Your donations fueled our fight against COVID-19

Your support enabled St. Joseph’s to quickly respond to the urgent needs of the pandemic. Here’s just a few of the ways your donation has helped.

Keeping people connected

A woman looks at an iPad — Hilda Libal, a 93-year-old resident at Mount Hope, was still able to dress up and enjoy her grandson’s wedding virtually on an iPad, thanks to donor support.

During a time of self-isolation, the world has become much smaller. Your support kept loneliness at bay for residents, inpatients and Veterans through the purchase of iPads and SMART Boards for virtual calls with loved ones, which also provided fun and educational programming.

You also helped keep patients in the community connected to care providers with Fitbits to track people’s activity in the Primary Care Diabetes Support Program, and pocket talkers for patients who are hearing impaired during virtual appointments in the Rehabilitation Program.

Supporting the body, mind and spirit

two men raising their drinks while sitting outside — Dean Pierce, left, and Long Thai, residents at the Steele Street Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program, are able to enjoy nature and safely socialize using newly purchased outdoor seating thanks to donor support.

St. Joseph’s cares for the whole person—in and out of a pandemic. Your support ensured patients’ bodies and minds were kept active in the Dual Diagnosis Program at Parkwood Institute with indoor and outdoor sensory and exercise activities, including a yoga ball, wrist and ankle weights and outdoor games. You also supported much-needed safely-distanced socialization opportunities with new patio furniture at the Steele Street Residential Rehabilitation and Treatment Program.

Caring for the caregivers

two women wearing masks hold up boxes of snacks — Katherine Plested, Therapeutic Recreation Specialist, left, and Bernice Haasen, (retired) Coordinator, Therapeutic Programs, receive a pick-me-up for Mount Hope staff.

Our community came together, not just to support patient care, but also to express gratitude for St. Joseph’s staff. Your support provided nourishment for our care teams with thousands of treats throughout the year. Local businesses and organizations also stepped up to donate gift cards for gas, food and even insoles for shoes to keep our frontline heroes feeling supported on their feet.

Mobilizing hospital research

two men wearing hospital masks — Lawson scientist Dr. Ruud Veldhuizen, left, and respirologist Dr. Jim Lewis, are studying whether a London-made drug can treat lung complications from COVID-19.

When COVID-19 cases began emerging in London, Lawson Health Research Institute’s (Lawson) health scientists quickly responded by launching studies to explore diagnosis, prevention and treatment of the disease, as well as long-term and mental health impacts. Lawson is the research arm of St. Joseph’s and London Health
Sciences Centre.

Your support kick-started a promising project by Lawson scientist Dr. Ruud Veldhuizen and respirologist Dr. Jim Lewis. Hoping to improve outcomes and reduce the time patients with severe cases spend on ventilators, the researchers are studying a treatment most commonly used to improve lung function in premature babies. Bovine lipid extract surfactant suspension (BLES®) may help adults who develop lung disease and acute respiratory distress syndrome recover their lung function from the effects of COVID-19.

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Your Impact

Donors have the power to improve and even save lives. Your donations help St. Joseph's invest in healthcare innovation and discovery that would otherwise not be possible.