Montreal’s Shriners Hospital for Children turns 100

As the Shriners Hospital marks a century of education, research and children’s care in Montreal, one former patient reflects on her health journey.

Healing is everything at the Shriners Hospital for Children – a place Natalie Cinman has known since birth.

“I had fractures throughout my body that had healed and refractured. And I had jaundice, and I was basically not thriving,” she says.

Cinman was diagnosed with osteogenesis imperfecta. The condition is more commonly known as brittle bone disease.

“They didn’t know what the outcome would be for me, but they said ‘if she does survive a couple days, there is a hospital,’” Cinman tells CTV.

As the Shriners Hospital marks a century of education, research and children’s care in Montreal, Cinman reflects on her health journey.

She recalls undergoing many treatments and surgeries, but she was lucky to be among the first to receive a new treatment at age 12: she was infused with medication to help improve her bone density.

“I became more independent, stronger, able to weight bear. Walking wasn’t such a physical therapy anymore, but more of just the day to day life,” Cinman says.

Today, she is proud to be what she calls the hospital’s original gangster patient ambassador. She’s a thriving 42 year-old and she’s inspiring younger patients.

Nine year-old Easton was diagnosed with the same condition and he’s suffered over 50 bone fractures.

“My rods are kind of bent right now. So, I got to get them fixed so I can walk,” he says.

Despite having metal rods inserted in his limbs to stabilize his bones, he says his team’s got it under control.

Androniki Tsoybariotis is the nurse manager of Easton’s unit. She also heads the departments of child life and school.

It’s thanks to her team that children like Easton get the proper care from start to finish without missing a beat.

“We take a lot of time in caring for the family and the patient,” including supporting parents with concerns on how to care for their child once they’re back home after surgery. Tsoybariotis explained.

“A child that is preschool age and a teenager does not require the same needs, does not need the same information, and will not have care provided to them in the same fashion,” she says.

As Chairman of the Board of Governors at Shriners Hospitals for Children Canada, Gary McKeown adds there’s a lot that sets Shriners apart.

“The evolution from 1925 to today in the new hospital, which is celebrating its 100th year anniversary, being in this facility - it’s not just about the patients or the healthcare. It’s about the volunteers. It’s about the donors over those years,” he says.

And those who’ve been touched by the Shriners hope to celebrate for many more years.