Our stories

Former volunteer, now 108 years old, helped weave CHEO into fabric of Ottawa

Juanita Snelgrove has dedicated her life to helping children in her community through many decades of volunteer work, all while raising three children as a single mother.

Snelgrove, now 108 years old, was a former volunteer at CHEO. 

“It was a wonderful organization to be a part of. I had the opportunity to be connected in many little ways, along the way,” said Snelgrove, who now has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

As CHEO marks 50 years since it opened its doors on May 17, 1974,...

Read more

“There’s a willingness to help – that’s our common goal.” – Mary Lynn Taschereau

Meet Mary Lynn Taschereau, Senior Business Systems Analyst, Information Services

At the age of three, Mary Lynn underwent cardiac surgery for a congenital heart defect. Little did she know this would be the start of a long relationship with CHEO and the people who healed her.

Reflecting on some of her earliest memories, Mary Lynn remembers how her nurse made her feel safe and comfortable when she woke up in hospital without her mom by her side. For those few moments apart, Mary Lynn sat at the...

Read more

Another Canadian 1st at CHEO with new, dedicated 1-stop shop for families

Launched in January 2024, a new multi-disciplinary clinic at CHEO is the first of its kind in Canada to help children with neurofibromatosis and their families by transforming complex, busy care schedules  into one appointment.

NF1, the most common form of neurofibromatosis, is a rare genetic condition that causes benign tumours to grow in and under the skin, often with problems involving bones, hormones and other parts of the body. It  typically affects almost one of every 3,000 births and half of all diagnoses...

Read more

“We weren’t just another number.” – Sarah Giroux, Nurse Educator

Meet Sarah Giroux, RN, Nurse Educator for CHEO’s mental health programs

Following in the footsteps of many of the women in her family, Sarah completed her consolidation at CHEO on 6East 21 years ago. While she left CHEO to start her nursing career, those few months in her final placement left a lasting impact on Sarah. She knew there was something different about CHEO.

Eleven years ago, Sarah came back as Nurse Educator for CHEO’s mental health programs, working with many of the people who shaped...

Read more

From young patient to preschool educator at CHEO

Meet Kelsey LeJeune, Preschool Educator at CHEO’s Children’s Treatment Centre

At just 14-years-old, Kelsey LeJeune was admitted to CHEO following a serious stroke. For Kelsey, this was the beginning of a long road to recovery – from a stay in the pediatric intensive care unit, to outpatient rehabilitation with Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy and many other follow-ups with a variety of specialists.

Subsequently, Kelsey underwent a heart repair and multiple surgeries on her foot and ankle. Her...

Read more