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It’s been a tumultuous year for North Shore couple Sharon and Dennis Harper.

After many years of caregiving both sets of parents passed. They also lost a couple of very long-lived pets – a Bichon Cocker Spaniel and a Chihuahua.

Feeling ready for a fresh start, they booked a much-deserved post-pandemic vacation. “All of a sudden they were free to travel without restrictions,” recalls Dennis. “We were having the time of our life.”

Unfortunately, disaster struck just a few days into the trip which included an Ireland and UK cruise with a few city excursions. While visiting with relatives in the UK city of Liverpool, Sharon was hit by someone riding a motorized scooter.

Her knee cap was shattered and with no ambulance available for several hours, she was placed on the floor of a taxi for an uncomfortable ride to the local hospital.

After being patched up by the emergency department, Sharon and Dennis spent a few more days in the UK before finally being flown back to Vancouver.

When they landed at YVR they headed straight for Lions Gate Hospital pulling their luggage with them. Within the hour, she had X-Rays in hand and an orthopedic surgeon scheduled for surgery the very next day.

Following the three-hour surgery to repair the broken kneecap with metal screws and wire, Sharon was back home for the start of a long recovery.

The Harper family have had many emergency visits to Lions Gate Hospital over the years, and they have always taken note of the staff who always went the extra mile to support them.

“I know our health care system is under pressure but you don’t hear enough about the good stories. The care and support that was available when we really needed it was impressive,” says Dennis. “The staff here really deserve our appreciation and I have nothing but great things to say about Lions Gate Hospital and the care Sharon received,”

As a show of appreciation for the exceptional support of Dr. Zarkadas and the staff in the Emergency, Surgical Services and Radiography departments, Dennis visited the Foundation to make a donation in their honour.

Sharon is now on the mend and looking forward to the day when she and Dennis can arrange a new dream vacation.

It may look like a cross between a Zamboni and a crane, but the Shimadzu Portable X-ray Machine has been a game-changer for LGH’s Medical Imaging Department.

Each year, thousands of X-rays are performed at LGH, and when  trauma patients are unable to be transported or require bedside care, portable X-ray assistance becomes essential.

The versatility of portable X-ray machines allow operators to avoid unnecessary transport and movement of patients while offering fast and accurate information on-the-spot. These benefits present an opportunity to save more lives and improve the quality of patient care at our hospital.

The fully digital Shimadzu Portable X-ray Machine can be used to examine anyone, but has proven particularly beneficial for reaching more seriously ill patients such as those in the Intensive Care, High Acuity and Post-Surgical Units at LGH. This innovative machine has also been used in the Emergency Department to instantly determine fractures from a stretcher in the trauma bay.

“We are grateful for the generosity of donors who fund technology and give us the opportunity to work with innovative machines. It’s been a huge asset to the Radiology Department and has really helped us a lot,” says Yvonne van Gelderen, Site Coordinator for Medical Imaging at LGH.

As the demand for X-ray services expands in our community, the Radiology team relies on specialized equipment to provide efficient and dependable care to all. This new machine has replaced an aging unit bought over two decades ago, and staff have already seen major improvements in patient care capabilities.

The Shimadzu Portable was funded through a bequest from the estate of Francis Barrie Stewart.

CONTEST CLOSED!

Thank you for all of your wonderful submissions. The winner of our 2022 Christmas Card Design Contest is 13-year-old Sentinel Secondary student Vivian Song. Her winning design is now on sale at the Foundation office at LGH and all Save-on-Foods stores on the North Shore.

The cards cost $15 for a pack of 12 and all proceeds from sales will support our Technology Transformation Campaign.

A lot has changed since this black and white photo of student nurses was taken in the 1930s. The face of nursing has changed dramatically as healthcare and nursing have adapted to the times and growing needs and changing demographics of the North Shore community. 

Nurses have been an integral part of healthcare on the North Shore, ever since our predecessor, the North Vancouver General Hospital, first opened its doors in 1929. In the early days of nursing, individual nurses took on many different roles and a nurse could find herself (and it was usually a she) working in the men’s ward or the maternity ward. 

Nowadays, Lions Gate Hospital has grown to become Vancouver’s 4th busiest hospital, providing health services to more than 270,000 North Shore residents. 

