An impressive $139,214 towards the purchase of a new laparoscopic surgical tower for the Prince Rupert Regional Hospital has been raised through the collaboration of community groups and staff.
As defined by HealthLink BC, laparoscopic surgery is “a type of surgery that uses very small cuts. These cuts are called incisions. The doctor puts a lighted tube through incisions in your belly. This tube is called a scope. Then the doctor puts special tools through the tube to do the surgery. The surgery may be done to diagnose a condition, repair or remove an organ, or see if cancer has spread.”
Together, the Prince Rupert Rampage Hockey team, hospital staff, and a local fundraising group (the Prince Rupert Cancer Auction Community Group) raised the money through several means including donations from residents and businesses, raffles, bake sales and the sales of “I fight for…” cancer cards.
At their game on Saturday, February 16, members of the Rampage hockey team and Sharon Stromdahl from the Cancer Auction Community Group presented Northern Health with a cheque.
“The Rampage are incredible supporters of health care in Northwest BC. They raise money for new equipment and initiatives at the Prince Rupert hospital every year,” said Jesse Sales, Northern Health’s Director of Care for Prince Rupert and Haida Gwaii. “We are so grateful for the incredible support we get from community groups and businesses. Every new purchase, every donation, contributes to better health care for local and regional residents.”
Better decision-making during surgery
Laparoscopic surgery helps improve health outcomes and decrease healing time, meaning patients can go home more quickly.
A new laparoscopic surgery tower will provide clearer images enabling better decision making for surgeons during procedures. An updated tower will also enable hospital staff to support and treat more people.
The new tower may be used for some of the following types of surgeries: gastrointestinal; ears/nose/throat (ENT); orthopedic; gynecological; and urological.
More information
For more about the Rupert Rampage and contributors to the laparoscopic surgical tower, go to the Rupert Rampage Facebook page.
Last year, the team raised almost $107,000 for three new cancer screening scopes. Read that story here.
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