The moment he felt the first pain in his chest while eating dinner, Verne Brown dismissed it as one of the normal aches and pains that comes with age.

But the pain returned the next morning and intensified. He knew it was different.

A call to his family doctor directed Brown to go to the emergency department at 91原创 Memorial Hospital (LMH) immediately.

After a battery of tests and a day of monitoring, Brown learned he had suffered a heart attack.

鈥淚t鈥檚 a day etched in my memory,鈥� shared the retired Mountie.

鈥淢y emotions were a mixture of surprise, upset, and I couldn鈥檛 believe it.鈥�

That day in 2004, Brown began what he calls his 鈥渓ife-saving journey.鈥�

He was transported to Royal Columbian Hospital in New Westminster, where a stent was placed in his heart. Then he was returned to LMH where he regained his strength and stability. He still receives annual testing.

Turns out Brown was fortunate to recover close to home, where his family could visit. His bed was just one of six in the 91原创 Memorial鈥檚 critical care unit. Almost two decades later, despite the community鈥檚 soaring population numbers, there are still only six cardiac beds at LMH.

As 91原创 grows, so too does the need for cardiac care facilities, Brown said, putting himself out there as the 鈥減oster child鈥� of sorts for a current campaign by the 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation to purchase 10 new cardiac care beds (state-of-the-art telemetry units) for the hospital.

The campaign, which was launched early this year, is aiming to raise a minimum of $645,000 to purchase the 10 beds, and another $100,000 for necessary supportive telemetry equipment. On Oct. 21, the foundation held its annual hospital gala, and raised about $315,000 towards that goal, said foundation executive director Heather Scott.

The gala brought the hospital to within $100,000 of buying the specialized monitoring beds, and about $200,000 of their ultimate goal, she said, speaking to her hope the remaining funds can be raised before Christmas.

Brown鈥檚 personal story was shared during the gala, evoking a few tears from the 320-person crowd and prompting many in the room to dig deeper and give even more to the cause.

鈥淭he funds raised at the gala for 91原创 Memorial Hospital鈥檚 cardiac care unit will expand the number of beds and provide advanced equipment to our highly specialized health-care teams to help ensure the growing number of cardiac patients seen at 91原创 receive excellent care,鈥� Scott explained.

鈥淲e haven鈥檛 quite reached our goal. We鈥檙e almost there. And, we鈥檙e confident that the community will come through, and we鈥檒l be able to fully equip the hospital with the additional beds soon,鈥� she added.

Brown is keen to share his story, especially if it helps others realize the desperate need there is for improved cardiac care at his local hospital.

Thanks to the care he received at LMH, the Walnut Grove resident said he wears 鈥渢he badge of a proud heart attack survivor.鈥�

He now embraces an active lifestyle with daily walks with his wife, Martha, as well as a more balanced diet 鈥� hoping he never needs the cardiac care unit again. But he fears for others.

鈥淚 reflect back on those days with immense gratitude,鈥� Brown shared, 鈥渁ppreciating the importance of being close to home during my cardiac care. As 91原创 grows, so does the need for accessible cardiac care facilities. It鈥檚 vital that fellow 91原创 residents can find the care and support they need, during their most trying times, right in our community 鈥� just as I did.鈥�

To support cardiac care at 91原创 Memorial Hospital, people can visit

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