Created for UHN Foundation’s We Walk UHNITED event, Rita’s Story is a cinematic patient story about a life-threatening heart condition, the unexpected moment that changed the course of her life, and the care she received at UHN’s Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.

After years without a clear diagnosis, Rita’s journey reached a critical turning point while boarding a plane, when the man seated beside her recognized that something was seriously wrong and helped save her life. She was eventually diagnosed with ARVC, a rare genetic heart condition, and later received a heart transplant.

The film is built around the idea that one moment, one person, can change everything. Through intimate documentary-style storytelling and cinematic visuals, Rita’s experience becomes a larger reflection of the life-changing moments that happen every day at UHN.

The goal was to create something deeply emotional that would remind thousands of We Walk UHNITED participants why they were there — and show the very real impact their support can have on someone’s life.