Liora Ministry 樂悠雅

08/01/2026

Why do some patients experience meaningful improvement after surgery for lumbar spinal stenosis while others do not?

Researchers at UHN's Schroeder Arthritis Institute found that patients with more extensive disc degeneration in the lower spine were less likely to experience improvements in disability after surgery. The study also showed that patients with osteoarthritis symptoms in joints beyond the spine had poorer outcomes.

These findings suggest that assessing a patient's overall osteoarthritis burden—not just the surgical site—could help clinicians better predict recovery, support shared decision-making, and develop more personalized treatment and rehabilitation plans.

Read more here ➡️ https://www.uhnresearch.ca/news/7-31-2026/understanding-spine-surgery-outcomes

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First author: Dr. Raja Rampersaud
Senior author: Dr. Anthony Perruccio


University Health Network | Arthritis Society Canada | UHN Foundation

07/30/2026

07/30/2026

Did you know families can self-refer their preschool-aged children to Child Development Programs for support with speech, language, hearing, or vision concerns?

Administered by Oak Valley Health, Child Development Programs helps children and families across York Region through three specialized programs, including the York Region Preschool Speech and Language Program.

Meet Osy Mendelson, a Speech Language Pathologist who has spent 25 years supporting children and their families through assessment, therapy, education, and coaching. Her compassionate, family-centred approach helps children build communication skills and confidence during their early years.

Read Osy's story and learn more about the impact of Child Development Programs. ⬇️

07/29/2026

07/29/2026

When your loved one is being discharged from the hospital, there can be a lot to manage at once—work, transportation, medications, follow-up appointments, and instructions that may not be easy to understand.

You may be relieved they are going home, but also wondering:

Did I understand everything? Is anything still missing? What happens next?

In The Bridge #7, we share three practical questions to ask before leaving the hospital so you can better understand the discharge plan and what your family needs to do next.

This video may be especially helpful for busy professionals caring for aging parents or loved ones while balancing work, children, and other responsibilities.

Liora Ministry™ provides nurse-led support to help families in the Greater Toronto Area understand medical information, prepare for appointments, and navigate what comes next.

Please share this with someone who may be supporting a loved one after a hospital stay.

07/28/2026

07/27/2026

❤️🥹 Sam Berns knew his life might be shorter than most.
So instead of focusing on everything he could not do...
He built his life around everything that made him happy.
Sam was born in Massachusetts in 1996 with Progeria, an extremely rare genetic condition that causes children to experience rapid aging and serious cardiovascular problems at a very young age. He was diagnosed when he was only 22 months old.
Doctors could explain the difficulties ahead.
But Sam refused to let a diagnosis become his entire identity.
He attended school, spent time with friends and dreamed of joining his high school marching band. Because the equipment was too heavy for his body, a special lightweight drum was designed so he could perform alongside the other students.
And he did. 🥁❤️
In 2013, Sam stood on a TEDx stage and shared his philosophy for a happy life.
He spoke about surrounding yourself with people who support you, continuing to move forward and refusing to waste your energy on things you cannot change.
His message was not coming from a motivational book.
It came from a teenager living every day with a condition that placed enormous limits on his body, but not on his ambitions. 🥹
The talk reached millions of people around the world and became one of TED’s most watched presentations. That same year, the documentary Life According to Sam shared his life and his family’s fight to advance Progeria research.
Sam died in January 2014 at only 17 years old.
But his influence did not end there.
The Progeria Research Foundation, created by his family after his diagnosis, helped drive the discovery of the gene responsible for the condition, organize clinical trials and support the development of lonafarnib, the first approved treatment for Progeria. It is not yet a cure, but it has helped children live longer. ❤️
Sam never pretended that life was easy.
He simply believed that hardship did not have to erase happiness.
His body aged too quickly...
But the wisdom he left behind continues to outlive him.
If you knew your time might be shorter than most, would you spend it grieving what you could not do or building your life around everything you still could?

07/10/2026

𝗧𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 💪

Exercise isn’t just great for your physical health – it can also have a powerful impact on your mental health. When you exercise, your body releases endorphins and other “feel-good” chemicals that boost your mood and reduce negative feelings, like pain.

You don’t need a gym or long workout. Just spending some time on an activity you enjoy – like dancing, walking, biking or stretching – can make a difference.

𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝘁𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗸𝗲 𝗶𝘁 𝗲𝗮𝘀𝘆 𝘁𝗼 𝗴𝗲𝘁 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱:

🌱 start small – even just a few minutes a day
🎯 focus on realistic goals to help you stay consistent
💃 prioritize activities that make you feel good
🥳 celebrate small wins

𝗠𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗵𝗲𝗮𝗹𝘁𝗵 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗹-𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗽 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱 𝗺𝗮𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 🤍