Archives: Stories

Although she had lived with mental health challenges for years, Sarah says this period felt different. Eventually, during one particularly difficult moment, she called her mom and admitted, “I’m really not okay.”

Not long after, Sarah came to the Emergency Department at Joseph Brant Hospital during a mental health crisis and was introduced to the hospital’s PHAST program.

“There was this feeling the moment I walked in that I was safe,” she recalls. “Nobody judged me. Nobody pressured me to explain anything before I was ready.”

Instead, Sarah found herself surrounded by people who listened carefully, checked in consistently, and treated her with compassion during one of the hardest periods of her life.

Through daily support, group sessions, and one-on-one care, she began learning skills that helped her better understand and manage what she was experiencing. More importantly, she says, the care team helped her believe that things could improve — even when she struggled to believe it herself.

“You could tell the staff genuinely cared,” Sarah says. “Not just because it was their job. They really just wanted people to succeed.”

One of the most meaningful parts of Sarah’s experience was the sense of connection she found with others in the program. Listening to people openly share their own struggles reminded her she wasn’t alone.

“Hearing other people’s stories made such a difference,” she says. “It made me want to keep showing up.”

Over time, Sarah began rebuilding her confidence through Joseph Brant Hospital’s Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) program, and she continues to attend weekly sessions focused on emotion regulation and coping strategies.

“The skills I’ve learned are things I use every day,” she says. “For the first time in years, I feel hopeful again.”

That hope has extended into other parts of her life, too. Inspired by the care she received at JBH, Sarah is now exploring a transition into diagnostic imaging — a career path where she hopes to support patients during vulnerable moments in their own healthcare journeys.

“I know what it feels like to need kindness,” she says. “I think small interactions can make a really big difference.”

Today, Sarah continues to carry a simple affirmation she and her husband share — the person she calls her rock throughout her recovery: “I can do hard things, and I can be brave about it.”

And now, with the support, skills, and community she found at Joseph Brant Hospital, Sarah is continuing to build a life rooted not just in getting through difficult days — but in believing she deserves brighter ones too.

Throughout her recovery journey, Ashley found support not only through treatment but through the people who refused to give up on her. She credits the teamwork within the Emergency Department and Mental Health programs for helping patients feel safe and cared for during some of the most vulnerable moments of their lives.

“When someone comes in struggling with mental health or addictions, they get you somewhere safe quickly,” Ashley explains. “They don’t leave you sitting alone in a waiting room. They want you to feel comfortable and supported.”

One moment in particular changed the course of her life.

A doctor at Joseph Brant Hospital spoke honestly with Ashley about the severity of her drinking and told her that if she continued down the same path, she likely would not survive another year.

“That scared me straight,” Ashley says. “I always thought, ‘That can’t happen to me. I’m invincible.’ But hearing that made me realize I needed help.”

That realization led her more deeply into Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT), where Ashley says she began learning practical skills to manage both her mental health and addiction.

“Cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on thoughts, but DBT teaches you the actual skills and behaviours,” she explains. “At first, I didn’t think these skills could possibly change my life. But once I started putting in the work — doing the homework, asking questions, participating — everything started to change.”

Today, Ashley not only continues using those skills in her own recovery, but she now helps others through the same program that helped save her life. Since 2025, Ashley has volunteered as a co-facilitator in the DBT program, supporting patients navigating concurrent mental health and addiction challenges.

She is also actively involved with Walk to the Lighthouse, a campaign that holds deep personal meaning for her and her family.

“Walk to the Lighthouse hits so close to home,” she says. “Mental health affected my mom too, and the hospital always treated her with compassion.”

Ashley is hopeful about the redevelopment and expansion of the Mental Health & Addictions Unit. She believes that adding private rooms, improving spaces, and expanding services will make a significant difference for patients and families.

“The expansion is going to help so many people,” she says. “Having privacy, having spaces that feel less clinical — those things matter.”

Her message to anyone struggling with mental health or addiction is simple.

“If someone is looking for help, they will find it at Joseph Brant Hospital. There’s no judgment here. The staff truly care. You do have to put in the work — but help is here, and recovery is possible.”

And through everything she has endured, one belief continues to guide her forward:

“We can only appreciate the miracle of a sunrise if we have waited in the darkness.”

If you would like to support Ashley and her Walk to the Lighthouse this year, you can make a donation to her personal fundraising page here.

But Margaret’s life has also been shaped by ongoing health challenges. Diagnosed with Cushing’s disease at 25, where she developed several brain tumours around her pituitary gland, she later developed secondary Addison’s disease—a condition she has learned to manage with deep personal knowledge and vigilance. Over the years, she has faced multiple serious health events, including a brain tumour, unrelated to her Cushing’s disease.

“I haven’t been blessed with good health,” she says candidly, “but I’ve learned to listen to my body.”

It was that awareness that ultimately brought her to Joseph Brant Hospital during a life-threatening adrenal crisis. Margaret recognized the signs—lethargy, headache, and a deep sense that something wasn’t right. When her cousin called 911, she was taken to the Emergency Department at Joseph Brant Hospital. What happened next stayed with her.

From the moment she arrived, the care team acted quickly — starting IV treatment immediately and, just as importantly, listening to her. “They asked what I take, and they trusted me. They listened. They were compassionate and respectful. I’ve never experienced anything like it in my lifetime.”

After three days in hospital, as she prepared to go home, a nurse ensured she had a follow-up appointment arranged before discharge. “I would have fallen over if I weren’t in bed. I’ve never had that level of care before.”

Another staff member—a porter transporting her through the building—took a moment to chat and connect.

Having experienced healthcare systems throughout her life, Margaret knew just how extraordinary this level of care was.

“It wasn’t just the medical care,” Margaret reflects. “It was the humanity. Staff at Joseph Brant Hospital are cut from a different cloth.”

That experience didn’t just stay with her—it moved her to act. Margaret had initially made a $25 donation. But after her time at Joseph Brant Hospital, she made a far more meaningful decision: she updated her will to include a legacy gift. “For me, it was about gratitude,” she says. “When you’ve been as unwell as I’ve been, and then you receive care like that—it stays with you.”

Her decision is also grounded in a clear understanding of today’s healthcare realities. “People don’t always realize that so much of healthcare isn’t funded by the government,” she explains. “If we want the best—new equipment, better facilities—that comes from donors.”

Through her legacy gift, Margaret hopes to ensure others receive the same level of care she experienced—care that is not only highly skilled, but deeply compassionate.

“I couldn’t have had a better experience,” Eileen said. “I got booklets and pamphlets, so I knew everything that was going to happen, and understood the protocol. Everyone was so informative and knowledgeable.”

She credits her support network for helping her stay positive throughout her treatment. Her family, friends, and husband were there to keep her positive, but the team at JBH were always there.

“They never failed to respond, and that’s what I found so amazing,” she said. “I’ve just had such a positive journey through all this.”

“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.”