Ken Burchill knows first-hand the value of having the right equipment for the right job. It was a point brought home to Burchill in August 1990 when a car accident left him hospitalized with a serious back injury.

"When I was well enough to learn to walk again, the proper equipment was not available to help me sit up straight in a chair. The furniture all seemed to be from the 1950s and '60s," Burchill said, recalling the painful experience as if it was yesterday.

He recognized that people tend to support areas of the hospital that are more publicly recognized such as Palliative Care, Cardiac Care or the Maternal/Infant/Child Program.

After reflecting on the situation, Burchill decided to do something about it. He purchased a multi-use chair that he donated to the hospital to treat people who suffer back trauma. A year later, he donated a computer system and has continued to donate annually ever since. He is also "Leaving a Legacy" by making a bequest to Bluewater Health Foundation through a life insurance policy. Burchill also joined both the St. Joseph's Foundation and St. Joseph's Hospital Board in the 1990s, and later served as Chairman of the Board of Bluewater Health.

Now, nearly two decades after first personally getting involved, Burchill is encouraging his fellow citizens to make a contribution. Unfortunately, he says, equipment purchases aren't included in the provincial funding allocation for the hospital and must be raised separately.

Anyone interested in contributing toward the purchase of a new piece of medical equipment can get a complete list of the needed equipment by contacting Bluewater Health Foundation.

It was the best decision I could have made," says Sarah Boughton, the mother of two who is undergoing chemotherapy at Bluewater Health. "When I was diagnosed with cancer, I went to London for a consultation, but I asked if I could undergo treatment in Sarnia. I've never looked back." "When I met Dr. Yoshida here at Bluewater Health, I instantly got good vibes and felt confident that I would receive the best care possible," continues Sarah. "The surroundings here just felt so much more comfortable – I felt like I was a person, rather than just another patient. And the nurses are so great – always a calming influence, no matter what's going on."It's a special group with the calling to work in this unit, and we're lucky to have someone of Dr. Ken Yoshida'scalibre here," says Vicki Lucas, Business Director, Surgical/Rehab/Ambulatory Care/Oncology.

"There aren't many Medical Oncologists, and many larger hospitals go without. We're also fortunate to have the staff in the Cancer Clinic, which runs Monday to Friday and averages 6,000 appointments per year, are thrilled with their new surroundings at the Norman Site, with 10 treatment chairs and 3 stretchers.

Sarah likes the new and modern surroundings, and enjoys catching up with others receiving treatment. "You get to see people fairly regularly, and it may surprise people that there's a lot of laughter in the waiting room as we
compare symptoms, and talk about any difficulties," says Sarah. "Everyone here, from the staff, to the volunteers,
are great, and treat you like they're glad to see you. The nurses come by to see how you're doing – and not just
when some machine is beeping for them to check."

Sarah is responding well to her treatment, and is cautiously optimistic about further improvements in her
condition. There's one thing she knows for sure: "If you can't change it, you must embrace it and do everything in your power to make the best of things. Here at the Bluewater Health Cancer Clinic, I feel like I can get through this, that I am being looked after, and that I am not alone."