$21,000 is on its way to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at the North Bay Regional Health Centre. It’s thanks to the 10th Annual Farquhar Chrysler Charity Golf Tournament.
Co-chairs Geoff and Tracy Richardson say the hospital is important to them and it’s a fun way to help families, adding they’re excited so many participants joined, especially honourary chair and tournament founder Dennis Murphy.
Hospital officials say the funds raised by the tournament will support the purchase of a retinal camera, used to diagnose Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP) – a potential blinding eye disorder which affects premature infants. The new camera will allow clinicians to perform a retinal exam to capture digital images, which was traditionally done manually by an ophthalmologist.
They add the images of the infant’s retina can then be examined virtually by an ophthalmologist for signs of ROP. Premature babies who may be at risk for ROP are carefully monitored and examined for the condition at three, six and nine weeks after birth before they can be discharged from the hospital. ROP has no signs or symptoms when it first develops in a newborn. The only way to diagnose it is through an eye exam.
This risk was a reality for Paige and Greg Metzger. Their daughter Sophie was born prematurely and smaller than expected for her gestational age, she was at a high risk of developing ROP. Sunnybrook Hospital in Toronto scheduled Sophie’s first eye exam for four weeks after her birth, followed by exams at intervals so that they could ensure Sophie received the necessary follow-up ROP exams. Because NBRHC was not able to guarantee an ophthalmologist would be available to perform the exams locally, Sophie would have had to travel to Sudbury for these eye exams.
“When we heard that Sophie might not be able to come home unless we could guarantee proper follow-up for her ROP exams, we felt overwhelming anxiety, sadness, and stress. We lacked support in Toronto and Greg had to return to North Bay due to work and education commitments. Those were difficult days until we finally received the news that Sophie could be transferred home as the ophthalmologist became available to perform the exams,” shared Paige Metzger. “Having our baby at our local hospital was the best thing for our family.”
“We are grateful that our community is one step closer to acquiring this specialized camera that costs $150,000,” says Chantal Gagne, Director Medical & Surgical Programs at NBRHC. “It will ensure that ROP screening is removed as a barrier for premature babies who are receiving care at tertiary hospitals to be transferred to their community hospitals. We are always focused on providing care closest to home, keeping families together during these stressful life events.”
“Medical equipment purchases are made possible through a partnership between the government, hospital and our community. Businesses, individuals, families and groups support our hospital in a variety of ways throughout the year, including monthly and memorial donations, gifts in Wills, corporate sponsorships and multi-year commitments. We are eternally grateful to the Murphy Family and the Richardson’s for their dedication to our tiny patients,” said Tammy Morison, President and CEO NBRHC Foundation.
Annually, more than 700 babies are born at NBRHC. The NICU is a high-risk referral centre for areas surrounding North Bay, and thousands of babies have been helped during their most critical time of need.
Since 2014, the Farquhar Chrysler Charity Golf Tournament has helped raised more than $200,000.
