ICCHA/Wish Fund 2023

PORK SCHNITZEL MEMPHIS BBQ GRILLED CHICKEN SANDWICH

CLUBHOUSE SANDWICH FISH & CHIPS

& Al Patel

ELEVATING EYE CARE

As lifelong residents of Kamloops, BC, we know firsthand how much growth and change our beautiful city has gone through in the last 30+ years.

Our clinic has been a long-term supporter of the ICCHA/Wish Fund and its quest to bring more cardiac care to Royal Inland Hospital. We are also founding donors of the ICCHA / Wish Community Ambassador Fund at Thompson Rivers University, where we aim to raise $40,000 to provide a bursary for a nursing student in financial need.

We need an Acute Cardiac Diagnostics Services Lab at Royal Inland Hospital to provide acute cardiac care for the residents of Kamloops and surrounding areas so that individuals who experience heart attacks do not have to travel to Kelowna or Vancouver for a diagnosis.

Help us achieve our goal by donating to the ICCHA / Wish Fund, where your dollars go directly toward purchasing urgently needed equipment for our hospital or towards tuition for a nursing student in financial need. We need more, we deserve more. We are proud of where we live and proud to be a part of ICCHA/Wish Fund’s quest to enhance cardiac care in our community.

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Whether you’re dreaming of a new home, undertaking a renovation, in need of a personalized consultation, or looking for that perfect lamp we’re here for you!

Bridgeport Floors and Portfolio Interiors are proud to support Al Patel and the ICCHA/Wish Fund for years of working hard to support our community.

BRIDGEPORTFLOORS.COM

1216A Battle Street Kamloops, BC | 250-374-7144

To make a dream come true… we can move mountains!

In 2007, a handful of my friends Anil Parekh, Dr. Bas Gowd, Hasmukh Parekh and Bob Purohit joined hands to raise $50,000 to improve cardiac care at the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) as we were directly or indirectly affected by coronary diseases -the number one killer disease in Canada. Unfortunately, RIH had its own agenda to establish a Cancer Treatment Floor due to the politicians who left us with broken promises for cancer or cardiac care clinics. Our voices became secondary to the RIH Foundation vision! Consequently, the ICCHA-WISH FUND was established because we wanted the WISHES of our community come true. “ICCHA” means WISH and a wish for a healthy community can only come true with individuals and businesses GIVING BACK FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL.

Recently, our government has finally shown that they are willing to invest in the healthcare for our community by establishing the new 500 million dollars Gaglardi Tower. However, they forgot to put the HEART in this building! Cardiac care is a basic care in a tertiary hospital like Royal Inland Hospital established in 1885, way before Kelowna General Hospital(1908). We have become the “fishing pond” for patients as Kelowna General Hospital advances its facilities in cancer and cardiac care while we wait to be treated!

Why should our aging and a growing TNRD population of over 150,000 go to Kelowna for DIAGNOSTICS before and after a heart attack?

The ICCHA-WISH petition made several years ago was to show our government and help them understand that we need TERTIARY LEVEL OF CARDIAC CARE at the ROYAL INLAND HOSPITAL. Well… our sold out Red Carpet Gala on Friday February 28th showed OUR LIVES MATTER! With the support of our community, we established the ICCHA-WISH Cardiac Care Unit AT RIH in 2019. Unfortunately, as the pandemic hit, our trained cardiac nurses were moved to EMERGENCY WARD and our cardiac patients had to wait longer for treatments.

Kelowna General Hospital only takes 2 patients a day for diagnostics and treatment and we can’t wait any longer. The ICCHA-WISH FUND has pledged to establish an acute CARDIAC CARE DIAGNOSTIC LAB which will allow our cardiologists to treat our patients locally by bring home the following treatments:

1) IMPLANT cardiac devices such as PERMANENT PACEMAKERS

2) EVALUATE patients with Heart Failure and Valvular Heart Disease

3) Perform Right Heart Catheterization to evaluate Heart Pressures and Hypertensions

4) DRAIN FLUIDS around the HEART & much more!

Our goal is to raise a million dollars to establish the acute ICCHA-WISH Cardiac Care DIAGNOSTIC LAB at Royal Inland Hospital and we are already over $400,000 in this journey. I CARE…YOU CARE…WE CARE for our HEARTS…We are ready to challenge all obstacles because OUR LIVES MATTER!

We should also be proud that we have reached another milestone to establish the ICCHA-WISH Community Education Centre at the THOMPSON RIVERS UNIVERSITY. During the PANDEMIC, MANY LIVES WERE LOST and there was and is still a huge NURSING SHORTAGE!

The ICCHA-WISH FUND’s goal is to educate a local student who cannot afford the education... a chance to become a nurse by giving him or her a FULL FOUR-YEAR education valued at $40,000.

Yes, we can educate a child in our community to BECOME A NURSE who will touch MANY HEARTS. For this program, the ICCHA-WISH FUND has reserved a seat for such a student at the TRU NURSING program. Our goal is to raise a million dollars and we have already raised over $250,000 to establish a community funded ICCHA-WISH Community Education Centre.

I thank all the donors, sponsors and volunteers who backed the vision of making a change and became the change to support the ICCHA-WISH Fund to make our community a better place to live in.

