A legacy of giving

This week on Health Matters, Tarah Schwartz and Justine Frangouli preview the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal fashion show, taking place on April 25th to benefit the DOvEE Project. Dr. Marina Klein describes the important work of the Chronic Viral Illness Service and why she is running to fundraise for its programs. Peter Pomponio looks ahead to the Lachine Hospital gala on May 5th. After an 18 year-old who died unexpectedly, his family chose to donate his organs. Mike Handinero shares the touching story of how his son Diego’s legacy will live on.

Cette semaine à Questions de santé, Tarah Schwartz et Justine Frangouli offrent un avant-goût du défilé de mode du Lycée des femmes helléniques de Montréal, qui aura lieu le 25 avril pour appuyer le projet DOvEE. La Dre Marina Klein décrit le travail important du Service des maladies virales chroniques et explique pourquoi elle court pour recueillir des fonds pour ses programmes. Peter Pomponio parle du gala de l’Hôpital de Lachine, qui aura lieu le 5 mai. Après le décès inattendu d’un jeune de 18 ans, sa famille a décidé de donner ses organes. Mike Handinero partage l’histoire touchante de son fils Diego et de son héritage qui se perpétue.

Transcript

Tarah Schwartz: 0:00

Hello there. Thank you for joining us. I'm Tarah Schwartz and this is Health Matters on CJAD 800. On today's show, a Lachine hospital fundraising gala, you can join us as we experience New Orleans and support the fundraising efforts to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for the Lachine Hospital Dream Big campaign. I understand there's a lot going on with Lachine hospital right now. But the fundraising efforts for new equipment is not about politics. It's about patients and that needs to continue. Also, April is National Organ Transplant Awareness Month. Later in the show, we speak with a father whose 18 year-old son passed away suddenly. The family made the incredibly difficult decision to donate his organs and continue their son's legacy by saving lives. To begin, though, there is a very special event coming up on April 25. At the Palace Convention Center in Laval, the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal is holding a Greek fashion show. Discover the spring and summer collection of renowned Greek fashion designers and support Dr. Lucy Gilbert, the incredible Dr. Lucy Gilbert, her work and the DOvEE Project. We'll share more about Dr. Gilbert's research shortly. But let's talk about the fashion show first. Justine Frangouli is the president of the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal, and she joins me now. Thank you so much for being with us, Justine.

Justine Frangouli: 1:23

Thank you for inviting me and hello to your listeners.

Tarah Schwartz: 1:27

Thank you, Justine. So let's talk about the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal for the people who don't know what that is. Tell us a little bit about the history, when it began what its mission is.

Justine Frangouli: 1:37

Yes, well, the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal is a feminine organization that was established by the first feminist journalist and publisher in Greece, Kalliroi Parren in 1911. The Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal has a long history with keeping the traditional Greek dances and customs and also with pushing the feministic issues. In Montreal, we are chapters, which belongs to the mother organization in Athens. It has been founded in 2016 and it has been very, very active. One of our founding members was Aphrodite Salas, who is your colleague and who is your friend. We have been doing many things. What we do is we keep the Greek civilization in a more long-term way like we have established and we have made a statue to have the Greek immigrants which was a gift to them, to the City of Montreal. In 2017, for this 375-year anniversary of the city and it stands huge and beautiful. It is very moving on the corner of Jean Talon and Park Avenue where the first Greeks had established themselves in the beginning of the 20th century. So that's a very big statue made by a very big Greek artist, Giorgos Houliaras. It's there, everybody can see it. And it has become the symbol of every immigrant because there's no other statue of this kind.

Tarah Schwartz: 4:01

And yes, I want to jump into your fashion show. Justine before we run out of time, I want to be sure to tell people about this fashion show and how they can buy tickets. So what can people expect on April 25? You mentioned that Aphrodite Salas, one of my dear friends who is going to be there I will be there as well. Tell us about the what the event is about.

