The Richmond News October 30, 2013 A7
Community
Nite funds help make hospital hub Mom organizes infant CPR BY GRAEME WOOD Special to the News
A major step toward improving breast cancer prevention and treatment was taken by the Richmond Hospital Foundation last week as it procured new state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment with a donation from the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation BC/Yukon via the Nite of Hope. Over the next two years CBCF BC/Yukon will redirect up to $435,000 from the 2014 and 2015 Nite of Hope charity galas to the hospital foundation in order to buy a new ultrasound machine as well as biopsy equipment and software. “For the hospital it means we can provide a higher quality level of care to more patients,” said Natalie Meixner, the foundation’s president and CEO, after the three parties signed a letter of understanding on Oct. 22. Normally the funds from Richmond’s Nite of Hope are put toward cancer research, but, because the hospital has been identified by the province to become a breast cancer screening and treatment hub, the need for more equipment was paramount. “It’s the first time the hospital foundation has done something like
GRAEME WOOD/SPECIAL TO THE NEWS
Nite of Hope chair Rob Akimow (left), Richmond Hospital Foundation CEO Natalie Meixner and Nicholas Locke, of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation BC/Yukon.
this and it speaks volumes about the Nite of Hope and the CBCF for funding research but also investing in this equipment,” said Meixner. Nite of Hope chair Rob Akimow said knowing the donation will be used directly in Richmond gives the upcoming event an even greater meaning. “The biggest difference here is this is something people can
literally touch, see and feel. This is something that can help people right now in the community.” The province has already purchased a new digital mammography unit at a cost of $630,000. With the additional equipment, Meixner said the new hub will provide the best screening available. She also noted digital archives can be filed, making comparisons between mammograms easier to look at. Also, the files can be emailed to patients. With the hub, it is hoped that women who are battling the disease will not have to trek to various locations around the Lower Mainland to get treatment as the hospital will be able to provide everything from initial screening to treatment and care. As it stands the mammography screening program in Richmond has the highest participation rate — 63 per cent for 50-69 year-old women — among the province’s 16 health service delivery areas. The provincial rate is 54 per cent, as of 2011. According to Nicholas Locke, the vice-president of business development at CBCF BC/Yukon, the target screening rate should be 70 per cent and women should be screened every two years.
YVONNE ROBERTSON RICHMOND NEWS
Crystal Pisa has organized an infant CPR session in Richmond this Saturday so that she’s prepared as her son Miles (nine months) continues to grow. BY YVONNE ROBERTSON
yrobertson@richmond-news.com
Although Crystal Pisa had brief, infant first aid training as a flight attendant, it wasn’t until her son was born that she got serious about learning. She’s organized an infant CPR course to be held on Saturday, Nov. 2, from 1-3 p.m., at the Saffron building, 6828 Eckersley Rd., in Richmond. “Once he started eating solids and moving around, I started realizing there are so many danger zones,” said Pisa of her ninemonth-old son Miles. “You don’t always know the issues because they aren’t communicating yet, and they don’t know how to communicate if they’re choking. The scariest thing is to be caught off
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guard.” The non-certification session will be run by Life Link Safety Services and teaches new parents about infant CPR and the prevention of choking. “I’m hoping to learn what signals to watch out for,” said Pisa. “All babies react differently.” Refreshments will be provided and childcare will be available for a nominal fee. Pisa also encourages grandparents to attend as practises change over the years. The session focuses on Part One, Infant CPR and First Aid, with the option of Part Two — Child CPR and basic First Aid — if there’s enough interest. Pisa plans on organizing more classes in early 2014. For more information, email Pisa at crystalpisa@gmail.com.
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