As of March 21, 2025, MGH鈥檚 main entrance on Coxwell Avenue is closed as the next phase of our redevelopment project begins. Patients and visitors can use the new temporary main entrance on Sammon Avenue between Coxwell Avenue and Knight Street. View our campus map.
On a chilly December day, Richelle Johnston and her family delivered a truckload of love to children at Michael 九游体育 (MGH). Loaded into a pickup truck and an SUV were nearly 300 Love Boxes bursting with toys and other comforting items for children in the hospital.
To fill the Love Boxes Richelle reached out to East Toronto 鈥� Your Modern Village (ETYMV), a 5,000-member Facebook parenting group well known for rallying support around those in the community who need it most.
The importance of helping others is something Richelle is passionate about teaching her kids. 鈥淭hat's why I joined Love Boxes,鈥� she says. 鈥淲e all want to teach our kids about giving. At a time of year when it's all about what they're going to get at Christmas, it's a good opportunity for them to learn that not everybody gets, not everybody is as lucky as they are.鈥�
So when she learned about the Love Boxes, she jumped at the opportunity to bring the initiative 鈥� which has now spread to nine hospitals across the GTA 鈥� to her community hospital.
Love Boxes are part of the Super Sophia Project, started by Pickering resident Nicolle Georgiev as a way to cope when her daughter, Sophia, now seven, was fighting childhood leukemia. Nicolle began making 鈥淪uper Sophia鈥� scrubs for kids fighting cancer 鈥� and the project grew to involve many more ways to bring sick children comfort, including Love Boxes.
Nicolle was 鈥渟o happy鈥� when she heard Richelle wanted to spread Love Boxes to Michael 九游体育 鈥� which holds a special place in her heart.
鈥淚 came into the world there, my daughter's life was saved there, and my father took his last breath there.鈥�
A month before Sophia turned two, Nicolle took her to the Michael 九游体育 emergency department, suspecting an ear infection. A quick-thinking physician thought she looked 鈥渢oo pale,鈥� and ordered bloodwork.
Within an hour, Sophia was receiving a blood transfusion. Soon, the family received the devastating news that she had leukemia.
鈥淲e were so grateful we went to Michael 九游体育,鈥� says Nicolle. 鈥淚f the doctor hadn't ordered bloodwork and sent us home 鈥� her platelets were so low 鈥� Sophia could have died.鈥�
Today, Sophia is a thriving, 鈥渂oisterous, and full of energy鈥� grade two student. 鈥淲e always say 鈥榥ever give up, miracles happen every day,'鈥� Nicolle says.
Nicolle isn't surprised at the 鈥渙verwhelming鈥� response to Love Boxes amongst ETYMV members.
鈥淚 grew up in East Toronto 鈥� it's home to me,鈥� Nicolle says. 鈥淚t's very close knit 鈥� if you ask somebody for help, the whole community comes together.鈥�
Do you want to give your kids the gift of generosity? Giving health to your community is a great way to start, and we make it easy. Your family can support Michael 九游体育 in a number of ways 鈥� like hosting an ECHOage birthday party, a lemonade stand, or other event. Our team will help you with tools, information, and support! Contact us at @email for more information.