I Now Have a Tomorrow

4 www.hamiltonhealth.ca On Page 3... Cassandra Wadham of Burlington was in a life or death situation. I started to experience infections, weakness and night sweats, recalls Cassandra. I went to the Emergency Room at my local hospital when I developed a mouth sore. They ran blood tests and immediately sent me to Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre for suspected leukemia. After a bone marrow biopsy was conducted, 37-year-old Cassandra was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. I was in shock. As a nurse (Continued on page 2) I Now Have a Tomorrow Also Inside: It s complicated (pg. 2) Tomorrow Stems From You (pg. 3) Education Continues (pg. 6) FALL 2 0 1 6

2 Join The Conversation hamiltonhealth.ca/facebook twitter.com/hamhealth I Now Have a Tomorrow (Continued from page 1) myself, I wasn t supposed to get sick. For seven months Cassandra underwent intense induction and consolidation chemotherapy, as well as full-body radiation treatment to prepare her system for a stem cell transplant. Since stem cell transplants have the potential to save the lives of leukemia patients, the search for a matching donor through the worldwide donor registry began immediately. Luckily a donor match was found with Erika Duffy from New Jersey. Time was of the essence and Erika s stem cells were flown to Hamilton in an effort to save Cassandra s life. The transplant was successful and Cassandra slowly regained strength after her terrifying ordeal. It took about six weeks for me to recover to the point where I could be discharged, says Cassandra. I was in isolation for 100 days at home to minimize the risk of infection, leaving only for medical appointments. A year after the transplant, both Cassandra and Erika consented to having their contact information shared and they were soon in touch by email. Since 2013, Erika and I have been in contact every single day and we ve become best friends, says Cassandra. I owe my life to Erika. Without the transplant, I probably would have died. Cassandra is now thriving and looking forward to February 3, 2017, which will mark five years in remission, at which point she will be considered cured. I can look forward to tomorrow and the future thanks to my stem cell transplant, Cassandra explains. Today, I m living for me. Cassandra has become an advocate for enhancing stem cell transplant services for patients across the region. I think it s really important that people donate funds to support Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre Foundation because it helps save lives like mine, says Cassandra. That s why campaigns like Tomorrow Stems From You are so important to your community and your loved ones. To watch a video about Cassandra s story, visit hamiltonhealth.ca/cass. It s Complicated: Regional Care For Complex Pregnancies Pregnancies are stressful at the best of times, and even more so when complications arise. The Women s Reproductive Health and Newborn Care Program sees patients from throughout the region with complex maternal medical conditions or babies that have complications that are identified in utero, says Dr. Patricia Smith, Deputy Chief of Obstetrics, Head of the Division of Maternal Fetal Medicine, McMaster University Medical Centre. We have about 3,200 deliveries a year, with about one third being followed by the complex care team. General obstetricians work with teams that specialize in areas including maternal medicine, thrombosis and cardiology. Having many specialties under one roof, as well as a maternal intensive care unit, makes for more efficient care. Family-centred care is a priority, says Dr. Smith. A complex pregnancy is stressful for the entire extended family. We encourage patients to invite family members to participate in decision-making and be present for support. Dr. Smith also encourages donors to play an active role in supporting the program. Donor support enhances the patient experience by funding the purchase of important equipment and patient amenities. Your gifts can make a big difference. Dr. Patricia Smith

linkedin.com/company/hamilton-health-sciences-foundation hamiltonhealth.ca A stem cell transplant has the ability to give more tomorrows to patients suffering from blood cancers such as leukemia and lymphoma. It is a complex but potentially life-saving medical procedure, and patients across Ontario are waiting for their opportunity to receive a transplant. Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre is just one of three centres providing all forms of stem cell transplants to adult cancer patients in Ontario. Stem cell transplants, particularly donor-matched transplants (clinically known as allogeneic) are complex and resource-intensive, requiring very specialized facilities and highly trained clinical teams. As one of the leaders in performing donor-matched transplants in Ontario, the Juravinski team has helped save countless lives. Scientific advances have made donor-matched transplants an option for more cancer patients, giving them hope for a tomorrow. The opportunity to increase availability of this highly specialized procedure is now but we need your help. The Foundation has launched a campaign to enable the expansion of a dedicated and specialized clinical space, and purchase essential equipment so that Juravinski Hospital and Cancer Centre can provide 50 per cent more cancer patients with this potentially lifesaving treatment. What is a stem cell transplant? A stem cell transplant is a method of replacing cells in the bone marrow that cause cancer. New stem cells from a donor are infused into the patient so that they can attack the underlying diseased cells to help fight the cancer. Why do we need to raise money? With Ministry of Health funded projects in Ontario hospitals, 90 per cent of the capital development costs are paid for, along with the operating costs; however, The Foundation must raise the remaining 10 per cent, and the cost of essential equipment, from the community. What will the campaign fund? Once complete, this expansion will include a dedicated and specially designed clinical area to house 15 individually-equipped private inpatient rooms, five individually-equipped outpatient rooms and a dedicated sterile compounding area for chemotherapy preparation. It will also include the essential equipment and patient amenities needed to support this expansion. I am living a normal life thanks to my stem cell transplant and I m looking forward to tomorrow, which is incredible because I never thought I would be able to do that. - Maddie, acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient, Burlington Thanks to my stem cell transplant, I feel good about the future. I can spend more valuable time with my family. - Tim Maloney, acute lymphoblastic leukemia patient, Burlington What does this campaign mean? 50% more stem cell transplants More tomorrows for blood cancer patients and their families

