In 2023, Mr. Richard Leclair was suffering from intense back pain that made it difficult for him to walk. Even worse, he had no choice but to sleep in a recliner, as the pain was unbearable whenever he layed down in his bed. On February 20th, 2024, a decisive event pushed him to seek medical attention.
It was a Tuesday that seemed perfectly ordinary. Mr. Leclair was at work when he collapsed to the ground. Following the fall, his boss asked him to go to the hospital. He complied and went to the emergency department at Hôpital de Saint-Eustache.
Just in time
Doctors discovered a tumor that had been slowly developing in Mr. Leclair’s spine for several years. This intramedullary schwannoma was detected just in time: it was compressing the spinal cord, and there was very little time left before it would reach its breaking point. A rupture of the spinal cord would have resulted in either death or complete paralysis.
Mr. Leclair underwent surgery at the Montreal Sacré-Cœur Hospital on February 26th, 2024. He recalls his state of mind when Dr. Mathieu Laroche, neurosurgeon, explained the procedure to him: “Honestly, I wasn’t afraid. I was eager—eager to be rid of that pain, of that inability to walk.”
Mr. Leclair spent four and a half hours under Dr. Laroche’s scalpel, who successfully removed the tumor. When he opened his eyes in intensive care, he burst out laughing, saying, “It’s done—my toes are moving!” However, this was only the beginning of a long recovery.
Recovering from a delicate operation
In the days following the surgery, Mr. Leclair could barely move, and the pain was almost unbearable. He remembers the attentive staff who supported him greatly during a time of deep vulnerability. He had to undergo many hours of physiotherapy to recover. Today, he has returned to a normal life—he walks, works, and plays sports, especially cycling, his favorite activity.
“I got a winning ticket in the lottery of life”
Mr. Leclair often reflects on how incredibly fortunate he was to encounter such skilled and compassionate doctors, nurses, and orderlies. They saved his life and made his hospital stay more bearable. This powerful experience awakened in him a desire to pay tribute to hospital staff who tirelessly care for people facing illness, just as he did.
“Even though the procedure was painful, I would do it again tomorrow—I feel that free. I want to thank all the staff at the Montreal Sacré-Coeur Hospital who inspire me to be the best version of myself every day. I don’t save lives—I’m a materials clerk at Patrick Morin—but I do my best to live up to all those people who took care of me,” Mr. Leclair said with gratitude.