“Have a Heart to Give… For a Heart to Live!”

Al Patel Founder of ICCHA/ Wish Fund

March 7, 2022

A message from the MLAs

To the Members and Supporters of ICCHA/Wish:

As MLAs for Kamloops – South Thompson and Kamloops – North Thompson ridings, we are delighted to offer our wholehearted support for improving cardiac care in Kamloops. We acknowledge and are grateful for the relentless work that ICCHA/ Wish has achieved over the past 16 years and lend our voices to assist you achieve your goals.

March 7, 2022

To the Members and Supporters of ICCHA/Wish,

To the Members and Supporters of ICCHA/Wish,

As MLAs for Kamloops – South Thompson and Kamloops – North Thompson, it gives us great pleasure to offer support for improving cardiac care in Kamloops. We acknowledge the work that ICCHA/Wish has done with fundraising and awareness, and wholeheartedly lend our voices to help you achieve this goal.

As MLAs for Kamloops – South Thompson and Kamloops – North Thompson, to offer support for improving cardiac care in Kamloops. We acknowledge the has done with fundraising and awareness, and wholeheartedly lend our voices goal.

Since 2007, the ICCHA/Wish Fund has raised over $1.4 million for special projects and state-ofthe-art equipment to improve healthcare excellence at Royal Inland Hospital. By establishing new community partners and expanding your vision, future nurses will now also benefit from your efforts.

Kamloops has been rapidly growing over the years and will continue to do so. The need for improvements to cardiac care in Kamloops is significant for the growth of our community. It is important for our constituents to know that they can receive the care needed in their own community.

Kamloops has been rapidly growing over the years and will continue to do so. to cardiac care in Kamloops is significant for the growth of our community. It constituents to know that they can receive the care needed in their own community.

On behalf of our constituents, thank you for all the work you have done and we hope that improvements to cardiac care is soon realized in our community.

On behalf of our constituents, thank you for all the work you have done and we to cardiac care is soon realized in our community.

As Kamloops and surrounding communities grow, the need for healthcare improvements is paramount. It is important for our constituents to take comfort in knowing that they can receive the care they need within their own community.

Sincerely, Todd Stone

On behalf of our constituents throughout Kamloops and region, we thank you for your continued contributions in making the much-needed improvements to RIH and our healthcare, which benefits us all.

A message from the Mayor

Supporters of ICCHA/WISH:

Sincerely,

Todd Stone

Todd Stone

MLA Kamloops

South Thompson

Peter Milobar

MLA Kamloops North Thompson

As Mayor of Kamloops, I thank you for your contributions to the ICCHA/WISH. Al Patel is a compassionate advocate for the ICCHA/WISH Fund, working hard to raise much needed funds for Cardiac Care Unit at RIH. A pivotal supporter of our hospital he works tirelessly to ensure that our staff and patients have the best in equipment available to perform increasingly more complex diagnostics procedures and treatments. With the growing need to obtain improved local care, it is critical that we have people like Al Patel that help ensure the best available technology is there for Kamloops and area residents when we need it.

Kamloops South Thompson

Kamloops North Thompson

Yours truly,

Constituency Office

446 Victoria Street

Kamloops, B.C. V2C 2A7

C onstituency Office

618B Tranquille Road

B.C. V2C 2A7

T 250.374.2880 | F 250.377.3448

T 250.374.2880 | F 250.377.3448

With the newly opened Gaglardi Tower at Royal Inland Hospital the demand is ever increasing for the next phase in the redevelopment plan. We need to continue to collaborate as a tight knit community and obtain contributions to help those in dire need. We will still continue to lobby along side ICCHA/WISH for more extensive cardiac care and serve those in and around Kamloops.

Kamloops, B.C. V2B 3H6

T 250. 554.5413 | F 250. 554.5417

Reid Hamer-Jackson

Mayor City of Kamloops

Peter Milobar MLA Kamloops – South Thompson MLA Kamloops

Peter Milobar MLA Kamloops – South Thompson MLA Kamloops – North Thompson

To Members and Supporters of the ICCHA/Wish Fund,

A Message from the Member of Parliament

To Members and Supporters of the ICCHA/Wish Fund,

As Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, I am proud to support the incredible work of the ICCHA/Wish Fund. Their tireless efforts have resulted in significant contributions to healthcare services in Kamloops in areas such as diagnostics, cancer care, neonatal intensive care, cardiac care and more.

As Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, I am proud to support the incredible work that has been undertaken by the ICCHA/Wish Fund. Their efforts over the past 15 years have resulted in incredible contributions to our community, including ove r $1.6 million raised towards state-of-the-art equipment at the Royal Inland Hospital.

The interior of BC is one of the fastest growing regions in the country With that growth comes increased need for essential facilities, especially in healthcare. The dedication of the ICCHA/Wish Fund is an incredible asset to our community and has meaningful, measurable impact on residents. I support their efforts to raise $1 million to establish a Community Education Center in the nursing building at Thompson Rivers University and to establish a Cardiac Catheterization Lab facility at the Royal Inland Hospital.