Justine Frangouli: 4:22

Okay, the event will showcase Greek fashion designers. 14 Greek fashion designers from Greece that will send their clothes, their haute couture and pret-a-porter clothes. And we are going to show them on the runway at Palace. And the Greek designers have donated all these clothes so we can put them up in a silent auction and people can buy them. So there are 14 major Greek designers who have made careers worldwide. And one of them has designed the costumes of Emily in Paris for the second season. So they're big! They donated the clothes. We're going to have them in silent auction after the show. And also, what is very important is we're going to show cancer survivors and cancer avoiders and through the DOvEEgene test.

Tarah Schwartz: 5:35

So let's talk a little bit about that DOvEEgene test, Justine. Because I know that is where your fundraising efforts lie. Justine Frangouli is the president of the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal. Their fashion show, which is happening on the 25th of April is benefiting Dr. Lucy Gilbert and the DOvEE Project. So tell us why you felt that this was the project you wanted your fundraising efforts to go toward Justine.

Justine Frangouli: 6:02

Aphrodite Salas is going to be one of the fabulous five, because she went through the screening test, the DOvEEgene and the clinical trial, and she was diagnosed with mutated cells. So she was advised by Dr. Lucy Gilbert to have a hysterectomy, and no variant cancer is going to hit Aphrodite Salas. That's why we are working so hard to fundraise for these DOvEEgene screening tests for ovarian and endometrial cancers, because this will make women avoid the silent killers. Because as you know, and you have talked many times with Dr. Gilbert on the show, what is happening is that women find out about the ovarian cancer at the stage three and four and this is too late to be saved. So Dr. Gilbert with that test, when it becomes patented, it's going to save millions of lives of women to come. This is going to preventive medicine and we have to be there.

Tarah Schwartz: 7:25

You're absolutely right, Justine. It is a revolutionary. What Dr. Gilbert is doing is revolutionary; essentially making sure that women who have ovarian and endometrial cancers, they are either detected in a very early stage where they can actually cure it, or before they even get it. So it is truly remarkable. And it is a very worthwhile fundraising cause. So if you would like to go to this event. Justine, you said there are 500 tickets, how many are still available? Only 50 tickets available. So people have to rush. That's it, only 50 Tickets available. It's on April 25. It's at the Palace Convention Center in Laval. I'm going to give you a phone number. So if you're interested in coming to this event, take down this phone number 514-992-3148 that's 514-992-3148. What are you most looking forward to? We only have about a minute left, Justine. But what are you most looking forward to about this big event?

Justine Frangouli: 8:25

We want to see happy women who will remain happy because they will undergo this test as a routine and they will be safe before they get an ovarian cancer. We have many young women. So that's what we want to do there.

Tarah Schwartz: 8:44

If you want to go to a very fun event put on by the Lyceum of Greek Women of Montreal on April 25, while also being part of giving to a very important cause Dr. Lucy Gilbert and the DOvEE Project. The phone number again is 514-992-3148. Justine, it is always such a pleasure to speak with you. Thank you so much for everything that you are doing. And I very much look forward to seeing you on April 25.

Justine Frangouli: 9:09

Thank you so much. And women can buy their clothes, their men can buy the clothes for the women. And these will go on to the DOvEE project.

Tarah Schwartz: 9:20

Wonderful, wonderful. thank you so much. Next up on Health Matters, an infectious disease expert is lacing up her sneakers to run for a good cause. I'm Tarah Schwartz. Welcome back to Health Matters on CJAD 800. Run for a reason as a very special event every year at the MUHC Foundation, individual racers or teams of runners from the hospital, fundraise for a department or a special project at the MUHC and participate in the 21k de Montreal. You can run or walk 1k, 5k, or 21k and support the life changing work being done at the MUHC and the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre. Dr. Marina Klein is one of this year's participants. She is an infectious disease specialist and the Research Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service at the MUHC, thank you so much for joining us, Dr. Klein.

Dr. Marina Klein: 10:18

Thank you so much for having me, Tarah.

