This is part of a series of articles highlighting 100 years of care and community as Southlake Regional Health Centre celebrates its centennial this year.
When Samantha’s son, Lawrence, was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at just 19 months old, she was living every parent’s worst nightmare.
Approximately 1,000 children are diagnosed with cancer every year in Canada. Their stories are filled with treatments, hospitals visits and a wide range of emotions, as their care team becomes uniquely embedded into their lives. Throughout Lawrence’s successful treatment, Samantha and her family experienced first-hand the leading-edge care, compassion and support Southlake has become known for over the past century.
“Every time we walked into the hospital, we felt comfortable, welcomed and known by everyone we encountered. Even after his treatments were done and he no longer needed to visit Southlake, Lawrence would always ask when we could go back to ‘Snowflake’ as he liked to call it. This meant that, no matter how scary it could have felt for Lawrence, he was never afraid, and for us as a family, that meant the world.”
Lawrence’s cancer journey began in 2014 after an unexplained fall led the family to the emergency department and blood work showed irregular cell counts. Following a short stay at a specialized pediatric hospital, Lawrence was placed into the expert care of Southlake’s regional cancer care centre, one of the top-performing cancer programs as ranked by Ontario Health.
Samantha recalls how the team at Southlake went above and beyond for not only her young son, but her entire family.
“From the many little ways they made Lawrence feel special and put a smile on his face to how they comforted and communicated with us throughout his treatment, Southlake always made us feel important. They were attentive to small details even during the most difficult moments, always ready with a small gift for Lawrence and toys and activities for his brother to pass the time with during appointments. They were with us every step of the way and Southlake felt like more than just a place to receive treatment — it felt like home.”
Though many special memories were created during the family’s time with Southlake, one memory in particular stands out above the rest.
In 2018, after four years of treatment, Lawrence proudly rang the bell after completing his final round of chemotherapy. To celebrate this milestone, Lawrence received a surprise visit from one of his favourite superheroes, Batman, who also represented the bravery he showed throughout his treatment. For Samantha, it was a moment she would never forget.
“After all we had been through, to see Lawrence with a big smile on his face as he got to meet and play with one of his heroes, and to know that he was now on his way to a healthier future, it was a mother’s dream come true. The day was even more special because we were joined by many of the people who had made our experience so special, including nurses, volunteers and even some of the other older patients he liked to wave to as he walked the hallways.”
For families like Samantha’s, who live in Barrie, it was a relief and a blessing that this unforgettable experience and leading-edge care could be delivered close to home — a fact that continues to resonate for patients from as far north as Muskoka and as far south a North York who have relied on Southlake for decades.
“Having a hospital we could rely on for Lawrence’s treatments that were readily available to us in our own backyard was nothing short of incredible. Cancer is stressful enough as it is, but as a family with several young children, I can’t imagine what it would have been like trying to rush hours away to downtown Toronto for every appointment and check-up. Instead, we could find the best possible treatment nearby from compassionate professionals who knew us and the community well, putting us at ease and relieving some of the immense pressures we were experiencing.”
Today, Lawrence is living life to its fullest as the superhero he is, a happy and healthy 12-year-old boy who enjoys playing hockey, spending time with his siblings, learning to paint, going to school and still, of course, hearing about Batman. As she reflects on her son’s cancer journey and her family’s experience at Southlake, Samantha offers some words of wisdom that she hopes might be helpful for others going through similar experiences.
“When your world is falling apart, you have no choice but to look for the positives. There are so many little moments, small wins and wonderful people that will lift you up through your darkest days, so it’s important to focus on those as much as you can, because the smallest gestures can often mean the most. Because of Southlake, there was no shortage of these moments during Lawrence’s treatment. Even now, seven years later, these are the memories we cherish most and the ones we continue to be grateful for.”
For 100 years and counting, Southlake has built healthy communities through leading edge care with an unwavering pride for people, place and performance. To celebrate its centennial anniversary, Southlake is revisiting some of its hallmark stories and achievements over the years through the Southlake100 series. Learn more about Southlake’s esteemed history and how they’re celebrating throughout the year at southlake.ca.
