Sharon DiPasquale
In November 2024, Sharon DiPasquale visited her family doctor due to a persistent cough and shortness of breath she developed after a COVID-19 infection. She thought they were lingering symptoms but wanted to be sure.
After an initial check-up, Sharon’s doctor sent her for an echocardiogram—an ultrasound of the heart—to rule out cardiac-related causes.
Her diagnosis was a shock: Sharon had a tumour on the right side of her heart. Although the tumour was not cancerous, open-heart surgery was required to remove it.
“I drove home feeling like a deer caught in headlights,” Sharon says.
Sharon was immediately referred to the cardiology team at St. Michael’s Hospital, where it was discovered that, in addition to the tumour, one of her arteries was 80% blocked. At high risk of stroke or heart attack, she was scheduled for surgery in January 2025.
“The team was fantastic and kept my kids updated the whole time,” Sharon says. “They removed the tumour and fixed the blocked artery, and my heart is healthy again. The risk of the tumour returning is extremely low.”
Sharon recovered in the hospital for five days following her surgery and says the care she received was exceptional.
“The nurses and doctors were constantly checking on me, she says. “I felt so cared for.”
Once, when Sharon felt dizzy—a side effect of medication—she fell while heading to the washroom. Her team immediately conducted a series of cardiac tests to rule out complications from her surgery and assigned a nurse to stay in her room overnight.
“I don’t think that level of care happens everywhere,” Sharon says. “They treated me like a human being, which made all the difference.”
Sharon is grateful to St. Michael’s and believes everyone should support the hospital in any way they can: “If you want to support a hospital that truly provides exceptional care, St. Mike’s is it.”
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