Denise’s Story

“It started off as a normal night. I was watching TV and my heart started to race – it continued all through the night. And I thought, ‘What is happening here?’”

Later, Denise Johnson lay in bed, heart pounding in her chest and discomfort and pain beginning to shoot down her arm. She thought to herself, ‘Am I having a heart attack?’

Denise went to a pharmacy to check her blood pressure and found it was very high, so a friend brought her to the ER. After a CT scan, the attending physician could find no answers and referred her back to her family doctor. She returned home still in discomfort, concerned about a lack of diagnosis. After a few weeks, her doctor referred her for a stress test.

“The doctor said my stress test was very irregular, and I may have a blockage or a blood clot,” says Denise. She underwent a heart scope procedure, but the surgeon determined the arteries were not blocked and the heart muscle looked healthy. They then suggested she might be experiencing anxiety attacks.

To Denise, this wasn’t an option. She advocated that it was physiological, and together with her family doctor got a referral to the one person who would find out what was truly going on — Dr. Tara Sedlak, cardiologist and director of the Leslie Diamond Women’s Heart Health Clinic at VGH.

“We did some testing such as an MRI and some other non-invasive tests, and it was determined she had microvascular coronary dysfunction,” says Dr. Sedlak. “This means the small, tiny blood vessels become dysfunctional. They spasm, the blood flow is limited, and it creates chest pain.”

The good news for Denise is the disease is not life-threatening — if given proper treatment. Without help, it will cause irreversible damage over time.

Thankfully for Denise, Dr. Sedlak is one of a few of Canada’s certified women’s heart health cardiologists. She invited Denise to attend the clinic, provided her the proper treatment and medications, and gave Denise the knowledge and confidence to return to her normal, active lifestyle.

Know the Signs:

“There was a huge sense of relief now that we knew what the diagnosis was, and Dr. Sedlak was confident she would be able to help and provide treatment going forward,” says Caitlin Sehon, Denise’s daughter. “Obviously having a cardiologist who is so accomplished and who focuses on women’s heart health was a huge comfort. I’m very grateful to Dr. Sedlak and everybody on the VGH team who helped my mom.”

“Philanthropy is extremely important to be able to setup exciting women’s heart health centres, but also at the research level. Without it, we wouldn’t be able to make these advances we’re seeing actually happen,” says Dr. Sedlak.

Learn more about Women’s Heart Health

Together, we are VITAL

A heart of gold: Realizing the Canadian dream

Vancouver, 1963. Vincenzo Albanese has left everything behind in post-war Italy to pursue a dream. A dream all immigrants carry with them — a chance at a new life.

Vincenzo hit the ground running in pursuit of that dream. He worked the trades to make a living during the day, and at night he went to school to learn English. Later, he would start his own construction company, helping build the city we know and love today with his own two hands.

“He loved Vancouver and he never stopped working for it,” says Angela Pachini, Vincenzo’s sister. “He would say he was very grateful to be in Canada, to have a new life, a new future.”

Building a new future for his family

Vincenzo loved his family and enjoyed spending his time with them, particularly his nieces and nephews. When he wasn’t working, he was with them: skiing and ice skating in the winter, enjoying tours of Stanley Park, and eventually tackling sports like marathon running with his niece, Maria.

“Vincenzo was a very athletic man,” says Angela. “He loved to play sports like tennis, swimming, and you could never get him to stop running.”

This was Vincenzo’s way of life, and he loved it. Even after his cancer diagnosis, he never gave up on trying to bring a smile to his family members’ faces.

Facing down cancer

In September 2014, Vincenzo was diagnosed with stomach cancer. He fought bravely for more than a year, but in November 2015 he passed away peacefully in palliative care at VGH. Vincenzo chose to leave his estate to his family members and to several charities, including VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

“He wanted to support those who needed it the most,” says Angela. “He loved Vancouver and wanted to take care of others in it, and he thought there was nothing better than the hospital caring for sick people.”

Vincenzo left his gift for the Foundation to distribute according to our most urgent needs. This decision would allow the Foundation to distribute his funds to several key and meaningful aspects of care, impacting thousands of patients across the province.

“If he knew where the money was going, I know he would be happy,” says Angela.

A legacy Impacting thousands of lives

Vincenzo’s incredible legacy gift is playing a significant role in funding several health care programs and state-of-the-art equipment. As immigrants, the family knows firsthand the struggles of communication in a new country, so none are more meaningful to them than the virtual interpreter.

