Young woman with long dark hair standing inside Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital, looking thoughtfully into the distance. The softly lit hospital setting creates a calm and reflective atmosphere.

A night of fear, a lifetime of gratitude

After waking up in excruciating pain, Sara Marino’s frightening overnight emergency became a powerful reminder of the compassionate care families can count on at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH).

A sudden turn

Last November, Sara Marino went to bed with what she thought was a simple stomach ache. The 24-year-old assumed it had been caused by something she ate and hoped she would feel better by morning.

Instead, she woke up at 4 a.m. in unbearable pain. When it didn’t subside, Sara woke her mother.

“My mom thought it might be something serious since I’m not one to complain about pain,” Sara recalls. “It was time to go to Emergency.”

At MSH’s Emergency Department (ED), Sara was quickly triaged and given medication for nausea. As the pain intensified, she became overwhelmed. “By that point, I was screaming,” Sara says. “It felt like I was giving birth.”

In one of the scariest moments of her life, Sara remembers the nurses staying by her side and helping her feel less alone. “Thankfully, the nurses were with me,” she says. “They reassured me that everything was going to be okay.”

Answers when she needed them most

Sara was seen by Dr. Melissa Lui, Emergency Medicine Physician at MSH, who carefully listened as Sara described her symptoms and completed a thorough examination. When Dr. Lui recognized the seriousness of the situation, she started Sara on morphine to help manage the pain.

“Dr. Lui was amazing,” Sara says. “She thought I was suffering from ovarian cysts, maybe even a twisted ovary, and immediately sent me for an ultrasound.”

The ultrasound confirmed her diagnosis. Sara had three ovarian cysts, including one so large it completely covered her ovary, making it impossible to tell whether the ovary had twisted.

The news was overwhelming and the situation required urgent surgery.

Sara was moved to a quiet room where she met gynaecologist Dr. Kersti Ranken for the first time. “Dr. Ranken exuded confidence and energy that made me feel safe,” Sara says. “Even though I was terrified, I felt like I was in the best possible hands.”

It’s important to support our hospital — a place where miracles are performed every day.

Sara Marino

Compassion through every step

Dr. Ranken performed surgery later that evening. Although Sara’s ovary had not twisted, one of the cysts had ruptured, causing the severe pain she had experienced throughout the day.

After surgery, Sara recovered quickly and was able to return home later that night. “Other than a little discomfort, I felt fine after my surgery,” she says. “In total, I was in the hospital just over 12 hours.”

What stayed with Sara most was not only the speed of the care she received, but the compassion behind it. “From the ED to the operating room, the staff treated me like a friend or family member, not like just another patient,” she says.

During a moment filled with fear and uncertainty, Sara says the care teams at MSH made her feel safe, supported, and genuinely cared for.

Care families can count on

For Sara and her family, MSH has been there through many of life’s most meaningful moments.

Sara, her brother, and sister were all born at MSH and most recently, her niece was delivered there this past summer.

“When my sister found out she was pregnant, she knew right away she wanted to have her baby there,” Sara shares. “MSH has always been our go-to hospital.”

The health teams at MSH have been there for Sara’s family in difficult moments, too. Sara’s father was diagnosed with a rare cancer in 2008. He received chemotherapy treatment at MSH before passing away there a year later.

“Whether it’s treating cancer, delivering a baby, or performing a surgery like mine, it’s comforting to know MSH is here for us when something happens,” Sara says. “That’s why support for the hospital matters so much. It helps create a space where lives are both saved and welcomed.”

Support from the community through MSH Foundation helps fund essential equipment, technology, and advancements across the hospital, ensuring patients and families continue to receive exceptional care close to home, when they need it most.