Regimental Sergeant Major, Chief Warrant Officer Grant Lawson (left) and Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Carlo Tittarelli (right) present HHS nurse Jacqueline Terence with her promotion outside Hamilton General Hospital.

December 21, 2020

2020 Celebrations: Readers’ Choice

FEATURE STORY

Marching to the beat of her own drum

Jacqueline Terence is an emergency department nurse who’s also a master corporal with the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders of Canada infantry regiment and first female drum sergeant in its history. Read.

We shared a wide range of powerful stories throughout the year – from lifesaving treatments to insightful staff profiles to groundbreaking research and more. Today, we’re featuring readers’ favourites, with a selection of our most read, most loved, and most shared stories from 2020.

The hospital’s social media followers and visitors to our storytelling website, HHS Share, showed their appreciation for Jacqueline Terence (see feature story). Her commitment to HHS and her country inspired many likes, loves, and wows on our social media channels, as well as messages of praise.

“You are truly a great role model for the youth today,” wrote one Facebook follower. “Thank you for your services and congratulations.”

The HHS award-winning Hospital2Home program series was another favourite. Most recently, Hospital2Home received the 2020 Excellence in Patient Experience Award from the Canadian College of Health Leaders.

Earlier in the year, readers were inspired by HHS patient Jill Wilson, and the treatment she was receiving after a hand amputation. Wilson shared how she was working with a surgeon and the amputee rehabilitation team to extend her bones and tendons so she could do more with what was left of her hand.

Many were deeply moved by the story of Heather Allen, a terminal cancer patient who recently got married. Nurses from oncology day services at the Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre celebrated the couple’s love by decking out her room with wedding décor, even buying a cake for the newly-wed couple to cut.

Parents and families visited the Back to School collection of videos and articles in heavy rotation this year, including the “Radical Acceptance” positive mental health video from Dr. Felicia Chang.

Stories of how HHS cares for sick children were deeply impactful. Readers met Savannah, a young patient with a rare disease that has been diagnosed fewer than 70 times worldwide. And they met Cameron, who needed major surgery to repair his pelvis after being run over by a truck while playing outside.

“He talks often about his experience,” Cameron’s mom tells readers. “Rather than the negative parts, he remembers the loving staff and friendly faces.”

This is our final post in our year-end round-up of 2020 celebrations. Thank you to all the patients, families and health care providers who shared their stories with our community this year.

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