Siena McLaven
Born two months premature along with her twin sister, Siena McLaven, now 23 years old, has struggled with multiple chronic illnesses her entire life.
Throughout her childhood and early teen years, Siena was a regular patient at a major pediatric hospital in downtown Toronto. But as she approached age 18, it came time for her to transition to adult care—a major change that happened to coincide with the COVID-19 pandemic.
The majority of her care was transferred to St. Michael’s Hospital.
“It was overwhelming,” she says now. “I had to just get up and leave everything I’d known.”
But the moment she walked in the main entrance of the hospital for her first appointment, she knew everything would be okay.
“I went in and I knew it felt right,” she says. “The vibes were amazing. It’s such a welcoming environment; I was greeted at the door and shown exactly where to go.”
Over the past few years, Siena says that every care experience she’s had at St. Michael’s has been nothing short of exceptional.
Living with a wide range of conditions—from endometriosis to kidney stones, ocular migraines to hyperparathyroidism and more—means Siena has had to visit many different clinics at St. Michael’s.
She’s even undergone six different surgeries over the past few years—the first of which took place at the height of COVID-19.
“It was a very nerve-wracking experience, especially being so young,” she says. “No one could be there with me because of pandemic restrictions, so I had to say goodbye to my parents at the door and go in by myself. But everyone was amazing; the entire team treated me so well, and with so much respect.”
Following her surgery, Siena had to be admitted overnight.
“I was terrified,” she recalls. “But the nurses were incredible. They made me laugh and made it feel like home when my parents couldn’t be there with me.”
Inspired by her experiences, Siena plans to become a psychotherapist specializing in supporting people living with chronic illnesses. She’s currently working towards a master’s degree in counselling psychology while juggling her many appointments at St. Michael’s.
She also has a message for anyone considering a donation to the hospital.
“The healthcare system is daunting, and you want to have a place like St. Michael’s that feels like a community. You want to feel you can trust your professionals because your care is in their hands. Supporting St. Michael’s will allow this amazing work to continue.”
To support patients like Siena, click here.
Siena’s Health Journey Tips:
- Focus on the positives
- Do things for YOU
- Journalling is a really good outlet
- Create a music playlist that inspires you
- Get outside and enjoy some fresh air
- Read a good book
- Colouring is a fun stress reducing activity
- Try taking yourself on a date! (I went out for lunch the other day alone! Yes it was daunting but was so much fun.)
Learn more about Siena’s health journey by visiting her Instagram account, @sienahealthstory.
Donate to St. Michael's Hospital Foundation.
