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.

As a teen with Down syndrome, she had her fair share of appointments and therapies growing up. But this time was different. She was unrecognizable to herself.

That year, her normally long flowing brown hair started to suddenly and rapidly fall out – a condition known as Alopecia Areata. Although it’s unclear what caused its onset for Jessica, she and her family think it may have been related to an adverse reaction to a medication she had taken.

Despite the traumatic experience of suddenly losing her hair, in particular during her first year of high school, Jessica tried to stay positive. Sunnybrook dermatologist Dr. Perla Lansang worked with Jessica to try various treatments, and eventually helping her to locate an industry clinical trial in 2019 that would work for her as her beautiful hair started to grow back.

Also that year (2019), her father, Joe, had successful heart surgery at Sunnybrook. Jessica was so moved by the care she and her father received. “I am grateful to all the doctors (healthcare workers) that heal everyone who is not feeling well,” says Jessica. “They fixed my Dad’s heart and helped me grow my hair back.”

It was around that time when her mother told her about the artwork she saw on some ceiling tiles “when my dad went in to have a test done on his heart,” says Jessica.

Together, they learned that The Sunnybrook Ceiling Tile Project is a program that decorates the ceilings of the hospital with tiles painted by hospital volunteers, local artists, mature students and patients, and donors sponsor a ceiling tile to brighten the lives of Sunnybrook’s patients, families and staff.

Jessica didn’t skip a beat with this opportunity seemingly designed for her, and her mission was born to thank the care teams who cared for her and her father, by giving back through her art.

“I wanted to show my art this way, so when people looked up, they would say ‘Isn’t that pretty’, and think of their healthcare workers who helped them get better,” she says.

The pandemic postponed things for a while, and in that time, Jessica’s artistry, as well as her advocacy as a public figure for the Down syndrome community, continued to grow, as did her work as a model and actress.

She was thrilled to recently get back to her mission to thank the care teams at Sunnybrook with a goal of also uplifting the spirits of patients as they undergo, or wait, for their medical care.

Using the signature heart design she applies to much of her art, Jessica created two new pieces of artwork for the ceiling tile project: one entitled “Thank You For Your Helping Hands”, and the other called “Love You To Pieces”.

Jessica’s art is silk screened to a tile at Kid Icarus

She recently delivered two of the ceiling tiles to the Dermatology department, located at Sunnybrook’s Bayview campus, where the tiles can be seen brightening the waiting room for patients and their families awaiting their appointments.

Sunnybrook’s manager of Dermatology, Shelley Racicot, receives Jessica’s donation on behalf of the Dermatology team.

“I was so excited and proud when I saw them go up on the ceiling,” says Jessica. “I love that so many people will look up and enjoy my art.”

A tile is installed in the Dermatology waiting area

Since the installation, Jessica’s mother has also received care at Sunnybrook – at the Holland Centre – where she had hip replacement surgery.

Plans are underway to deliver more of Jessica’s art tiles to cardiac surgery at the Bayview campus, as well as orthopaedic surgery at the Holland Centre.

Artist Jessica Rotolo with the two designs she curated for Sunnybrook. #ThisPlaceIsSpecial because our patients give back.

Sunnybrook’s Ceiling Tile Project

The Ceiling Tile Project is a program coordinated by Sunnybrook’s Volunteers and the Gift Shop who arrange for the creation, installation, maintenance and sponsorship of these tiles. Funds raised from sponsorship of the tiles help support patient care and comfort projects at the hospital.

Tile sponsorship starts at $125 and includes a plaque adjacent to the tile identifying the sponsor and a dedication if the sponsor desires it. Tax receipts are issued.

Sponsors can also request a printed card for themselves, friends, or family, displaying the artwork on the tile along with their dedication message, and information about the tile and our program.

Sponsor a ceiling tile

The post Artist honours caregivers while lifting spirits of other patients appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Wes Roberts has been a spiritual care practitioner in Sunnybrook’s Veterans Centre for almost two decades.

Where does your spirituality stem from?

I was born and raised in a religious family, so faith and spirituality have always been a part of my life. I was fortunate to see people who modelled and lived out their faith in front of me, but there came a time where I had to live it for myself and not live on the faith of my parents and grandparents.

