Our Stories

Read the latest stories about what's going on at St. Joseph's Health Care London.

Tall dream comes true

With a list of burning questions in hand, Patricia Prance answered an incoming video call. On the other end of the line – a giraffe and his zookeeper. Prance has virtually visited not one but two giraffes thanks to St. Joseph's Health Care London's Palliative Care Unit at Parkwood Institute. Her interest in giraffes first sparked when she visited African Lion Safari as a kid. “I just fell in love with the way they ran and their tall necks. And I'm tall and lanky and run kind of like a giraffe,” she laughs. Prance always dreamed of meeting a giraffe and being able to pet it, but travel...
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Diabetes Half Century Awards

A life changing journey

Larry Fulton recalls the moment doctors told him that he would likely not live past the age of 40. He was only 18-years-old at the time and had just been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. “Back then, the life expectancy for people living with diabetes was only around 20 years or so,” recalls Larry...
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Louis Martin cycling down the street

In Good Hands

“I went down face first, denting my helmet. It felt like I fell into a cheese grater. My right arm was extended and I bounced off the deck and hit hard on my right side.” – Louis Martin It was a moment Louis Martin will never forget. While cycling in Elgin County on a downhill descent, he fell on an...
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St. Joseph's patients and Will Heeman showcasing the newly donated Columbia jackets

Keeping warm this winter

When Columbia Sportswear and Heeman’s learned of the increased need for winter coats at St. Joseph’s Mental Health Care Program, they didn’t hesitate. 181 warm winter coats were donated to help patients this winter who come to the program with only the clothes on their backs. “This is overwhelming,”...
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a group photo of the SPE team

Moments of grace

It’s not the usual interaction health care students have with patients and residents. These encounters are often deep, meaningful, intangible moments of grace. When students of the Supervised Psychospiritual Education (SPE) program sit alongside residents at St. Joseph’s Health Care London, every...
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Noelle Tangredi

Deeply rooted

St. Joseph's continues to celebrate our 700 staff, physicians and volunteers making career milestones as part of our organizations Service Recognition Program. Noelle Tangredi, graphic designer, e-learning developer – and keeper of St. Joseph’s Hospital’s artifacts - is among this year’s recipients...
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A retired veteran dropping the puck onto the ice.

A memorable night

Fourteen resident Veterans were the special guests of honour at the London Knights hockey game on November 11. They enjoyed the game in style, thanks to Ryan Finch, President of Finch Auto Group. In the ceremony before the game, 98-year-old Jack Byrne and 100-year-old Corporal George Herbert...
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Left to Right: Dr. Don Richardson, Jenny Liu and Anthony Nazarov researched the effectiveness of Internet-Based Cognitive Therapy for adult Veterans and military population

Empowering Veterans through virtual care

Canada’s Veterans and members of the Canadian Armed Forces have unique and very specific mental health care needs – including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and new research has examined how an internet-based delivery method for treatment can help. Currently, it is estimated that 13 to 18 per...
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Former veteran Helen Anderson

Feeling Connected

Helen, a proud WW II Veteran, finds purpose and community at Parkwood Institute. Enlisting at 17, she served overseas as a dispatcher and nurse. Now 98, she thrives in the Veterans Care Program, embraced by a caring staff who support her passions.
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Nancy sits near a fireplace

Putting people first

Nancy has cherished personalized care at St. Joseph’s for more than 50 years. Her positive outlook and heartfelt connection she has with the staff have been vital in overcoming health challenges, from battling infections as a teen to recovering from a severe fall.
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