You can support the best care experiences, close to home.
There are moments as a parent that stay with you forever.
For one family, it was the winter day their teenage son, Giacomo — a competitive ski racer who had been on skis since age three — took a terrible fall during what was meant to be his final run of the season.
At first, they hoped it was a simple injury. But the pain was different, and that evening they drove straight from Collingwood to St. Joe’s, knowing he needed the specialized imaging only the hospital could provide.
“At first, we hoped it was a simple injury. But even though he’s a tough kid, I could see immediately that the pain was different.”
— Matteo Del Sorbo
At St. Joe’s Emergency Department, a CT scan revealed multiple fractures across Giacomo’s tibial plateau, an area where millimeters mattered. Without precise care, he risked chronic pain, early arthritis, and long-term mobility challenges. Within hours, he had a clear diagnosis, and an appointment in the fracture clinic the following morning. The family was overwhelmed but no longer alone.
The next day, Giacomo underwent a complex four-hour surgery — so urgent that a surgeon came in on his day off to perform it. When he woke up, he was in a bed that lowered gently to ease pain and help nurses care for Giacomo safely. Small details like these made a meaningful difference during his recovery.
The year that followed was challenging: months without putting weight on his leg, relearning to walk, and rebuilding strength. Giacomo worked harder than anyone had ever seen, and ten months after his accident, he returned to the slopes — not to race, but to coach younger athletes, discovering a new way to embrace the sport he loved.
For his family, St. Joe’s care was more than treatment — it was the place that helped Giacomo reclaim his future. Every moment of expert care, every tool and piece of equipment, played a role in his recovery and in helping him get back to what mattered most.
“As a parent, you don’t forget the place that helped your child reclaim their future. And that’s what you and St. Joe’s gave us.”
— Matteo Del Sorbo
The equipment that makes accurate diagnoses and safe recoveries possible at St. Joe’s isn’t funded by the government — it depends on the generosity of donors. Families like Giacomo’s rely on these life-saving tools to ensure care is precise, timely, and effective, when every second and every millimeter matters.
Support from donors helps equip care teams with the essential equipment they need to provide extraordinary care. You can see some of our most urgent equipment needs on our wish list — every gift truly makes an impact.
