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Prostate laser funded through Nanaimo hospital foundation winter campaign

Hospital foundation's winter campaign has brought in over $2.1 million
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Mackenzie Webber looks at a CT scan. Fundraising for SPECT-CT machine is at the centre of the Nanaimo District Hospital Foundation's winter fundraiser. (Submitted photo)

The Nanaimo and District Hospital Foundation doesn't have a SPECT-CT machine funded quite yet, but due to winter donations, the hospital will be getting a series of new amenities, including a prostate laser.

"The winter campaign went way over goal, which I was stunned by because of Canada Post," said Barney Ellis-Perry, foundation CEO. "A lot of that was due to the Giving Tuesday piece, but also quite a few big gifts of appreciated securities."

The focus of the winter fundraising campaign, the SPECT-CT scanner, represents the largest fundraiser for a single piece of medical equipment that the foundation has ever attempted at a $2.9-million total. Serving as the focus of the campaign, any money not earmarked for a specific fund is allocated into the total. As of mid-January, the foundation received $650,000 toward the device and the associated lead-lined room to house it. 

"We've had over 200 new donors giving mainly to the SPECT-CT, we think from the social media and advertising," Ellis-Perry said. 

While the SPECT-CT scanner was the campaign's main focus, Giving Tuesday, which took place on Dec. 3, had the foundation raising $505,000 for six incubators for the maternity ward. In addition to funding all incubators, the foundation was able to purchase a neonatal intensive care unit transfer stretcher to safely transport fragile newborns, as well as a fetal monitor.

A holmium laser, used to remove tissue that is blocking urine flow through the prostate. One use for the laser is treating prostate and urological cancer. While a few donors selected this cause, Ellis-Perry said a large portion came from one family, who requested to contribute to a cancer-related project.

"This was at the top of our list, so that was great," he said. "It's a $312,000 piece of equipment and he gave $300,000 to it, and that's a local family."

In addition, donors earmarked $10,000 for high-intensity rehab unit equipment, including two neurological tables and an EVA pneumatic support walker. Ellis-Perry said this donation came from a former patient who spent three months in high-intensity rehab.

"When it first happened, they said, 'There is a chance you may never walk again.' He was incredibly motivated, he's a guy probably in his early 60s," he said, adding that the donor walked out the door just last week.

For the SPECT-CT scanner, the campaign isn't over yet. The foundation said its "stretch goal" is to have the scanner funded in June. In the meantime, donations are still being added through mail returns daily, now that the postal strike is over.

"Clearly there is a lot of awareness for the need to invest in health care and equalize health care between central and south Island, and people are putting their money where their mouth [is]," Ellis-Perry said. "Giving Tuesday, I never thought for a second we would get to $500,000 and fund as much maternity equipment as we did." 

Donations can be made online at http://nanaimohospitalfoundation.com.

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Jessica Durling

About the Author: Jessica Durling

Nanaimo News Bulletin journalist covering health, wildlife and Lantzville council.
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