July 19, 2016
The wildfire completely leveled this home in Fort McMurray.
Story by Kerri Robins; photo by Amelia Schofield
Fort McMurray may have experienced the cruelest spring in its history — but the community hasn’t been beaten.
“People here are resilient and we’re rebuilding one day at a time,” says Susanne Chaffey, Executive Director of the Northern Lights Health Foundation.
Although the fires were finally put out in June, people continue to come forward with donations in time as well as money.
Recently, the Canadian Institute of Mining and Metallurgy donated $35,000 to purchase a bronchoscope — an instrument that enters the nose or mouth to allow physicians to visually check patients’ airways for abnormalities such as foreign bodies, bleeding, tumors or inflammation. As well, it can take specimens from inside the lungs.
Dallas Kuhr, Manager of the Ambulatory Care and Respiratory Department at Northern Lights Regional Health Centre, says the instrument gives a great visual of lung tissue and its condition.
“Bronchoscopes help us determine whether there is pulmonary irritation and swelling in the lungs,” she says. “This increases with smoke inhalation and, in turn, increases the risk of infection. We really see the importance of this instrument for our first responders who are affected firsthand.”
As news of the fires spread throughout Canada, so did support for Fort McMurray. Staff, physicians and volunteers at Markham Stouffville Hospital in Ontario hosted a bowling night that raised $150 for the foundation.
Members of the bowling team agreed that: “Even in the face of their own personal crisis, our colleagues in Fort McMurray continued providing exceptional patient care.”
Adds Chaffey: “We’ve been privileged to work with so many caring people and organizations over the years, so it’s really no surprise at the support we are seeing.”
Tim Horton’s and McDonalds both hosted fundraisers during the evacuations, with McDonald’s raising $17,200. Tim’s set up mobile coffee shops for first responders throughout the city for several weeks, and also raised more than $500.
For Amelia Schofield, Marketing and Communications Officer at the foundation, the fires profoundly affected her and her family.
“The day of the evacuation was one of the scariest moments of my life,” says Schofield. “You not only fear for your own safety, but the safety of your family, friends, co-workers. It’s gut-wrenching.”
“I was touched by the outpouring of generosity from across Alberta and Canada throughout this experience; it was remarkable and made getting through this much easier. I can’t thank everyone enough for their support of my family and our community during this difficult time.”
The Northern Lights Health Foundation office reopened June 21. When Chaffey and her colleagues returned to work, the environment felt different.
“The catastrophe has certainly changed things for us,” she says. “The normal is no longer normal — but our community is adjusting and I’m really proud to see such strength and remarkable spirit in people.”
For more information, or to make a donation, please visit northernlightshealthfoundation.ca.
