A father and daughter play tennis together on an outdoor court.

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.”

David White

Answers when she needed them most

Sara wasseen by Dr. Melissa Lui, Emergency Medicine Physician at MSH, who carefullylistened as Sara described her symptoms and completed a thorough examination.When Dr. Lui recognized the seriousness of the situation, she started Sara onmorphine to help manage the pain.

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

Theultrasound confirmed her diagnosis. Sara had three ovarian cysts, including oneso large it completely covered her ovary, making it impossible to tell whetherthe ovary had twisted.

The news wasoverwhelming and the situation required urgent surgery.

Sara wasmoved to a quiet room where she met gynaecologist Dr. Kersti Ranken for thefirst 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 possiblehands.”

They couldn't change what was happening, but they made sure we felt cared for. That's something I've never forgotten.

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.

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, right before Christmas.

“I remember the doctors being so kind to me and my younger cousin,” Sara recalls. “While my mom and aunt were focused on everything happening with my dad, they brought us into a private room and gave us Christmas presents. As a child, that meant so much.”

More than 15 years later, that moment has stayed with Sara.

This Father’s Day, Sara’s story is a reminder of the impact compassionate care can have on patients and families when they need it most.

Join us on Sunday, June 21 for the 4th annual Stouffville Main Street 5K at Stouffville Memorial Park. Whether you are celebrating a father or father figure, remembering a loved one, or giving back in gratitude, every step helps make a difference for patients at MSH.