Ladonne and Steve Davidson of Kamloops are donating $100,000 to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation, with the money to be used in the under-construction, nine-storey patient-care tower.
The idea was born on April 4, when Ladonne 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 said.
In addition, the family, like most families in the community, has used the hospital on various occasions.
In fact, Ladonne was in RIH this past spring, suffering from pancreatitis and pneumonia. Thirteen years ago, Matthew was in the ICU for 10 days with serious injuries resulting from a snowboarding accident that led to surgery and multiple blood transfusions.
As a result, the Davidson family is acutely aware of the importance of health care, including timely access to state-of-the art equipment and training.
“We decided to direct our gift to the waiting room on the seventh 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,” Ladonne said.
“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.”
In addition to the waiting room on the seventh floor, there will be 30 private, single-patient rooms.
Steve said the hope is that the gift will inspire others to give back.
“We really want the new addition to be a success for everyone — patients, staff, and visitors,” he said. “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.”
RIH Foundation CEO Heidi Coleman said the generous gift is very much appreciated.
“We are very thankful for Ladonne and Steve’s gift,” Coleman said. “Life is about giving back and this is a perfect example.”
