Westlock Healthcare Centre’s Tree of Hope campaign got a huge boost this week after the Elks donated $5,000 to the cause.
With the extra cash the Elks get a star at the top of the Tree of Hope and the hospital has now raised just under $12,000, which is enough to purchase two IsoFlex gel mattresses with a month to go.
“We’ve donated to the hospital many times over the years and it’s been a little while, so it was time to give to give them some more,” said Elks exalted ruler Hugh Thomson following the Dec. 3 donation. “I remember once before we donated to them and I thought it was very expensive, but when I saw what size it was and my wife had to use it, it makes a whole lot of difference. Any cause of the hospital is important to us.”
The specialized mattress is adjustable with inflatable pumps built in that can adjust to the patient. It is helpful for people unable to get out of bed for long periods of time, allowing them to change and alter their weight distribution to prevent complications like rashes, sores and pressure ulcers. The temperature can also be adjusted to make sure patients don’t get too warm or cold.
With each mattress costing $5,200, hospital manager Lorraine Oleski couldn’t thank the Elks enough.
“It’s a huge boost to the whole campaign. The Elks donation almost purchases one complete mattress on its own,” she said. “But we’re still hoping to fundraise for additional ones.”
For the last three years the hospital has run the campaign over the holidays to fundraise for life-saving equipment. In the past donations have helped the hospital purchase pediatric and neo-natal cardiac monitors as well as a ventilator for the emergency room.
This time around they are aiming to help improve the experience of being in medical care, since when patients are more comfortable they recover faster. Oleski noted all the equipment purchased through the campaign so far has received constant use.
“This will make a patient’s stay more comfortable,” she said.
“For medical patients that require it, it will be essential in ensuring they don’t have issues when they can’t move around or get out of bed. If helps when there isn’t blood flow to a specific place on the skin because of cut off restriction.”
With the campaign running until Jan. 7, there is still plenty of time to chip in and help the hospital add to its equipment. Anyone interested in making a donation can drop one off at the hospital front desk and get an ornament put on the tree for donations $10 and up.