This program is particularly meaningful to Angela, who recalls her first time spent in hospital after arriving to Vancouver from Italy in the 60s. On Christmas Eve, she had injured her knee and had to come to VGH, but she was unable to adequately explain her needs to the hospital staff.

“I remember I was in bed on Christmas, it was nighttime, and the window was open,” says Angela. “It was getting so cold and I couldn’t get out of bed, but I didn’t know how to explain to anyone that I needed that kind of help. I sat there, cold and alone on Christmas in a new country. I was afraid. So, I understand firsthand how important this program will be.”

The virtual interpreter, which is currently in use across Vancouver Coastal Health, helps medical staff communicate with patients in over 240 languages, including sign language. Within a matter of minutes, patients and physicians can be connected with a live audio or video interpreter, increasing the efficiency of delivery of care.

Gone, but not forgotten

Vincenzo’s legacy is now forever tied to health care. His generosity and warmth in life carry on through the lives and wellbeing of the thousands of patients who will now have access to these new programs and vital pieces of equipment.

Thank you, Vincenzo.

Find out how you can leave a legacy for health care.

Health check: 5 tips to improve your mental and physical wellbeing

Dr. Silke Cresswell is the co-founder and Director of the BC Brain Wellness Program. The program provides free mental health workshops to support people living with chronic brain disorders, their care partners, and healthy agers. By evaluating participant progress, they are hoping to develop a new standard of care that is personable, patient-centric and sustainable. These programs are made possible by donor support to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. Based on this work, Dr. Cresswell has put together five helpful tips to improve your health.

1. Get moving!
   Exercise does wonders. It leads to new brain cells with better connectivity, improved mood, healthier weight management, better sleep, and a reduction in inflammation. You don’t need to take up cross-fit or train for a marathon to see the benefits ­­­— daily walks or yoga sessions are a perfect way to get started.
2. Eat for your brain
   Wholesome nutrition such as following the principles of the Mediterranean diet is another key component for wellbeing and can prevent or delay cognitive decline and possibly also Parkinson’s disease.
   This means more greens and other vegetables, nuts, berries, beans, whole grains, fish and poultry and less butter, cheese, pastries, sweets, red meat and fried or fast foods.
3. Connect with your community
   Connections with your friends, family and neighbours are key aspects to your mental health. The Harvard Study of Adult Development concluded that loneliness can kill as easily as smoking or alcoholism.
   Social integration and community are crucial for happiness and longevity. So foster relationships with friends and family and reach out if you need help. Talking with a friend when you’re feeling down can have a profound impact. Likewise, helping others also has health benefits for the helper.
4. Keep learning
   An active brain is a healthy brain. Learning or practicing new skills helps keep your mind sharp and can be a lot of fun. Whether it’s working on a craft project, becoming a puzzle master, or reading a new book, stretching your mental muscle every day is not only satisfying, it’s good for you!
5. Take a mindful moment
   Mindfulness is the practice of purposefully focusing your attention on the present moment and accepting it without judgement. By immersing yourself in the sights, sounds and feelings of a particular moment you can improve your ability to focus, reduce stress and better manage anxiety and other mental health challenges.

A Day in the Life: The Palliative Care Social Worker

John Andru Recognized as Top Forty Under 40

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is proud to announce that John Andru, Associate Director, Major Gifts has been recognized by the Association of Health Care Professionals (AHP) as a Top 40 Under 40 Award recipient.

The 40 Under 40 program is designed to recognize the future leaders within the health care philanthropy community. AHP is honouring these 40 young professionals because they are shaping the future of the health care development industry. Collectively, they are changing the world—one campaign at a time.

John has a true passion for philanthropy, and has worked in health care fundraising for nearly 15 years, joining the Foundation in 2016.

“Health as a topic is relevant to everyone regardless of gender, age, and socio-economic status,” says John. “I’m also very squeamish about blood so this is as close as I’ll get to medicine, a discipline and profession that I have tremendous admiration and respect for.”

John has played key roles in some of Vancouver’s most highly regarded philanthropic events and campaigns, including the development of the inaugural BC Cancer Foundation Hope Couture event in 2014 and the launch of VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation’s Brain Breakthroughs campaign in 2019.

This $35 million campaign for brain health is a uniquely complex initiative, and the case for support document received Bronze level recognition at the 2020 Canadian Marketing Awards.