4 FOCUS The Pressure s On at St. Peter s Hospital Thanks to generous donor gifts, a pressure mapping system at St. Peter s Hospital is helping to make prolonged hospital stays more comfortable for patients. Despite careful attention by staff, patients who are unable to re-position themselves in their wheelchair or bed have an increased risk of developing skin ulcers, which can be extremely painful and may lead to serious infections. The pressure mapping system uses a thin, sensor-filled mat that is placed between the patient and the wheelchair or bed. The sensors send information to a computer program that produces a colour-coded image of the pressure distribution. This image enables a nurse or therapist to make appropriate changes in the patient s position to minimize the risk of developing skin ulcers. The pressure mapping mat is showing caregivers how to reposition the patient to maximize comfort. Reflection and Celebration at St. Peter s Hospital The preciousness of life and the importance of family were the inspiration behind some memorable events held at St. Peter s Hospital this past summer. It was a beautiful sight to behold on June 26, as 190 guests released butterflies in honour of their loved ones. St. Peter s Hospital Foundation hosted the fifth annual Celebration of Life and Memorial Wall Service. The Memorial Wall features names of loved ones whose families have donated $1,000 or more to honour their memory, and the wall serves as a place for families to reflect and show gratitude for the care their loved ones have received. On September 10, the Foundation was host to a more lighthearted event when participants traveled back in time to the 1960s at the second annual Walk Around the Block. As part of the Grandparents Day celebration, Walk Around the Block was a non-competitive fundraising walk and wheelchair stroll for participants of all ages. Prizes were awarded for best costume and best decorated wheelchair. Proceeds support priority needs. Butterflies were released for the second consecutive year at the Celebration of Life. Below, Walk Around the Block participants enjoy the photo booth.

5 FOCUS More Healthy Smiles Thanks to Green Shield Here s something to smile about. A generous $50,000 donation from Green Shield Canada will help ensure that more patients at St. Peter s Hospital have access to professional oral care. The donation, which will be gifted over two-years, will fund a dental hygienist and supplies needed to provide bedside dental care. The presence of our staff on the units will hopefully bring awareness to the importance of keeping one s teeth clean and healthy, explains Dr. Laszlo Szoke, Director of Dentistry, Dr. James Morreale Dental Clinic at St. Peter s Hospital. The donation will help provide better care for patients by supplying our staff with new tools to enable more thorough cleanings. Thanks to this new program, the dental team estimates a tremendous increase in patients self-esteem and level of social interaction. Thank you to Green Shield Canada for supporting this initiative, says Dr. Szoke. Our hope is that this will have a positive impact on how patients feel, reduce the need for extractions of teeth or fillings, and maintain natural teeth for as long as possible. HHSF Gala: Streetcars to Vineyards - March 4, 2017 Experience the excitement of San Francisco and savour Napa Valley s wines at The Foundation s Streetcars to Vineyards Gala. Join us at the Hamilton Convention Centre on March 4, 2017 for the must attend black-tie event of the year. Proceeds from the Gala will support the world-class medical research taking place at Hamilton Health Sciences. Purchase your tickets today at hamiltonhealth.ca/gala. For information on branding and sponsorship opportunities, please contact Tamara Pope at popetamara@hhsc.ca or 905-521-2100 ext. 43744; or Michelle McIntyre at mcintyremi@hhsc.ca or 905-521-2100 ext. 76787. Join us for the finest... of Napa and The Bay

6 Make Your Donation hamiltonhealth.ca/donate Education Continues The ongoing education of individuals across the entire clinical spectrum is an essential part of an academic teaching hospital. The rapid pace of innovation in patient care, research and technology requires individuals to make a continuous effort to stay current, while the cost to do so can prove challenging for many. Several donors have recognized this need and made specific gifts to support these initiatives, often through an endowment gift. Each year Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation is pleased to present scholarships, awards and bursaries to a wide range of individuals at various stages of their careers. In 2015, we were honoured to disburse nearly $450,000 to support professional development. These awards are sometimes named in honour or memory of a loved one, or as recognition to a member of a clinical team. Often these educational awards support specific types of clinical practice such as nursing or social work, while others can be broader. Examples of long-standing awards include: The Dr. Stephen Buttrum Memorial Bursary for Excellence in Clinical Psychology; The Virginia Hardy Nursing Program Education Award; The Grant I. Budden Scholarship and The Richard and Mary Pelling Scholarship and Bursary. If you would like to learn more about making an endowment gift and establishing an award or bursary, please contact our office. A wide variety of health care professionals, at various stages of their careers, have benefitted from The Foundation s scholarships, awards and bursaries. Thanksgiving Wishes Family. Friends. Good food. Thanksgiving is a time when we gather with loved ones to share our gratitude. It should also be a time when we reflect on our health, a priceless gift that forms the cornerstone of life. We are grateful for your support of Hamilton Health Sciences Foundation, which is vital for the success of our fundraising campaigns like Tomorrow Stems From You. Thank you and Happy Thanksgiving. HEALTH CARE, TRANSFORMED. PO Box 739 LCD 1 Hamilton, ON L8N 3M8 905-522-3863 hamiltonhealth.ca Charitable reg. # 131159543 RR0001