"One experience that stood out most was John and Sharon’s story about John’s Parkinson’s diagnosis. They openly shared the emotional and practical toll of living with a progressive neurological condition, and one part that deeply affected me was when they mentioned their hopes of travelling to Alaska when they turned 50. Due to John’s diagnosis, that dream will never come true. This moment struck me because it highlighted how fragile time really is, and how easily life plans can be interrupted by illness. It was a reminder that behind every scan we perform is a person whose life may be shifting dramatically, often in ways we can’t see on the surface."
"Tash’s story resonated with me on a deeply emotional level. As someone preparing to enter the healthcare field within the next year, I couldn’t help but imagine myself in her place. The weight she carried was amplified by her knowledge, she understood the risks, the complications, the 'what ifs', which robbed her of any moment of peace or reassurance she might have had. What struck me most was her need to be the 'perfect patient'. Knowing how difficult some patients can be, she didn’t want to be seen as a burden. Her insight into the system didn’t ease her experience, it intensified it. That paradox was heartbreaking."
"The reason this story was the most impactful to me was that it hit really close to home. While all of the stories were eye-opening and heartbreaking, hers hit closest to home. I lost my mother to a brain tumour just over a month ago, and hearing Tash’s story brought me back to the most difficult day I have ever experienced, receiving a phone call while in my skills lab to go to the hospital because my mother had passed away."
"Lisa wasn’t just sharing a diagnosis, she was sharing the emotional toll of navigating a system that often made her feel dismissed, unheard, and even ashamed for asking questions. One line echoed in my mind long after the session: 'Patients come in gowns, but they’re wearing stress, fear, and shame.' That line reframed everything for me. Patients may look calm or quiet on the outside, but internally they are carrying so much."
"Lisa mentioned 'what legacy do you want to leave behind?' This will stick with me for the rest of my life and career."
"The Patient Partnership session was one of the most emotional and eye-opening experiences I’ve had in this program. It wasn’t a typical lecture. It was a conversation rooted in honesty, pain, love, and strength."
"John’s words, 'Don’t let your bad day become their bad day,' really resonated with me and challenged me to reflect on my own emotional presence in the clinical space. This quote reminded me that no matter what pressures I face in a hospital setting, my responsibility is to ensure the patient leaves feeling seen, heard, and respected."
