{"id":4647,"date":"2021-10-03T02:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-03T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/medecinsdumonde.ca\/?post_type=actualite&p=4647"},"modified":"2026-10-02T04:31:45","modified_gmt":"2026-10-02T09:31:45","slug":"sylvain","status":"publish","type":"actualite","link":"https:\/\/medecinsdumonde.ca\/en\/article\/sylvain\/","title":{"rendered":"Sylvain – Healing Without Judgment"},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Discover Sylvain’s story.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":4648,"template":"","actualite_type":[8],"actualite_sujet":[177],"action_combat":[],"mdm_pays":[],"class_list":["post-4647","actualite","type-actualite","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","actualite_type-national-actions","actualite_sujet-care-without-judgment"],"acf":{"mise_en_avant":false,"chapeau":"Discover Sylvain's story.","cta_type":"aucun","cta_lien":"","contenu":"

\"\"<\/figure>\n

\u201cThis won\u2019t be my first front page,\u201d<\/em> Sylvain proudly declares as his portrait is being taken.<\/p>\n

He is referring to the time an article featuring him made the front page of local newspapers. The article, titled A Wave of Generosity in Saint-Henri<\/em>, described how Sylvain ended up on the street after losing his home and all his belongings in the fire that destroyed his apartment building.<\/p>\n

\u201cBad luck.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

It also recounted how the residents of his neighbourhood rallied around him to offer support.
<\/p>\n

What the article didn\u2019t mention was that nearly five years later, despite this community support, Sylvain would still be on the margins of a system that seems to have forgotten him. One of the biggest obstacles in this reality is access to health<\/strong>. Especially for Sylvain, who, due to illness, requires close monitoring. But it\u2019s neither technicalities nor a lack of resources that make this so difficult for him. It\u2019s mostly the stigma. The way others look at him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHospitals change when you\u2019re in a situation like mine. You can feel that people see you as a nuisance. You end up not wanting to go anymore.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

That doesn\u2019t mean he\u2019s given up, though.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s too easy to just let yourself go. You have to find a way to help yourself. Then you realize that other people are ready to help you too. I don\u2019t ask for anything, but it\u2019s amazing what I receive. People\u2019s kindness blows me away.\u201d<\/em> He pauses for a second. \u201cWell, not that much, really\u2014I\u2019m actually a pretty nice guy.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

He tells us that it was this human solidarity that helped him get back on his feet.<\/p>\n

\u201cI kept telling myself that if that person had the heart to give me money, there\u2019s no way I was going to use it for nonsense.\u201d<\/em>
One of the people who showed Sylvain this kindness was Val\u00e9rie. No last name, no professional title, just Val\u00e9rie. An outreach worker who became a friend. \u201cAn angel,\u201d he specifies. It was through Val\u00e9rie that Sylvain learned about M\u00e9decins du Monde\u2019s mobile clinic. And it was through M\u00e9decins du Monde\u2019s network that he was able to help others in turn.<\/p>\n

\u201cI had a friend who came to live with me for a while after her own bad luck. She had a great job before, working in aviation. But pills are stronger than everything. One day, I saw her go over the edge. I didn\u2019t know what to do. I called Val\u00e9rie. She called some people. My friend was admitted to the hospital, and everyone took care of her. Not long ago, I ran into her again. She\u2019s doing well; she\u2019s back. But I can say without a doubt that if I hadn\u2019t called Val\u00e9rie, my friend would be dead today.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n


<\/em>Without even pausing, he moves on to another topic, leaving us to guess that he\u2019s seen other stories like this. We talk about the lab scientist he sometimes has lunch with. We talk about the people he meets, the sense of community in his neighbourhood, and the $600 running shoes he was once given. \u201cYou could twist them any way you wanted, and they\u2019d always bounce back!\u201d We talk about the worsening pollution and the things that are getting better.
\u201cAnyway, it was really great talking to you,\u201d<\/em> Sylvain suddenly says, blowing us a kiss before rushing off on his scooter, flip phone to his ear. He\u2019s expected somewhere. And he has to go feed his dog.

\u201cHis name\u2019s Magnum. Magnum and I take care of each other.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n


<\/em><\/p>\n

We would like to pay tribute to Sylvain and offer our condolences to his loved ones.
<\/em><\/p>\n

Thank you to our partner!<\/h2>\n
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