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For more than 30 years, St. Joseph’s Health Centre has been a constant in Deb Goodman’s life.
From pediatric care for her three children to routine screenings and specialty services for herself and her husband, her family has relied on the hospital at every stage of life.
That connection took on new meaning during a recent visit. She had come to see her doctor, Dr. Soare, about shoulder pain, but she also mentioned she was struggling to breathe. Her physician listened carefully and took her concerns seriously, making the decision to send her immediately to the Emergency Department. That same evening, she was admitted and spent five days in the Cardiac Care Unit.
“I didn’t know how sick I was.” she says, “but they did.”
During her stay, the St. Joe’s care team conducted thorough testing and treatment, stabilizing her condition and ensuring she was prepared for the next step in her heart care. She recalls how the nurses and physicians made a point of treating every patient with compassion, warmth, and respect. “From the moment I arrived in the Emergency Department to the time I was in the Cardiac Care Unit, everyone was consistently caring,” she says.
From the cleaning staff to the nurses to the doctors, it was every person, every time who made me feel cared for every day I was there.
–Deb Goodman
That level of care, she explains, is what made her feel safe to raise concerns about her health. “I could tell them exactly what I was feeling, even if it wasn’t what I came in for. They listened. They acted. That’s what gives you confidence, that you will be heard and taken seriously.” It’s a sentiment she has experienced throughout her and her family’s decades with St. Joe’s: a continuity of care that patients can rely on.
Thanks to the early detection and swift action by Dr. Soare and the teams in the Emergency Department and Cardiac Unit, she received the care she needed before the situation became critical, all within a matter of months. Today, she’s healthy and back to doing the things she loves, like riding her horse. “I really saw it as a gift,” she says. “Without the exceptional care from everyone at St. Joe’s I could have ended up having a stroke in the garden”. Her story is a powerful reminder that compassionate, attentive care can be life-saving, and life-changing.
At St. Joe’s, donor support helps ensure care teams have access to the tools they need to deliver that care efficiently and safely. With more than 6,000 visits to cardiology ambulatory clinics each year and a busy Emergency Department caring for over 240 patients daily, access to timely cardiac testing is critical. Donor-funded equipment—like electrocardiogram (ECG) machines—helps care teams quickly assess heart rhythm concerns and other urgent symptoms so patients can be diagnosed and treated without delay. It’s this combination of compassionate people and the right tools, supported by our community, that allows St. Joe’s to deliver the consistent, responsive care patients trust when it matters most.
As both a patient and a leader in child welfare and mental health, Deb sees her experience through a wider lens. She believes that “a healthier community helps build healthier individuals, which builds a healthier community, and so you live longer. You enjoy life better.” For her, St. Joe’s is a clear example of that, showing how a community hospital can make a difference far beyond any single visit.