LGH has changed so much in the last century, and at the start of National Nursing Week, we’d like to take the chance to not only spotlight the importance of our nurses but also celebrate their contributions.

In Canada, National Nursing Week began in 1985 and it falls on the second week of May every year in honour of the nursing pioneer Florence Nightingale, whose birthday fell on May 12th. 

The theme for National Nursing Week 2022 is #WeAnswerTheCall to reflect nurses’ continued care, courage, and commitment to patients throughout the hardships of the ongoing pandemic.

Nursing at Lions Gate Hospital

Currently, 1,475  nurses work at LGH, The HOpe Centre and across the North Shore community. There are more than 20 nursing specialties available in Canada which range from cardiovascular, community health and gerontology to pediatric, pyschiatric and mental health to perioperative nursing. Nursing expertise at LGH recently expanded with the opening of the High Acuity Unit (HAU) last week with a team of specially trained high acuity nurses.

“We are all inspired to be better when we spend time with her.”

Congratulations to Dr. Anis Lakha, recipient of the 2021/2022 Clinical Practice Award.

Dr. Anis Lakha, a palliative care physician at LGH and North Shore Hospice, is the pioneer behind the Every Day Counts program. She had a vision to create a program that provides psychosocial supports for patients and their families during the most challenging time of their life.

She was instrumental in building the Every Day Counts program from scratch and she dedicated many hours to raise awareness within the community and ensure the success and longevity of the program. It has grown from a few sessions scattered across several locations on the North Shore to a central part of local palliative care services with its own facility right alongside the Hospice.

The Every Day Counts program provides a wide range of activities and assistance for patients living with life-limiting illness in their homes, in the community and at the hospice.

Dr. Lakha colleagues describe her as a compassionate advocate for patients and a champion of accessible palliative care for all who need it. Thanks to her extraordinary efforts, our community has the most comprehensive palliative care support services in the province.

“Jane is a true friend of the Foundation and is always willing to go the extra mile to support our fundraising work.”

Congratulations to Jane Jordan, this year’s recipient of the 2021/2022 Spirit of Philanthropy Award.

Jane Jordan, Coordinator of the Every Day Counts palliative care program, has devoted time, energy and financial support to the fundraising efforts of the Foundation.

Not only has she worked tirelessly with us to raise funds for Hospice & Palliative Care, she has given her time generously to support the wider mission of the Foundation.

As well as organizing popular local events such as Hike for Hospice, Honour a Life and the Hospice Easter Egg Hunt, she is a regular contributor to Foundation campaigns through the Employee Giving Program.

Whether it’s organizing a donor tour of North Shore Hospice, participating in promotional activities, or giving up her lunch time to support hospital events, Jane is an amazing ambassador for and supporter of LGH Foundation.

Watch Jane receive her award below.

“Ruth is a person who gets things done – not an easy task in our department and she has earned the trust and love of the Emergency Team.”

Congratulations to Ruth Farnan, RN, recipient of the 2021 Dr. Les Janz Leadership Award.

Ruth, who is a Clinical Nurse Educator (CNE) is described by her colleagues as “the unsung hero of the Emergency Department at LGH.”

Ruth, spent time at the Emergency Department at LGH when she was a student nurse and she knew she wanted to return once she had consolidated her skills and experience.

Before arriving in Emergency at LGH she spent two years in a High Acuity Unit and she has now spent a decade in various roles.

She took on the role of CNE in 2020, and focused her attention on strengthening orientation procedures, creating a more nurturing environment and increasing educational opportunities for staff.

Emergency departments are busy and chaotic and can be disorienting for new staff members. Ruth collaborated with her colleagues to create enhanced professional support systems, in-class orientation sessions and opportunities for clinical development to ensure that new recruits have a strong foundation for success.

Ruth has also worked to deepen departmental knowledge by increasing training opportunities, working with experts from other hospitals and expanded education programs in a number of areas including advanced life support, trauma care, emergency palliative care and mental health and substance use.

“What I like most about the team that I work with is that it really is like a family,” says Ruth.  “It’s a very close team, and although Covid put a bit of a wrench in socializing, we are a team that works and plays together. We support one another not only during busy shifts, but also in all aspects of our lives.”

Learn more about Ruth and watch her receive her award below.

“She is truly dedicated to the patient’s wellbeing and she inspires us every day.”