With the continuing growth of our community comes increased need for essential facilities, particularly in healthcare. Quality healthcare is foundational to a thriving community. The dedication of the ICCHA/Wish Fund is an incredible asset to our region and has meaningful, measurable impact on residents. I look forward to seeing the projects that ICCHA/Wish Fund will complete next.

On behalf of the constituents of Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, I would like to thank the ICCHA/Wish Fund and their donors for the work they have done in our community and for their continued efforts to improve healthcare throughout the region.

On behalf of the constituents of Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, I would like to thank the ICCHA/Wish Fund for the great work they have done in our community and for their continued efforts to improve healthcare throughout the region.

Sincerely,

Sincerely,

Frank Caputo

Frank Caputo, M.P. Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo

2022/23 ICCHA/Wish Achieved

DONATED NOVEMBER 2022

Built for patient comfort and safety

eBike EL

Tilt-table ergometer for stress exercise testing and stress echocardiography

patient comfort and safety

The addition of a stress Ebike to our 4d echo machine will further improve diagnostic capabilities in patients with blockages by enhancing test precisions at Royal Inland Hospital ICCHA/Wish Coronary Care Unit

The eBike EL tilt-table design offers stability and comfortable patient positioning during stress exercise testing procedures. Ergonomic features include adjustable padded surfaces, headrest, seat, and arm rest. The eBike EL has features to support a safe stress exercise procedure for the patient. Its footplate facilitates ease of mounting and dismounting, and a seatbelt is offered for added security. Should the need arise during an examination, the eBike EL has an automatic electrical adjustment device that enables the ergometer to be converted from the semi-recumbent to the flat position within seconds, so that treatment can be carried out quickly.

tilt-table design offers stability and comfortable patient stress exercise testing procedures. Ergonomic features padded surfaces, headrest, seat, and arm rest. features to support a safe stress exercise procedure for footplate facilitates ease of mounting and dismounting, offered for added security. Should the need arise during eBike EL has an automatic electrical adjustment device ergometer to be converted from the semi-recumbent to the seconds, so that treatment can be carried out quickly.

frank.caputo@parl.gc.ca

eBike provides STABLE AND COMFORTABLE patient positioning for stress-echo procedures

Designed for patient focus

Built for patient comfort and safety

The eBike EL also feature automatic controls that allow the clinician to focus on the patient and their diagnosis, rather than on the equipment. The table’s change in load can be controlled completely by the integrated protocols of the ECG system. Should the clinician wish to change the table’s tilt angle, the eBike EL features an independent control panel that puts the controls at his or her fingertips. Three customized positions can be saved and recalled at the touch of a button.

for patient focus

stress-echo procedures

Side drop-out piece for UNENCUMBERED ACCESS to the imaging region of interest

feature automatic controls that allow the clinician to focus their diagnosis, rather than on the equipment. The table’s be controlled completely by the integrated protocols of Should the clinician wish to change the table’s tilt angle, features an independent control panel that puts the controls fingertips. Three customized positions can be saved and recalled button.

The eBike EL tilt-table design offers stability and comfortable patient positioning during stress exercise testing procedures. Ergonomic features include adjustable padded surfaces, headrest, seat, and arm rest.

eBike provides STABLE AND COMFORTABLE patient positioning for stress-echo procedures

The eBike EL has features to support a safe stress exercise procedure for the patient. Its footplate facilitates ease of mounting and dismounting, and a seatbelt is offered for added security. Should the need arise during an examination, the eBike EL has an automatic electrical adjustment device that enables the ergometer to be converted from the semi-recumbent to the flat position within seconds, so that treatment can be carried out quickly.

Side drop-out piece for UNENCUMBERED ACCESS

Side drop-out piece for UNENCUMBERED ACCESS to the imaging region of interest

EXERCISE TO RECOVERY transition and imaging is facilitated directly on eBike

eBike provides STABLE AND COMFORTABLE patient positioning for stress-echo procedures

Side drop-out piece for

eBike provides STABLE AND COMFORTABLE patient positioning for

imaging

New 4D Echocardiogram

Purchased by the ICCHA-Wish Fund

The ICCHA-Wish Fund, a long-time donor of the Royal Inland Hospital (RIH) Foundation, was founded in 2007. Over the years, the Fund has raised awareness and helped purchase equipment related to critical and advanced care at RIH. Despite many obstacles put forth by COVID-19, the ICCHAWish Fund demonstrated an exceptional ability to pivot and adapt in order to stay on track with their goal of purchasing life-saving equipment for RIH. Through hard work and dedication, ICCHA-Wish successfully hosted numerous fundraisers and events in partnership with local businesses and individuals within the community.

“When someone is sick in the hospital, we wish them well, but that is not good enough, WE HAVE TO DO MORE! A wish for a healthy community can come true by businesses and individuals giving something back for the benefit of all who rely on the Royal Inland Hospital." - Al Patel, founder of ICCHA-Wish.

It was through wildly successful initiatives such as drive-thru dinners prepared by the Colombo Lodge, the 50/50 raffle presented by Phi Hotel Group, “Row for the Heart with Tara” hosted by Orangetheory Fitness, and many more, that the ICCHA-Wish Fund was able to raise thousands of dollars for the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation. As a result, ICCHA-Wish and the RIH Foundation is pleased to announce that the 4D echocardiogram has been purchased and is working hard in RIH’s Echocardiography Laboratory. This stateof-the-art equipment will add another dimension to diagnostics and assist the cardiology teams at RIH in making an accurate diagnosis at the bedside of critically ill patients. With the purchase of this equipment, analysis will help determine life-saving therapies promptly in patients with complications following heart attacks.

