Champions start small

During the 2006-2007 season, a $24,000 grant was presented to the Greater Victoria Hospitals Foundation, McMaster Children’s Hospital (through the Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation) and the Lethbridge Regional Hospital Foundation both received $50,000 each.

McMaster Children’s Hospital receives $50,000

McMaster Children’s Hospital (MCH) is one of the top pediatric academic health sciences centres in the country with 117 acute care beds, 40 pediatric clinics and a full range of specialized inpatient services. McMaster Children’s Hospital is home to one of the country’s most impressive Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, a cutting-edge Neurometabolic and Neuromuscular Clinic and a state-of-the-art endosuite - the only one of its kind in Canada - for performing minimally invasive surgery.

Founded in 1988, MCH has rapidly become a leader in pediatric evidence-based care, collaborative research and innovative leading-edge education. MCH is one of the two busiest children’s hospitals in Ontario offering specialized care to more than 150,000 children each year from South Central Ontario extending from Niagara to Kitchener-Waterloo and beyond. McMaster Children’s Hospital is a hospital within a hospital and an integral member of the Hamilton Health Sciences system of hospitals and the home of the McMaster Child Health Research Institute (MCHRI).

The funds donated via a grant for $50,000 will go towards the purchase of a Giraffe Incubator for the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. “This specialized equipment allows us to treat the very distinctive needs of children by ensuring that the infant is properly positioned for all types of procedures”, said Dr. Peter Steer, President, McMaster Children’s Hospital. “At McMaster Children’s Hospital our practice revolves around family-centred care and using leading edge equipment, like the Giraffe Incubator, is one of the most important ways we can assure families that their child is receiving the best care possible. Support from the Sandra Schmirler Foundation is paramount in enabling McMaster Children’s Hospital lead the way in pediatric health care, education and innovation”.

Sandra Schmirler Foundation Donates $100,000 to Regina’s NICU

On June 29th, 2005, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation donated $100,000 for a Procedures Room in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at the Regina General Hospital. A special event was held in the currently vacant mother baby space of the hospital to recognize the donation. “This incredible donation will make an amazing difference to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and to the tiny babies we treat. For the first time, the NICU will have its own Procedures Room. This will enable us to treat at-risk newborns right here in the NICU - saving valuable time and eliminating the risk that can be associated with moving these fragile babies”, said Dr. Joy Dobson, Chair of the Hospitals of Regina Foundations ‘Small is BIG’ campaign.

“The Sandra Schmirler Foundation is proud to be supportive of the new Centre for Mother Baby Care”, said Joan McCusker, Director of Sandra Schmirler Foundation. “The Foundation believes our donation to this vitally important Centre strengthens our mission to help families with seriously ill children. We know that Sandra’s story can provide strength and inspiration to other young women facing difficult life challenges. This truly will be a living legacy for generations to come and our Foundation is honoured to play a role right here in Sandra’s back yard”.

Sandra Schmirler Foundation Grant Provides Education Tool to the Lethbridge Regional Hospital

Imagine holding a premature baby that is no more than two, three or four pounds. Now imagine having to hook up that tiny little infant to a ventilator, to vital sign monitors, and perhaps needle-poke them to start an intravenous infusion. That’s why physicians and nurses who care for “babies in crisis” at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital believe a $50,000 grant by the Sandra Schmirler Foundation is a very special gift.The funds make possible the purchase of an emergency care simulator “BabySIM” doll used in teaching staff how to care for the most vulnerable patients in a safe, but totally realistic learning environment. Intricate details such as realistic touch and feel, clinched fists and a layer of baby fat help create an appropriate representation of a three-to-six month old infant. Based on intricate software technology, the BabySIM incorporates highly developed infant physiological models that generate realistic and automatic responses to clinical interventions and drug administration. The BabySIM responds accurately to learner interventions, making it the perfect ‘practice’ patient. “Clinical staff gain the skills and the confidence they need to care for real babies in crisis”, says Leslie McCoy, Director Children’s Health. “Treating a critically-ill infant requires a unique skill set that can only come from hands-on, real time experience. Knowing what to look for is essential, but this kind of experience can”t come from exposure to critical care situations in practice”, said Ms. McCoy. “The stakes are simply too high”, she said.

By providing a realistic means to bridge the gap from theory to practical application, the “BabySIM” provides the best transition for learners to apply their knowledge of infant patient care in a safe, no-risk environment. The educational value of the “BabySIM” is summed up in the fact that critical care interventions can be practiced on the simulator, better preparing healthcare professionals for critical events involving infants. The “BabySIM” at the Lethbridge Regional Hospital will be used extensively by current staff as well as students in the nursing program at Lethbridge Community College.

The 2005-2006 curling season saw donations made at three Seasons of Champions sites.

In Halifax, at the Tim Horton’s Curling Trials, a cheque for $50,000 was donated to IWK Neonatal in Halifax for the purchase of life saving equipment such as an incubator or ventilator. At the Scotties Tournament of Hearts, the Foundation presented a cheque for $50,000 to the Children’s Health Foundation in London to help in the building of a new neonatal facility. And in Regina, at the Tim Horton’s Brier, a cheque was presented to the Mother Baby Care Unit at the Regina General Hospital - part of a five year $100,000 commitment to their Procedures Room.

Emma’s Story

My name is Diane McLean. As a curler, I have been to two Scotties Tournament of Hearts. In 1995, I represented Ontario, and in 2004, I represented British Columbia.

In the early summer of 2006, I became pregnant. My pregnancy was without complications and I anticipated giving birth on my due date of February 3rd, 2007. This all changed on October 7th. On that day, I began having contractions. Four days later, I gave birth to a very little baby girl who we named Emma. She weighed 487 grams (about 1 pound 1 oz). She was born at 23-1/2 weeks, or about 4 months too early. We were given odds of survival of between 20% and 50%. Thus, my journey began. From the beginning, Emma was a fighter. But fight was not enough. She needed every possible form of care that a neonatal unit can provide.

This is the focus of the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, where donations are collected and then projects are funded at neonatal units in hospitals across Canada. For her first 2 months of life, Emma was in an incubator and was kept alive with ventilation. During that time, she also required numerous blood transfusions and underwent an operation to fully use her lungs. This was followed by various different breathing devices with names such as CPAP, SIPAP, and at the end, free flow oxygen. Again, this is the type of equipment the Sandra Schmirler Foundation funds to. Over the months, Emma grew and got stronger every day. There were many “ups and downs” during my journey, but there was a very happy ending.

On February 14th, I received the greatest Valentine’s present one could ever get. Baby Emma came home. She is truly a miracle. She has no health problems and is a very happy 7-1/2 pound baby. I am forever indebted to the caring doctors, nurses and to organizations such as the Sandra Schmirler Foundation for bringing my baby home.