Congratulations to Cardiology Technologist Supervisor Cheryl West, recipient of the Workplace Inspiration Award.

Cheryl has worked in the cardiology department for an amazing 20 years. She’s unflappable, upbeat and accessible to all who need her help and expertize.

When the pandemic created supply chain issues she dedicated extra time to ensure that no one went short of the equipment and supplies they needed.

Technology is an important part of cardiac care but integrating new technology can be a time-consuming and frustrating process.

Cheryl was the driving force behind the introduction of a set of wireless ECG carts at the hospital. The innovative carts allow techs to carry out ECG tests while the cardiologist in different location look at the results in real time.

This was a huge change for the department that had been using decades old equipment and it was made possible by a long and complicated collaboration between Cardiology team and IT department. LGH was the first hospital in BC to introduce this technology and its successful implementation was assured by Cheryl’s hard work.

Cheryl’s energy and dedication is infectious and the team of confident and skilled technologists that she manages are inspired every day to lead by her example.

As her manager said: “Every department needs a Cheryl!”

Learn more about Cheryl and watch her get her award below.

The delivery of a very special care package* of panda stuffies to the Palliative Care Unit at LGH has had a significant impact on patients and their families.

Staff report that the pandas have become a comfort item to young visitors and have brought moments of joy during challenging and emotional times for the families under their care.

For a young grandfather, the bears provided positive new memories for his grandkids. When he was first admitted to the unit in December he was worried about being too sick to buy Christmas presents for his grandkids. Despite the fact that he was dealing with his acute symptoms, his family were foremost in his mind. When staff gave him two of the pandas, he was overjoyed and so thankful by this generosity. He was able to focus on his self care and he kept the pandas in his bed to pick up his scent before gifting them to his grandkids to remember him by.

When a shy eight-year-old boy arrived at the unit to visit his grandmother, staff were able to break the ice with the gift of a panda. They weren’t sure if he’d be too old for a stuffie but his face lit up and he hugged the panda bear tight when one was handed to him. The scared young boy was now smiling and happy to show grandma the bear he’d just received.

During the final months of a young woman’s life, her daughter was at her bedside every day. After spending so much time on the palliative unit, the daughter was not only distraught at her mother’s death, she found it difficult to say goodbye to the staff on the unit.

Staff gifted three panda bears to the grandkids who had also visited the unit. Now when the daughter watches her niece and nephews grow up, they have the same panda bear that will remind her of her mother, the palliative care team and this monumental moment that changed her life. The grandkids have a gift from grandma and the whole family have a shared symbol of love and loss.

On behalf of the Palliative Care Team at LGH we would like to thank Susan Hilton and the Har El Sisterhood from the Taylor Way Synagogue in West Vancouver for their thoughtful gift and generosity.

*The gift package also included child-friendly furniture from IKEA and activity packs for children who can spend many hours on the unit.

Patients with respiratory illnesses will be able to breathe a little easier as a direct result of the Gooding Family Foundation and their donation of two new Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) labs to Lions Gate Hospital.

These sophisticated pieces of equipment, which cost $150,000 per unit, enable physicians and respiratory therapists to gauge how well a person’s lungs are working.

PFTs measure key factors such as lung capacity as well as rates of oxygen flow and diffusion and are vital to help care teams support people dealing with a variety of chronic lung conditions such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, allergies, and respiratory infections such as pneumonia and COVID-19. Test results are often used to check lung function before surgery or to assess the effectiveness of treatments.

The equipment comes with a flexible 3D arm so that patients in wheelchairs can more easily be accommodated. Advanced visual software also makes analysis and diagnosis faster and more precise for the LGH respiratory team.

“These new labs are a big step forward because they allow us to get a more accurate picture of how our patients’ lungs are functioning,” says LGH Respiratory Therapist Christine Wong. “They also make it easier for the patient to go through the testing and can be far less distressing for people who can sometimes be anxious about the testing.”

The new PFT labs replace ageing models and their arrival is particularly timely as an increased number of LGH patients are suffering from long-term lung issues after contracting COVID-

David Gooding and Lisa Holden from the Gooding Family Foundation were recognized as one of our Philanthropists of the Year on National Philanthropy Day, 2021. Learn more about this year’s recipients here.