A physician speaks with a patient and his adult daughter during a medical consultation in a hospital exam room, discussing care and treatment options.

How one doctor’s foresight saved Steven Fenster’s life

Donor contributions help fund life-saving medical equipment and attract top talent

Steven Fenster was at work when he suddenly experienced a terrible, shooting pain that moved from his lower abdomen into his lower back. “It was just unbearable, whether I was standing, sitting, or lying down,” he said. He phoned his wife, Ingrid, in tears.

Ingrid picked him up from the office where he worked as an accountant for a non-profit and drove straight to the Emergency Department (ED) at Oak Valley Health’s Markham Stouffville Hospital (MSH). That’s where he met emergency physician Dr. Elizabeth Poon and was diagnosed with kidney stones.

While kidney stones aren’t unusual, Dr. Poon was thorough in her review of Steven’s case. “Dr. Poon could have sent me home with treatment. Instead, she went a step further, ordering an ultrasound of my bladder,” said Steven. “That extra step saved my life and I’m forever indebted to her.”

The ultrasound came back showing a small white patch in the middle of the bladder — enough of an anomaly to refer Steven for a cystoscopy, a procedure in which a scope is inserted in the urethra to diagnose and treat conditions of the bladder.

“ED is the first stop,” said Dr. Poon. “What we do next is highly reliant on our team members. It’s a reflection of Oak Valley Health as a whole, as a community — this is the hospital where we all work as a team so that our patients flow through from ED all the way to the end of their care.”

David White

Two weeks later, Steven had an appointment with Dr. Adeel Sheikh, a urologist at MSH, for a cystoscopy. He’ll never forget looking at the screen and seeing a tiny mass with a cauliflower-like appearance in his bladder.

“That shouldn’t be there,” Dr. Sheikh told him. “It’s a tumour and it has to come out.” Everything else that day was a blur. At that moment, Steven knew he had cancer — and it felt like a death sentence. He thought of his family and saw his life flash before his eyes.

Steven and Ingrid picked up their 15-year-old daughter Kira from school that day. Kira was in grade nine at the time and usually walked home, so she knew something was wrong. “That’s when they told me my dad had bladder cancer. I was shocked, overwhelmed, and very scared,” she said.

“My dad is, and always will be, a huge role model for me. I hoped with all my heart that he would get through this.”

At MSH, I saw the impact doctors can have on their patients and it was like a lightbulb went on.

Kira Fenster

Two weeks later, Steven had surgery. Dr. Sheikh once again used a cystoscope, however this time he used it to remove the tumour. He then inserted chemotherapy medication directly to the area to prevent the tumour from growing back.

“I woke up to the news that the procedure was a complete success,” said Steven. “Thanks to Dr. Poon’s foresight, my cancer was caught early. My chances for a complete recovery were excellent. I’m so grateful to Dr. Poon for going that extra mile in the ED that day. She is my absolute hero.”

The experience also had a profound impact on his daughter, who sat by his bedside at MSH while he recovered. “I loved being in the hospital environment, watching the staff take such phenomenal care of my dad,” said Kira. “I helped as much as I could, telling the nurses when dad’s IV bag was empty.”

That’s when she realized what she wanted to do with the rest of her life. “I knew, without a doubt, that I also wanted to save lives and care for my own patients, giving them more life moments to spend with their family,” she said.

After his recovery, Steven sent a letter to Dr. Poon thanking her for saving his life.

“It’s not just our job, but it’s a calling for most of us,” said Dr. Poon of her work in the ED. “When we hear that patients are doing well, it reminds us why we come and do the long night shifts. It’s a lovely reminder.”

Fast forward two years later, and Dr. Poon treated Steven in the ED once again — this time for a broken wrist. “She remembered me and told me she was so moved by my letter she has it pinned up in her office,” said Steven. “It was another unforgettable moment I experienced at MSH.”

Steven is now eight years cancer-free and Kira is actively applying to medical schools.

“With every celebration, I think about how lucky I am to be here — thanks to Dr. Poon, Dr. Sheikh, and every person who cared for me at MSH,” said Steven. “I also think about MSH’s ongoing commitment to invest in new equipment and technology so they can continue to provide us with exceptional care close to home.”

Donor support helps to fund vital equipment like ultrasound machines and scopes — equipment that helped Dr. Poon and Dr. Sheikh diagnose and treat Steven’s cancer in the earliest stages. It also supports MSH’s award-winning doctors and helps to attract new talent.

That support is becoming even more important as the community continues to grow. By 2030, MSH will serve a population of close to 500,000, which could mean facilitating up to 115,000 patient visits in its ED annually and seeing more than double the volume in cancer patients, surgeries and mental health needs.

Although the government funds many aspects of the health care experience, technology advancements, equipment replacements, and other upgrades are largely enabled by community donations.

This holiday season, MSH Foundation is asking for community contributions to support the purchase of equipment like an MRI breast coil, EMG system, medication refrigerators, and X-ray system.

As part of MSH’s Bear Necessities program, every purchase of a teddy bear, newborn sleep sack, or plush blanket will help fund essential equipment not covered by government funding. These can be gifted to a loved one or donated to a patient to make their stay more comfortable.

“I’ll always be grateful for the thorough, life-saving care my dad received at MSH, our community hospital,” said Kira. And she’s grateful to donors, too. “Without their support, the hospital staff wouldn’t have the resources they need to deliver life-saving care to people like my dad.”

Give today for the 2025 holiday season.