Tarah Schwartz: 10:20

I was joking with you, Dr. Klein, right before we actually went on air, that normally when you're on the show, we talk about all of your really, really impressive research. But today, we're talking about you running.

Dr. Marina Klein: 10:30

Yeah, do some other things in my spare time.

Tarah Schwartz: 10:34

There we go. So you're participating get Run for a Reason. What are you fundraising for? Because you get to fundraise for any area of the hospital that you choose?

Dr. Marina Klein: 10:42

Yeah, so we're fundraising, as we did last year, for the Chronic Viral Illness Service Patient Fund, which is at the MUHC. The Chronic Viral Illness Service is the clinic that supports treatment and care of people living with HIV and hepatitis C and hepatitis B and other viral infections. This fund actually is used to help support these patients who often have a lot of needs. For example, to help them with food, accommodations, various social needs that they might have. It's a good way to help them cope with many of the challenges that people are facing right now in our economy.

Tarah Schwartz: 11:27

Now, you've done this run before, you mentioned that it's something that you raise money for in the past. I know for the last few years, there's been issues because of the COVID-19 pandemic, but it's back up and in person again this year. What are you looking most forward to about this year's race?

Dr. Marina Klein: 11:43

First of all, it's spring. It's a beautiful route. In fact, Jean Drapeau has a gorgeous overview looking out over the city. But mostly, it's really the collegiality of being able to run with my colleagues for a good cause. I should say that over the last year, we've really been strained because of the new patients that we've been receiving at the CVIS. Almost 300 new patients, the majority of whom are asylum seekers, I think a lot of this has been in the press around, people coming via Roxham Road, really having difficult voyages to get here. And many when they come to us are learning about their HIV infection for the first time and often can be quite sick. Young families, women, women who are pregnant, and they face a lot of long delays, getting their work permits, trying to find a place to live, to get into integrated into Quebec and Canadian society quickly. And so we really band together and I think it's just a great group of us who are diverse in our running skills, and but all around this great cause. And so this is what I'm most looking forward to.

Tarah Schwartz: 12:54

It really sounds like you see an incredible group of people who have a lot of needs at the Chronic Viral Illness Service, how did these people find out about what kind of services you offer?

Dr. Marina Klein: 13:05

For the most part, the new patients that are referred to us are coming through screening at immigration. When they arrive in Canada, it's mandatory to be screened for HIV infection. And then if they're found positive, they're sent to us for an evaluation for their clinical care. And so while we're able to get them quickly onto treatment, they also have a lot of needs regarding their social services that are unmet. And we're fortunate to have a social worker who has been very dedicated, Claire Duchesneau, over the year. Her daughter actually ran with us last year and won't be running this year because she's expecting a baby. But really, she can attest to how much even the small amounts of support that we can provide through this fund can help them just get that little bit to get them started, either with supporting food, clothing, finding a better place to live, while they wait for their work permits often, which can be a long time.

Tarah Schwartz: 14:00

Dr. Marina Klein is an infectious disease specialist. She is also the Research Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases and Chronic Viral Illness Service at the MUHC. Dr. Klein, I know you also work a lot with patients who have hepatitis C, this is one of your areas of expertise; one of your specialties. What is Montreal Sans Hep C?

Dr. Marina Klein: 14:22

Montreal Sans Hep C is an ambitious project that I've really been focused on for the last couple of years. Trying to get it off the ground and really get rolling. And it's our ambition is to make Montreal, one of the first cities in North America to eliminate hepatitis C, which was now possible due to the fact that we have really effective drugs that can cure this virus. It's a virus just like the ones I've just talked about that really impact our most vulnerable patients the hardest. They're often living with a lot of challenges and may be marginalized and had difficulty accessing care, getting treatment. And so we're really trying to find new ways to bring these people to care, find ways for them to be diagnosed, link them to care and treatment, and a cure them of their infection so that we can have a city that's free of hepatitis C.

