Jolene admits that she doesn’t like the timbre of her voice now. It was a lot deeper, she says, before her illness. That change in her voice and a realization that she was having difficulty breathing led Jolene to seek medical attention in 2016. The diagnosis was very serious.

On May 18 ,2019, Jolene received both a liver and double lung transplant. “It’s better, says Jolene, “when you receive all the organs from one donor; this minimizes [the chance of] your body’s rejection of the organs.”

She was admitted to the Post-Transplant Rehabilitation Program at The Salvation Army Toronto Grace Health Centre (TGHC) for rehabilitation on July 10, 2019. “I chose the TGHC,” says Jolene, “because the TGHC was close to our apartment… Dustin happened to find an apartment close to the Toronto Grace.  Accessibility was important for my husband and daughter to see me during rehabilitation.”  But the handy location of the Grace wasn’t the only reason she chose it.  “Obviously, I had heard that TGHC was a wonderful rehabilitation facility, but I discovered that their recreational therapy program included a baking program. The baking program… convinced me. All I knew or cared about was that there was a kitchen. Being a chef is one thing, but to exercise my passion for cooking; it’s what brings me joy. When I came to the Grace and started cooking it was my therapy.”

After being admitted, Jolene made excellent progress, and soon began walking again. “My rehabilitation team, [was] amazing.” She began to be able to walk with a low-roller walker, and transfer from her bed to a wheelchair or from her wheelchair to the shower or toilet. The strength in her legs returned, allowing her to stand and pivot. This gave her the ability to take advantage of the therapy offered in the rehabilitation gym all morning and to attend recreational therapy programs in the afternoons.

To further aid Jolene achieve self-sufficiency, she utilized the RBC room. The room is designed to simulate a bachelor apartment–like setting. It is very common for a patient to wonder if the level of independence they have gained back during rehabilitation will enable them to cope once they return home. The RBC Safe-at-Home Program was developed to help patients practise activities of daily living (ADL), such as bathing, dressing, toileting and grooming, within an independent suite. “This RBC room is absolutely amazing,” says Jolene, “not just to help you feel like you’re at home but it helps you realize your abilities and what you’re capable of doing while you gage your independence.”

When Jolene’s family realized that they would need to spend at least a year living in Toronto while she recuperated from her surgery and underwent physiotherapy, they knew the financial cost would be enormous. Jolene says, “At one point we discussed selling our house [to pay for our stay].” Hoping to avoid having to do that, they started a GoFundMe campaign. The money they raised allowed them to keep their house and afford an apartment in Toronto while she received rehabilitation after her transplant surgeries. She thanks everyone who contributed to helping her and her family.

“I feel great,” says Jolene, “the liver disease is gone, the pulmonary hypertension is gone, the other issues caused by the liver and pulmonary hypertension are getting better. I’m still recovering but it’s fantastic and amazing that I was able to get to this point after all my illnesses.”

Jolene sums up her experience at the TGHC as, “Amazing!”

Jolene was discharged home in early December 2019.

By Gerry Condotta