“We are very grateful to the ICCHA-Wish Fund for the generous donation of a GE Vivid 4D Echocardiogram. The addition of this system to our department brings us to 5 units and has helped us decrease our waitlist. The Vivid E95 has the latest technology with exceptional image quality and 4D capability. It has the latest software

allowing us to perform strain, automated function imaging, and stress imaging. The Echocardiography Lab is a vital part of cardiac diagnostics at RIH and we are thankful for the support of the RIH Foundation and the ICCHA-Wish Fund for their contributions to our department,” explained Brenda Mercer, Professional Practice Leader, Ultrasound, Echo & Vascular Labs.

“We are proud that our community has backed all our efforts in developing the ICCHA-Wish Cardiac Care Unit at Royal Inland Hospital. The funds raised for the 4D-Echocardiogram machine will allow cardiologists at RIH to perform accurate diagnostic services for cardiac outpatients so that they can be treated locally and receive the “royal” treatment they deserve,” says Al Patel, founder of the ICCHA-Wish Fund.

According to Chief of Cardiology, Dr. Kobus Steyn, “The GE Vivid E95 4D Cardiovascular Ultrasound system has made a meaningful contribution to elevating cardiac diagnostic capacity at RIH. This specialized piece of equipment has allowed our medical staff to improve access and quality of care. The ICCHAWish Fund has played an integral role in making the acquisition of this device possible and helping us continuously evolve cardiovascular care at RIH.”

Heidi Coleman, RIH Foundation CEO, states, “Al Patel and the ICCHA-Wish team, as well as all of his supporters, are making a huge difference at RIH. When they set their mind to something, watch out! The effort they put into fundraising for our hospital – all in the limited spare time they have – is inspirational.” The ICCHA-Wish Fund does not plan on stopping their efforts here. They plan to continuously raise funds in support of the RIH Foundation.

Dr Suman Dhesi, Brenda Mercer, Brett Mackay & Cassie Durvin

VISION of the ICCHA-WISH Cardiac Care Diagnostic Lab

The resounding success and generous donations for improving cardiac care at RIH at the recent gala provided the much-needed impetus and momentum to our mission to provide advanced cardiac care to our deserving and committed community.

Since the establishment of the ICCHA-WISH Fund in 2007, the vision of cardiac care at RIH has progressed by leaps and bounds, thanks to the commitment of all stakeholders that provided the robust backbone of such a grand venture. Thus a dedicated team of soundly trained cardiologists have found a common goal by joining the division of cardiology at RIH. Professional growth has matched the cardiac care needs of this generous community.

The division has established itself as a force to reckon with in the field of non-invasive cardiology, namely Echocardiography( 3D and 4D), Coronary care, Cardiac MRI, Cardiac CT angiograms as well as exercise tolerance testing, Stress Echo and Holter studies.

Much remains to be done, for we cannot rest on our laurels. Our next major step is right at our doorstep! And that is to establish an invasive procedure room where our talented and dedicated cardiologists can place temporary pacing wires under direct vision, record

right heart pressures to optimize life-saving therapy, implant devices and hopefully eventually offer life-saving acute interventions. Such a much-needed facility is a logical and rational next step in the division's growth.

All these achievements above bear testimony to the selfless dedication and passion of ICCHA-Wish founder and visionary extraordinaire Al Patel who has made it his “coup de coeur” to provide advanced cardiac care locally at RIH.His recent twinning of Health care with Health education in collaboration with TRU is a quantum leap in that direction as it addresses our nursing staff shortage. His proposition is inclusive and global and a win-win solution for all parties.

Kamloopsians have put their hearts and souls into this project by donating generously and responding with magnificent candour during the fundraiser. They crystallize our dreams to reality.Thank you, Kamloopsians.

Have a heart to give for a heart to live!

Mr. Anil Parekh Executive DirectorICCHA/Wish Fund

Dr. Shawn Pun was born and raised in the Lower Mainland. He obtained his MD from the University of British Columbia and completed his Cardiology training at McGill University. He subsequently pursued further fellowship training in CardioOncology and cardiac imaging at Memorial Sloan Kettering in New York. He worked in Boston Massachusetts prior to returning to Canada. He has interests in general cardiology, cardiac imaging and Cardio-Oncology.

DR. SHAWN PUN

Making a Difference

ICCHA, in Hindi, means wish. The ICCHA Fund was established in 2007 to support the cherished wish of many generous donors to support critical and advanced health care and we are grateful that the support has extended to include nursing students as future healthcare providers. Nursing education requires hard work, dedication, and a passion to care for people, however desire is not enough – education also requires money for tuition, for books, for transportation and for living while going to school. For many aspiring nurses the financial burden is too great an obstacle to tackle. The ICCHA Fund for Thompson Rivers University School of Nursing has a bold vision. It aims to support nursing students for the entire 4 years of their education, so students can focus on excelling in education without the worry of how to pay for it.

