Archives: Stories

“The doctors, nurses, and physio team were just incredible,” Patricia says. “They were so encouraging and attentive—right on top of everything. The night nurse had such a good sense of humour – we shared a lot of laughs.”

During her stay, hospital staff discovered a blocked bowel Patricia hadn’t known about. Thanks to their thoroughness, she was able to get treatment before things became more serious.

“They made sure I was always comfortable and treated me with such dignity,” she says. “I truly felt cared for.”

Now back on her feet, Patricia says she’s grateful for the exceptional care and support she received at Joseph Brant Hospital.

“Honestly, my stay felt more like a holiday than a hospital visit.”

“I hit a point where I knew I needed a timeout,” she shares. “Things had been building for a while, and after the pandemic, I understood I couldn’t keep going the way I was. I needed to deal with the root causes and get myself back on track.”

That decision led her to the Mental Health Unit at Joseph Brant Hospital. What she found was more than just care—it was a lifeline.

“I truly valued the expertise,” she says. “The care was clear, direct, and free of judgment.”

Shishee continues to navigate her recovery, understanding now that healing takes time and ongoing support. Therapy through JBH’s outpatient clinics has been essential to that process, helping her stay grounded and connected to her progress.

When asked what she’d say to someone thinking about seeking help, her advice is heartfelt:

“Be open to becoming a better patient by really advocating for yourself. Understand what supports you need, and trust that Joseph Brant Hospital is here to help you through it. You are not alone—and you don’t have to feel hopeless. Help is available, and it can truly change your life.”

“I had my first full psychotic episode in my mid-20s,” Jan recalls. “I couldn’t be around people. I didn’t feel safe. I thought people were following me.”

After a frightening episode, his father — a surgeon at Joseph Brant Hospital — helped him access care. Jan was admitted to the hospital and later received inpatient treatment at an intervention clinic. Those weeks, spent under close observation, were difficult.

“Being held against your will is terrifying,” he says. “I didn’t trust anyone. But slowly, things started to stabilize.”

It wasn’t a quick fix. It took months of trial-and-error with medications, and years of rebuilding the confidence and mental strength that psychosis had eroded. But eventually, with support from peers who had lived through similar experiences, and a treatment plan that worked for his body, Jan began to feel like himself again.

He opened GoFloat in 2018 — a float therapy studio that aims to help people reduce anxiety and reconnect with themselves through deep sensory rest. While the launch came at a time when he was still struggling, the business became part of his healing.

“At first, I didn’t even feel proud. I couldn’t enjoy the success,” he says. “But I kept going. And eventually, things started to lift.”

Today, Jan manages his mental health with regular therapy, consistent medication, and maintenance practices like yoga, playing competitive pool, fishing, and — of course — floating.

“Floating helps quiet your mind. When everything else is turned off, your body can finally let go,” he says. “It’s one small improvement that can contribute to your overall well-being.”

Jan has decided to give back to his community by supporting the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation.

“Even though I wasn’t treated at JBH specifically, my father works there. I know how important mental health resources are — and how deeply they affect people and their families,” he explains. “Supporting the hospital means supporting real improvements for people in Burlington going through the same things I did.”

To Jan, giving back is about more than gratitude — it’s about creating access. “

We have the technology, the knowledge, and the resources now. We just have to make sure the right people can get to them. And that takes community support.”

Jan hopes his story will remind others that healing is possible — and that the more we talk about mental health, the more likely we are to make space for recovery.

In October 2014, Liz was diagnosed with advanced-stage inflammatory breast cancer—a rare and aggressive form of the disease that appeared suddenly, despite her healthy lifestyle and lack of risk factors. It was a shocking and frightening moment.

“I decided to accept my fate, get back to being the optimistic person I’ve always been and fight the greatest challenge of my life,” Liz said.

She faced her diagnosis with courage and dove into treatment. After ten intense months, she was blessed with four and a half cancer-free years. During that time, Liz and Mike embraced life to the fullest. They travelled, hosted friends, laughed often, and savoured every moment, always aware that each day was a gift.

In March 2020, the cancer returned—this time as stage 4 metastatic disease in both lungs. Even then, Liz met the challenge with strength and grace. She focused on joy, found beauty in everyday moments and remained grounded with the help of her care team at Joseph Brant Hospital (JBH).

Liz often credited her JBH medical team—doctors, nurses, and support staff alike—for helping her maintain hope and positivity even on the toughest days. Their expertise, compassion, and commitment to treating her as a whole person, not just a diagnosis, gave her confidence to face each treatment cycle. She leaned on their guidance, trusted their advice implicitly, and was uplifted by the genuine warmth and empathy they showed.

