QEH Foundation’s Big Day of Giving funds QEH Orthopedic Surgery Needs
May 26, 2022 –
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation’s Big Day of Giving took place on Wednesday, May 25th, and was broadcast live from the QEH raising $606,275, surpassing the funding goal for the purchase of medical equipment for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital’s orthopedic surgery department.
Patsy MacLean, Chair of the QEH Foundation Board, shares her excitement of the outcome of the QEH Big Day of Giving. “We are so grateful to donors who have responded in a big way to support critical needs for our QEH orthopedic surgery team, NICU, Physical Medicine, and Nursing Education. The equipment needs profiled added up to $566,000 alone, so, we are delighted with this outcome,” says MacLean.
Official media partners, Ocean 100 and HOT 105.5, broadcasted live from the QEH from early morning until the evening and Big Day ambassadors travelled the Island and collected donations from Souris to Montague to Tignish and all points in between.
A highlight of the day was when the Cymbria Lions Club members brought in a gift of $40,000 soon after NICU specialist, Dr. Beth Ellen Brown was interviewed on the radio. Their gift was to ensure the NICU Cerebral Function Monitoring System could be ordered right away, without delay. The first of its kind in PEI, this system will allow the NICU team to monitor brain activity to detect abnormalities in critically ill babies suspected of seizure activity.
The QEH Auxiliary donated $50,000 to fund one of two transport ventilators required for the cardio-respiratory department. Transport ventilators are used within the hospital when moving patients but also when transporting intubated patients off island. An off-island transport can take up to 5 hours one-way and manually bagging a patient for that duration is physically difficult on the respiratory therapist. While a patient is on a transport vent for a transfer off island, they receive precise ventilation and allows for titration of their oxygen requirements. Both ventilators are out of commission, so this urgent and critical need for a minimum of one was fulfilled by the QEH Auxiliary during Big Day.
QEH Foundation volunteers and staff accepted donations through phone calls, online gifts, and gifts through the mail leading up to the day and throughout the day. The QEH Foundation shared heartfelt messages from staff, patients, and donors throughout the day on social media.
“The pandemic has meant fewer community fundraising events in support of the QEH,” says MacLean. “We are truly grateful to everyone who supported this Big Day of Giving.”
It’s not too late to add your support QEH Big Day of Giving. Please call the QEH Foundation at 902-894-2425 or online at www.QEHBigDay.ca
For more information:
Kathleen Murphy
Director, Communications
QEH Foundation
902-894-2956
kxmurphy@ihis.org