You provide comfort for others. Is that a learned skill?

Comforting people is part of my nature but I fought my sensitivity for a long time. I was insecure and rejected it because I didn’t understand it. It took a crisis in my life to appreciate who I really am as a person. It was through struggle and searching that I came to embrace the qualities I have.

How different is it working at a hospital in your line of work?

A health-care professional may use certain instruments to help care for a patient. I don’t have surgical tools but I’ve learned that I can extend comfort to people who are struggling and in need of support by listening to the emotions that are being expressed and helping someone live in the moment.

It must be hard trying to guide people through uncertain times.

I find uncertainty can be expressed in the deeper questions someone might ask; especially when a life-altering event occurs, I rarely have the answers. I know I give the best of myself when I am listening deeply, being curious about someone’s story and exploring together with them their own perspectives about what they are expressing.

The benefit of hearing so many stories of many of our residents over the years is they linger with me, and if I let them, they often can help to inspire me whenever I face struggle in my own life.

How do you feed your own soul?

I love watching sports and am a huge Blue Jays and Raptors fan. Being a pro baseball player would have been my fantasy job. Not that I was that good, but it was a dream!

My son played youth baseball, so I took pictures at games and shared those with the families of the other players. Photography became a creative outlet and a healthy distraction. I also enjoy photographing my daughter when she horseback rides. I love photography and took a course a few years ago with Sunnybrook’s Kevin Van Paassen. He got me off using the automatic settings of my camera and onto manual, which has really helped my hobby along. Woodland and nature photography enables me to enjoy the therapeutic environment of these places.

My family is supportive and always there to listen. We try to do a lot of laughing at our house.

I also have a couple of encouragement groups that meet regularly on zoom. One of my mentors once told me there is no such thing as a wasted experience. Years ago, I didn’t fully understand what this means but it’s now become a guiding principle. If I’m in a place to receive, I can personally learn something from every experience. What is yet to be discovered will, with time, reveal itself.

The post How to live like the experts: Feeding your soul with Wes Roberts appeared first on Your Health Matters.

A new study, published this week, from Sunnybrook senior scientist Dr. Donald Redelmeier explores how an available simple diagnosis can skew complex medical decision making.

“Occam’s razor is the traditional idea that simple explanations should be preferred over more convoluted theories,” says Dr. Redelmeier, who is also a Sunnybrook staff physician and Canada Research Chair in Medical Decision Making. “Yet this idea has rarely been subjected to experimental testing for evidence-based medicine.”

Dr. Redelmeier and his co-author Dr. Eldar Shafir from Princeton University were interested in testing the concept in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. “We hypothesized that an available alternative explanation might lead individuals to underestimate the likelihood of a COVID-19 diagnosis,” says Dr. Redelmeier.

The study asked community members and health-care professionals to judge the chances of COVID-19 in a hypothetical patient through a set of different surveys. Each survey provided a succinct description of a hypothetical patient scenario, suggestive of COVID-19. Each scenario was formulated in two versions randomized to participants, differing only in whether an alternative diagnosis was present or absent.

“Through scenarios involving a spectrum of risk, we found that respondents judged the probability of COVID to be much lower in the presence of another diagnosis, such as influenza or strep throat, compared with when an alternative diagnosis was absent,” says Dr. Redelmeier. This contradicts available microbiological evidence.

“The bias can lead individuals to mistakenly lower their judged likelihood of COVID or another disease when an alternate diagnosis is present. In turn, underestimating the risk of COVID infection might reduce a patient’s willingness to seek care and a clinician’s willingness to investigate a medical diagnosis.”

Dr. Redelmeier adds that the results suggest an available simple diagnosis can lead to premature closure and a failure to fully consider additional serious diseases.

“This bias occurs because risk factors such as crowded living spaces, lapses in hand hygiene, and poverty are risk factors for COVID infection, as well as for other diseases such tuberculosis. After diagnosing a patient with COVID, for example, a clinician might pause and check — is that really everything?”

