Surrounded by care
Brenda Schedler’s care experiences inspired her to become a monthly donor.
St. Joseph’s Parkwood Institute holds a special place in Brenda Schedler’s heart.
The care teams provided her with physical and emotional support during some of the best and most challenging times in her life. It’s one of the many reasons she has been giving monthly to St. Joseph’s.
She became a monthly donor in 2000, and has increased her donations ever since in gratitude for the compassionate care she and her family received.
Brenda’s connection to St. Joseph’s began when she gave birth to her daughter. Later in life, her husband John received care from Dr. Michael Borrie when he first began showing signs of early onset dementia. John was later diagnosed with Lewy Body Disease, a degenerative neurological disorder that affects thinking, movement, behaviour and mood. He passed away in 2016.
Brenda became an inpatient in the Amputee Rehabilitation Program when an infection left doctors with no choice but to amputate her lower left limb to save her life. Between the life-changing surgery and the grief from her husband’s death, Brenda entered the Program and is immensely grateful for the support she received.
“The staff just surrounded me with care,” she recalls. “The nurse practitioner, the two doctors and the physiotherapists were amazing.”
In addition to learning to walk again with a prosthesis, the Program assists patients with day-to-day tasks from getting in and out of vehicles to cooking in the kitchen. It can be a long and difficult process following amputation.
“When patients first enter the Amputee Rehabilitation Program, they don’t know what to expect,” says Dr. Michael Payne who was part of Brenda’s care team. “They’ve had life-altering surgery and many have a difficult time envisioning what their life will be like after limb loss. Our program gives patients hope and provides them with the tools to live a fulfilling life. It changes lives and our staff are honored to be part of that change.”
Thanks to the program and lots of hard work, Brenda lives a busy life. She walks three kilometres a day, volunteers and supports a Syrian family with four children whom she loves like her grandchildren.
Brenda continues to receive care at Parkwood with annual check-ups. And this fall, she will return for inpatient care in the Rehabilitation Program following knee surgery.
For Brenda, giving back to an organization that has been there for her throughout her adult life just feels like the right thing to do to say thank you.