A Sudden Cardiac Crisis in Scarborough

‍In 2021, Casey Coates found himself in the emergency department at SHN’s General Hospital with unusual chest pain.

“It was a scary time,” remembers Casey. “And even though things were moving fast, everyone was so excellent and caring. The ER doctors, cardiac physicians, lab techs, and angiogram staff were all true professionals and kept me well informed during my entire hospital stay. Even when I had to be transferred from General to the Centenary site.”

World-Class Care When It Mattered Most

‍Casey discovered he had a spontaneous coronary artery dissection – or SCAD – which occurs when a tear forms in the wall of a heart artery and can slow or block blood flow to the heart, potentially causing a heart attack, heart rhythm problems, or even death.

“They told me SCAD isn’t very common, but it is increasingly happening to people in my age demographic,” explains Casey. “I’ve always been very healthy and reasonably active, so never expected anything like this to happen to me. I’m so grateful for the level of care I received from the team at SHN.”

Casey wanted to share his story to let others know that SHN provides compassionate, world-class care every day – even in hospitals that may appear ordinary from the outside.

“A lot of people underestimate Scarborough hospitals because of the area they’re in, but many don’t know the level of expertise that resides here,” says Casey. “SHN is home to a regional Cardiac Care Centre, and they treat everyone who walks through their doors with good care and prompt attention.”

A Rare Diagnosis, Exceptional Treatment

‍Because of his experience, Casey was inspired to give back.

“My family is philanthropic where we can be, and through time, volunteer work, and financially, we’re proud to give back to SHN,” he says.

From Patient to Advocate: Giving Back to SHN

‍“I saw the Love, Scarborough campaign and was very impressed by the message and tone,” he adds. “In years past I was involved in the hospital board’s sub-committees and more recently got connected with the Foundation staff and became a member of the Campaign Cabinet. I am very pleased to have the chance to volunteer and contribute to the hospital’s important causes.

If you’ve lived in Scarborough, you have probably benefited from SHN’s health services and hospitals in some ways. If you live in Toronto, you no doubt have a Scarborough connection or story and for those reasons, I encourage everyone to support Scarborough hospitals – through time or money – and give back to the community that helped you.”