QEII Foundation

When Ray Bourque was diagnosed with prostate cancer through a blood test, he was no stranger to receiving health care at the QEII. After having a stroke in 2014, he spent time recovering at the Halifax Infirmary and the Nova Scotia Rehabilitation and Arthritis Centre (NSRAC). 🏥 When the opportunity arose in fall 2023 for Ray to receive robot-assisted surgery with the donor-funded da Vinci X surgical robotics system for his prostate cancer with Dr. Kokorovic, a surgeon well-versed in surgical robotics who had recently joined the QEII, he jumped at the chance. And he was amazed by the results. “The very next afternoon, I walked out of the hospital with my wife,” he says. “At my next check-up, Dr. Kokorovic said that I don’t have cancer. That I had cancer.” Today, Ray is still cancer-free and is back to his active self, walking 10+ kilometres a day and enjoying other outdoor activities. He also volunteers at the NSRAC and is on an advisory committee with the Brain Repair Centre, which is currently working on upgrading a computer game for stroke patients recovering from left-side neglect. “It’s amazing what [surgical robotics] technology can do to shorten recovery times and hospital stays, helping people get back to living their lives sooner,” Ray says. “It just has such a big impact.” 💜

It’s here… Registration for BMO Ride 2025 is officially open! 🎉 The list of loved ones affected by cancer keeps growing and so is our commitment to combating it. This is Nova Scotia’s time to lead the charge and continue our journey — for those we’ve lost, those facing cancer, and the 1 in 2 who will be diagnosed in their lifetime. ➡️ Register now! https://bit.ly/4bqIzSf #RidingBeyondToday #OurTime

Today, March 26, is Purple Day, a time dedicated to raising awareness for epilepsy. 💜 Thanks to generous QEII Foundation donors, the QEII’s neurosurgery team has access to cutting-edge technology that’s changing lives. The ROSA ONE surgical robot is transforming epilepsy care, allowing neurosurgeons to precisely place electrodes deep in the brain to help pinpoint the source of seizures. By integrating with current donor-funded stealth planning stations, this advanced system enhances accuracy, saves time in the OR, and helps epilepsy patients receive the care they need, faster.

BTS at the QEII: Each year, thousands of Atlantic Canadians receive life-saving heart health care at the QEII. 💜 Donor-funded spaces like the Beth Medjuck Heart Rhythm Laboratory and the Jordan Boyd Inherited Heart Disease Clinic are instrumental in advancing cardiac care and research. Big thanks to the QEII heart health team members who let us see this world-leading care up close! Uncharted.Media

The QEII Foundation is proud to be the official charity of choice for the Halifax Thunderbirds during their 2024-25 season! Together, we're on a mission to transform the QEII's Abbie J. Lane gymnasium — creating a state-of-the-art space for mental health patients in our province. Watch to discover more about this exciting team-up and how to join this powerful movement with the Halifax Thunderbirds.

Happy First Day of Spring! 🌷 Throwing it back to the 2024 unveiling of the revived QEII Radiation Therapy Garden, a serene space outside the James and Edna Claydon Radiation Treatment Clinic's waiting room. This peaceful space has been restored thanks to generous donors, including those from the QEII Foundation, offering patients awaiting radiation treatment a soothing view and a quiet place for reflection. 💜

Last summer, Lisa went on a dream vacation with her oldest son to Ireland and Scotland. Up until last year, this wouldn’t have been possible for her. Lisa lives with treatment-resistant depression and has been chronically depressed for more than 20 years, trying dozens of different treatment options without success. But in August 2023, Lisa finally found a treatment that worked for her: ketamine therapy at the QEII Health Sciences Centre. “I began treatments of IV ketamine at the QEII over the course of two and a half weeks. I began to see improvement. The anxiety and depression decreased and my ability to be present with my family and friends increased,” says Lisa. 💜 The QEII Foundation is raising $370,000 for a ketamine therapy program at the QEII to treat more patients like Lisa. Read more: https://bit.ly/4hmLRb1

Patients receiving cancer care in Nova Scotia have access to a new digital tool to track symptoms, record feelings, see upcoming appointments, and find verified resources. But this tool is capable of much more. Your support will help unlock new possibilities for patients using this tool for a real-time connection to their cancer care team. 📱💜 Help create a connection for patients at every stage of the cancer care journey. Donate now: https://bit.ly/4hnc1dr

For over 20 years, the QEII Veterans Memorial Garden has been a place of peace and reflection for the 175 QEII Camp Hill Veterans Memorial Building residents. 🌷 As the QEII’s Halifax Infirmary site undergoes a multi-year expansion project, the garden is changing, too. While garden space is temporarily reduced, it remains a serene outdoor sanctuary with uninterrupted services. From repurposing trees to planting new garden beds, every effort is being made to preserve the garden's beauty and special meaning during construction. 💜 Read more: https://bit.ly/43GBA61

When Linda Proudfoot woke up one morning unable to walk, she never imagined that local, cutting-edge surgical robotics technology would restore her mobility overnight. Thanks to her QEII surgeons and the donor-funded MAZOR X spinal robot, she was walking the day after surgery. “I underwent emergency spinal surgery, and I was literally walking the very next morning as part of my recovery,” she shares. “When I tell people about this technology and my experience, their jaws just drop,” says Linda. From spinal procedures to cancer care, robot-assisted surgery is truly elevating patient care at the QEII, with six surgical robots, five of which were funded by donors through the QEII Foundation's $100-million We Are campaign. 💜 Read more: https://bit.ly/41RLdxn Nova Scotia Health Authority