Andre Thurairatnam

Pneumonia as a newborn? Treated at a Scarborough hospital.
First surgery at five years old? Tonsils removed at a Scarborough hospital.
Broke my first bone playing football in high school? X-rays done at a Scarborough hospital.

I was born five weeks premature at Centenary Hospital, which meant from the very start I was already receiving special care from the doctors and nurses in the Scarborough Health Network—a pattern that would continue the older I got:

In my 20s I was diagnosed with a serious autoimmune disorder called ulcerative colitis. I spent a week as an inpatient under the care of Centenary’s digestive diseases unit in 2015, then another week just a year later when the disease came out of remission.

And years later, when I faced the toughest battle of my life—testicular cancer—I was diagnosed and started treatment at a Scarborough hospital. For as long as I can remember, the Scarborough Health Network has been part of my story.

In March 2024, Centenary Hospital was where I got the news that would change everything: I had cancer. That sinking feeling in my stomach turned to fear, uncertainty, and an overwhelming series of questions overflowing in my mind: Am I going to die? Will I be able to have kids? Will I live a normal life?

Dr. Zachary Klinghoffer, Urologic Surgeon at SHN, performed the surgery to remove the primary tumour, but by then, the cancer had already spread to my abdomen. I was referred to a Toronto cancer centre and began three long rounds of chemotherapy.

The Brutal Climb of Chemotherapy

Chemo was the single worst experience I’ve ever had in my life. There was no mercy—physically, mentally, emotionally. I couldn’t eat. I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t think. Brain fog took over, I experienced hearing loss and developed nerve damage. Day after day, my body was pushed to the absolute limit.

Throughout it all, Dr. Wesley Leung, SHN gastroenterologist, coordinated my care with the cancer specialists, ensuring my treatment accounted for my pre-existing condition.

Finally, after three rounds, I rang the bell, thinking it was over. Only, it wasn’t. The very next morning, I was back in the hospital with chemo-induced kidney failure. Weeks of recovery followed, and when the scan results finally came back—chemo unfortunately hadn’t worked.

I was told I had to undergo major surgery to remove the residual tumours—8.5 hours on the operating table and months of physiotherapy.

In July 2025, I got my first post-surgical scan results: 18 months after my diagnosis, I am officially in remission. I made it to the summit.

Finding Love and Lifelong Memories at SHN

And there are moments I’ll never forget along the way:

Ten years ago, I was studying as a Master’s student at Western University when my ulcerative colitis came out of remission. It happened so quickly: one day I was in a lecture hall in London, and the next I was hooked up to an IV at Centenary Hospital in Scarborough.

I had just started dating someone new in London, and even though it had only been a few months, I knew there was something special about her. When she found out I was hospitalized, she insisted she come and visit me in the hospital.

The feeling of panic – not anything to do with my colitis – but that this woman I wanted nothing more than to impress was going to be here and I looked like a wreck: hooked up to IVs, unshaven, feeling horrible.

I turned to my nurse and explained the situation. Without skipping a beat, she got me a shower, found me a razor, and even disconnected my IV so I could swap the hospital gown for a something a bit more presentable.

She eventually showed up for the visit, marking this the first time she’d ever met my family. Then, after my family left, she told me for the very first time that she was falling in love with me.

That woman, Jacqueline, is now my wife and we’ve just celebrated 10 incredible years together!

But that’s not the only milestone we’re celebrating: despite the overwhelming odds against us after my cancer treatments – Jacqueline and I are expecting our first child together in April 2026!

These hospitals mean more than medical treatments—they’ve been my lifeline through the toughest climbs of my life. From my first breath to my hardest battles, SHN’s doctors, nurses, and staff have been my guides and my anchors. And thanks to donors, they can continue helping thousands of patients like me climb their own mountains.

Life Beyond the Hospital Walls

Beyond being a patient, Scarborough has shaped who I am. I’m a child of immigrant parents: my Sri Lankan father and my Guyanese mother (whom both met in Scarborough – talk about a generational love story). I’ve always been proud of my roots, this community, and how reflective Scarborough is for people who look like me, who talk like me, and who hold the same values I hold.

I spent the first 12 years of my career in journalism: I’ve worked at community newspapers here in Scarborough and held positions with some of the city’s most recognizable newsrooms, including six years spent as a morning show producer at CP24. Now, I work in public education with Ontario’s Office of the Fire Marshal, empowering communities across the province with vital fire and public safety knowledge.

From the very beginning of my career, I made a promise to myself: I would tell stories that show the good of this community. Scarborough deserves to be seen for its resilience, diversity, and strength—and I’m grateful to always keep sharing that message.

Scarborough hospitals have been there for me my entire life. The doctors, nurses, and staff at SHN have been my guides, holding me up on the hardest days and reminding me I’m never climbing this mountain alone. If there’s any small way I can give back to the community I love so much, I will always say yes.

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