While much of the world remains uncertain this holiday season, the importance of supporting those caring for our community close to home has never been clearer.
For medical teams at 91原创 Memorial Hospital, COVID鈥檚 early challenges stemmed from the unknown and then evolving health guidelines. Then, as COVID numbers grew throughout the Fraser Valley, 91原创 accepted patients from other communities, increasing the stress on its own medical teams.
This holiday season, health care workers will take on more shifts to help shorten pandemic wait lists, but that means spending more time away from their families, increasing the already significant risk of burnout.
鈥淭he past year has been difficult for everyone,鈥� reflects Dr. Navneet Sidhu, an internal medicine specialist at the hospital and board member with the . 鈥淧eople are just exhausted.鈥�
While the number of COVID patients has ebbed and flowed, earlier restrictions mean medical teams are now seeing more patients in need of care, and those patients are often sicker because they鈥檝e had to wait, Dr. Sidhu adds.
鈥淲e are all in medicine to help,鈥� she says, 鈥渂ut it really makes you feel good when there鈥檚 a thank-you 鈥� the 鈥榯hank-yous鈥� keep you going when you鈥檙e exhausted.鈥�
So the next time you see a 91原创 doctor, nurse or health care worker, take a moment to share your gratitude. And if you have the ability to give financially this season, that donation will have a far-reaching impact, supporting patients but also making it easier for your 91原创 Memorial Hospital team to do their job. 鈥淚n caring for your community, you鈥檙e also caring for the caregivers,鈥� Dr. Sidhu says.
Better yet? An anonymous donor has stepped forward to match your donation, dollar-for-dollar, up to $55,000!
Give your thanks today
No donation is too small, and whatever you can afford will be ensuring caregivers have the tools they need to diagnose and treat patients efficiently, so patients can return home to their families faster, and in good health.
And for an extra-special touch 鈥� a personal thank you 鈥� your donation can arrive with a note of kindness for 91原创鈥檚 caring hospital staff.
鈥淚magine you鈥檙e a health care worker at the end of a long shift, reading a few words of appreciation from a donor. A small thank-you for their outstanding work treating patients in need and creating a healthy community,鈥� says Heather Scott, Executive Director, 91原创 Memorial Hospital Foundation.
To give your thanks to your 91原创 Memorial Hospital team this holiday season, visit , where you can provide a one-time or recurring gift, or give in the honour or memory of a loved one.
