$25,000 Donation from The Brick – North Bay will help fund Renal Care for Our Community

Today family owned local business, The Brick – North Bay, announced a $25,000 donation to the North Bay Regional Health Centre, leading off community donations for renal care.

NBRHC is planning an expansion of the Renal Unit in 2023 and Paul Heinrich, NBRHC President and CEO explains “this donation provides a generous start to the $400,000 project. “Healthcare is a partnership with our government and our community,” Heinrich says. “We are thankful to the Lalonde Family and The Brick – North Bay for their inspiring donation.”

The Brick – North Bay Owners Paul and Annette Lalonde were inspired to support our Health Centre following Paul’s harrowing health crisis. While vacationing in Florida in 2018, Paul came down with a serious infection that caused sepsis. It attacked his major organs causing renal failure and a massive heart attack among other complications. Paul also received two stents in his heart while in Florida.

The journey home after 22 days in the ICU was worrying as his health was extremely fragile. Upon returning to Canada, he received additional cardiac interventions and required immediate renal replacement therapy (dialysis). He was then put on the transplant list for a kidney and pancreas.

“We are grateful for the exceptional care Paul is receiving at the dialysis unit at NBRHC. Dialysis allows Paul the time needed while waiting for a transplant,” said Annette, Paul’s wife. “Following three separate calls to receive organs with subsequent cancellations, along with receiving quadruple bypass surgery, and delays as a result of COVID, Paul was removed from the transplant list, being deemed an unsuitable candidate.” Annette is elated to report Paul’s step-daughters Michelle and Jenna came forward as live kidney donors and Jenna was determined to be a donor match.

Dr. Gavin Harman, Nephrologist with the service of Internal Medicine explains that NBRHC is one of twenty-seven regional dialysis programs in the province. As per the patient volume projections, NBRHC dialysis population is expected to grow by approximately 24% over the next ten years.

NBRHC’s kidney clinic has approximately 260 patients with chronic kidney disease, have received a transplant, or are performing home peritoneal dialysis. The clinic also provides education, support, and monitoring for these patients.

“We currently have 71 hemodialysis patients receiving dialysis Monday through Saturday from 7am to 7pm,” explains Dr. Harman. “Last year, we provided more than 9,000 hemodialysis treatments to patients with kidney failure, and up to 18 patients performed their own peritoneal dialysis in their homes.”

“In addition to our regular service, clinical resources include an on-call nurse for patients requiring emergent dialysis in CCU, a full-time social worker and registered dietitian as well as three Nephrologists. We are in the early stages of developing a project with a goal to increase transplant rates so that we can continue to provide the best renal care locally,” said Tiziana Silveri, Executive Vice President Clinical and Chief Nursing Executive.

Tammy Morison, NBRHC Foundation President and CEO said they are honored the Lalonde family are choosing to inspire our community with this leadership donation to support our Health Centre. “The Brick – North Bay and the Lalonde family are generous supporters of our community, Paul and Annette sponsor many charities and events each year, with the belief that 10% of all of their net profits should be directed to a variety of causes ranging from children’s sports and charities to our local hospital care.

-30-

Contact:
Tammy Morison
President & CEO
North Bay Regional Health Centre Foundation
705.840.9412 Tammy.morison@nbrhc.on.ca

Paul Lalonde and his grand children.