Stacie Smith, a Collingwood resident who moved from Toronto with her husband a decade ago, is sharing her story to inspire hope and highlight the importance of local healthcare.
Stacie and her husband initially fell in love with Collingwood during weekend trips, drawn by its natural beauty and outdoor activities like cross-country skiing, mountain biking, and paddling. Eventually, they decided to make it their permanent home and raise their family here.
A few years after settling in, Stacie’s life changed when she found a lump in her breast. Following a visit to her family doctor, she was referred to Dr. Lisi at Collingwood General and Marine Hospital (CGMH) for further testing.
At CGMH, Stacie underwent several diagnostic exams, including a mammography, CT scans, ultrasounds, and nuclear bone tests, which confirmed her worst fear: she had breast cancer.
“This was a very scary time for me and my family. But I was so grateful to be at CGMH, where every person I encountered was so comforting and kind. I didn’t want to be a number in a big hospital, away from my family; I knew instantly I wanted to have my surgery here, close to home,” shares Stacie.
During her diagnostic journey, Stacie struggled with claustrophobia, particularly during the nuclear bone test. She recalls, “My mom, to this day says that the worst I ever looked throughout my cancer treatment journey was when I had to go for the nuclear medicine test. I was panicking.”
However, the compassion of Valerie, a technologist at CGMH, turned this difficult experience into a manageable one. “When I went for my exam, I told Valerie, the technologist who I was meeting for the first time, that I was very scared and didn’t think I could go through with it. And instead of being annoyed, or frustrated by it, Valerie sat down with me, gave me tea, and started researching different ways to do the exam, to make me more comfortable. Her compassion was really touching,” Stacie shared.
Before her diagnosis, Stacie had been a supporter of the CGMH Foundation for many years. Now, as a cancer survivor, she feels even more committed to ensuring that the hospital has the tools it needs to provide exceptional care. “Knowing that the medical staff has access to the best tools to diagnose and treat our community brought me such peace of mind. And at a time when everything got scary, this made all the difference,” says Stacie.
Today, Stacie and her husband, Martin, continue to generously support the CGMH Foundation, helping the hospital deliver outstanding care to the community.
Stacie’s story is a testament to the critical role of local healthcare and the compassionate professionals at CGMH. We are deeply grateful for her ongoing support and for sharing her journey with us.
As the hospital continues to meet the growing need for breast care screenings, the CGMH Foundation is launching its annual
“Tree of Life” campaign. This year, the focus is on raising funds for two new mammography units to keep pace with the increasing demand, especially with the Ontario government lowering the age for self-referral for breast screening from 50 to 40.
Early detection of breast cancer is critical, and your donation will ensure that CGMH has the necessary equipment to meet this need. Please give—your support truly makes a difference.
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