Manjit Gill鈥檚 first encounter with 91原创 Memorial Hospital was not a pleasant one.

It was 1971, and she was a new bride who had just returned to Canada on a flight from Hong Kong after getting married in India.

And she was quite ill.

On arrival, out of concern that she might have contracted something contagious, she was ordered into an isolation ward at the 91原创 hospital.

鈥淏y the time I got home, I was dehydrated,鈥� Gill said.

鈥淭hey thought I was carrying a bug from India so they kept me for two weeks in an isolation room. People had to put on a mask to see me.鈥�

As it turned out, it was nothing worse than stomach flu, she said.

鈥淣ow that I look at it, it鈥檚 funny.鈥�

Many years later, Manjit is a board member of the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation, and has come to believe her stay in the isolation ward was an important introduction to the hospital and the crucial service it provides the community.

鈥淚 just think that everything connects to everything,鈥� Manjit said.

Her tone turned serious when she talked about the connection that has been formed between her family and the hospital.

It was because of that connection, and a strong sense that success should be shared, that she and her husband Darcy pledged $1 million to the campaign to build a new ER.

鈥�91原创 hospital had done a lot for my family. My three grandkids and my son and a daughter were all born here,鈥� Gill told the 91原创 Advance Times.

For her husband鈥檚 family, that connection goes back several generations.

He and his nine siblings were all born at LMH.

Donating to the hospital that has been such a big part of their family is all about giving back to the community, Gill said.

鈥淚鈥檓 a firm believer in that. If you are fortunate enough, you should share with each other. We should do whatever we can to help people who need help.鈥�

Manjit and Darcy have an long record of supporting the hospital and other charitable causes.

After Darcy fought and won a battle with prostate cancer, the couple began making contributions to help fight cancer.

They have previously funded a special room for young patients at LMH with a $250,000 donation and in February, they rallied the South Asian community to attend the hospital foundation鈥檚 first Giving Hearts Gala by announcing they would match all donations made that evening.

It was a 鈥済enerous gesture,鈥� said Phil Jackman, chair of the Emergency Response Campaign, 鈥渁nd we know it inspired the attendees to give and give generously.鈥�

Jackman praised the Gills for their 鈥渉eart, energy, commitment and love for 91原创.鈥�

Thanks to the matching contributions by the Gills, the event raised over $200,000.

READ MORE: First ever gala gives boost to 91原创 ER campaign

Speaking for the hospital foundation, Kate Ludlam said LMH is 鈥渟o lucky to be surrounded by such a giving community.鈥�

Ludlam said the Gills 鈥渂elieve strongly in giving back and making a difference.鈥�

Over the years, Manjit said she has seen the hospital struggle with an expanding population.

鈥淚 see a lot of care being given, I鈥檝e always felt comfortable [when I go to LMH], but lately, I see that 91原创 has grown so fast that our hospital is not able to keep up with that,鈥� she said.

鈥淭hey are doing their best with whatever they have, but there鈥檚 always room for getting better.鈥�

With a successful wood waste recycling and transport business and biomass green energy provider, Cloverdale Fuel and Darman Recycling, Manjit feels there is a responsibility to use that success to help people

Through the Emergency Response fundraising campaign, a new, larger emergency department will be built at LMH, equipped with the latest technically-advanced medical equipment to handle 91原创鈥檚 growing and changing demographics.

The emergency department is slated to open in 2021.

The MRI suite will perform 7,500 exams within its first 12 months of operation and improve access to urgent medical care for residents of 91原创 and neighbouring communities.

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Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com

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