Tarah Schwartz: 15:32

And would we be the first city in the world or one of the first cities in the world to be without hepatitis C?

Dr. Marina Klein: 15:38

I think one of the things is the WHO has really lit a fire under the world to try to get this accomplished by 2030. And what we've been learning is many places have taken this on, and have made quite a lot of progress up to a certain point. But we've reached the point where once you've treated and found all the people who we know about, then there's a stumbling block. That means that we really have to change tactics about how we do this and bring the services closer to the people where they're at. And this approach that Montreal, we've taken would be the one of the most novel ways to do that. And we think we have a good chance of being able to actually accomplish this goal. Whereas other jurisdictions are really trying hard. And we can learn a lot from them. We think we can, by doing what we plan, actually be a model for others to follow. It does take a lot of resources, it does take a lot of commitment and it does take a lot of collaboration across practitioners, but between physicians, public health practitioners, and the community groups, and that's what we're really trying to build by doing this project.

Tarah Schwartz: 16:57

And we will be talking more about this because it's something that is curable, right. So I guess for you, it's incredible that we haven't done it yet if it's if it's something that's actually curable.

Dr. Marina Klein: 17:08

Yeah, Hepatitis C is the first chronic viral infection that can be cured with a viral treatment. And it's almost now as simple as giving an antibiotic. In terms of it's safe, it's effective. It's one pill a day for a short number of weeks. It's really a question of how do we implement this in the real world. When we're faced with all the challenges people deal with in their day-to-day lives.

Tarah Schwartz: 17:35

We're speaking with Dr. Marina Klein, she is infectious disease specialist and the Research Director of the Division of Infectious Diseases, and Chronic Viral Illness Service at the MUHC. We often talk about her research, especially Montreal Sans Hep C, which is a project that is very close to your heart. But right now we're talking about her running for a reason. And I have to ask you, Dr. Klein, are you competitive with other health care workers who are participating?

Dr. Marina Klein: 18:00

(laughs) As a team, we were competitive to try to raise the most money. Personally, I'm really competitive mostly with myself, trying to beat my time from last year. We're all a group of runners that have different skills and are running at different levels. Last year, I ran with my son and which was really great. So he kept me moving fast, and I ended up with a really good time. But that's not the main goal here, yes.

Tarah Schwartz: 18:30

And what are you doing, what distance? Are you walking? Are you running? I imagine you're running but what distance?

Dr. Marina Klein: 18:35

I'm running the 10k run.

Tarah Schwartz: 18:41

I use the word lightly. I'm being pressured by my team at the MUHC Foundation to join a team. So I'm going to do that today or this week. I'm going to do it this week, I'm going to join a team and I'm going to join Run for a Reason. So if you want to run for your reason, just head to the MUHC Foundation website, triple www. MUHCFoundation.com. And you can sign up and you can run you can support a team. You can make a donation, you can donate to Dr. Klein's team, the Chronic Viral Illness Service. There's going to be a bunch of teams there that you can either donate to or join really if you want to if you want to run yourself. Dr. Klein, I want to thank you so much for joining us on Health Matters today and I wish you luck in beating your own time and in raising the most money.

Dr. Marina Klein: 19:19

Thanks so much for having me and I hope people do come out because it's a really great event. A lot of fun.

Tarah Schwartz: 19:26

Wonderful, thank you Dr. Klein. Coming up on Health Matters, a father shares the story of his teenage son who passed away and decided to continue his legacy by donating his organs. I'm Tarah Schwartz and this is Health Matters. It is absolutely devastating to lose a loved one suddenly but it is unimaginable to lose your child. The Handinero family knows that grief well. Diego Handinero passed away very suddenly at the age of 18. But the family decided to help Diego's legacy live on by donating his organs. Mike Handinero is Diego's father and he joins us now. Thank you for being here, Mike.

Mike Handinero: 20:03

Oh, hi. It's great to be here.

