“St. Joe’s feels like a second home,” says Jenna Campea. “Everyone there has always been a source of comfort. Whenever I need care, it just feels good going to St. Joe’s.”
For Jenna, St. Joseph’s Health Centre has been a place of solace during some of the most challenging moments of her life. Over the years, she has leaned on what she describes as “the most sympathetic” physicians, nurses, and staff to guide her through three heartbreaking miscarriages.
“It was the fifth week of my pregnancy when I miscarried for the first time,” Jenna recalls. “I had cramping that didn’t feel normal, so it felt reassuring to be at the hospital. Even though the Emergency Department is always busy, they acknowledged what I was going through. They cared for me, ensured I was okay, and supported me before I went home.”
Jenna miscarried a second time and didn’t hesitate in her choice to go to St. Joe’s again. “This time, I had severe blood loss and almost went into cardiac arrest,” she says. “After two blood transfusions and an emergency procedure the next morning, I stayed at St. Joe’s overnight. I was so scared, but they made me feel as comfortable as possible—even giving me a private room away from new mothers with their babies to respect my feelings at the time.”
Jenna believes it’s essential to talk about the pain women endure when they experience a miscarriage. “It’s devastating, and the pain—both physical and emotional—can be overwhelming. I’ve been in hysterics at times, and St. Joe’s has always been there to keep me calm.”
Her experiences with St. Joe’s left such a lasting impression that when she faced a life-threatening complication during another pregnancy, she didn’t hesitate to return.
At 19 weeks pregnant, Jenna developed severe abdominal pain that didn’t feel right. “I have good intuition, so I knew something was wrong. I was confident they would have the answers and help me through whatever I needed” she says.
After thorough testing, Jenna and her husband were told she had appendicitis. A team of physicians, obstetricians, and a surgeon discussed her options. “They suggested surgery as the safest course of action rather than medication. I had to make a decision,” she says. Although Jenna was fearful of surgery, the compassionate and informed approach of the team helped her feel reassured. “The surgeon, Dr. Erin Sadler, spoke to me on a personal level and even shared her insights as a mom. It made all the difference.” Jenna says she was confident surgery was the right decision. “St. Joe’s had always been there for me, so I felt safe and knew I was in the right hands again.”
Today, Jenna is healthy and grateful as an expectant mom. She is even seeing one of the obstetricians who oversaw the surgery as her regular physician during her pregnancy. And Jenna is choosing to have her baby at St. Joe’s, saying she would not feel comfortable anywhere else.
Turning Pain into Purpose
Jenna’s experiences at St. Joe’s, both heartbreaking and life-affirming, have inspired her and her husband to give back to the hospital that has been there for them.
“We want to show others how great St. Joe’s is by paying it forward,” she says. The couple is hosting a fundraiser at the Art Gallery, with proceeds supporting St. Joe’s.
For Jenna, art has been a therapeutic outlet, helping her process her experiences. Through her fundraiser, she hopes to repay the kindness and care she received while helping others in the community access exceptional healthcare. “St. Joe’s is already a great hospital, but we want to repay the kindness of the team for saving my life in a way that can help others,” she says.
You can make extraordinary happen to families like Jenna’s.
Jenna’s story is a testament to the extraordinary care provided by the St. Joe’s team. Your generosity helps ensure that every family has access to compassionate, lifesaving care when they need it most.
Together, we can continue to provide comfort, hope, and healing—close to home.
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