He adds that as patients are living longer with multiple diagnoses occurring together, an over-reliance on Occam’s razor can contribute to misplaced complacency and discourages the search for additional contributing factors.

“The bias may be important to recognize for the COVID-19 pandemic, other diseases, and for the next disease outbreak.”

The post Can an easy excuse lead people to underestimate a COVID-19 diagnosis? appeared first on Your Health Matters.

Rohan is an Accredited Organic Land Care Practitioner and Team Leader of Sunnybrook’s Grounds Department.  

Were you a dig in the dirt and find bugs kind of kid?

That was me, but I also learned to love the outdoors from my family. I grew up in Jamaica, and my family was involved in farming there. We had a sugar farm, livestock as well as egg and honey production. My home was separate from the farm, but from a really young age, I would go there before school every day to milk the cows and deliver milk. After school, I had to wash the bottles and get them ready for the next day before I could play with my friends. By the age of 12, I was driving a tractor. So naturally, I gravitated to farm school and got a degree in agriculture.

It’s interesting that you ended up working at a hospital.

I came to Canada in 1991, started my own landscaping business and eventually saw an opportunity at Sunnybrook. I truly believe that our landscapes enhance healing, so coming here was a chance to bridge everything and bring it to life.

You have a namesake garden at the hospital. How does it feel to see people using it?

Really good! When people enjoy our grounds, I feel they are benefiting from restorative healing because nature helps us physically and mentally.

Do you think many people know that the Rohan Harrison Garden was part of your reward for participating in the show ‘Undercover Boss’ a few years ago?

No, not at all. Someone actually told me I was arrogant for putting my name on a garden. I took a breath and explained the situation. I feel the weight of seeing my name there because I’m a behind-the-scenes person. I’d rather be in the background doing than be seen.

What does your garden at home look like?

After I leave Sunnybrook, the place I spend the most time is my backyard. It’s a respite from my daily challenges. My garden has different areas, including green space for entertaining, a water feature and vegetables. Some of my favourite things to grow are celery and kale and I put them into my daily green juice. I also have a labyrinth in my yard. I walk through it barefoot and it helps me recharge physically, mentally and spiritually.

Have you ever killed a plant? Be honest.

For some reason, I can’t grow indoor plants. My outdoor garden looks good, but when I go inside I think, what’s happening? I think it’s just a lack of care because I spend so much time outdoors.

Not everyone has a green thumb. What can be done?

There are lots of resources out there, so use them. Or ask me!

Do a lot of people already do that?

Oh yes. The two most common questions I get are how to keep grass green, and how to get rid of weeds. I really don’t mind, though, because I see education and development as part of my role. Helping people enjoy nature is really important.

The post How to live like the experts: Embracing nature and your green thumb with Rohan Harrison appeared first on Your Health Matters.

While it may look peculiar, these people are walking with purpose as they are using the Sunnybrook labyrinth, a round trail in the grass that can be followed for a moment of quiet reflection.

The Sunnybrook labyrinth

Recognizing that a hospital can be a stressful environment for staff, patients, and families, Rohan Harrison, Sunnybrook’s environmental services team leader, advocated for the labyrinth’s installation.

“It can be used symbolically as a walking meditation,” he says.

Users have told him that they use the labyrinth as a tool for self-care and mindfulness, and even to just get some physical activity.

“I’ve been really encouraged by a few comments I have been privy to receive, mostly commenting about an ‘inner relaxation,’” he says.

Staff using the Sunnybrook labyrinth. Image courtesy of Rohan Harrison.

“Having tools like labyrinths can be very helpful,” says Dr. Robert Simpson, a staff physician and associate scientist who studies mindfulness-based interventions for people with disabling long-term conditions. “If nothing else, tools can serve as a metaphor or reminder that I’m here to meditate.”

And while these tools can be great, Dr. Simpson says there’s more to meditation than the simple act of walking through a labyrinth.

“It depends on the attitude that you bring to your experience,” he says. “If you’re just zooming off into the ether, I’m not so sure that’s good for you. ‘Mind-wandering,’ in some studies, has actually been associated with worse mental health. However, if you’re focusing yourself in the present moment, that’s much healthier, especially if you are kind, patient, curious, and compassionate with yourself.”