Tarah Schwartz: 20:06

Mike, first of all, I have to say I know there's so few words that can be offered in times of grief this way. But I just want to say I'm so very sorry for your loss.

Mike Handinero: 20:17

Oh, great. Thank you. Probably one of the things I say to a lot of people is like, what a difference a year makes things. It's sort of moved on. And, yeah, I'm sort of in a better place to talk about it.

Tarah Schwartz: 20:30

To talk about it. Yeah. So, how long ago did Diego pass away?

Mike Handinero: 20:35

Diego passed away December. December 2021.

Tarah Schwartz: 20:42

Right in the heart of the pandemic.

Mike Handinero: 20:44

Yes. It was also right at the end of the school semester. So, he was able to complete the semester. And then, this happened. It was a very quick sort of, like, abrupt event.

Tarah Schwartz: 21:05

Did you have any idea that something was wrong with Diego's health?

Mike Handinero: 21:08

No, not at all. He was always a student athlete, very active. And it was very much a finished up class on a Friday. He said he was going to spend a Saturday afternoon watching college football. And then yeah, things just progressed very, like, hard and fast. With his health and situation, and, by Monday, where we were we were at the Neuro.

Tarah Schwartz: 21:45

When you learned that he was... Did they tell you that there was nothing more that they could do? How did the doctors tell you that your son is not going to make it? How does that happen?

Mike Handinero: 22:00

It progressed very fast. And we were left with that information, it wasn't necessarily sort of like a choice. We already knew, given the circumstances. In the end, it was a brainstem bleed, it was very high up, without warning, it was something that he was born with. So, basically, that was it, we were there. And that was the situation that was put in front of us.

Tarah Schwartz: 22:39

Wow, it must have been unimaginably difficult.

Mike Handinero: 22:44

Yes.

Tarah Schwartz: 22:45

Had Diego discussed donating his organs with you and your wife before? Had that ever come up in family conversation?

Mike Handinero: 22:53

No, not necessarily. He did know that, especially on my side of the family that organ donation has happened. My aunt had a kidney transplant, and lived for more than 40 years with that. I grew up with her. I also have an uncle right now, at the moment in Toronto, who is also a recipient of donated organ. So, those ideas that organ donation, and basically, the idea around it has been around our family. So it's something that, when we were given the opportunity. It was something that, yes, we would do.

Tarah Schwartz: 23:41

It resonated with you. We're speaking with Mike Handinero, and in April is National Organ Transplant Awareness Month. His son Diego passed away suddenly at the age of 18. How was the conversation that you and your wife had, that came up and said, Okay, we're going to donate his organs?

Mike Handinero: 24:04

I think it was something there. But I think what really helped was meeting Wendy Sherry, who was our liaison. And it was just the perfect time, because things happened so quickly and abruptly. The process towards the organ transplant actually gave us time to sort of breathe, decompress, gave us some space. It worked out perfectly; we're looking at that as a thing. But the actual process of going through it and meeting with Wendy that part was very comforting and very, very helpful, right at that moment.

Tarah Schwartz: 25:04

What does it mean to you and to your wife to know that your son, in essence, saved many lives by his organ donations? What does it mean to?

Mike Handinero: 25:15

Right, at that moment, it was something that was very good to hold on to or speak about that in spite of sort of what happened there was a silver lining. I will say the first year after when you hear from the Transplant Quebec people, it's a little difficult. But I feel that over time, it'll be very sort of helpful. It will be, but I think, over time, it'll sort of grow that feeling.

Tarah Schwartz: 26:00

Yeah, I think I think grief has many stages. And they'll come and go, and when it feels right, it will feel right. But I can understand that, that it might feel hard now, but maybe in a couple of years, you'll be more open to even maybe learning about who those people were. Do you think that that will come for you?

Mike Handinero: 26:20

Oh, yes, for sure. I think one of our, I guess, our family mottos, that Diego had that in him. It was just the idea of you bought the ticket, you got to take the ride. Whatever sort of comes, you just have to keep going. I feel that, having done this, looking forward I think it'll only grow. It only grows into a better feeling.

