Matters.

“People are scared, and they don’t know what to expect,” says Janna Di Pinto, a social worker who sees patients and families in the Tory Trauma Program at Sunnybrook.

Here are five tips for supporting a loved one through an unexpected stay in the critical care unit:

1. Education is key

Patients in the critical care unit often end up there suddenly, leaving families little time to make sense of what’s happening.

“As social workers, part of our role is to provide education on what to expect during a critical care stay. Patients can be doing well one day, and not so well the next, and it’s important for family members to know that such changes in their loved one’s condition are common,” says Di Pinto.

Staff members talk to family members about some of the expected responses and feelings they may have in this crisis event, such as:

• Feeling scattered and unable to think straight
• Processing information poorly
• Decreased short-term memory
• Decreased sense of hunger or thirst

Other helpful educational resources are available online on Sunnybrook’s Navigating the ICU website, which was developed after extensive collaboration between staff and family members.

2. Establish defined roles

In the critical care unit, families can spend a lot of time sitting at the patient’s bedside, but they aren’t sure how they can help.

Family members can contribute to their loved one’s recovery by making a playlist of the patient’s favourite songs to play at the bedside, holding the patient’s hand, bringing in photos and ensuring staff are aware of what is important to the patient.

At Sunnybrook, family members are also encouraged to participate in the care team’s daily rounds at the bedside.

“Staff can teach family members how to participate in their loved one’s care, such as encouraging range of motion exercises or redirecting a patient from pulling tubes and lines,” says Di Pinto.

3. Give yourself permission to take care of yourself

 Di Pinto says it’s important for family members to give themselves permission to take care of their own wellbeing, too.

“We don’t expect them to be at a patient’s bedside 24/7. It’s okay for them to go home, rest and then call the unit as often as they like to check in,” says Di Pinto.

Coordinating a rotating visiting schedule with others can be helpful, because it allows everyone a chance to be at the hospital while also building in time to look after themselves.

“People have many demands to juggle – maybe they live far away from the hospital, or have to return to work, or need to sort out child care. This is a time to establish a new balance and figure out new roles for themselves,” she says.

 4. Find coping strategies that work for you

Some people have a lot of anger after their loved one ends up in critical care, says Di Pinto, particularly if the admission was the result of a trauma (like a car crash) caused by someone else.

“We help family talk about which coping strategies may work best for them. For example, we let people know where the quiet spaces are around the hospital, such as the chapel or going for a walk outside. We let them know it’s okay to go to the gym, spend time with friends or pets, or even just go outside and scream if they need to,” she says.

5. It’s okay to have hope 

Di Pinto says they often talk with family members about the road to recovery, and how it is a process that takes time.

“When your loved one is in critical care, there may be a fine line between being hopeful and being realistic, but it’s okay to have hope that your family member will recover.”

The post 5 tips for getting through a loved one’s stay in the critical care unit appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Jennifer Trelle

“You don’t have to be in the middle of the dance floor. Just as long as you dance!”
Submitted by Jennifer Trelle, Administrative Coordinator, Volunteer Resources

Teresa Korogyi

“Life is very unpredictable. As a woman, you always need to be independent and able to survive on your own! Family and friends are great but there may be a time that they cannot be there for you. Inner strength is something nobody can take away.”

Submitted by Teresa Korogyi, Patient Care Manager

Agnes Ryzynski

I have been blessed to have two mothers in my life: my mom and my grandmother. They have shaped me into the woman that I am today.

My 94-year-old grandmother orchestrated her own escape from a Nazi work camp when she was 16.  She was slowly working on opening a hole in the fence. One night, when the allies were bombing, she ran amidst the bombs and crawled through the tiny hole in the fence. She then boarded on a town train to a neighbouring farm town. An elderly German family took her in and hid her. Nothing was planned, but she had the drive and courage to believe in herself and that she’s a survivor. She has taught me to believe that I can accomplish anything I set my mind to and nothing can stop me. Whenever I feel scared, I think of her courage. Whenever I doubt myself, I think of her tenacity. Whenever I worry about the future, I think of her saying to trust the future and my instincts. So she has made me unstoppable!

My mom has taught me to motivate myself. She always said that motivation comes from within, and when we look inside, we all have beautiful gifts we’ve been blessed with. So when I feel like I need a kick start, I think to what can I share with others that I’ve been blessed with. This inspires me to learn more and share what I have learned. Keeping knowledge to yourself does not help the world grow.

Submitted by Agnes Ryzynski, Manager, Simulation & Curriculum Development, Sunnybrook Canadian Simulation Centre

Michelle Mooney

There are two things my mom said to me that stand out, and I find myself telling my son the same things:

When I started high school and was all of a sudden a little fish in a big pond, my mid-term report card said “she doesn’t participate in class, actually, doesn’t speak much at all”.  My mom read the report card and said, “You have a mouth – use it! Make people aware you are in the room and always have an opinion”.

Also, when I was young and dating and lamenting that I couldn’t find “Mr. Right”, she said, “every behind has a chair.”  In other words, you will find someone who will be the right fit.  Just keep looking.

Submitted by Michelle Mooney, General Manager, Division of Dermatology

Dr. Jocelyn Charles

A few words of wisdom from the mothers in my family:

“Do what makes you happy but whatever you do, make a difference.”

“If you think you can or you can’t, you’re right!”

“Speak up, speak now or forever hold your peace.”

Submitted by Dr. Jocelyn Charles, Chief of the Department of Family & Community Medicine and Medical Director, Veterans Centre

Edith Augustin

Mother’s Day conjures so many special memories of my dear mom (may her soul RIP)!

One that made an indelible impression on me was my mom’s personal introduction of me to two scavengers as they cleaned our street. “This is my daughter Edith. If for any reason she disrespects you or does not greet you, I want you to inform me or her father immediately.” Her strong belief in equality and treating people with respect, regardless of their stature, was pragmatic and refreshing: from the scavengers who cleaned our streets to the doctors who cared for us at hospitals. As her kid, it was my responsibility to respect them both equally. “They both have jobs,” she would say, “and if their monies were placed in a bag the bank teller wouldn’t know the doctor’s dollar from the scavenger’s. An honest pay is an honest pay.”

Submitted by Edith Augustin, Parking Attendant, Parking & Transportation Services

Dr. Fahad Alam

My mom always used to tell me that (not in these exact words) –  life will be difficult, it’ll knock you down but it’s up to us to work hard to make it easier for those that come after us and those that don’t have the resources to get back up.  Basically work hard so you can change the system to help others and they don’t have to endure what you went through…

She also told me to never bother my sister because, beside my parents, she has the most dirt on me and can easily hold that against me at any time (lol).

Submitted by Dr. Fahad Alam, Anesthesiologist and Director of Research at The Collaborative Human Immersive Interactions Lab (CHISIL)

The post Mom knows best: Sunnybrook staff share what their mothers taught them appeared first on Your Health Matters.