At 20 years old, Venitta Outar was in her second year at Queen's University when her life changed almost overnight.
Shortly after having her wisdom teeth removed, Venitta knew something wasn't right. Her body wasn't healing, unexplained bruises appeared on her legs, and she couldn't keep down food or medication. Within just three weeks, she had become extremely sick. Blood tests revealed that both her kidneys were failing and that she had acute lymphoblastic leukemia, a type of blood cancer.
Venitta was transferred to Princess Margaret Cancer Centre during a snowstorm and immediately began treatment. Her journey started with dialysis, followed by two and a half years of chemotherapy.
Everything she knew was suddenly put on hold. She stopped attending school, working and dancing, something she had loved for 12 years. Treatment also changed how she saw herself. "Losing my hair was very difficult for me," she says. "I felt like I lost my identity."
But at The Princess Margaret, Venitta found a team that cared for her as a person, not just a patient. Her oncologist, Dr. Aniket Bankar, took the time to ask about her interests, her studies and the life she hoped to return to.
"It was patient-centred care for sure," Venitta says. "He didn't just ask me how my treatment was going. He asked me how my day was, how school was going and about the things I wanted to get back to in life."
Her nurses offered that same compassion. They made space for her family to stay by her side and supported Venitta through deeply personal moments. That care helped her feel less alone during the most difficult time of her life.
Even while receiving chemotherapy, Venitta returned to university. Every three weeks, she travelled from Kingston to Toronto for treatment because she wanted to remain with the team she trusted.
"I felt like I had already done so much at The Princess Margaret," she says. "They knew me really well, and I wanted to finish my treatment with them."
Today, Venitta is moving forward with strength and gratitude. She and her family donated a Bell of Hope so patients could celebrate important milestones alongside the care teams who supported them. She also wants others to understand how donor support helps fund the research, treatment, and breakthroughs that save lives.
"People always think somebody else will donate. But every gift matters. It helps give more patients access to exceptional care and the chance to ring that bell."
___Venitta Outar
Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Survivor