“Keeping a positive attitude didn’t stop the disease from progressing,” Liz once reflected, “but it helped me find happiness, joy, and appreciation in every new day I lived.”

In true Liz fashion, she decided to give back. She created Pink Power—a vibrant, humorous, and heartfelt blog she used to share her journey. She reminded others to live boldly, love deeply, and never stop fighting.

Liz’s family is deeply grateful for the vital, and compassionate care she received at Joseph Brant Hospital and wants every patient to have access to that same level of treatment and support. In her honour, Liz’s step-daughter-in-law, Joanne, is giving back through her gourmet cookie company, SnaxCo, donating a portion of sales from pop-up events at the hospital to support its most urgent needs.

“By supporting the Joseph Brant Hospital Foundation, we honour the doctors, nurses, and programs that made a difference in Liz’s journey, and we help ensure future patients receive the same high-quality care,” says Mike, Liz’s husband. “These contributions fund cutting-edge research, patient services, and enhancements to the hospital environment – so that no one faces cancer alone. Through this support, we aim to strengthen our community’s resilience, inspire hope for new breakthroughs, and keep Liz’s spirit alive in every life the Foundation touches.”

Liz believed in living boldly, laughing often, and finding gratitude even in hardship. She often reflected on the Dr. Seuss quote, “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

Her legacy is one of courage, positivity, and generosity of heart. As you remember her, raise a glass to the adventures she cherished, the friendships she nurtured across oceans, and the countless lives she brightened simply by being herself.

“Fortunately, my family insisted on taking me to Jo Brant, even though it wasn’t the closest option. I believe that decision saved my life,” says Subhash.
With his blood pressure dangerously low, he was quickly given a place to lie down. An IV to help restore his fluids soon followed. Lab work revealed that his white blood cell count was sky-high. His family stayed by his side, desperate for answers.

Finally, the diagnosis came: he had a bloodborne salmonella infection – likely from the pork he’d handled a few days earlier. And because he’s immunocompromised due to several underlying conditions, it hit him very hard. He was septic, and his kidneys had started shutting down.

“As a physiotherapist, I’ve worked in healthcare all my life. I’m now 83, and I’ve seen a lot over the years,” says Subhash. “And I can’t say enough about the exemplary care I received at Jo Brant – from the porters and housekeeping staff to the nurses and doctors, they all played a role in my recovery.”

While his family was relieved to have a diagnosis, sepsis is life-threatening. The quick action and monitoring of the doctors and nurses in the Emergency Department saved his life. But his excellent experience didn’t end there. He was then admitted as an inpatient, where his treatment continued.

After spending 10 days at Jo Brant, he was discharged.  He was then referred to the General Internal Medicine Rapid Assessment Clinic (GIMRAC), where he received follow-up care as an outpatient.

“The full spectrum of care I received throughout my experience was first-rate.  Every step of the way, and with every interaction, everyone at Jo Brant was attentive, compassionate and comforting,” recalls Subhash. “They consistently demonstrated their commitment to delivering superior patient care and ensured me and my family understood what was happening, and why.

I am so thankful to Jo Brant. The doctors, nurses and staff all went above and beyond.  I received the best possible healthcare I needed to recover.”

The Phoenix Early Intervention in Psychosis Program is an outpatient, recovery-focused program that takes a team approach to helping people aged 14 to 35 years old. For Bailey, her team included a psychiatrist, a therapist, and an occupational therapist, who worked with her to provide the right combination of medication, therapy, and support to build her confidence back up. She participated in this program for three years and still has regular check-ins.

For Bailey her experience was a sign that manic psychosis is not a common subject, she saw value in sharing her story and spreading the word that it is okay to ask for help, and it’s okay to talk about your mental illness, even though it is frightening.

“The more people talk about mental illness, the less stigma will surround it,” she said. “So I wrote a book about my journey – starting from the feelings of depression right through the manic episodes.”

Her book, Well, That Was Strange, even contains her journal entries from her psychotic episodes, as it was happening, and the feedback she has received has been overwhelming.

“I wasn’t expecting it to be as popular as it is. The day I published it I posted on Instagram and there were so many comments and feedback,” she said. “A lot of people have read it, and I’ve been asked if I was nervous to share what I went through…I always respond with no, the whole point is to help somebody else.”

You can find Well, That Was Strange: A True Story About a Young Adult Who Learned to Live With Manic Psychosis on Amazon.ca.