For patients surviving the aftermath of a stroke, there’s an ideal window of 14 days between the medical emergency occurring and intensive rehab starting. When the right services are available, rehab teams are better able to maximize a patient’s recovery.

When Tanya suffered a stroke in the summer of 2024, she couldn’t talk, sit up or walk. She spent three months at GF Strong in south Vancouver for intensive rehab care because there were no beds available at Lions Gate Hospital. She received excellent care but once discharged, she was relieved that she was able to stay on the North Shore while attending the Neurological Rehabilitation Outpatient Program (NROP) at LGH.

Right now, physicians, rehab nurses, speech, occupational and physical therapists at LGH provide support in different locations across the campus. A new rehab unit, with new state-of-the-art equipment will offer more space and enhanced support so more patients can receive the rehab care they need closer to home.

For stroke patients in particular, time is critical. A dedicated unit that allows rehab to start at the bedside would be great news for the 600-plus stroke victims that arrive in the Emergency Department each year.

This is why Lions Gate Hospital Foundation has launched the Re-Imagine Rehab campaign to build a new inpatient unit that will provide support, not just for stroke patients, but the hundreds of people dealing with a range of neurological injuries and recovering from traumatic injuries, surgery and debilitating illness.

Access to immediate rehab care leads to faster recovery and helps patients get back to the people and activities they love. Your donations to this campaign will support the development of a new rehab unit at LGH ensuring that they can get the care they need in their home community.