Message from Kyle Shaen
Published Monday, December 16, 2019
Kyle Shaen, Chair, Board of Directors, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation
How many people will be away from home this Christmas having heart surgery?
It’s something that has been on my mind lately. I’m amazed at how generous the community has been so far giving to the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Campaign. With your help, we’ll bring cardiovascular surgery right here to Thunder Bay. We are building a world-class program, thanks to our partnership with the Peter Munk Cardiac Centre.
It would all be for nothing though if it wasn’t for your support. On Giving Tuesday earlier this month, we set a goal of $40,000 to purchase two open heart surgery trays. You gave us one more, donating over $64,000 to the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Campaign. I think it speaks volumes about how dedicated our generous donors are to bringing heart surgery to Thunder Bay. Over 1,000 patients will benefit every year – 1,000 patients who won’t have to travel outside of the region for life- and limb-saving surgery at Christmas or any other time.
Just ask Donna Pento how important that is. She said she was shocked when she learned she had to travel to Hamilton for her triple-bypass surgery. It never occurred to Donna that she couldn’t get the procedure here. Donna said the added stress of having to travel for life-saving surgery is something nobody should endure, and that she understood why some people choose not to go. I believe it’s a choice we never should have to make.
Our donors agree. Already, you have helped bring vascular surgery to Thunder Bay. It’s improved dialysis for many patients and will help us reduce the rate of amputations in our region, which is the highest in the province. We know that many choose not to travel for vascular surgery either. Now, thanks to your help, they don’t have to.
Inevitably, there will be patients this Christmas who will travel away from family and loved ones for cardiovascular surgery. As you’re thinking about your year-end donations this year, please consider giving to the Our Hearts at Home Cardiovascular Campaign. We are getting closer and closer to keeping most cardiovascular patients home for the holidays, and your donation will help us get there. That’s something we can all be thankful for.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!
Kyle Shaen
Donations gratefully accepted at: OurHeartsAtHome.ca or by calling (807) 345-4673