Tarah Schwartz: 26:50

Yeah, tell us about your son, Mike. Tell us about Diego.

Mike Handinero: 26:56

He was born 2003. He was one of the many first family. The first firstborn son, first grandson. He's very much a born and raised Lachine kid. He played soccer for the soccer club here. Also played basketball, which I kind of consider as our sort of, like family business. We're all very involved in that sport. And after that, he was a Loyola kid, the class of 2020. So there was also another first there, and that he was sort of the first one of our Filipino generation, the second generation to be another Loyola grad.

Tarah Schwartz: 27:53

He did a lot of great firsts. He had a lot of great firsts.

Mike Handinero: 27:57

Yes. And, yeah, and then while he was there, I think he was a very charismatic person. When it came to sports, he was very much a true student athlete. He could write as well, and was a great locker room guy. I think he was able to play different sports, and then, meet different people and just have a variety of different connections.

Tarah Schwartz: 28:28

Nice. He sounds like a wonderful young man. I wonder, Mike, that, anyone hearing your story; it would be impossible to put themselves in your shoes. And to know how difficult that moment was where you have to decide about donating your organs? What message would you have for people who are listening about that process, about donating organs?

Mike Handinero: 28:49

I think it'll come sort of in stages. I think you may not sort of see it, right at the moment. But I know that right at the moment, with how the transplant process goes. That will give the, family or whoever's involved time to decompress to have that space. And I think that prepares you for the next stages. And, even when we first received the thank you card or the first sort of communication last summer. Yes, it was a little difficult, maybe a reminder at the time. But, I think this summer if there is another one, I think I'm looking forward to it. Just to have that feeling that time has passed but he's still sort of out there.

Tarah Schwartz: 29:59

Yeah, he's still sort of out there. I love that. Mike. It is with all my heart that I am. I'm thanking you for coming on to talk about this. I know, it can't be easy still to a certain degree. And if I was in front of you, I would give you a giant hug. You sound like a lovely person. And I know you have been dealt a very, very difficult hand in life. But I love the way you put it. He's still out there. So thank you so so much, Mike with all my heart.

Mike Handinero: 30:25

Oh this is awesome. Thank you so much.

Tarah Schwartz: 30:28

All right, Mike, you take good care. Have a wonderful day.

Mike Handinero: 30:31

All right. Bye bye.

Tarah Schwartz: 30:32

Bye bye. Coming up next on the show, a colorful and vibrant celebration to purchase cutting-edge equipment for a beloved community hospital. I'm Tarah Schwartz. You're listening to Health Matters. On May 5, we will give you a taste of New Orleans at the fundraising gala for Lachine Hospital. Join us at the Marriott In-terminal Hotel for an evening of colorful decor, incredible food and lively entertainment. Proceeds from the gala go to the Dream Big Lachine Hospital fundraising campaign. Our goal is to raise $5 million to purchase cutting-edge equipment for the health care workers at the Lachine hospital and we're almost halfway there. Peter Pomponio is the president and owner of Asante Dorval and Managing Director of Asante Quebec. He is also one of the co-chairs of the Lachine campaign. Thank you so much for joining us, Peter.

Peter Pomponio: 31:21

Hi, Tarah, nice to have to be back on the air with you.

Tarah Schwartz: 31:25

Nice to have you here. So what has it been like Peter to be co-chair of the Dream Big for Lachine Hospital campaign? We started it not long ago raising money for critical cutting-edge equipment. And we're almost halfway there. What does that been like to be co-chair of this campaign?

