May 13, 2015
Story by Kerri Robins
RIMBEY — Lynn Steeves was certainly walking the talk in this year’s Rimbey run.
She participated in Rimbey’s Run Around The Zone five-km run this Mother’s Day. More than 100 people participated in the event that raised more than $7,000.
The event is helping to raise funds to buy 49 overhead patient lifts for Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre.
This particular fundraiser is close to Steeves’ heart.
“When I heard about the Rimbey run to raise funds to purchase overhead patient lifts, I made it my personal goal to participate,” says Steeves. “I’ve been in a patient lift countless times.”
That’s because Steeves contracted Guillain-Barré Syndrome in January 2014. She was placed in an intensive care unit at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre — paralysed from head to toe — and placed on a ventilator. The 47-year-old Rimbey woman spent more than a month in hospital.
Guillain Barré Syndrome is a condition that can cause paralysis. Although most people recover from Guillain Barré symptoms within two weeks, for Steeves, the condition proved more serious. It involved her peripheral nervous system — and caused rapid weakness, pain, numbness and varying degrees of paralysis throughout her body.
Due to her paralysis, a patient lift was needed to move her from bed to chair, or bed to gurney.
Overhead patient lifts make it possible for health care staff to lift and transfer patients safely with little effort. Patients sit in a sling, which is attached to tracks on the ceiling, allowing the sling to glide to new positions. The lifts are motorized, with the option of mounting a second motor on the track for additional weight capacity.
The hospital currently has eight portable lifts. The new lifts will be used primarily in long-term care, where staff are looking forward to their installation.
“Having an overhead lift really helps keep our residents comfortable and safe and eases the strain of lifting on our staff,” says Kathy Maconochie, long-term care manager at the Rimbey Hospital and Care Centre.
As well, the new lifts can bear a greater weight, which means heavier patients can be more easily moved.
“The permanent lifts can hold a maximum of 205 kg, versus the portable lifts that hold a maximum of 159 kg,” says Maconochie.
Each lift costs roughly $8,000. As funds become available, lifts in groups of eight will be installed. The care centre aims to have all the new lifts in place by the end of 2016.
Martin MacLean, a long-term care resident at Rimbey Hospital, says he’s excited about the new lifts.
“I’m in a lift regularly and really like the fact that there‘s going to be something permanent in all the rooms, so I don’t have to wait to be moved while my nurse goes to get the portable lift,” says MacLean.
The David Thompson Health Trust hosted this year’s run in partnership with a volunteer committee in Rimbey, the third annual.
Corrie Fortner, Executive Director of the health trust, says the runs were a great success.
“We had so many great people participating and it was a lot of fun. The community support for the hospital is evident in Rimbey, and we are always pleased to support their efforts to make a difference to patients.”
Steeves has been slowly recovering the use of her muscles and regaining strength in her limbs, but admits it’s been tough.
“The Rimbey run was definitely high on my ‘to do’ list and I walked the 5 km,” says Steeves. “I’m proud to say I’ve made a remarkable recovery given the severity of my condition and, while it was painful to be moved, the lift was comfortable and I felt really safe.”
For more information, please visit davidthompsonhealthtrust.com
