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My Crystal Ball
My son Aaron is 18 years old. He imbibes in a beer at the pub where it is legal and is scrupulous about saving money to buy the latest...

Sue Robins
Jun 23, 20214 min read


RIP Patient Engagement
My son had his second COVID shot yesterday. I know that I am supposed to be thankful for every crumb thrown to my disabled child. I am...

Sue Robins
Jun 11, 20214 min read


Our Collective Trauma
Four years ago today I was in the middle of cancer treatment. I never got over it. I never went back to normal. It was not a gift. In...

Sue Robins
May 28, 20211 min read


Do You Care About Disabled People Or Not?
I was recently on a panel for the Canadian Association for Health Services Policy and Research. The topic was an important one:...

Sue Robins
May 24, 20213 min read


We Are All Perfectly Fine
“Please look after yourself. It is ok to have a good life.” As a nursing school drop-out who eventually was granted an English degree in...

Sue Robins
May 19, 20212 min read


Mary Morgan's Obituary
My friend Mary Morgan died on April 13, 2021. Before she died, she lived. She definitely lived - a rich and bold life. She was loved by...

Sue Robins
May 3, 20213 min read


The Vaccine Roll-Out Gong Show
Canada’s slow and painful vaccine roll-out is not surprising to anyone who has been immersed in health care in this country as a patient,...

Sue Robins
Apr 23, 20216 min read


Grace for the Storytellers
It is not secret that I believe in the power of storytelling in health care. I have been coaching patients, families and staff to craft...

Sue Robins
Apr 17, 20214 min read


There Was Something About Mary
My dear friend Mary died yesterday. She had a MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) appointment and now she is gone. I met Mary at a...

Sue Robins
Apr 14, 20213 min read


Big Hearted in a Pandemic
This pandemic has deeply affected those with Big Hearts. I’m struggling to write coherently in the midst of this crisis. I fear for my...

Sue Robins
Apr 7, 20213 min read


Our Joy Today
My (former) little baby boy turns 18 years old today. I am not going to give a commentary about Down syndrome or the pandemic. We are...

Sue Robins
Mar 30, 20211 min read


The Loss This Past Year
I have been attending various caregiver support groups to try to make sense of what’s happened this past year. Talking through my story...

Sue Robins
Mar 19, 20211 min read


Birds Art Life
It has been four years since my cancer diagnosis. In 2019 I published Bird's Eye View, my book about my cancer patient experience (among...

Sue Robins
Mar 15, 20215 min read


Thirteen Ways to Be a Patient Ally
A while back, I was at a follow-up cancer appointment talking to an oncology resident in the clinic room. We were chatting about the...

Sue Robins
Mar 9, 20214 min read


A Day In The Pandemic Life, Month 11
Our days revolve around my husband’s work-at-home schedule and our new pandemic puppy’s need to pee or poop. Mike (the husband)...

Sue Robins
Feb 8, 20218 min read


Everybody Grows Up
Last week, Aaron and I were asked to present a plenary talk to the Children's Healthcare Canada's Transitions to Adulthood Pop-Up event. ...

Sue Robins
Jan 31, 20214 min read


Telling Your Truth
When my son Aaron was born 17 years ago with Down syndrome, I was dumped head-first into an ocean of advocacy. This was an extremely...

Sue Robins
Jan 20, 20213 min read


Nobody Is OK
My jaw locked a year ago. This is called TMJ disorder. Last February, just before the pandemic, I went to the doctor and then got bumped...

Sue Robins
Jan 13, 20215 min read
The Government is Not My Friend
The clarity came On a walk to the statue Of Terry Fox. Someone wrapped a scarf Around Terry’s neck Because it is cold. Because he was...

Sue Robins
Jan 4, 20211 min read


Do Unto Others: A Story About Working Together
There is always a story behind a story. Here is how I found myself as the first non-health professional Guest Editor of a prestigious...

Sue Robins
Dec 15, 20203 min read
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