“John possesses a rare combination of a natural major gift fundraiser who connects on an authentic level with donors and physician partners – plus a very analytical mind,” says Laura Walsh, Senior Vice President, Philanthropy, VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation. “He is keen to understand the health care and research advances we support, and he is also committed to ensuring best practices in fund development are shared, learned and followed.”

In addition to his day job in philanthropy, John has also been involved in numerous volunteer projects, including serving on the boards of McLaren Housing Society of BC and Seva Canada.

“It is such a privilege to work with doctors, nurses, and researchers to help advance health care,” says John. “I want to continue to make the world a better place by connecting philanthropic resources to great ideas and projects that have the potential to positively impact the lives and health of people.”

To learn more about the Forty Under 40 program and each of this year’s recipients, visit www.ahp.org/40under40

The Association for Healthcare Philanthropy (AHP) is an international professional organization dedicated exclusively to development professionals who encourage charity in health care organizations. AHP’s 4,500 members represent more than 2,200 health care facilities around the world. They collectively raise more than $11 billion each year for community health services.

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation is Vancouver Coastal Health’s primary philanthropic partner, raising funds for specialized adult health services and research for all British Columbians. We partner with donors to drive innovation and sustainable health care at VGH & UBC Hospital, GF Strong Rehab Centre, Vancouver Coastal Health Research Institute and Vancouver Community Health Services.

Breathing Life Into Lung Cancer Detection

Any cancer is scary, but lung cancer is a particularly insidious disease – 70% of all lung cancers are diagnosed in advanced stages. Lung cancer is the most common and deadliest form of cancers with a five-year survival rate of less than 18%. An average of seven British Columbians die each day from lung cancer making prevention and early detection the key to saving more lives.

That was the inspiration behind a $1.2 million gift from philanthropists Emily and Jason Ko. Their transformational gift supported a Lung Cancer Screening Pilot Program at Vancouver General Hospital, conducted by Dr. Stephen Lam, an award-winning scientist specializing in early detection of lung cancer, Dr. John Yee, Head of Thoracic Surgery and Dr. John Mayo, Head of Radiology. The pilot program pioneered a new model for lung cancer screening using a risk-based approach and computer aided diagnostics. Initial results from the donor-funded study laid the groundwork for a first in Canada province-wide lung cancer screening program.

CT scanners can help diagnose lung cancer at an earlier stage, notes Dr. John Yee, Head of Thoracic Surgery, VGH

For Jason, a well-known business leader from Taiwan, this issue hits close to home. His wife, Emily, was a thoracic surgery Head Nurse and has seen first-hand the devastating effects of lung cancer, particularly in patients who had never smoked. This was one of the reasons why Jason and his family felt so compelled to act. “Lung cancer has affected many of my friends who are non-smokers and this was our way of helping save lives so that others can receive care earlier,” says Jason, who was inspired by the spirit of giving from his late mother. As successful immigrants, the Kos believe that their legacy is in sharing their wealth with the community and giving back to help others, a philosophy that they share with their family and employees at their company Viva Pharmaceutical.

“Lung cancer has affected many of my friends who are non-smokers and this was our way of helping save lives so that others can receive care earlier.” – Jason and Emily Ko

The pilot screening program’s goal was to enroll 2,000 high-risk individuals over a three-year period with a two-year follow-up. The study is international in scope and examines the value of inclusion of air pollution exposures for risk assessment. It also applies advanced computer technology with the goal of improving efficiency and accuracy of reading large number of screening CT scans, as well as decreasing unnecessary imaging studies or biopsies. These tools will help allow medical professionals at VGH and BC Cancer Agency to successfully implement the new province-wide initiative.

Like other cancers, early detection can mean the difference between a treatable disease or palliative care. “We know that low-dose CT scans help diagnose lung cancer at an earlier stage and can reduce lung cancer mortality by up to 20%,” says Dr. John Yee, Head of Thoracic Surgery at VGH and Director of the BC Lung Transplant Program. “There’s no question that our ability to detect lung cancer earlier will have a tremendous impact on people’s health.”

With more than 1.6 million people worldwide dying each year from lung cancer, the impact of the Ko family’s generosity in funding this important screening program is transforming health care globally.

Donate a TFSA, RRSP or RRIF

When you support VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation with a future gift, you are helping to ensure that the next generation of British Columbians will continue to have access to the best medical care.

It’s easy to donate the proceeds of a registered account such as a tax-free savings account (TFSA), a registered retirement savings plan (RRSP) or a registered retirement income fund (RRIF).