Meditation and its impacts

Generally speaking, meditation is used to help bring calm and peace to those who use it. But, due to its many forms, understanding the practice can be confusing.

“Meditation has been conceptualized in many different ways,” says Dr. Simpson.

For some, it has philosophical and religious purposes. It can be done alone or in group settings. It can involve stillness or movement. It can be done in a class or while doing everyday activities.

To summarize the diverse practice, he says, “Typically, meditation would involve a structured set of techniques designed to access a particular mental state. It is often intended to be relaxing and restorative or to bring insight on a given focus.”

Elaborating on what may be happening in the body during this time, he continues, “Some evidence suggests meditation can affect regulation of the autonomic nervous system, dialing down the so-called ‘fight or flight’ response (sympathetic nervous system) and facilitating the ‘rest and digest’ function (parasympathetic nervous system). This leads to a relaxation type response.”

This response is one reason why Dr. Simpson and his colleagues use mediation in clinical care.

“Across many disabling long-term conditions, there are pretty consistent findings of improved stress, anxiety, depression, fatigue, and quality of life following mindfulness training,” he says. And when a patient’s mental health gets better, he says that improvements to physical symptoms often follow.

These benefits, grouped with the practices’ flexibility, diversity, and increased publicization in the mainstream media have led to meditation becoming hugely popular in recent years.

Caution when meditating

And while he’s happy more people are learning about the benefits of meditation, Dr. Simpson notes that, “It has to be applied with caution as there is some evidence that meditation can be harmful if used indiscriminately.”

For example, some research suggests negative effects of meditation on individuals with epilepsy, psychosis, and suicidal ideations. Further, if applied rigidly, some types of mediation can increase negative physical symptoms, such as pain or fatigue — for example, long bouts of seated stillness or more advanced yoga postures would be inadvisable in certain health conditions.

That is why, when Dr. Simpson suggests meditation as a health intervention for his patients, he considers an individual’s history, symptoms, impairments, disabilities, and goals, as these are important components in ensuring the modality is accessible, effective, and safe for the individual. He advocates for people with severe or unstable conditions to consult with their health-care providers before undertaking meditation training.

Getting started with meditation

In fact, Dr. Simpson says, if possible, most people should consult with their health-care providers when taking up meditation, as they can evaluate an individual’s symptoms and goals to help find services that fit the specific needs. Further, he recommends structured sessions led by an instructor with relevant clinical experience to help participants better understand and apply the practice to their unique circumstances.

Though, when that’s not possible, he suggests turning to content from credible resources, by people with formal training and certification to teach meditation. Dr. Rebecca Crane at the University of Bangor, UK is one example of someone whom he would suggest.

“If you’re tuning in to a random YouTube video, it’s more difficult to quality control and to be sure that there won’t be adverse effects,” he says. “There might not be; it might be the best thing out there. It’s just hard to know.”

Since there are so many forms of meditation and a plethora of choices, Dr. Simpson says that it’s important to ease yourself into a practice and take time to find what works for you.

“Learning to meditate is a very personal thing,” he says. “It’s about personal growth, insight, and understanding. It’s not always easy, but it is something that should be beneficial for you.”

And if you’re worried about whether or not you’re meditating correctly, he says, “Rather than thinking in terms of ‘the right way’ or ‘the wrong way,’ practice in a way that is conducive to feeling well and learning over time. Meditation shouldn’t add an additional burden that you must do this correctly. Remember that it’s a process, not an event, so be patient with yourself.”

He continues that when meditating, it can be helpful to set one’s intention, be conscious of one’s attitude, and pay attention; try to be present, and practice self-compassion.

“Take that into your exercise, take that into your time with friends, take that into your labyrinth,” he says, “and I think you’re looking at a form of mediation that can be very beneficial.”

Conclusion

For his own meditation practice, Dr. Simpson travels to India when he can, to learn from a yogi who has dedicated his life to the practice. Dr. Simpson practices meditation in both structured and unstructured settings — being in nature is one of his favourite pastimes.

“That’s my labyrinth,” he says of being in the outdoors.

