A Journey of Strength, Research, and Support: Chris’s Story
When Chris Douglas was rushed to Lakeridge Health by ambulance in May 2016, he thought he’d be home within days. Instead, his life changed forever.
“Little did I know, this visit to the hospital would lead to a seven month stay and a life-altering moment,” Chris says. “I quickly learned it was a difficult road ahead.”
Complications from double pneumonia including a coma and a tracheotomy, led to the start of lifelong dialysis – a process that removes waste products and excess fluid from the blood when the kidneys can no longer perform this function.
After adjusting to his new routine of receiving dialysis three times a week at the Oshawa Hospital, Chris was presented with new options — including the opportunity to take part in two clinical trials focused on improving care and quality of life for people on dialysis.
“I figured, why not?” he says. “If there was even a small chance it could help me – or help someone else in the future – it felt worth trying.
Clinical trials play a vital role in advancing care. At Lakeridge Health, more than 140 studies are underway at any given time, helping introduce new treatments, refine existing ones, and bring the latest evidence into patient care across the region.
Chris's first trial helped stabilize potassium levels – an electrolyte often elevated in patients on dialysis and linked to serious heart complications. Elevated potassium often prevents patients from using medications that are helpful in reducing these heart complications. While results are pending, the lessons learned from this, and similar trials are helping health-care teams make safer, more effective treatment decisions.
Today, Chris is enrolled in a clinical trial focused on phosphate levels in the hemodialysis population. The trial aims to clarify whether lowering phosphate in CKD and dialysis patients truly improves cardiovascular outcomes. The results could significantly change the quality of life for patients – potentially allowing more flexible diets and fewer pills.
Both trials are led by Dr. Steele, a physician within the nephrology program at Lakeridge Health.
“Chris’s participation is part of what makes clinical trials so important at Lakeridge Health: everyday people contributing to discoveries that shape better care and better options for patients across the community,” says Dr. Steele. “It allows our teams to advance knowledge, test innovative treatments, and develop new approaches that can transform care.”
“I’m grateful to have research and clinical trials available to me and to others”, adds Chris.
For Chris, it’s the combination of research and the compassion of the team who have cared for him that has made the greatest difference – especially through some of his hardest moments.
“At one point, I met with Dr. Steele to discuss my options, including palliative care,” he says. ”He didn’t mince words, and he didn’t hide anything. That’s a real doctor. And I’m glad I decided to stick it out.”
While Chris’s journey continues to include dialysis and hospital visits, he speaks about his care with deep gratitude – gratitude shaped by resilience, research, and the people who have walked each step of his journey with him.
“I consider a lot of people at the hospital part of my family,” he says. “Not every day is perfect. But the staff at Lakeridge Health – they’ve been there for me through everything.”