A daughter’s promise

Elaine Chan is honouring her mother’s memory by sharing her message of support and continuing her legacy of care this Giving Tuesday.

Under one roof

For Elaine Chan, long-time Markham resident, living across the street from Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH) means that some of her most defining life moments have happened under its roof.

Both of Elaine’s children were born at MSH, with one notable difference between the deliveries. Her daughter Hazel, now 13, was delivered before the hospital expanded its campus. When Elaine returned in 2023 to deliver her son Hunter, they were cared for in the updated The Stollery Family Centre for Childbirth & Children.

Elaine was immediately struck by the new facilities — and the realization that the space was made possible by generous donors. “When things do get revamped, or upgraded with more funds, or more personnel — whatever it is — there is clearly a difference,” says Elaine.

Over the years, Elaine has benefited from having MSH so close to home when her children needed timely treatment for non-critical illnesses. In 2023, when her mother Ginger needed urgent care, MSH took on an even bigger role in their lives.

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In good hands

In Fall 2023, Ginger was experiencing jaundice-like symptoms and went to MSH’s Emergency Department (ED) for answers. She underwent tests, including an endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) — a procedure that lets physicians take a better look at the digestive system. The ERCP showed a blockage in Ginger’s bile duct and a stent was put in to treat it.

Later that winter, the blockage persisted and Ginger returned to MSH where she was cared for again by Dr. Dennis Lim, Oak Valley Health gastroenterologist. “Dr. Lim was the one that said, it’s not confirmed, but I’m pretty sure from my experience that this is pancreatic cancer,” remembers Elaine.

This worrisome news was quickly followed by further tests including CT scans and an MRI at MSH, as well as consultations with a partnering hospital that confirmed Dr. Lim’s prognosis. Ginger had stage 2 pancreatic cancer that would need surgery and follow-up treatment. Amidst this difficult and overwhelming time, Elaine found comfort in the fact that her mother would be in good hands, receiving the chemotherapy she needed at MSH’s The Shakir Rehmatullah Cancer Centre.

I think it's important to know that whatever the outcome is, that journey makes a difference for the patient and the family.

Elaine Chan

A lifetime of giving

Elaine’s family immigrated from Hong Kong in 1989. Ginger, a single parent and an educator, worked several jobs while she completed her Early Childhood Educators accreditation. Looking back, Elaine deeply appreciates the sacrifices Ginger made to ensure that Elaine and her brother had the best childhood possible. “Her whole life was about educating and giving,” says Elaine fondly. “She worked in the toddler room and had that personality — always singing lots of songs, and dancing.”

Ginger applied her resilience and generous spirit to everything she did, including her journey at MSH’s Cancer Centre where she underwent six months of chemotherapy. She built strong bonds with the staff there and brought them gifts like red envelopes for the New Year and moon cakes for Mid-Autumn Festival. She celebrated the staff’s birthdays and danced with them when she rang the bell at the end of her treatment in Fall 2024. “She made friends with everybody in the Oncology Clinic… like everybody. We knew every nurse by name,” smiles Elaine.

During her follow-up care, Ginger received more challenging news. Her cancer had returned —and it had spread. Under the compassionate care of Dr. Sam Babak, Oak Valley Health oncologist, she pursued a different chemotherapy regimen and eventually had a drainage bag put in for her bile duct to ease her symptoms. Sadly, Ginger passed away in MSH’s Palliative Care Unit, surrounded by her family in July 2025.

“All the doctors really helped us navigate all our options and decisions. In our state of mind at that time, with so much fear and uncertainty, there was no way we could have kept moving ahead without their guidance,” says Elaine.

Ginger's message

Ginger’s wish was to share her story as a way to thank the many care teams who were there for her and her family. “She felt lucky, and it's very hard to feel lucky when you're in such an unfortunate situation,” reflects Elaine. “I think that in itself is really a powerful message.”

Elaine is honouring Ginger’s legacy of giving back by following in her footsteps. Elaine recently supported the hospital through WITH MSH (Women Inspired to Help MSH), and is celebrating Ginger’s memory this Giving Tuesday — which happens to fall on December 2, Ginger’s birthday.

Your gift this Giving Tuesday will support MSH Foundation’s Bear Necessities program, which delivers cuddly bears and cozy blankets to patients at MSH, while funding the equipment the hospital needs to provide the best care possible. This year, your donation will go three times as far, thanks to a generous Friend of MSH Foundation who is tripling all gifts up to $100,000. Deliver the gift of comfort today.