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The Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Foundation provided $17,000 for the hospital’s recent purchase of a portable machine which analyses blood near the patient or “point of care”. With it, physicians can have blood results immediately, enabling them to diagnose patients more quickly.

The light and compact unit called pocH-100i, sits on a countertop. It can be easily transported from the Lab to any location, such as the ER, to provide safe and precise results.

Edwin Nkengla, KDH Site Operations Manager, EORLA, was pleased to share that the analyzer can “generate a whole range of haematological parameters, including a Complete Blood Count (CBC), White Blood Cell Count (BC), Red Blood Cell Count (RBC), Haemoglobin, Haematocrit and Platelet Count, and much more.” He explained that “it is easy to use with its touch screen operations and a great solution for both inside and outside the classical laboratory environment”.

Katie Hogue, VP of Nursing/Clinical Services and Chief Nursing Executive at KDH expressed her appreciation to the Foundation for funding the blood analyser. Hogue explained, "this vital piece of equipment would not be possible without the unwavering support of the KDH Foundation.  As partners we work collaboratively to prioritize the most urgent needs.  When we reached out to the Foundation and explained the urgency, they did not hesitate and for that we are so grateful! "

Executive Director of the KDH Foundation, Joanne Mavis, said, “we are happy to make it possible to purchase this important piece of equipment for the hospital. As another tool to look after the health of the KDH community, it will be impactful: accelerating diagnoses and improving the patient experience.”

The KDH Foundation is in a $2.2 million Crossroads Campaign to bring a CT Scanner to KDH. For more information and stories about the Campaign and how you can donate, visit the Crossroads Campaign page.

Beneshi BloomAt the Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) Foundation, we heard from Beneshi Bloom, a young lad who intends to cut his long hair, ask for donations to the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign and donate his hair for the purpose of a cancer patient’s wig. We were very impressed with his initiative! We asked Beneshi why he is doing this and what the CT Scanner will mean to the community. This is what he said:

“I am nine years old and I am in grade four at École élémentaire publique Rivière-Rideau.  One day my neighbour Halia asked if I would ever cut my hair. I was really thinking to myself "no"...because I like my long hair and I wanted to keep growing it to make a long braid, which is the traditional Anishnaabe hairstyle for boys.

She told me that some people donate their hair to make wigs for people who lose their hair when they are sick. I had never heard of that before. I learned that people with cancer lose their hair during treatment. I also learned that three of my grandparents died of cancer and I never got to see them because of it. My Dad showed me a picture of his Mom smiling and wearing her wig when she was sick.

It makes me feel happy and excited to think that donating my hair could help someone who is sick look and feel better.

I talked to my Mom and Dad about it and we learned that some people ask for sponsors before they get their hair cut.  I can donate my hair - and also raise money for charity! 

I love playing hockey and this year I am playing for the Kemptville Royals U11 Rep B team. If I ever hurt my head - or anyone on my team ever hurt their head - they would need a CT Scan right away! 

So, I am asking everyone to help me raise $1800 for the Kemptville Hospital CT Scanner by November 23rd, when I will cut my "flow" after my hockey game (that's hockey talk for a player's long hair). The puck drops for the Kemptville Royals vs. North Dundas Demons at noon. Come out for the game and stay to cheer me on during my hair cut at 1:30 pm!

If just 100 people donate $18 (a special number that stands for "life" in Hebrew) I will reach my goal.”

Joanne Mavis, Executive Director, KDH Foundation said, “this is a remarkable initiative from this young man! He understands the community importance of having this diagnostic tool close to home. Thank you – and good luck!”

Beneshi will be accepting donations at the upcoming local Royals hockey games and other locations around the area.

Donations to “Beneshi’s Haircut for KDH CT Scanner” can also be made online. Select the drop-down menu, “Please direct my donation to” and select “Beneshi’s Haircut for KDH CT Scanner”. A tax receipt will be provided by the KDH Foundation.

For more information, stories and photos visit the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign page.

Sitting riverside on a beautiful sunlit September morning, Laura Melnick looked at me and said, “I am a walking miracle. My community needs some help and this is why it is my job to tell my story. We learn by hearing each other’s stories.”

Laura knows that without a CT Scan, she would not have known she had a brain tumor. 

She explained that she had had two accidents in recent years which involved head injuries. Initially, she had fallen and hit her head hard on the ice; this was followed by a vehicle accident which severely shook her head and bruised her body. On both occasions she had declined having the paramedics or others take her to the hospital.  “Knowing there was no CT Scanner at Kemptville District Hospital (KDH), what was the point?” she said.

In 2023, her second brain injury presented like a concussion. She started to feel better but then, in January 2024, began waking up with daily headaches. Concurrently, vision in her right eye was deteriorating. Laura and her doctor agreed that a CT Scan might solve the mystery of her ‘post concussion’ symptoms.

She waited four months for her appointment. On April 24, she went to the Montfort Hospital in Ottawa for the CT Scan.

On May 3 she learned that the CT Scan showed she had a brain tumour. A meningioma had developed in the menges, the soft tissue that protects the brain from the hard surface of the skull.

Four weeks later, on June 3, with evidence that the tumour was aggressively growing, she had neurosurgery. She was in the operating theatre for nearly eight hours.

Laura was told that the path back to feeling like her old self could be up to a year. She has made great progress since the surgery but there is still a long recovery road ahead.

Why did Laura reach out to share her story?

She said with emphasis, “CT Scans save lives! It saved me from further damage to my visual and cognitive capabilities. I might have complained earlier (to the doctor) knowing that a CT Scan was more easily available to me, in Kemptville.”

Laura continued, “I want people to understand the importance of a CT Scanner. What we cannot see with our eyes is informed by the Scanner’s imagery. Rarely is the problem determined without the imagery.” She added this plea, “Please do not dismiss a head injury and let your doctor truthfully know what is going on and how you are feeling.”

