“Remembering Betty”, $5,000 gift for ICU Respiratory

Submitted by EKFH on 04-02-2013 CRANBROOK, BC…    It was a very touching and heartfelt moment recently when Al Bakken and his daughter Marilyn Dezall dropped in to East Kootenay Foundation for Health to make a very special Starlite Campaign gift.   In a lovable gesture to remember their wife and mother, Betty Steele Bakken, who passed away on November 2, 2011 the two decided to be one of the 17 stars of the campaign by making a gift of $5,000 in Betty’s name.   Their wishes were simple, to honour Betty and to pick a piece of equipment that was associated with the importance of breathing.   For Peter Borsato, a Respiratory Therapist at the East Kootenay Regional Hospital this was very welcomed news.    The EKRH ICU recently received three new ventilators and one carbon dioxide monitor compliments of the Cranbrook Health Care Auxiliary. The challenge for the Respiratory Department was only having one CO2 monitor available for all three ventilators on the unit. The CO2 monitor is a key piece of equipment when monitoring a patient’s breathing pattern.     Thanks to the beautiful gift from the Bakken family, a second carbon dioxide monitor is on its way to compliment the needs of the ICU unit.   The annual Starlite Campaign receives gift for many reasons, none more special than honouring the life of a loved one.   The Bakken family in remembering Betty embraces the greatness when a gift is given to help others.     The Starlite Campaign for Excellence in Health Care is grateful to receive such a loving gift.   For more information on EKFH, visit us at www.ekfh.ca. 

L-R: Marilyn Dezall, Peter Borsato (IH), Al Bakken & EKFH’s Donna Grainger