Shane and Ellen Ottens have seen their four boys go through their fair share of bumps, bruises and broken bones over the years. However, nothing prepared them for the diagnosis their son, Spencer, would receive in the fall of 2017.

Elementary school students make cards for patients at The Ottawa Hospital.

Lynne Miles suffered for three months with intense low back pain that affected many parts of her life. A referral to the Rapid Access Clinic for Low Back Pain at The Ottawa Hospital offered her a new, empowering approach to managing it.

With help from virtual reality, patients undergoing cancer treatment at The Ottawa Hospital could soon take a virtual getaway from their hospital beds. Engineering students consulted with patient advisors to design these high-tech escapes.

Angie Hamson carried her son Charlie’s health information in a giant blue binder for years. Now through a secure, patient-centred application called MyChart, Angie and Charlie, and anyone else they choose, can see Charlie’s medical records digitally. Angie feels more empowered and Charlie can use a version of MyChart when he transitions to The Ottawa Hospital as an adult.

Some dogs can do so much more than fetch a bone; some can help others in need. Nellie is a 11-year-old Collie, and a volunteer at The Ottawa Hospital. With some help from her handler, Claire Laroche, Nellie frequently visits The Ottawa Hospital Cancer Centre, hoping to help lift patients’ spirits.