“I was born with cystic fibrosis and ever since I can remember, I haven’t been able to take the simple act of breathing for granted.
For the first 28 years of my life, I was lucky that medication and therapy controlled my symptoms. But then, about three years ago, I had serious trouble breathing while on a business trip. I had to be hospitalized for over two months before I was well enough to fly home to Vancouver and my pregnant wife, Lindsay.
Over the next two years, my lungs deteriorated very quickly. Cystic fibrosis was winning the battle. Last year, I started coughing up blood and gasping for air. The medications weren’t working anymore and I was told I needed a transplant.
There’s no doubt in my mind that I’m alive today thanks to the expert teams, the specialized care and state-of-the-art equipment available at a world-class hospital like VGH. Click here to read more of my story.
We all have Angels in our lives and I am grateful to my Angels at VGH for saving my life. Join me in honouring your Angel this holiday season.”
– Nick Kanaan, Grateful VGH Patient
From November to January, the holiday trees at Vancouver General Hospital (VGH), UBC Hospital and GF Strong Rehab Centre will be filled with hundreds of angels carrying messages of love and gratitude to friends and family, medical teams and hospital staff, and all the Angels in our lives.*
Thanks to generous donors, the Angel campaign has raised over $4 million since 2001. Your donation will support the most urgent needs in our hospitals and health care centres, including purchasing critical equipment, funding high-impact research projects, and advancing patient care to deliver BC’s best, most specialized health care for adults.
* If we are not able to hang ornaments this year due to COVID-19 restrictions, ornaments will be saved and displayed next year