Anna Ponce, a member of our Scarborough community, is a grateful patient who has made it her mission to support our Scarborough hospitals. As one of the new faces of the Love, Scarborough campaign, she shares her and her husband Thomas Chu’s story for Filipino Heritage Month.
Born in the Philippines, I became a proud Scarberian at the age of seven. I love Scarborough with all my heart, and my work in events allows me to meet different people within this great community and beyond. My connection to SHN is bittersweet. My father-in-law tragically passed away in the Emergency Room at Centenary Hospital from what seemed to be a heart attack. Then, we had a meeting with SHN’s Dr. Swan. What he told us changed our lives forever.
He told us he discovered my father-in-law passed away from an aortic dissection – a genetic disease that is passed down to males. That meant my husband was at risk – along with my sister-in-law’s unborn child, and my future son.
With Dr. Swan’s urging, my husband’s family underwent genetic testing and continue to get their hearts checked. Without the dedication and care provided by Dr. Swan and SHN, our family could have lost many more. While Dr. Swan couldn’t save one, he saved countless generations within our family. Since then, I have made it my mission to support our Scarborough hospitals and give back however I can.
Remembering Dr. James Swan 1946 – 2021
Dr. Swan was a pioneer in clinical cardiology who developed many programs that were utilized by healthcare professionals around the world. As a respected cardiologist, he was a proud member of the Rouge Valley Health System, now known as Scarborough Health Network and a founding member of a robust, all-service cardiology group. We thank Dr. Swan for his long-standing commitment to caring for the community of Scarborough and beyond.