On August 23, 2017, Celine Dion was received by patients and staff at CHU Sainte-Justine.
As a lifetime patron of CHU Sainte-Justine, Céline Dion was involved in two major fundraising campaigns for the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation: “Growing Up Healthy” in 2002 and “Healing More, Healing Better,” which is still under way. The money raised was used to build the Research Centre and the Specialized Units Building, which Céline Dion got to visit today for the very first time. Patients, their families and staff from the intensive care, neonatal and paediatric surgery units welcomed her with open arms and gave her a tour of these new facilities, where care innovation and humanization are in perfect harmony. Céline Dion got to meet five-year-old Maélie, who has been living with a Berlin heart for the last five months as she waits for a heart transplant; three-week-old twins Stella and Naomie, who were born at 33 weeks; one-week-old Olivia, who was born at 24 weeks; and 11-year-old Malik, who is suffering from a mutation in the MUNC gene and malabsorption, a rare condition of the digestive system.
“Nobody really wants to come to the hospital, but if we are face with an unexpected adversity, there’s no better place to be than Sainte-Justine”, said Céline Dion.
“We take great pride in having Céline Dion as our lifetime patron. Her outstanding generosity touches everyone in the Sainte-Justine extended family. Through her role and desire to see more children heal better, she is an inspiration to all of our teams to go the extra mile,” said Maud Cohen, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CHU Sainte-Justine Foundation. “She contributes to the achievement of our constant and complete mission to excel and innovate in order to transform our patients' lives,” she concluded, thanking Céline Dion for her presence and her honourable engagement to CHU Sainte-Justine.
“We were very pleased to welcome Céline Dion, who embodies the very essence of our establishment, “the house of life,” where humanity and innovation are at the service of mothers and children in Québec,” said Dr. Fabrice Brunet, President and Chief Executive Officer of CHU Sainte-Justine.
René Angélil was also a lifetime patron. As such, the couple wanted to spread hope to mothers and children in Québec. Céline Dion is committed to continuing with this mission.