April 10, 2026
Running in Gratitude for Life‑Saving Care at St. Joe’s
Sahar Monzavi‑Bacon is no stranger to the exceptional care provided at St. Joe’s. Over the years, she has walked through the Hospital’s doors for treatment related to polycystic kidney disease and cystinuria, and for care following a serious accident that left her with a broken pelvis and a cartilage tear in her left hip.
But in 2019, at just 32 years old, Sahar faced the most frightening health crisis of her life. A severe pulmonary embolism and deep vein thrombosis triggered multiple cardiac arrests that nearly ended her young life. Her care journey took her through the Intensive Care Unit, Cardiac Care Unit, Clinical Teaching Unit, and later to the Thrombosis Clinic for outpatient follow‑up.
“It was the scariest time of my life,” Sahar recalls. “But my treatment and care at St. Joe’s were always top‑notch. They brought me back from the brink. I knew I needed to give back and help influence patient care at St. Joe’s.”
Now fully recovered, Sahar is doing exactly that. She has joined the Joint Patient & Family Advisory Council (JPFAC) at St. Joe’s, where she uses her lived experience to advocate for programs and services that strengthen the patient and family experience.
She’s also taking her gratitude to the pavement. This year, Sahar has formed a team for the Around the Bay Road Race, made up of PFAC members, Sahar’s husband Ryan and her sister Shabi. Together, they have already raised more than $3,500 to support urgently needed healthcare equipment at St. Joe’s. Equipment often isn’t something that’s covered by provincial operating funds and is only made possible through community donations and funds raised through events like the Bay Race.
“I’m both excited and nervous about running this year,” says Sahar, who is tackling her first-ever 10K. “But this is a chance to share my story and show my gratitude to the hospital that has given me everything. It’s because of their skill and unstoppable compassion that I’m still here today.”
There’s still time to support this year’s race. Consider pledging to Team St. Joe’s Joint Patient & Family Advisory Council or making a donation to St. Joe’s Foundation.