News141

Each year, approximately 20 eligible low income families receive a car seat to take their #baby home. They are made for babies as small as 4lbs ensuring our tiniest of patients travel safely and securely. Funded by the Foundation at a cost of $260 each, this makes a big difference for families who would not otherwise be able to afford these special car seats.

Thanks to our generous donors, the Ambulatory Clinic has the latest Bariatric Stretcher! It has a number of beneficial features including automatic adjustments for height and the ability to weigh patients who are unable to stand on a traditional scale due to weight-bearing or mobility challenges.

Nanaimo Lifeline has been offering the ‘Check-In Service’ since September 2016 to Lifeline clients. We are excited to share that Lifeline has extended the service to the general public, helping to provide peace of mind to even more families and their loved ones!

To learn more about our program, please visit http://www.nanaimolifeline.ca/check-in-service.html

Thanks to a grant from the RBC Foundation, we were able to purchase this cardiac bedside monitor for Oceanside Health Centre in Parksville.  At a cost of over $18,000, this essential equipment helps the medical team provide the best care possible to patients at OHC.

After the passing of Marjorie Kamp, former manager of Dufferin Place Extended Care Facility, and shortly after, her son Jordan Kamp who worked in food services; the staff at Dufferin, Food Services, managers from South Island as well as executive leaders wanted to do something special to remember these two dedicated Island Health employees. They made personal contributions to purchase a Silk tree that has fluffy pink fan-like flowers, symbolizing the uniqueness of Marjorie and Jordan. In addition, 2 picnic tables will be placed in the area in front of Dufferin, where on June 14th, the tree was planted and dedicated to Marjorie and Jordan.

Thank you to Dr. Michael Kenyon, ICU at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for giving a tour to Andrew Wilkinson, B.C. Liberal Party Leader and MLA, Vancouver–Quilchena, Michelle Stilwell, MLA Parksville-Qualicum, and Peter Milobar, MLA Kamloops North Thompson. Thank you to the Liberal Party Members for taking the time to visit NRGH.

Thank you to Michaels of Nanaimo for their generous donation of a Fun Centre for NRGH paediatrics! They raised the highest amount of all the Michaels Stores in Canada during the Company Starlight Children’s Foundation Canada Fundraiser in 2017.

The Michaels Nanaimo employees collected over $2,400 with cashier Angela Grymuza being the top fundraiser, well done! Michaels head office topped up those funds to cover the full $7,500 cost of the Fun Centre.

The first place store is honoured with being able to donate a Fun Center to their local hospital. Thank you to all the Michaels staff for their great effort so that NRGH paediatrics could receive this amazing gift of fun for children and youth who are receiving treatment! And thank you to Starlight Children’s Canada Foundation for providing exciting opportunities for businesses to support their local communities. 

Thank you to Israel Roman, Manager, ICU at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital for giving Michelle Stilwell, MLA Parksville-Qualicum a tour of the ICU and sharing both the challenges of working in an ICU that was officially opened in 1978 and stories of the incredible work the ICU team does on a daily basis for our community. And thank you to Michelle Stilwell for taking the time in her busy schedule to speak with Foundation and medical staff to learn more about the needs of our local hospital. 

We always enjoy the opportunity to thank our donors in person and to invite the talented medical professionals who work at the facilities we help fund to share “behind the scenes” insights into health care on mid Vancouver Island.

Thank you to Dr. Michael Kenyon who shared his incredible experiences in the ICU at NRGH as well as in war zones such as Afghanistan and Iraq.

Thank you as well to all the donors who came to the event to hear firsthand the impact they’re making through their generosity, and to our special guests from Island Health.