Life-saving equipment are now possible to be acquired by Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary. Thanks to the "Teddy for a Toonie" campaign, which has raised an approximate $8.4 Million over the years with the thrust to help save lives.
Some of the equipment planned to be purchased from the fund raising are the Extracorpeal Life Support, Cardio-respiratory monitors, and the Kid SIM simulation program. Other Medication administration equipment eyed to be bought include Syringe pumps, Syringe module units, and Automated medication dispensers.
Saifa Koonar, President and CEO, Alberta Children's Hospital Foundation, expressed her gratefulness for the generosity of Albertans in making hospitals go from great to outstanding.
The ATB Financial's "Teddy for a Toonie" campaign in southern Alberta alone has raised more than $300,000 for the ECLS program along with the cardio-respiratory monitors and a patient simulation program.
One powerful testimony that has inspired many donors is from Betina Fillion, who is celebrating her daughter's second life. Daughter Payton Langenau was placed on an Extracorporeal Life Support (ECLS) machine when she was two years old. The said machine helped her live by supporting her lung and heart to function for six days. She had to need the support of the machine because of an organ failure from a dangerous bacterial infection.
The machine was soon removed from Payton and the doctors saved her through surgery. The machine that saved her life is just one of many medical equipment sponsored by the "Teddy for a Toonie" campaign. The campaign is run by ATB Financial banks across the province.
Generous hearts are a bounty all over and surely there are those more than willing to be part of campaings such as "Teddy for a Toonie". Just imagine how many lives will be saved if this campaign continues its objective. How many more of the likes of Payton will have a second chance to live and how many more mothers like Betina will see miracles happening. "Teddy for a Toonie" Campaign should be an example to other organizations in order to continuously establish a connection between those in need of help and those with benevolent hearts.