For Rohan, he chooses his home labyrinth as one of his main forms of meditation.

Rohan’s home labyrinth. Image courtesy of Rohan Harrison.

“Four to five times per week, even in the winter, I walk the labyrinth I have created in my own backyard as a way of grounding, environmental re-connection, and a means to balance life,” he says. “It truly gives me the space to thankfully accentuate the positives of the day and realign the mind, body and spirit.”

Whether people are using their own labyrinth, the Sunnybrook labyrinth, or some other modality, this is the kind of well-being that both Rohan and Dr. Simpson hope people can find when they use meditation.

Thinking about the circular steps he takes on his backyard path, Rohan says, “It’s a step toward joy and peace.”

The post The Sunnybrook labyrinth, meditation, and what you need to know before you start meditating appeared first on Your Health Matters.

In addition to supporting conflict journalists who are living with post-traumatic stress disorder or depression, Dr. Feinstein is helping to raise awareness of the stories they cover.

Dr. Feinstein has written several books on mental trauma in conflict journalism and produced the documentary Under Fire: Journalists in Combat, which was shortlisted for an Academy Award in 2012.

He is also the executive producer of a new Globe and Mail documentary, Shooting War, which will be showing at the 2022 Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival. The documentary is based on his book of the same name published in 2018, which profiles 18 world-renowned photojournalists and the impact of covering war.

In this Q & A, Dr. Feinstein discusses the Shooting War documentary and the psychological impact of war coverage.

What makes your work meaningful to you?

Dr. Feinstein: This kind of work is relevant to the world that we find ourselves in because there’s so much conflict. It helps to keep the public informed of what’s going on and tells us about the journalists who are telling these important stories and the cost that can come from this kind of work. I think it’s never been more relevant than now. In many ways we’re globally connected — conflicts taking place far away in places like Ukraine have the ability to affect us directly in terms of our day-to-day lives, so we need to know about these things, and my work hopefully helps foster that.

Are you working with journalists who are reporting on, and from, the current conflict in Ukraine?

Dr. Feinstein: I’m hearing from people on the ground as well as newsrooms where their teams are having to process a huge amount of material, much of which is very traumatic, including images of the dead or injured, bereaved people, and terrible destruction. Journalists are often witnessing these terrible images for many hours a day.

In a more general sense, what are the different ways the public may be impacted or traumatized by images such as the current war in Ukraine? 

Dr. Feinstein: When we look at these images we experience a mix of emotions: empathy, outrage, horror at what’s going on. What we know from a traumatic event such as September 11 , where there was a lot of visual imagery on computers and television, is that there are individuals in society who are very vulnerable to this kind of news, for example those with a past psychiatric history.  But the majority of the general population in countries geographically removed from the conflict, like Canada, will not develop trauma-related emotional disorders.

What kind of therapy can help journalists dealing with mental trauma?

Dr. Feinstein: The kinds of therapies that work for trauma are cognitive behavioural therapy, cognitive processing therapy, prolonged exposure therapy, EMDR — which is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing, so there are a number of psychotherapies which are useful treatments for trauma-related mental health.

How do conflict photojournalists recover from the trauma of covering war? 

Dr. Feinstein: It’s very difficult and dangerous work and these journalists see terrible things — but the majority of journalists don’t become traumatized by this work. It’s the minority who do. The challenge from my end is to help news organizations identify the journalists who are not okay, because they’re the ones who require the therapy. There are very effective therapies for trauma, so if people can get help, get the right kind of therapy, they can recover, do well, and continue with work. The challenge is identifying the people who need it.

What would you like people to know about the Shooting War documentary?

Dr. Feinstein: I think the documentary is relevant to Canadians because of what’s going on in world around us. The Shooting War documentary helps inform people about not only conflicts, but also about the people who bring us news of war. I think that’s important — that we need to understand the nature of war journalism, how difficult it is, how dangerous it can be, and the cost that journalists may pay when they do this work. This is what my work shines a light on — it brings into focus the people that keep us informed of very important news.

If you need help in an emergency, please call 911 or visit your local emergency department.

