Foundation CEO honours her health care angels

This year’s Angel Campaign has a deeper, more personal meaning for Barbara Grantham. As the Foundation’s President & CEO, Barbara has been a passionate advocate for our hospitals and health care teams. This year, she has even more reason to give thanks.

In October, Barbara thought she hurt her back while running. Three days later, the pain was still excruciating. Her GP sent her to the hospital, where Barbara was diagnosed with sepsis, a bacterial infection of the blood, and a spinal bacterial abscess.

After 10 days in VGH, Barbara went home, thanks to the community team, with a portable IV antibiotic pump that she wore 24/7 until last week.

“Throughout this journey, I’ve had the very best care from an amazing team. Mary Ackenhusen often talks about VCH being a “People First” organization. Now, I have a more personal understanding of what that really means,” Barbara explains. “From the care aides, the transport teams, the food service workers, the technologists, the researchers, the nurses and the doctors at VGH, UBCH, and in the – I met with dozens.”

“Because of all of these remarkable people, and in particular doctors Steven Wong and Grady Meneilly, I am well down the road to full recovery.”

Barbara is one of thousands of people who have honoured their angels with a personalized message hung on our winter wonderland of trees. Since 2001, the Angel Campaign has raised more than $2 million for our hospitals’ most urgent needs.

Read more about Barbara’s journey and the Angel Campaign in last week’s Vancouver Courier (link to: http://www.vancourier.com/community/ceo-credits-hospital-angels-through-campaign-1.1665999) and at VGHfoundation.ca/Angel.