Going to nursing school, for many students, means moving away from their community. The pressures of school are compounded by being away from home and from taking on additional responsibilities to meet financial needs. Many students are also parents and entering nursing to fulfill a lifelong dream as well as give back to the community. Juggling multiple demands takes a toll on student mental and physical health. A bursary is gift that has the power to transform the experience and enable success. In the words of students:

I am a current first-year nursing student, studying at TRU Williams Lake. I have never been away from my family until now. I moved to Williams Lake because TRU was the first school that accepted me. I also thought I needed to learn to be independent for my own growth....When I discovered that I received a bursary, I was in shock. I am truly happy and grateful for this as this can help with my nursing school expenses. Thank you for helping students like me to go to school and helping me achieve my dreams of being a successful nurse. I hope to be able to give back one day.

By receiving this award, I will be able to invest more time in my final practicum experience and perform more self care throughout the semester, rather than working my part-time job as often. Therefore, this award has taken some financial pressure off of me, and I truly appreciate that.

I’m grateful and thankful for the bursary money... It really helped me to lighten my burdens with my heavy course load. It gave me a chance to breathe for a while without getting stressed about my work, exams and my family. Being a mom of young kids, the journey I started was never easy. This bursary boosted my confidence and motivated me to go ahead for my future dreams. The moment I was struggling with every aspect, I received my bursary cheque and it gave me a new purpose to serve the community again.

Knowing that there are people who believe in me, who are rooting for my success provides the motivation to keep going when things get tough. The bursary provides me with the needed funds but so much more.

On behalf of TRU students and faculty, I would like to say a big THANK YOU to ICCHA Wish foundation for their support of our students. Our faculty go above and beyond in supporting and helping students; the generosity of the community and knowing those we serve also support our students is equally energizing for the faculty and staff. Nursing is caring, knowing others care for us is an amazing gift that uplifts us all!

Honourary

DONATED $10,000+ SINCE 2007

• Bridgeport Floors

• Cascades Casino

• Dr. Archie E. & Mrs. E. Jane Dempster

• Dr. Bas & Mrs. Shankaramma Gowd

• Dr. Krishna Parghi

• Dr. Russell & Mrs. Amrita Ebata

Ebata Eye Care Optometry

• Interior Plumbing & Heating Ltd.

• Kamloops Hindu Cultural Society

• Mr. Al & Mrs. Bina Patel

Scott’s INN and Restaurant

• Mr. Alan & Mrs. Dawn Gozda

• Mr. Anil & Mrs. Jyoti Parekh

Lamplighter Motel

• Mr. Ben & Mrs. Vivian Hildebrand

• Mr. Bob Purohit

Acadian Inn

Benefactors

• Mr. Bob Rishiraj Kamloops Oral Surgery & Implant Centre

• Mr. Brad Lincoln Capri CMW

• Mr. Charan Rai & Ms. Lucky Gill PHI Hotel Group

• Mrs. Eleanor Thompson

• Mr. Grayden & Mrs. Sangita Flanagan SUBWAY Restaurants

• Mr. Hasmukh & Mrs. Sangita Parekh Rider’s Motor Inn

• Mr. Jeff & Mrs. Tanya Isfeld

Speedy Cash

• Mr. Jim Oakley & Mrs. Sherry Blanchard Kamloops HONDA

• Mr. John & Mrs. Stephanie Hampel Best Western Plus

• Mrs. Linda Turner RE/MAX

A FULL LISTING OF OUR DONORS, PLEASE VISIT

• Mr. Lorne & Mrs. Michelle Morris Lyon’s Landscaping

• Mr. & Mrs. Sid Kandola City Furniture & Appliances Ashley Furniture Home Store

• Mr. Pravin & Mrs. Gita Patel

• Mrs. Rae Nixon

• Mr. Roger Dhesa & Mr. Trevor Dhesa Tournament INN & Motel 6

• Mr. Ron Mundi Coast Kamloops Hotel and Conference Centre

• Sai Ram Developments LTD

• Tourism Kamloops

• Valley First, a div of First West Credit Union

• Western Roofing

• Windsor Plywood

Time has come for a Cardiac Catheterization Lab at RIH

Iam a Retired Gynaecologist that served with dedication for 25 years at RIH.When I started there were 5 Gynaecologists with no modern investigative and therapeutic equipments, hence I decided and started !).Fetal monitoring 2). Laparoscopy for diagnosing pelvic and abdominal problems which helped reducing prolonged hospitalization thus saving significant amount of money. 3).Colposcopy to diagnose pre malignant and malignant lesions of cervix, vagina and vulva which became third largest colposcopy in BC. 4) Laser surgery 5) Hysteroscopy diagnosing intrauterine abnormality. For colposcopy training I had to shut down my office for a month but I had no financial help from any source.

After retirement started working as board member at United way, TRU foundation, Kamloops Rotary club as Chairman Of Polio eradication,RIH foundation and ICCHA/ Wish foundation, not only raising funds but I have donated considerable amount of money as well.

I firmly believe that we are born to serve and service is the best form of worship. I have always believed in giving back to the society.

