The 26th Festival of Trees brought in hundreds of Prince George residents and visitors, which subsequently raised funds for local healthcare upgrades.
That money benefited the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation as they were able to purchase a new piece of equipment capable of efficient evaluations for patients dealing with pancreatic issues.
The SpyGlass DS System arrived at the University Hospital of Northern BC (UHNBC) a few weeks ago much to the delight of General Surgeon, Dr. Gilbert Wankling, who’s used the machine on four patients since.
“We are already seeing some incredible results,” said Dr. Wankling in a news release. “Especially on cases where it has been hard to see or deal with in the past.”
UHNBC is the third hospital in the province to receive a SpyGlass DS System, the other two are in Vancouver at St. Pauls and VGH, and it allows doctors to produce higher-resolution images of pancreatic and bile ducts if a patient is suspected of having ‘benign and malignant conditions.’
It’s also used for the treatment of difficult stones and strictures.
The 2019 Festival of Trees saw hundreds of local residents and visitors take in the technicoloured displays from Nov. 22 to Dec. 1.
“Our sincere appreciation goes out to everyone who supported the Festival of Trees 2019,” reads the release from the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
“Without you, this purchase would never be possible and we are so grateful for your kindness.”
The event also coincided with the 26th Civic Light-Up (Nov. 24), which is the official welcoming of the holiday season in Prince George.