If you’re feeling like you’re in crisis or need somebody to talk to, please know that help is also available through community resources:

• Find a local crisis resource at sunnybrook.ca/gethelp
• Crisis Services Canada
  • Phone: 24-hour, toll-free 1-833-456-4566
  • Text: 45645 (4:00 p.m. – midnight Eastern Time)

The post The psychological cost of covering war appeared first on Your Health Matters.

As a volunteer with St. John Ambulance Therapy Dog program, Jenny and Wilson have dedicated time in Sunnybrook’s Dorothy Macham Home with Veterans who have advanced dementia. When the pandemic hit, she and Wilson pivoted to providing virtual visits to those in Sunnybrook’s inpatient psychiatry unit.

“I was a little worried about how Wilson and the patients would interact on camera, but with some tips from other St. John handlers, decided to try it. I discovered if I placed a treat in front of the iPad, Wilson sat patiently, optimistically looking directly into the camera. After the first session, I could see how well it was working. Someone who was really struggling on the other side of the screen was interacting with us and smiling. I provide a list of questions for patients to promote conversation, show them pictures of Wilson as a puppy and Wilson does a few tricks. One of the favourite questions is, ‘what is something funny Wilson has done?’ When they find out he has helped himself to an entire pizza that was left on the counter for my son’s lunch, we share a good laugh. At the end of the visit, I hear from many patients that we have made their day. In turn for mine, I feel the same.”

Jenny says volunteering with Wilson allows for a unique point of connection. “The patients and I often talk about their own pets, or sometimes one they have lost which can evoke a lot of emotion. We talk about how having a dog can help their path to recovery by getting them out for walks and opening them up social interaction with other dog owners or dog lovers that stop for a visit. Many are interested to learn how they can become involved in volunteer therapy dog programs with their own pets.”

Jenny usually spends between five to 15 minutes with each patient, and volunteers weekly. With a love of art, Jenny also draws sketches of Wilson on postcards and sends them to patients she has connected with as a touching memento of their time together.

“I’m trying to give someone a positive break or moment in their day. Personally, I feel volunteering has also improved my own happiness.” Jenny says National Volunteer Week is a reminder that the time and efforts of volunteers everywhere are impactful and worthwhile. “I get a lot of satisfaction by helping others.”

Sunnybrook is grateful to have wonderful, dedicated volunteer therapy dog teams working with patients and residents on all our campuses from St. John Ambulance and Therapeutic Paws of Canada. 

The post Meet volunteers Jenny Smith and Australian Labradoodle Wilson 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.”

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Dr. Matthew Burke, a cognitive neurologist and director of Sunnybrook’s Traumatic Brain Injury Clinic, says while this outcome is a very rare occurrence, it’s important to take a cautious approach when it comes to head trauma.

“An injury to the head can be more serious than it first appears,” says Dr. Burke. “In some circumstances, there may be a brain bleed, also known as an intracranial hemorrhage, that has gone undetected and could need urgent medical evaluation.”

Dr. Burke says that seeking medical attention is always the safest bet, but it can also be helpful to tell someone that you’ve hit your head when it happens. Try to stay awake and/or have that person stay with you, especially in the hours immediately after the injury.

“Typically, the first six hours after a head trauma are the most critical. If the injury becomes more serious, and you’re awake and with someone, it’s easier to see if there are any growing problems, new deficits or other issues. If you’re asleep at the time, or if you’re alone, you may not know if symptoms are developing.”

Signs and symptoms to watch out for after a head injury

Dr. Burke adds it’s important to keep an eye out for the following signs and symptoms after head trauma, and to go the local hospital emergency department for help.

• A severe or worsening headache.
• Sudden or unusual drowsiness.
• Difficulty carrying on a conversation.
• Slurring of speech.
• Weakness in limbs.
• Dramatic change in personality.

“Individuals should also be aware of any major risk factors for the serious complications of head trauma, such as a brain bleed,” adds Dr. Burke. “If you’re already on blood thinning medications, or if you have a medical condition that is associated with bleeding in the body, take extra care. With a major head injury or concussion, going to their local hospital’s emergency department can help individuals receive proper monitoring, brain imaging if indicated, and treatment by a health-care team.”

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