Working with Al Patel the founder of ICCHA/ Wish foundation I have been intensely focussed on establishing A Cath. Lab to deal with acute coronary heart disease with insertion of catheter and stent to relieve obstruction in the coronary artery thus saving lives right here at RIH instead of sending patient to Kelowna or Vancouver.The ICCHA/Wish raised funds to establish Cardiac care unit with all the modern equipment needed and anxiously waiting for a Cath. lab.

RIH is a tertiary unit and we have 6 cardiologists but no cath lab. At least some of the cardiologists should take interest and take 2-3 weeks of training in Vancouver to perform cardiac catheterization and insertion of stents which will helpHealth ministry to sanction to instal Cardiac Catheterization lab. I had the procedures , first one in Vancouver, 2nd and 3rd in Kelowna.The 3rd one to Kelowna was terrible as the ambulance almost rolled over when we were close to Vernon on way to Kelowna. I am still alive because of the stents.Imagine the stress and the misery for both the patient and the family have to go through.

Coronary heart disease is a NUMBER ONE KILLER. People have to realize and pay attention to one of the most important requirement at RIH instead of admiring Tower after Tower buildings without life saving

measures that are urgently needed.Presently patients with acute coronary heart have to wait 2-4 days to be transferred to Kelowna and some have died while waiting. Is this modern Medical practice?I remember Premier Harcourt promising Cardiac care unit or Cancer clinic at RIH. Only lies came true and both went to Kelowna. Ministers have promised a lot but very little came out as truth. Even our own MLA Terry Lake became health minister and I had a long talk with him asking for Cath. Lab to save lives of his constituents and thus leaving a legacy but He said Kelowna is the only place, not Kamloops.Our MlA s are not interested in this topic.

In my opinion it is about time that people of Kamloops and surrounding areas must take this issue and go after the politicians, Health minister and Interior health organizations they elect asking for better cardiac care establishing Catheterization Lab at RIH.The ICCHA/ Wish foundation will work hard to provide extra funds needed. Yours truly, G.B. GOWD. FRCSC.

Dr. G.B. Gowd MD FRCSC

Ed Barker’s Cardiac Journey

Nobody plans to get sick or to need to go the hospital but when you do end up going, you hope someone there can fix the problem.

RIH has the equipment to fix broken bones and solve other health issues. I know because I have benefited from their expertise. As a teenager, I spent an entire summer in RIH because of a serious car accident; and was treated by experts who had the equipment to get me back to health.

However, I discovered that RIH doesn’t have the tools to fix a heart attack! In July 2021, after tests were performed, the doctors determined that I had experienced a major heart attack. Unfortunately, I would need to go to Kelowna. I wouldn’t wish that wait on anyone! Twelve hours in RIH emergency ward, hooked up to monitors, listening to the sounds of chaos before being moved to a ward to wait for transport to Kelowna General for an angiogram.

At 8:30 in the morning, I was transported to Kelowna, where they have a CATH lab and trained cardiologists to perform an angiogram and subsequently to place 2 stents to clear the blockages in my heart. Then I was back to RIH in an ambulance by 5pm the same day, and discharged the following morning. If you remove travel time, the time for the procedure was minimal. If Kamloops had a CATH lab, the wait in emergency, the danger to the patient of unnecessary travel, and the cost of transport to Kelowna could be avoided.

Support Iccha-Wish Fund

I thought I was good to enjoy all life had to offer until October 2022 when I started to experience shortness of breath and chest pain again. I returned to RIH to find out that nothing had improved at RIH and they still didn’t have the tools to fix my heart.

This time I had to wait for a call from Kelowna with an appointment date. In December, on my own dime with my own driver I travelled back to Kelowna. I needed to spend the night prior to the procedure at a motel in Kelowna so that I wouldn’t be late for the early morning appointment. When the cardiologist did another angiogram, he found one of my stents that was placed in July 2021 was blocked and a new stent had to be inserted. I was required to spend another night in Kelowna in a motel as the cardiologist wanted to make sure that I didn’t have any issues with bleeding etc. after my operation before returning to Kamloops.

I am grateful for the services available in Kelowna but the anxiety to a patient in cardiac distress is not a good thing. I strongly encourage you to help me lobby for a CATH lab here in Kamloops so all residents in Kamloops can get immediate care when the need arises versus having to be transported to Kelowna at extra expense and the risk of the patient’s health.

Ed Baker

Education Room RIH Cancer Clinic

by

the ICCHA/Wish Fund

The education room at the Kamloops Cancer Clinic continues to be a major benefit for patients, family members and staff since its construction over a decade ago.

Offering a bright spacious area for learning opportunities, group teaching for new patients, staff education on new medications and procedures and connecting with oncology resources through telehealth, the education room has been a valuable tool in the care of cancer patients at RIH. It is also a place where physicians can meet with patients and families for confidential discussions on their oncology care.

We are extremely grateful to the ICCHA/Wish Fund for providing such an accommodating space in our clinic.

DR. STEVEN SRA

Dr. Steven Sra grew up in the South Okanagan and obtained his medical degree from the University of British Columbia in Vancouver BC. He completed residency training in Internal Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and Adult Cardiology at the University of Toronto. He has completed sub-specialty fellowship training in Cardiac Imaging at the University of Toronto. He has been a full time Cardiologist at Royal Inland Hospital since 2017.

