From Chicken Soup to Extraordinary Care: Moments That Remind Us What Matters Most.

A message from Lianne Laing,

President, Foundation, V.P. Philanthropy, UOHI

Heart Foundation,
Posted on October 13, 2026

Apparently, Tony and I decided to test the meaning of “in sickness and in health” this month. He had a hip replacement, and almost on cue, I came down with what we believe was COVID. In those first few days neither of us could really move. I had no energy to be a caregiver, no appetite to cook food, let alone leave the house to get some, and poor Tony was hobbling around trying to stay out of the way. We were quite the team. Thank goodness for Mom, who kept the matzah ball chicken soup coming.

I’ve always believed there’s healing in my mom’s soup, but I suspect the ingredient that matters most has never appeared in a recipe: the feeling of being cared for. Thanks, Mom.

It’s been an incredibly busy month for us at the Foundation. We have now wrapped “JUMP IN™ For Women’s Heart Health”, seeing close to a thousand people take on the 30-day movement challenge and continue the dialogue around women’s heart health.

A few weeks ago, Oprah Winfrey turned her attention to women and heart disease, discussing warning signs, heart disease in younger women, stress, menopause and cardiovascular health. This was also the topic of our fireside chat, bringing together our leading experts for a candid conversation as a wrap up to the month. A special thank you to Mercedes-Benz Downtown Ottawa for supporting the future of women’s heart health.

One of our panelists, Dr. Kerri Ann Mullen, Scientific Director, Prevention and Women’s Cardiovascular Health, had just flown back from New York City. She and Dr. Jodi Edwards represented Canada and the Canadian Women’s Heart Health Alliance at the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, at a roundtable on closing the gender health gap, where strategies from around the world were shared. The Foundation is proud to support this work.

Once again, a big thank you to all of our participants, sponsors and partners for making this month so unique and special. We had lots of new, creative and fun engagements from companies and teams and I loved following along on our social media channels.

And there was another moment this month that really stayed with me. Watching world-renowned cardiac surgeon Marc Ruel perform as a soloist with the Ottawa Symphony Orchestra. He was remarkable. To have the talent to perform at that level, while also being a leading cardiac surgeon, is difficult to put into words.

I said that evening that for all the brilliance demanded of a soloist, a concerto is never really about one person. It is a relationship between the soloist and the orchestra. It requires individual skill, but also listening, trust and precision.

In many ways, the same is true at the Heart Institute. Extraordinary individual talent matters enormously, but the truly remarkable things happen when exceptional people bring their gifts together in service of something greater than themselves.

It felt like a particularly beautiful way to celebrate 50 years of the Heart Institute.

CTV Ottawa recently shared a wonderful story about Dr. Ruel and his extraordinary talents, both in the operating room and at the piano. I think you’ll enjoy reading it here.

Keep an eye out for Dr. Ruel and other familiar faces on billboards and buses around Ottawa and along the 401. Our At The Heart campaign is now out in full force, and I’d love to know where you’re spotting them!

Also, this month, we recently celebrated the naming of the Wadhwani Family Cardiovascular Research Wing, honouring the legacy of Dr. Gopal Das, a physician whose remarkable journey was shaped by perseverance, education, compassion and service to others. His brother, Mukesh Wadhwani, is now carrying that legacy forward by supporting cardiovascular research at the Heart Institute. What makes this recognition particularly special to me is that every day, as our researchers and scientists head into their labs, they will pass Dr. Gopal Das’s plaque and its simple challenge: Study. Persevere. Discover. Serve. Four words that honour one extraordinary life while inspiring the people working toward the discoveries of tomorrow.

And since we are coming off the Thanksgiving weekend, I was grateful to be feeling a little more like myself and excited to have Andie back home for a quick visit. I loved the busy house: towels on the banisters, shoes strewn about, the kitchen island buzzing.

We had a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner with some of the cousins and boyfriends. The conversations around the table get livelier every year, and it’s a hoot.

The fall foliage has been incredible this year, with vibrant colors around the city and surrounding areas. I’m jealous of those of you who found hiking trails these past few weekends, and kudos if you found parking.

I hope everyone is settling into the fall routine, whatever yours looks like at this stage of life, whether that’s kids in classes, after school activities, bridge games or travel.

Wishing you good health, as always.

Much Love,
Lianne

Lianne