Laura said she is grateful to the neurosurgical team at the Civic Hospital who prioritized her problem, but she is “most grateful to her physicians in Kemptville for listening to my concerns and then moving quickly to help me!”

Joanne Mavis, KDH Foundation Executive Director, said, “Thank you, Laura for reaching out to the KDH Foundation and generously sharing your testimonial. Your experience fully supports why we need a CT Scanner here, close to home. It is an urgently needed diagnostic tool at Kemptville District Hospital.”

For more information and stories about the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign and how you can donate, see our Campaign page.

A case for a CT Scanner at KDH

The Kemptville Ole Timers Hockey Club closed its doors recently and donated $1,904.56 to the CT Scanner Campaign.

For many years, the Hockey Club welcomed beginners to seasoned veterans to come out to play.

Hockey games were held two times per week. Originally, the games were held in the old arena, which is now the North Grenville Curling Club. Later, the Club continued for many years on the rinks at the North Grenville Municipal Centre.

Willy Meerakken, representing the Club, presented the cheque to KDH Foundation Board Director, Deb Girard on September 18. He said it was important to support this Campaign.

Every donation brings us closer to the goal of bringing a CT Scanner to Kemptville District Hospital. This vital diagnostic tool is urgently needed and will mean better care closer to home.

Thank you to the Kemptville Ole Timer's Hockey Club for your wonderful support!

For more information and stories about the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign and how you can donate, see our Campaign page

Karen Finner is a Medical Radiation Technician and Team Leader at Kemptville District Hospital (KDH). In 1999, she was in her mid twenties and in her first week of employment at the hospital, when she discovered a lump in her breast. Karen immediately contacted her doctor and had a mammogram. What followed was a diagnosis of Stage One cancer and three years of treatment, including surgery and chemotherapy. Concurrent to losing her hair, she planned a wedding and brought home a puppy. She called them “great distractions” during a difficult time and “happily, her hair grew back in time for the wedding”. Karen gives credit to her husband, family, friends and colleagues who helped get her through her cancer. In an article Karen wrote for KDH Health Matters in 2012, she shared, “They fundraised and walked and shaved their heads and stayed up all night to raise money for cancer research… Thankfully I was lucky to beat it; I have two great kids and I live life to the fullest.”

Upon reflection, she feels her experience with breast cancer heightened her professional commitment to the importance of women having a mammogram.

Now, some twenty-five years later, she asked friends to contribute “$25 for 25”.

Karen explained: “To mark this 25-year milestone I would like to give back to the cause by asking 25 of my friends to consider donating “$25 for 25 years” to the Kemptville District Hospital CT Scanner in memory of someone in your life impacted by cancer.”

She added, “CT technology has become a basic diagnostic tool even in the smallest hospitals. Almost everyone is going to have a CT at some point in their life. CT scans are not just for strokes, brain injuries, trauma, heart conditions, lung cancer, back pain, kidney disease and so on. CT scans are important in cancer diagnosis, staging, measuring response to treatment and giving peace of mind that the cancer has not returned.”

Karen described her “ask” of $25 as a win-win. “You are donating to your own health!”

The tally for Karen’s initiative was $1,325. Karen said, “This is wonderful! I am so excited that I helped (with the Crossroads Campaign).”

Joanne Mavis, KDH Foundation Executive Director, was also thrilled with the results and said, “we so appreciate Karen’s efforts in raising funds for the CT Scanner. We know that having this technology in Kemptville will be an outstanding asset for the community, bringing urgent patient care closer to home.”

For more information and stories about the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign and how you can donate, see the Campaign page

Proceeds from Split the Pot Lottery are divided among participating hospitals in Ontario.

Buy your Split the Pot Ticket NOW

The count is in! We are so pleased to announce that the sold-out KDH 14th Annual Golf Tournament held on July 23 raised $60,887 for the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign! We are getting steadily closer to bringing the CT Scanner to Kemptville District Hospital.

A BIG Shout-Out to all our SPONSORS. Thank you also to our donors of the live and silent auctions. "Salute" to our great volunteers and the eQuinelle Golf Club staff and facilities for contributing to a great and memorable day. And of course, thank you to all 148 golfers!!! See you on the greens next year!

Meanwhile, please enjoy the video memories of the 2024 Golf Tournament. Our deep appreciation to volunteer Anna Van Adrichem-Rochon for both her photography and producing the video. She really captured the fun on the course and at the Clubhouse.

An extremely successful Bingo held on Canada Day at the Kemptville Legion, Branch 212, resulted in an $1,800 donation to the Kemptville District Hospital Foundation’s CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign. A capacity crowd of 110 happy bingo players attended the afternoon Bingo.

Mike Amirault, Lottery Chair, along with his wife, Debbie, organized the well received event. He explained, “the support and strong turnout was all because of the cause: the CT Scanner. It just shows the enormous community support for this project.”

Mike and Debra, along with Legion President and Veteran, Jay Tousaw, recently presented the $1,800 cheque to Joanne Mavis, KDH Foundation Executive Director. She expressed her appreciation for the Bingo donation which also includes a contribution from Kemptville Legion Branch 212. She said, “We are so grateful for this gift to the Crossroads Campaign and the long-standing support from the Legion and the community. We are now closer to our goal and the finish line of $2.2 million.  We know that the CT Scanner will bring quality diagnostic service closer to home and peace of mind to patients and families.”

Mike and Debbie said the Legion intends to do this Canada Day Bingo annually in support of the hospital foundation.

For more information and stories about the CT Scanner Crossroads Campaign and how you can donate, see Kemptville District Hospital Foundation's Crossroads Campaign