In 2023, her husband went to the emergency room with gallbladder pain. An ultrasound revealed gallstones, but also a mass on his kidney. The day after his surgery, a urologist came to meet with them.
The grim diagnosis was kidney cancer.
For Mélissa Bouchard-Viau, Hôpital Charles-Le Moyne is not just a healthcare facility. It’s a place that’s part of her history. She grew up nearby, in Brossard. She gave birth there to her only son, now 15.
Since then, the Hospital has remained a part of her landscape, a familiar landmark. Whenever she walked past it with her son, she would tell him:
“That’s where you were born.”
She had no idea that, a few years later, this Hospital would take on an even deeper significance in her life.
The speed of the response and the care they received left a deep impression on Mélissa. Since then, her husband’s follow-up tests have been reassuring. But the journey isn’t quite over yet.
And this wasn’t the only time Charles Le Moyne Hospital has been there for her family.
In April 2025, it was her son who needed the Hospital. Within minutes, he was evaluated in the emergency room. Nurses, a social worker, and child psychiatrists supported the family through this difficult time. Home follow-up care continued for several months. For Mélissa, this support made all the difference.
Then, more recently, her mother was diagnosed with terminal cancer. The team quickly found her a spot in palliative care, where she received exceptional care.
Three family members, three different experiences at the Hospital. And each time, Mélissa felt the same sense of support.
It’s my husband, my son, and then my mother. It couldn’t be closer to my heart.
A Cause Closer to Her Heart
In the past, Mélissa donated to a different cause. Cancer had affected her father. But her philanthropic commitment took on a new dimension thanks to Karen Baker, a colleague at Agropur. Mélissa discovered that Karen is actively involved with the Fondation Hôpital Charles-LeMoyne. Karen cycles for the Challenge: Let’s Ride Together Against Cancer. She is also a member of the Foundation’s board of directors.
Since then, Mélissa has been organizing fundraising activities at work with Karen. She helps raise awareness of the cause among her colleagues and friends.
In life, I only want to support one cause, for real. I’ve dedicated myself to the Hospital and its Foundation. I feel like it’s even more local, and it has an even greater impact.
She has become a monthly donor. Every month, she and her husband donate $25 to the Foundation. “We give each month because it’s the easiest way to budget!”
For Mélissa, the cause has become her own because the Hospital is part of her story, and that of her husband, her son, and her family.
“This cause is my own.”
And you, what story connects you to your Hospital?
