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“CHEO is more than just a hospital; it is a beacon of hope, love, and inspiration for our family,” says Scarlett.
Growing up in Mexico City, Scarlett spent her childhood battling severe asthma attacks due to the city's thick smog. Before arriving in Canada in 2012, hospital visits were already a routine part of her life.
“My family made the monumental decision to leave behind everything we knew,” shares Scarlett. “The thought of adjusting to a new culture, weather, and language was daunting, but the promise of better healthcare and cleaner air filled us with hope and determination.”
Shortly after their arrival, 12-year-old Scarlett and her siblings became regular patients at CHEO. Scarlett recollects how different the care was here compared to what she experienced in Mexico. Within the four walls of this hospital, she felt understood and safe, surrounded by the kindness and expertise of the staff, and began to see CHEO as a second home.
“Walking into CHEO felt like stepping into a hospital from a movie. The bright colors and lively staff, always there to help my siblings, left me in awe. The hospital wasn’t just a place for treatment; it was a sanctuary filled with warmth and kindness,” says Scarlett.
This feeling of gratefulness vibrated through Scarlett and her family. Keen to give back and work in health care, Scarlett’s mom started to work at the CHEO Research Institute. A few years later, Scarlett followed in her mother’s footsteps and began volunteering at the Research Institute.
Since then, Scarlett has worked in various capacities at CHEO. She joined the caregiver screening program during the COVID-19 pandemic, became a patient service clerk working in various departments including Home and Community Care, School Based Rehabilitation Services, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit, and more. Today, she works as an administrative assistant with the Consultation Liaison Team, a group that provides mental health consultation, neuropsychological assessments, recommendations and short-term interventions for inpatients and outpatients who need these services.
Inspired by her own health care journey, the care she received and the people she works with, Scarlett will begin nursing school in September. Once she becomes a registered nurse, Scarlett hopes to transfer from her current role with the Consultation Liaison team to caring for patients.
“I want to give back to the community that welcomed me with open arms and provided me with countless opportunities to grow and learn,” says Scarlett. “I want to make a difference in the lives of children and their families, just as CHEO has made a difference in mine.”
CHEO is filled with passionate and kind people like Scarlett. Join us.