My journey toward making a meaningful change in Canadian healthcare begins in a very different world—technology. For 18 years, I lived in Singapore, helping to run the Asia-Pacific operations of American software companies. It was a fast-paced and exciting career that allowed me to work at the forefront of innovation and connect with diverse cultures. But in late 2016, my family and I joyfully returned to Canada—home—after so many years away. It was a moment of renewal, both personally and professionally, as I sought a new path, one that would allow me to make a meaningful difference.
In March 2017, I founded Stay at Home Nursing, a home care company. It was a completely different venture from my previous career, but it felt right. Home care—providing support for people to live with dignity and comfort in their own homes—was a cause that resonated deeply with me. I wanted to build something meaningful, something that could improve lives and make a difference in Canadian healthcare.
Building this company was far from easy. The market was fragmented, with many barriers to reaching private clients and significant challenges in securing public contracts. But we persevered, and by late 2019, Stay at Home Nursing was beginning to grow.
Then, life threw us a curveball. In December 2019, my partner Olga was diagnosed with a multifocal liposarcoma. The prognosis was bleak, and she was given just six months to live. Our lives were upended, but we were determined to fight.
The team at Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, led by the incredible Dr. Gupta, fought alongside us, helping us to gain approval for an experimental CDK inhibitor drug. Their tireless dedication, coupled with innovative treatment approaches, gave us three and a half precious years together.
Those years were a rollercoaster of hope and hardship. In 2022, we found ourselves in and out of emergency departments almost every few weeks. The longest wait we endured was 72 hours. Through it all, I witnessed the extraordinary commitment of healthcare professionals who worked tirelessly within an overburdened system. But I also saw firsthand the cracks in that system—the silos, the inefficiencies, and the barriers to integrated care—all magnified by the pressures of COVID-19.
2023 was particularly difficult. Olga was admitted to the hospital in early March, and I stayed by her side day and night, first at Toronto General and then at Mount Sinai. The stress of this period took a toll on me, and in April, I was admitted to Toronto General for emergency abdominal surgery.
During this time, I was blessed to have the support of my team at Stay at Home Nursing—led and guided in particular by Kinzi Lehigh and Jenny Clack. Their support during this time in keeping the company running smoothly—and growing—is something I will never forget and never be able to truly repay.
As soon as I could, I returned to Olga’s side. She passed away on July 23, 2023, just a few weeks after her 50th birthday. I miss her deeply every day.
In August, I returned to work with a deep sense of purpose. Our healthcare system needed to change in a radical way. Our team began crafting the vision of Comprehensive Healthcare at Home, imagining a redefinition of healthcare to address the challenges of today and those to come. Over the past year, this vision has evolved into the launch of CHAH AI Care and a revolutionary plan to redefine healthcare for clients and for the PSWs and nurses providing this care.
My story is just one among many. Everyone has their own challenges, their own motivations for change. These stories are powerful, and they deserve to be heard. We are at a pivotal moment, a time when real change can happen. But it takes all of us. Together, our voices can build the momentum needed to make home care the foundation of healthcare.
I’m asking you to share your story. Why is home care important to you? What has your experience been? Send your stories to CHAH_Stories@Stayathomenursing.com. With your permission, we will assemble these stories into a book called “Motivations,” which will be made available free of charge to anyone who cares about making home care the foundation of healthcare.
This is our moment. Let’s come together, share our stories, and inspire the change we all know is possible. Together, we can make comprehensive healthcare at home a reality.