DR. KOBUS STEYN

Kobus Steyn was born in Virginia, South Africa. He completed his Medical degree in 1997 at the University of The Free State in South Africa. After a doing his Internship and Community service in Kroonstad, South Africa, he returned to the city of Bloemfontein and finished training in internal Medicine in 2003. He spent a year in Private practice prior to starting his 3 years of Core Cardiology training that finished in 2008. He moved to Canada in 2009 and has been working at the Royal Inland Hospital in Kamloops ever since.

Overbed warmers for the NICU

Approximately 1,200 newborns are delivered at RIH every year. Families can rest assured that the care and support they might need for a premature or ill newborn is always available from the caring staff in our Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). The highly-trained NICU staff care for babies as young as 30 weeks (born 10 weeks before their due date). Premature babies sometimes require very close monitoring with specialized equipment. The overhead warmers purchased by ICCHA/Wish have been used extensively for neonates in both the NICU and in the labour and delivery setting.

They allow us to preserve warmth while being able to carefully assess, observe and, when necessary, treat newborns who may present with a medical complication.

This is essential for neonates who can not easily maintain a normal temperature and, when cold, can incur more medical distress or complicate what is already going on. They are the first stop certainly for a newborn who isn’t transitioning in a healthy state from birth and also is a stop for nearly all newborns to have a thorough initial exam after skin-to-skin contact with mom. We wholeheartedly appreciate the gift of these warmers for our tiniest population!

Thank you from the NICU!

Every patient in the post anesthetic recovery has their cardiac and respiratory status monitored closely following surgery as there is a potential for change. Both children and the elderly are included in this monitoring.

These monitors are an essential part of excellent post-operative care for patients and continue to provide essential data required to closely monitor patient’s condition post operatively and we could not do our work without them.

Dr. Bas Gowd, Anil Parekh, Al Patel (Founder ICCHA/Wish Fund), Donna Martin (Program Leader PAR), Bob Purohit, Hasmukh Parekh

Dr. Chow joined the Department of Medicine at Royal Inland hospital working as both an Internist and Cardiologist until the formal development of the Cardiology program. Dr. Chow believes in creating and maintaining a healthy balance in life. In his leisure time he can be found mountain biking and fishing at one of the many biking trails and lakes the West Coast has to offer.

families with loved ones in critical care

The ICU compassionate room is one that is incredibly important. It is really the only private space away from their loved ones room to give them space to connect, reflect and process what is happening to the people they care about. It gives families a private space to connect, grieve & discuss potential plans for the care of their loved ones. All the furniture in the ICU waiting room and Compassionate Room was upgraded by the ICCHA/Wish Fund.

Portable x-ray machine crucial for immobile patients at RIH

The Medical Imaging department has been so thankful for their new Siemens portable x-ray machine Donated by the ICCHA/Wish Fund. Since May of 2018 they have performed over 1,000 portable x-rays with this machine allowing very sick patients to remain in their beds while they perform the x-ray. This machine is used for imaging patients in the Intensive Care Unit, Emergency department and on the wards from the very young to the very old.

The next step to make full use of the capabilities of this unit is to locate funding to purchase a digital imaging plate. This digital plate will automatically send the x-ray image to the hospital computer system immediately after the image is taken so that the physicians can access it within seconds.

New colonoscopy equipment provided by ICCHA/Wish

Did you know that colorectal cancer is the 3rd most commonly diagnosed cancer and cause of death? But the good news is, it is easily detectable thanks to ICCHA/Wish Fund donors who purchased a colonoscope for the ACU (Ambulatory Care Unit), and when found early, it is highly treatable. Every year at RIH, thousands of patients are seen through the endoscopy procedural area and this equipment aids in the monitoring, diagnosis and follow-up care of a patient with bowel disease. Physicians can take samples with the scope and mark exact areas of cancer which can ultimately lead to less invasive surgery for the patient. The colonoscope is also used for patients suffering from conditions such as Crohn’s Disease and Colitis. These types of scopes are also used as part of the BC colon cancer-screening program, which aids in detection and/or intermittent screening for bowel cancer.

Have a Heart to Give... For a Heart to Live

I have really missed hearing this phrase and I didn’t even recognize it until we went to the ICCHA/WISH Gala just the other night on April 28th, 2023.

It brought me home to remember that being human, we have this tendency to let things go day by day that don’t push on us in some way negative or positive. For many, if there is no push there is no action. There are a strong few who keep the faith so that the rest will jump back in when reminded; this is a great thing to be a part of.

As I review the last few years, I am grateful for what this fundraising event brings to mind. Watching the promotional video at the GALA brought tears to Lisa and I as we sat there remembering what it is like to go through an event. Tears of emotion but also happiness as it realigns us. You see many good people you don’t get to see normally, and you get to connect with new like-minded who love to make a difference and leave their mark of being a part of positive change for others behind them.

We come together for this one of many great causes to make a difference. To raise awareness. To raise funds to provide new equipment. To hold those accountable who can make this a reality and let our leaders know what we really need and want as a community.

