Pictured from left to right are Shelley Mann, Co-Founder of the 100 Women Who Care Saanich Peninsula, Dr. Victor Aldrete, Vice President of the First Open Heart Society of BC and Judy Tsukijima 100 Women Who Care. The Society has been very fortunate that Judy Tsukijima’s persistence in promoting us for the quarterly donation by the 100 Women Saanich Peninsula Club, for we were voted as the most deserving of the three possible chosen charities.
The society is grateful to 100 Women Saanich Peninsula for their most generous donation, which we will endeavour to put to good use while pursuing the Society’s important work.
You are Vital Campaign Donation
The First Open Heart Society has donated a generous $45,000 to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation in support of Heart Health at Royal Jubilee Hospital. Since 1977, the First Open Heart Society has donated more than $776,545 to cardiac care in Victoria through the Victoria Hospitals Foundation.
The donation is supporting the Foundation’s $3.5 million You Are Vital campaign, and will help fund the purchase of a wearable cardiac monitor for the Heart Health unit at Royal Jubilee Hospital. This technology allows the Heart Health team to monitor the electrical cardiac functioning of a patient while they are engaged in their normal daily activities. Dr. Chris Franco, Medical Lead for the Coronary Care Unit and Cardiology, notes the importance of advanced decision-making equipment, stating “cardiac care is getting more complicated, more complex, and we want to be as prepared as we can be.”
“We are so grateful for the long time support of The First Open Heart Society and their efforts to improve Cardiac Care on Vancouver Island. Their generous gifts have helped so many people in our communities have access to the leading-edge cardiac technology that ultimately saves their lives,” said Melanie Mahlman, President & CEO of the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. “The leadership and commitment they have demonstrated to our community is extraordinary.”
The First Open Heart Society of British Columbia was formed in 1973 on the initiative of cardiologists and early heart surgery patients to function as a support group for patients awaiting and recovering from heart surgery. The idea was first conceived by Dr. W. Glenn Freisen, a Victoria cardiologist, who realized patients and their families experience significant stress prior to, and following, open heart surgery.
Jim Weaver, President of First Open Heart Society, was on hand to present the cheque. “We are strongly committed to supporting Cardiac Care through the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. We take pride and comfort in knowing that when people from across Vancouver Island require live-saving heart surgery or treatment, Royal Jubilee is well equipped to provide state-of-the-art care.”
Every year, over 200,000 Vancouver Island residents undergo cardiac assessment, and more than 6,300 cardiac procedures are performed through Royal Jubilee Hospital’s Heart Health program. Over the past 30 years, our Heart Health program has become a national leader in cardiac care, overseeing 3,500 inpatient cases annually, with half from outside Greater Victoria. The Heart Health program administers to all cardiac needs, with the exception of heart transplants. Every year, almost two dozen talented cardiac physicians and hundreds of specially-trained caregivers perform hundreds of cardiac procedures.
To learn more about the You Are Vital campaign, visit www.victoriahf.ca/vital
Ray Calton, Carol Connolly, Suzzane Barton, Jim Weaver, Bruce Dyck, Dr. Lynn Fedoruk
Victoria Hospitals Foundation Donation
The First Open Heart Society of BC donation of $25,000.00 to the Victoria Hospitals Foundation. Last year alone, nearly 1,400 cardiac procedures were performed at Royal Jubilee Hospital, including 700 open heart surgeries, all relying on important medical equipment like the Heart Retractor and Patient Stretcher funded by the First Open Heart Society of BC.
Doris Nicholson, President of First Open heart Society Of BC (L) is pictured with Allen Davenport, a Perfusionist with Island Health, and Cathy McIntyre, Board Chair of VHF
Cardiac Equipment Donation
Huge thanks to The First Open Heart Society of BC for making a $50,000 donation to fund a leading-edge piece of cardiac equipment at Royal Jubilee. The cell saver, pictured here, is used during open-heart and vascular surgeries to counter blood loss. It recovers the blood a patient loses, and instead of being discarded, it's given back to the patient after being cleansed and filtered. It’s very comforting for patients to know their own blood is being returned to them. Since 1980, the First Open Heart Society has donated more than $706,000 to Cardiac Care in Victoria. We are so grateful for their generous support over the years!
From left: Sidney by the Sea Rotary Club president Hein Moes, Terry Riley president of the First Open Heart Society, Sidney Deputy Fire Chief Brett Mickkelson, manager of the SHOAL Activity Centre Judy Wiggins, Sidney councillor Kenny Podmore and Sidney councillor/acting mayor Steve Price.
Defibrillator Donation
Presentation by the Town of Sidney for the defibrillators that were funded by the First Open Heart Society and the Rotary Club of Sidney by the Sea.
Steven Heywood Photo/Peninsula News Review/Black Press. June 2013
Misc News
Victoria Hospitals Foundation February 10th, 2020 Donors story
After heart hurdles, he’s still upbeat and running
Louise Dickson / Times Colonist / MARCH 11, 2018 06:00 AM
First Open Heart of Campbell River’s donation adds to doctors’ diagnostic arsenal
Campbell River Mirror / NOVEMBER 3, 2017 10:30 a.m.