Patient Stories
Mary Ann’s Story
Three years ago, 12-year-old Mary Ann Hall was diagnosed with diabetes. Today, diabetes doesn’t stop her from playing hockey, basketball, golf, running and yoga. Inspired by the work of Trish and Alice at the Northside General Diabetic Clinic, she wants to be a paediatrician or a dietitian to help people when she grows up.
Neila’s Story
Neila MacGean has Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension which means that she has to be on an oxygen machine with 8 litres high pressure every day. Neila was a nurse at Northside General Hospital for 6 years and later an occupational health nurse at Devco.
Chip’s Story
Wallace (“Chip”) Reid was a graduate of the Yarmouth School of Nursing. Chip’s home for 17 years was the 3rd Floor Taigh Solas, at the Northside General Hospital, where all the nurses and patients were his second family. Born in North Sydney, he is an only child but had two aunts that visited regularly, Georgina and Shirley.
Linden’s Story
Linden McGuigan of Sydney Mines was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes in February of 2014. Linden visits the Diabetic Clinic a couple times per month. Linden’s symptoms were fatigue and thirst. Linden finds the Diabetic Clinic helpful and informative and gets the best of treatment from the staff in the clinic. He tries to eat healthy and keeps his sugars in check. He is a body builder and says he is now “The Strongest Version of Myself”
Connor’s Story
Nine-year-old Connor Viva is from Florence, Nova Scotia and attends grade four at Florence Elementary School. He wants to be a referee or a school bus driver when he grows up. Connor has been a patient at the Orthoptic Clinic at Northside General Hospital since he was just 7 months old. He explains his illness as a Pirate Patch. He wears his patch to treat amblyopia - which is secondary to his strabismus (misalignment of the eyes).
Brianna’s Story
Thirteen year old Brianna Murphy doesn’t allow diabetes to run her life. Brianna has Type 1 Diabetes and visits the Diabetic Clinic at Northside General Hospital regularly. Her condition doesn’t stop her from playing basketball and soccer or from competing in dance competitions. Since she had her pump she can spend more time with her friends and she doesn’t have to carry needles with her- it has really changed her life for the better.