Patient Stories - Belinda Blades

Cardiac rehabilitation saves life. Just ask Belinda Blades. 

The 44-year-old financial services executive had a great career and an active, healthy life when she discovered that heart disease can affect anyone. Steadfast about her fitness and quality of her diet, she ate well and exercised regularly with a personal trainer. She even ran in half marathons.

It was while on vacation in Kananaskis, Alberta when she felt a growing discomfort and pressure in her chest. Dismissing it initially as indigestion or a pulled muscle from one of her exercises, she waited a full day before visiting a local hospital where, to her surprise, she was told she had had a heart attack.

In an instant, heart disease had become her disease. Yet, as a strong, independent woman, she decided to meet this challenge head on. She’s now a graduate of Toronto Rehab’s cardiac rehab program, her confidence and health reconstituted.

“When I found out I had a heart attack, I was very anxious and thought, ‘Wasn’t I too young for heart disease? Have I lost my independence?’ Toronto Rehab showed me that I can live life just as fully as before. For 10 months I followed a regimen of weekly exercise under the watchful eye of cardiac specialists and attended education sessions. I learned how to help my heart repair the damage done by the heart attack.

Toronto Rehab gave me a second chance at a full life. Today, my heart is stronger than it ever was and I continue to exercise and eat well. I’m even preparing for my next half-marathon. The strong, independent woman is back!”

Belinda’s story is just one of the thousands we hear from patients at Toronto Rehab’s seven programs each year. Stories of how rehabilitation saves life – quality of life, confidence, ability and vitality. These stories simply wouldn’t be possible without donations from people like you. 

We believe, as our patients like Belinda does, that rehabilitation saves life. But we need your help to do it.

One in two of us will be touched by disability at some point in our lives. And as our population ages – and as more and more people experience heart disease, stroke or age-related health conditions – rehabilitation is fast becoming one of the most important health services in our community.

Please help rehabilitation save life by making a donation to Toronto Rehab today to support people in overcoming the challenges of disabling injury and illness such as heart disease, stroke, brain injury, spinal cord injury, cancer, Alzheimer’s and other forms of chronic disease, injuries and age-related conditions.

Your donation today will help ensure that our patients have the best equipment and facilities for their rehabilitation and prevention care. Your gift will also help support the ongoing growth and development of our research program which is focused on finding new, better ways to help people overcome disability.

Belinda is one of several patients who are sharing their stories in our public awareness campaign that shows how rehabilitation saves life.