At Lyons, we not only provide for ICCHA Wish, but we also support many great causes that have a positive effect on the people in our communities. The Grow A Row for the Kamloops Food Bank, The Royal Affair, Childrens Starfish backpack program, Hospice and many more. Supporting our community is part of our core values and we feel strongly about re investing in it.

RIH is at the center of our community. We are all there at many points on our journey through life. We all spend some time at RIH, some more than others. We need to support the continued development of cardiac care and establish the acute ICCHA-WISH Cardiac Care Diagnostic Lab which Al Patel Founder of the ICCHA-WISH Fund pledged to raise $1million dollars to improve our quality of care and life here. It’s critical for the people of our community to thrive.

DR. KAREN CHU

Dr. Karen Chu obtained her MD and internal medicine training from the University of British Columbia and her cardiology training from the University of Manitoba. She has worked at Royal Inland Hospital since 2017. Her field of interest is heart rhythm abnormalities and prevention of heart disease.

Lithotriptor machine helps doctor remove kidney stones efficiently

The lithotripsy equipment purchased by ICCHA/Wish to perform “percutaneous nephrolithotomy” surgery has allowed more patients to be treated in Kamloops instead of traveling to Vancouver. These surgeries require an overnight stay in hospital, which puts a strain on families when patients had to travel to Vancouver.

We now perform almost all these surgeries in Kamloops. This surgery is ideal for patients with large kidney

stones measuring two centimeters or greater in size. The equipment provided allows us to dilate a pathway directly from the skin into the kidney where the kidney stones can be fragmented. The subsequent fragments can then be removed with a probe that works similar to a vacuum (removing the fragments with suction).

Over the past three years, the number of cases being performed in Kamloops is steadily rising

- Dr. Steve Faddegon

Proud to Support Our Community

As a locally-owned insurance broker, we’re dedicated to the place we call home and to those who share where we live.

Electromyography machine helps with pain and weakness

The evaluation of patients with neurologic disease and injury is a common need. There are so many important diseases to recognize, treat and manage such as Guillain Barre Disease, Amphotropic Lateral Sclerosis, and Peripheral Neuropathy.

As a Level 2 Trauma Centre Royal Inland Hospital must also be prepared to evaluate patient who have suffered nerve injuries in the arms and legs – the brachia plexus and lumbar plexus. The donated electromyography (EMG) equipment is heavily used by the Neurophysiology lab to support the hospital in the diagnosis and management of these patients.

DR. SUMANDEEP DHESI

Dr. Sumandeep Dhesi obtained her medial degree from the University of British Columbia. She then completed Internal Medicine and Cardiology training at the University of Alberta. She subsequently completed an advanced echocardiography Fellowship at Mayo Clinic, Rochester. In 2017, she started working at Royal Inland Hospital as a General Cardiologist. She is the physician lead for the Collaborative Heart Attack Management Program (CHAMP) which has brought life-saving heart attack therapies into the prehospital environment. Outside of acute coronary syndromes, her interests include valvular heart disease, cardiomyopathies, and advanced echocardiographic imaging.

Portable ultrasound machine for RIH

ICCHA/Wish raised funds for a portable ultrasound to be used for a number of antenatal (during pregnancy) procedures and for educational purposes. This ultrasound will both free up diagnostic imagining resources at RIH and help to further develop professional development opportunities in Kamloops – critical in the education of UBC students and residents, and in helping with physician recruitment. We are grateful to all of the ICCHA/Wish Fund supporters who are making such a positive impact at our hospital.

The ICCHA-Wish Fund's goal of providing meaningful care to Kamloops residents is inspiring and Tourism Kamloops is proud to continue our support of the ICCHA-Wish Fund in 2023. At our core, Tourism Kamloops is a supporter of the people who drive and shape our community, whether that's local businesses, operators, or community groups.

"There is so much that goes into ensuring the residents of Kamloops and our visitors enjoy a vibrant and thriving community. Robust services and access to quality healthcare play a huge role in that. We are proud to promote the incredible services, opportunities, and experiences available in our city, and this initiative serves as an incredible example of how we can always work to improve our essential services;' explains Monica Dickinson, CEO of Tourism Kamloops.

Through tourism, we share our community, culture, and values with the world. We want everyone who comes to Kamloops to feel as excited about our city as our residents do, and take a little piece of that home with them. Ensuring that residents have access to quality healthcare enriches the livability and lifestyle of Kamloops, and creates an electric attitude that makes a lasting impression on visitors.

We believe that the tourism industry has a central role to play in supporting community, developing community resilience, and enabling economic prosperity through collaboration. Tourism isn't just about the visitor - it enriches our local lifestyle, creates jobs and opportunities, and strengthens our local economy for the benefit of all. By solidifying community partnerships, facilitating conversations with residents and visitors, and launching exciting new initiatives, Tourism Kamloops is working every day to take the vision of community building to the next level, and demonstrate our belief in Kamloops' strength as a world-class tourism destination.

Tourism Kamloops is proud to support ICCHA-Wish Foundation.

Right to left: Rasikbhai Parekh, Bhartiben Parekh, Late Shantiben Parekh, Anilbhai Parekh, Jyotiben Parekh, Sangitaben Parekh, Hasmukhbhai Parekh

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