Patients being treated for cancer can do so in a more comfortable location at Powell River General Hospital now that its oncology room has been upgraded.
Bruce Denniston Bone Marrow Society completed the final phase of the room upgrades earlier this year.
The legacy project for the society, which began in 2008, has cost approximately $30,000 and has been supported by the donations from local organizations, businesses, coin drives and in memoriam donations from families.
“We wanted to create something of a lasting legacy to Bruce Denniston,” said society president Garry Anderson. “He had leukemia, so we thought the oncology room would be a good fit because it is so intrinsic to what people with cancer go through.”
The room is used for patients who are taking their chemotherapy treatments.
“We wanted to do something that would make that room much more comfortable,” he said adding that they used a design concept from society board member Audrey McLeish of McLeish Redesign.
Since the project began in 2008 a number of improvements have been made including replacing the clinical care recliners with ones which were more comfortable, replacing the flooring, painting the walls a warmer colour and hanging some art. Additional seating for friends and family was also added.
All the cabinets and counters in the room and adjoining bathroom were upgraded as well as the privacy curtains for each treatment area. Patients in the room also have access to a wireless Internet connection so they can use their devices while they have their treatment.
The room is one of three projects that the society has raised money for including a playground at Larry Gouthro Park and the Joseph Agius hospice suite also at the hospital, said society executive assistant Danita Senf.
“We wanted to make sure that we had some legacy projects so that Bruce Denniston will be long remembered,” she added. “We’ve been at this for the past 25 years and we’re not going to last forever, but there was nothing to say that we were here.”
Senf said that the society board plans to have an official opening for the room, also dedicated to the memory of Jody Rodonets who died from cancer, once signs and a plaque to commemorate the contributions from the community are complete.
