A $500,000 donation from AREVA Resources Canada will lead to the creation of a family room in the maternal care centre at the future Children’s Hospital of Saskatchewan.
The Children’s Hospital Foundation of Saskatchewan “seemed like a really good fit” for AREVA’s Saskatoon and northern Saskatchewan employees, said Tammy Van Lambalgen, the company’s vice-president corporate affairs & general counsel.
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At one point, her daughter Ruby, now three years old, inhaled chlorine and had difficulty breathing. For Ruby’s mom, the incident underscored the importance of a hospital dedicated to treating kids.
“As a mother, I can tell you that when you go in and you’re directed to a pediatric emergency room that has a staffed pediatrician sitting in the room there, it is really a huge relief to a family,” Van Lambalgen said.
Because of the donation, the maternal care centre will have a space offering a positive distraction for families about to welcome a child. The room will include couches, a large TV and snack area.
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Patients who need privacy will also benefit from the donation, which is part of the foundation’s “We Can’t Wait” capital campaign.
“We have a $75-million goal. We’re approximately at $50 million right now, so we have $25 million left to go,” said Brynn Boback-Lane, president and CEO of the foundation.
Construction of the $285.2-million facility is about 25 per cent complete and is scheduled to open in 2019.
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