Two stroke survivors who met at Lakeridge Health Oshawa Hospital have found an unexpected friendship that is helping them rebuild their lives, continuing their recovery together at the Neurological Rehabilitation Clinic in Whitby, Ontario.
TJ was in a wheelchair when he first saw Edna walking through the halls of the Integrated Stroke Unit. He turned to the nurses and asked who she was. “I told them, ‘I want to get like that,'” he recalled. That moment sparked a bond that became central to both their recoveries.
The pair quickly became known around the hospital as “the dynamic duo.” They did laps together once, twice, sometimes three times a day, pushing each other toward every mobility milestone. When it came time to leave Oshawa Hospital, TJ changed his discharge date so they could walk out side-by-side, with staff gathered to cheer them on.
Their care continued at the Ambulatory Rehabilitation Centre’s Neurological Rehabilitation Clinic at Lakeridge Health Whitby Hospital at 300 Gordon Street. There, therapist-led sessions helped them build on their progress. The friendship, forged through shared therapy and coffee runs, has been a source of comfort and motivation. TJ now hopes to regain his ability to drive so he can take Edna on road trips.
“Edna and TJ’s story is a reminder that person-centred care is about seeing the whole person, and the programs, teams, and connections that help people heal,” said Amy Maebrae-Waller, District Stroke Coordinator and Patient Care Manager of the ARC Neurological Rehabilitation Clinic.
Lakeridge Health Oshawa earned Stroke Distinction designation from Accreditation Canada in January 2024, recognizing excellence in acute and inpatient rehabilitation stroke services. The Whitby clinic provides specialized outpatient care for stroke survivors, brain injury patients, and those with other neurological conditions across Durham Region.