Peter Pomponio: 31:40

You're right, it really hasn't been a long time. I mean, I think I can summarize the whole experience. For me personally, it's been very, very informative, with respect to the challenges we face in our health care system. It's also been informative because of the way the population perceives our health care and politicians perceive our health care system. It's not always the same vision. So it's been it's been interesting in that aspect. Also, I've become a conduit of information to the general public with regards to what's going on in the west island. West Islanders, like most individuals, just go about their business every day. And unfortunately, they think of health care more in times of need. So I've been out there educating them about the Lachine hospital project, telling them the advantage of it, and how it's going to affect their lives, today and tomorrow. So that's been a very, very good part of my role in this campaign. And as for me, also, it's been very, very fulfilling. I've been learning a lot, obviously. I've been meeting interesting people, especially our co-chairs, Helen Gagnon, Maya and Francois. Getting to know them. They're great people and great people to work with. And also, it's fulfilling because we're accomplishing something really, really great for our community and society in general.

Tarah Schwartz: 33:21

Because this is going to be a completely modernized hospital. New rooms, new ER, new Palliative Care Center and the MUHC Foundation along with the Lachine Hospital Foundation, raising $5 million to put equipment state-of-the-art equipment in there. How does that feel for you, knowing that outfitting the hospital with state-of-the-art equipment as part of your role now to get this campaign to the finish line?

Peter Pomponio: 33:48

Well, first of all with regards to where we are in the campaign. We're very appreciative of all our donors. We've really, really gotten out of the gates very, very quickly. And it's very exciting because we see success not far away. We see the light at the end of the tunnel. So we will succeed and we hopefully will succeed much sooner than we thought. So it's in that aspect that is exciting. With regards to the machinery and equipment that we're bringing to the Lachine hospital. It is state-of-the-art equipment, and it's important to have that type of equipment on two fronts. The first part of it is that the state-of-the-art equipment is a guarantee that our residents are getting state-of-the-art care. This encompasses the quality of the care and the speed of diagnosis, surgeries and the recoveries. So that's a key aspect of the equipment, but also the state-of-the-art equipment facilitates us recruiting in the very best doctors and medical minds in our province. We want to bring them to Lachine in order to service our community today and in the future. So these people need state-of-the-art equipment to do their jobs very well. And we hope to lure them to our community

Tarah Schwartz: 35:23

So important. We're speaking with Peter Pomponio. He's one of four co-chairs from the Dream Big for Lachine Hospital campaign. He's also president and owner of Asante, Dorval and Managing Director of Asante Quebec. Now, Peter, we've got a big gala coming up in... I can't believe it's only three weeks away. It's happening on May 5. It's got a wonderful New Orleans theme. Tickets are on sale now. So if you want to go to the Lachine Gala, you're more than welcome to attend. It's the Lachine Hospital Foundation website. You can find the tickets there, the theme is New Orleans, what are you looking to looking forward to about this gala?

Peter Pomponio: 35:59

First and foremost, I'm looking to have a great time. And it will be a fun time. But it's going to be a great party. I'm looking forward to meeting the people in our community. I'm looking forward to saying thank you to the people that have donated to the campaign. And also I'm looking forward to meeting potential donors that will be coming to the gala and will hopefully see the project in a different light. A light that they want to contribute to. So that's basically my focus there. But it will be lots of fun. And I look forward to seeing your listeners there. And hopefully, if they are there, maybe just drop by our table and say hi.

Tarah Schwartz: 36:53

Yeah, absolutely. There'll be a team of people from the MUHC Foundation from the Lachine Hospital Foundation, the campaign co-chairs, lots of key people from the west Island who are there who are excited about having a modernized hospital that will serve the entire West Island. So Peter, I want to thank you for all the work and the commitment that you've been giving to this campaign. And I look forward to celebrating with you at the Lachine Gala, thank you so much for your time today.

Peter Pomponio: 37:17

Thank you for having me. Thank you.

Tarah Schwartz: 37:19

Thank you so much for tuning in. I'm Tarah Schwartz. What would you like to hear about on the show? Write to me at healthmatters@MUHCFoundation.com. You can also follow the MUHC Foundation on social media or sign up for our newsletter at MUHCfoundation.com. I hope you'll join me again next Sunday. Thank you so much for listening to Health Matters and stay healthy.