Donate During Heart Health Month
February is Heart Month, an opportunity to learn more about cardiovascular health, and how to support cardiac care in the Fraser Valley.
“The extreme stressors from the wait for by-pass surgery can be both physically and emotionally challenging, but the Cardiac Care Unit (CCU) team’s kindness, compassion, and reassurance made a profound difference in my journey. I always felt respected, listened to, and cared for—not only as a patient but as an individual.”
– Heather from agassiz
Ways you can show love this Heart Month:
- Practice self-care. Indulge in whatever makes you feel loved….light a candle, cozy up in a bubble bath or by wrapping yourself in a knitted blanket, read your favourite book, and pour yourself a mug of hot tea or sparkling juice.
- Cook a heart-healthy meal that supports cardiovascular health.
- Reduce someone’s stress. Offer to grab groceries for a neighbour, babysit for a friend, or write an encouraging note to someone who has been struggling.
- Schedule a preventative check-up with your doctor, or gift a loved one a blood pressure monitor or fitness tracker with a note: “Because I want your heart strong for many more years with me.”
- Make a donation to Fraser Valley Health Care Foundation to enhance cardiac care for patients across the Eastern Fraser Valley.
Did you know that in addition to its cardiac unit, Abbotsford Regional Hospital offers a cardiac rehabilitation program?
Cardiac rehabilitation helps participants regain their strength and independence, and overcome their anxieties and fears. Participants learn how to make heart-healthy living a part of their life – for the rest of their life. The team may include a physician, clinical exercise physiologist, nurse, occupational therapist, physical educator, dietitian, psychiatrist or psychologist, physiotherapist and social worker.
Here is some recent feedback patients have to say about the cardiac rehab program at ARH:
- “It was a very positive experience. The most important thing that I benefitted from during the past 12 weeks were the guidelines established by my instructors for my specific condition, which I can now apply for the future.”
- ”They were great! Kudos to them. I will miss seeing them now that I’ve graduated from the program.”
- “Do not change a thing! Everyone there was friendly, caring and very professional. This program needs to continue always for cardiac care to patients. Thank you to all the staff who take such good care of us!”
This Heart Health Month, you can help support the incredible work of our CCU teams. Please consider donating $25, $50, $75, or $100. Every gift, big or small, helps provide life-saving cardiac care for patients in our Eastern Fraser Valley hospitals.
