[Toronto. May 5, 2003] Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in North America may now be contained and those of us who live in Toronto can breathe a cautious sigh of relief as life begins to return to normal. The events over the past 4 weeks continue to remind us of the degree to which normal life can be disrupted by unpredictable events. The first reports of SARS were frightening. My first exposure was a short article in the International Herald Tribune, March 17, telling of the deadly new illness from China. Little did I realize how SARS would affect health care delivery in Toronto over coming weeks.