The Fringe Festival Pushes Patient Story Into the Fray
The Toronto Fringe Festival is arguably the city’s largest theatre event. This summer from July 4-15, over 150 performances will be presented to an expected audience of 100,000. That’s a whopping 4%...
View ArticlePatient Stories at The Fringe
Two weeks ago we shared news on two patient storytelling events that will take place during this year’s Toronto Fringe Festival. After a more thorough review of the festival’s listings, we’re pleased...
View ArticleMichael Seres – The Man With Olympic Sized Guts
The morning after my first bowel resection over 21 years ago, I was lying in bed still woozy from anesthetic. A troop of white coated doctors entered the room and surrounded my bed. It was my surgical...
View ArticleTent Talk: Healing Through Theatre
Today at 5:00 PM we will present our Toronto Fringe Festival Tent Talk: Healing Through Theatre. All are welcome to attend. Our Executive Director Zal Press, will be joined by speakers Daniel Stolfi,...
View ArticlePatient Commando #TentTalk – Live Journal
“Healing Through Theatre” - July 10th, 5PM at The Toronto Fringe Festival Tent Talks Relevant Hashtags: #FringeTT, #TentTalk #FringeClub ♦♦♦ Pre Event ♦♦♦ 13:00 via @PatientCommando: Join us Today for...
View ArticleThe Waiting Room: Mitch’s View
By Mitch Houlahan The Waiting Room is an intimate exposure of the personal battles occurring within the walls of Highland County hospital, peering into the lives of people who often need public...
View ArticleDisability Horizons – A Dynamic Duo
If you love socialising, travel or adventure; then this is definitely for you! In November 2010, two disabled guys from London, on a roadtrip in California, dreamt up a huge project they wanted to...
View ArticleWhen Nurses Grieve
By Christine Jonas-Simpson June 27th, 2012 I watched the tears drop from my nurses’ eyes as they gently took my blood and when they hugged me goodbye at the end of their shifts. My sweet curly...
View ArticleSuddenly, Cancer is the funniest joke in NYC
So who says you can’t laugh at Cancer? This past week, the audio recording of Tig Notaro’s comedy stand-up routine about her breast cancer diagnosis last summer turned up on Louis CK’s site for a $5...
View ArticleA Picture of Health
In 2007 a team of photographers went across Canada to document the health care delivery experience of marginalized, remote and vulnerable populations. Their cameras uncovered the stories of “invisible...
View ArticleXX in Health – Canadian Women Changing Health
Our first annual list of Canadian Women Changing Healthcare brings the spotlight on women who are changing the face of healthcare yet don’t get the recognition CEO’s do. We’re doing this to support XX...
View ArticleCocaine Blues
One of my favourite early Bob Dylan songs was Cocaine Blues. I don’t know why the lyric “Cocaine all around my brain” has stuck with me for decades. But the accompanying lyric “This old cocaine ‘bout...
View ArticleBirth of a New Patient Movement
How do patient advocacy groups get started? What motivates people to get engaged and involved? How do they become enabled and empowered? A milestone event was held on July 20th, 2013 in Toronto to...
View ArticleA Patient Movement Finds Its Voice
Do you remember the last time you felt you weren’t being listened to? Remember how angry it made you feel? Now imagine that anger multiplied by 15. Back in October, we introduced you to a group of 15...
View ArticleWho’s important in my end-of-life plan?
Editor’s Note: This article was originally posted on BestEndings.com a website whose mission and mandate is to help navigate personal and medical decisions as life’s end nears. Founder, Kathy...
View ArticleOver 200 Artists tackle the Illness Experience
“Mira, Mira on the wall” was the refrain that came to mind when young Mira Berlin (MFA) presented her idea 3 years ago for an art show representing the personal illness experiences of artists. After...
View ArticleCanadian Women Changing Healthcare
I happened to catch an episode of the CNN series “The Sixties” which featured the rise of the feminist movement. It caught my immediate attention as we here at Patient Commando were hard at work...
View ArticleIt’s Time to Put the Patient in Queen’s Park
By: Zal Press and Dawn Richards September 28, 2014 As dedicated patient experts we welcome Ontario Premier Wynne’s Mandate Letter to Health Minister Eric Hoskins. We are encouraged that in an interview...
View ArticleAn Open Letter to Minister Lisa Raitt
Dear Minister Raitt, Please accept my applause and congratulations for the courageous and open conversation you had on Canada AM about the details of your health issues. Its estimated that as many as...
View ArticleTerry Pratchett: Shaking Hands With Death
Sir Terry Pratchett, the best sellling British fantasy writer who was only eclipsed by Harry Potter, died March 12 at his home at age 66. Pratchett suffered from a rare form of Alzheimer’s disease and...
View Article