The Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie is sharing some love this Valentine’s Day, with a donation of $44,350 to Sault Area Hospital Foundation (SAHF). Their gift will fund two sets of paediatric laparoscopic surgical instruments.
Approximately 1 in 3 children in the Algoma district were seen in the Sault Area Hospital’s Emergency Department last year, with some requiring emergency surgery. While most specialized paediatric surgeries are planned ahead and supported by hospitals who specialize in this care, there are times where local children need emergency surgery – most commonly, appendectomies (removal of the appendix). These new laparoscopic surgical tools allow Sault Area Hospital to deliver more precise care for these kids, close to home.
Laparoscopic tools are used in minimally invasive surgery – which allows surgeons to operate through several small incisions instead of one large open incision. Minimally invasive surgery is the standard practice for many procedures now, often offering less pain, fewer complications and faster recovery time for patients. Having these tools available at SAH can also make our hospital more attractive to newly graduated surgeons, who were trained in these methods.
“Because the patients are smaller, paediatric laparoscopic instruments are much smaller – only 20 cm long, compared to the adult-sized laparoscopic surgical instruments which are 33 cm long. These small instruments are simply miniature versions of the same instruments we use on adults. They allow the surgeon a much more precise, tactile feel,” shares Ryan Crozier, Business Analyst for the Surgical Program at Sault Area Hospital. “This ensures our surgical staff can deliver emergency care to young patients in our community.”
This is the second gift in as many years from the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie, with last year’s gift supporting a paediatric safety bed. The club has given over $250,000 to support local care at Sault Area Hospital over the past few decades.
“What better way to commemorate Valentine’s Day than to gather together to celebrate this gift,” shares Gabriele Scholz-DiTommaso, President of the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie. “Our club has always focused on supporting the children of Sault Ste. Marie – we are glad this gift will help keep them close to home when they need emergency surgery. This donation would not be possible without our many members and volunteers who work hard to organize fundraisers, lotteries, and community events – and the community of Sault Ste. Marie who so generously supports them. Thank you to all who have played a part in this great gift back to our community!”
“It’s wonderful to see the Rotary Club of Sault Ste. Marie having such keen interest and enthusiasm to learn precisely how their donations are helping our hospital,” shares Teresa Martone, Executive Director of Sault Area Hospital Foundation. “Not only are they making outstanding care possible for local children – they are truly living up to their Rotary theme this year of ‘Creating Hope in the World’. We are honoured that they have chosen to support our community’s children through this generous gift to Sault Area Hospital Foundation.”
On behalf of Sault Area Hospital Foundation's Board of Directors, staff, and the many children who will benefit from this generous donation, thank you to the many Rotarians whose spirit of “Service Above Self” has made this gift possible. Your community and local hospital thank you.
Donations help purchase vital medical equipment for Sault Area Hospital