Benefits:

• Make a significant donation without spending current assets
• Receive a charitable tax receipt for your estate
• Avoid paying probate fees on the funds
• Make a difference in the lives of the next generation of British Columbians

Making your gift:

• Name VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation as the beneficiary of your registered account
• Maintain full use of your account during your lifetime
• After your passing, the Foundation receives any remaining funds

LEGAL NAME AND ADDRESS

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
190- 855 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9

CHARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER

132173063RR0001

For more information contact: Charlene Taylor Director, Gift & Estate Planning 604 875 4917

Read about Thomas Anderson whose legacy lives on through the impact he has made on patient care by designating his tax-free savings account (TSFA) to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation.

This information is not intended as legal or financial advice. We encourage you to consult a qualified professional advisor.

Gifts of life insurance

“While I am not planning on going anywhere anytime soon, I did want to put the pieces in place for my estate planning so that I can give back to health care in some small way. It’s easier than I thought it would be, anybody can do it and it can make a significant, positive impact on our community.”

– Thomas O’Neill, Vancouver, BC

Join donors like Thomas by making a gift of life insurance to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, to help make a difference for patients, now and into the future.

Life insurance is one way you can provide financial security for your family. What you may not know is that once the needs of your family are taken care of, a life insurance policy can be donated to your favourite charity. Donating a life insurance policy can also provide tax savings. By choosing VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation, you can help ensure the best health care is available for future generations, including your loved ones.

There are several ways you can use life insurance to provide a gift of good health

• Designate VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation as the beneficiary of your policy
  You can use a life insurance policy to make your gift simply by designating VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation as the beneficiary of the policy. The insurance proceeds will be received by the Foundation tax-free and your estate will receive a donation receipt.

• Transfer ownership of a paid-up policy to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
  To receive an immediate donation receipt, you can make VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation the beneficiary and owner of an existing paid-up policy. You will receive a donation receipt for the fair market value of the policy at the time of donation and the Foundation may either redeem the policy or hold it and receive the face value after your death.

• Transfer ownership of a policy on which premiums are still owing
  You can transfer ownership of a policy to VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation even if premiums are still owing. You will receive a donation receipt for the policy’s fair market value at the time of donation. If you continue to pay the premiums after transferring ownership of the policy, you will receive donation receipts for those payments too.

Speak to your financial advisors for personalized advice on how a gift of life insurance can work for you. Like our donor Thomas O’Neill, you too can make a difference today through thoughtful planning for tomorrow.

LEGAL NAME AND ADDRESS

VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation
190- 855 West 12th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5Z 1M9

CHARITABLE REGISTRATION NUMBER

132173063RR0001

For more information contact: Charlene Taylor Director, Gift & Estate Planning 604 875 4917

This information is not intended as legal or financial advice. We encourage you to consult a qualified professional advisor.

Heroes supporting the front lines: you

In the midst of a global pandemic, our philanthropic community has never shined brighter.

Weeks before restaurants and offices closed, individuals were already beginning to step forward to donate what they could to support the health care heroes you’ve just read about, and the research still being conducted that will change our futures.

Businesses have stepped up to partner with us, providing what they can in order to do their part and help fight back against the threat of COVID-19.

And beyond funding, we are overjoyed with the gifts sent to our hospitals in support of those on the front lines: the personal protective equipment, essential groceries, the flowers and chocolates, meals and snacks, and the 7 o’clock cheer that our health care workers hear and feel every evening.

There have been incredible independent fundraisers from our partners in the community as well, including the Devin Townsend Quarantine Concert, DJ Neky’s live set from their balcony, the Chinese Golf Clubs Association fundraiser and the VGH Youth Leadership Team’s many activities.

You are the reason we do what we do, because we know you’re out there and ready to support those who care for all of us.

This is the final edition of our Impact newsletter, but that does not mean we’re done sharing stories.

We’re going to be updating and expanding our content in a new magazine that will be delivered this fall, allowing us to deliver more comprehensively the beautiful stories you’ve come to expect from our grateful patients and the health care heroes who treat them.

BC’s health care system is strong, and in no small part because of you. You have empowered us to continually transform health care and allow our heroes to do what they do best – improve and save lives.

Thank you to each and every one of you for your years of support.

Sincerely,

Angela Chapman
President & CEO
VGH & UBC Hospital Foundation