Ladonne and Steve Davidson of Kamloops have announced that they are donating a generous gift of $100,000 to the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) Foundation, to be used in the new Patient Care Tower.
The idea formed on April 4, 2020, when Ladonne Davidson was celebrating her birthday with her family, including high school sweetheart husband, Steve. “We wanted to give a gift in honour of both of our birthdays, and the hospital was the logical choice. Our children, Matthew and Brianna, were born at RIH, as was our grandson, Beckett,” Ladonne explained. In addition, the family, like most families in the community, has used the hospital on various occasions.
In fact, Ladonne was in RIH in the spring, suffering from pancreatitis and pneumonia. In addition, 13 years ago, Matthew was in the ICU for 10 days, after serious injuries resulting from a snowboarding accident that led to surgery and multiple blood transfusions. As a result, the family is very aware of the importance of healthcare, including timely access to state-of-the art equipment and training.
“We decided to direct our gift to the waiting room on the 7th floor of the new tower because the waiting room is where family members bond, not only with each other, but also with other families who are going through the same thing. I experienced first-hand how important the waiting room is when my mom was in hospital. I also, unfortunately, experienced the flip-side – how awful and lonely it is to be in hospital when family is not allowed visiting,” clarified Ladonne.
According to Steve, “We hope that the example of our gift will inspire others to give back. We really want the new addition to be a success for everyone – patients, staff, and visitors. As a close-knit family, our wish is to help other families who are supporting a loved-one in hospital. We are delighted to be able to provide a space where everyone can feel comfortable.”
Heidi Coleman, CEO-RIH Foundation, commented on the donation, “As construction continues on the new tower, it is amazing to see incredible donations, such as this one, coming in. We are very thankful for Ladonne and Steve’s gift. Life is about giving back, and this is a perfect example!”
In addition to the waiting room on the 7th floor, there will also be 30 private, single-patient rooms. More information on the tower will come available as construction continues.
