Sarnia's hospital is getting a new infant warmer thanks to a generous donation from a foundation established in memory of one of Canada's greatest female curlers.
Bluewater Health Foundation Executive Director Kathy Alexander said they had been working with the Sandra Schmirler Foundation to identify a very important piece of equipment it could provide funding for.
"We had suggested the resuscitaire and they were thrilled to support that and actually increased their donation so that we were actually able to purchase it," said Alexander. "So the donation is $20,000, which is remarkable and will come in over a two year commitment."
The equipment will be used in the Maternal Infant Child Unit's level II special care nursery which cares for fragile newborns that require additional support after birth.
"This is an item that was identified as a critical priority of the Maternal Infant Child department so it is a priority need of the unit," said Alexander. "That's why it was really important to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation to support this because they knew it was a piece of equipment, not only that was going to make a difference and save lives, but was needed by Bluewater Health to care for our youngest patients."
The Sandra Schmirler Foundation was created in 2001 in memory of Saskatchewan's Sandra Marie Schmirler, a three time Canadian and World Curling Champion who died from cancer at the age of 36.
In 2019, she was named the second greatest Canadian female curler in history.
The Bluewater Health grant was to coincide with the Pinty's Grand Slam of Curling event scheduled to be played in Sarnia last fall. The Grand Slam Masters was postponed due to the pandemic, and rescheduled to October 2021.