Philomena Oseahweke was working tirelessly as a personal support worker when a stroke in 2022 suddenly and dramatically altered the course of her life.
"I came back home from my shift, ate and laid down to rest," recalls Philomena, who immigrated to Canada from Nigeria in 2019. "By the time I woke up the next morning, I couldn't move.
"That was it. It was very devastating. I had no family here. I was all alone."
However, as a patient at UHN's Toronto Rehab — initial treatment at University Centre, then seven months at Bickle Centre — Philomena not only learned to navigate in a wheelchair and transition to living back at home, but she found a new family and sense of purpose along the way.
"UHN gave me back my life," she says. "Beyond just the medical care, I was supported emotionally, psychologically and spiritually. Everything was taken care of."
"I had never experienced that kind of care anywhere."
To honour the care she received, Philomena now regularly returns to Bickle Centre — this time not as a patient but as a UHN Volunteer.
"I came back to volunteer at Bickle Centre because I wanted to give a little out of the so much I received," she says. "Why would I want to leave my family?
"To be able to come back here and say I'm part of this family is a huge honour for me."
April 27 to May 3, 2025, is National Volunteer Week in Canada. It's a time to celebrate and thank the millions of people across the country who support organizations and programs.
At UHN, nearly 600 volunteers from a wide range of backgrounds are involved in engaging and meaningful roles across all hospital sites. Their tasks involve patient navigation, administrative tasks, patient and clinic support, therapy services and patient wellness programs.
"Volunteers are important members of TeamUHN," says Kyla Kumar, UHN's Vice President of Communications & Brand Strategy.
"They are embedded in every one of our programs, providing important services and are often among the first faces patients see when they come into one of our hospitals."
"We are grateful for the work they do every day."
For Philomena, volunteering at Bickle Centre isn't just a role — it's a calling. And, for anyone considering getting involved, she offers well-considered advice.
"It's not about doing something big," she says. "It's about doing something from the heart.
"Even a smile is a gift."
Volunteering with Bickle Centre's patient wellness team twice a week, Philomena spends her days uplifting others. Whether it's playing a game, offering a listening ear or simply sharing her story, she brings light and reassurance to patients navigating the same uncertainty she once faced.
More than just a volunteer with a listening ear, Philomena is happy to be a testament and inspiration as someone who's "been there."
"There's a saying, 'He who feels it, knows it.' I've been there. I know what it's like. That's what makes me able to truly connect with other patients," she shares. "And each time I speak to someone going through a hard time, I reflect on my own journey and speak from my experience."
Those who work closely with Philomena also recognize the impact of her shared experience on patients.
"Philomena's presence not only offers hope and a glimpse of what's possible beyond treatment, but it also allows her to express deeply personal empathy that only lived experience can bring," says Danielle Lenz-Kovac, UHN's Patient Wellness Partner.
"Philomena offers something truly unique and irreplaceable within our team. Her time at Toronto Rehab has shown our patients and staff how important and impactful giving back to our communities, and those who have supported us through difficult times, can be.
"Bickle wouldn't be the Bickle we know without volunteers like Philomena."
This love for helping others is something Philomena has carried her whole life.
"Being able to help someone — even with just a smile or a cup of coffee — makes me feel more fulfilled than I can explain. It gives me a reason to live," she says. "It's a joy. I'm sure beyond me helping others, being a volunteer helps me a lot."
Philomena believes that personality, passion and perspective are key components in finding joy through service. She emphasizes that people may not always realize how meaningful giving back can be until they try.
"Life is all about giving," she says. "It's not just about what you can get.
"And it's more blessed to give than to receive. When you give, you actually receive so much more joy in return."
