This morning was a big day for the City of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario. Details were announced of a major fundraising campaign to bring world class cardiac care to the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. It is going to cost money. Health care is not cheap and capital costs have to be raised locally. As we heard this morning a dedicated group has already raised $11.5 million of the $14 million dollar goal.
Right now if you need bypass surgery you will be flown to Toronto, Hamilton or London for care. It is hard on the patient and hard on their family. When this is up and running it will be life changing for many families all across the north. As I mentioned this morning on the air I lost my father when I was a teenager while he waited for bypass surgery, and later visited mom in Toronto following her own bypass. I’m not sure if this level of care available close to home would have made a difference for my dad, but I do know the struggles we later went through with my mom and her recovery. With those experiences, I want it available for my family and friends when they need it most, here at home
You are going to be asked to help. I did the math and if 25,000 people each gave $100 we would be there. Seems like a deal from where I sit and maybe the best money any of us has spent in a long long time. For more information on how you can ensure a future where we are healing our hearts at home please click here.
