(Photo) Ambulatory Day Care team, Surrey Memorial Hospital, originally submitted by by Roberta Pratticò and Denise Moulton.
Honouring legacy giving during Leave a Legacy Month
May is Leave a Legacy Month, and Surrey Hospitals Foundation is celebrating the profound impact of legacy giving by highlighting how one couple’s generosity is changing lives today, and for generations to come.
Thanks to a generous estate gift from the late Leonard and Joan Leece, Surrey Memorial Hospital has launched a groundbreaking Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) program. This initiative brings cutting-edge cancer diagnostics to what is soon to be B.C.’s largest city.
What is endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)?
EUS is a sophisticated procedure that combines endoscopy and ultrasound to produce detailed images of the digestive tract and surrounding organs. With the precision to detect tumours less than two centimetres in size, EUS is a powerful tool in the early diagnosis of cancer, including pancreatic, esophageal, gastric, and rectal cancers, often not caught until they are far advanced.
Previously, patients in Surrey had to travel to Vancouver for this critical procedure, delaying diagnosis and treatment. Today, EUS is performed twice a week in Surrey Memorial Hospital’s Ambulatory Day Care department.
“Early diagnosis is crucial for determining next steps in cancer treatment—whether that means surgery or chemotherapy,” said Dr. Jimmy Guo, a gastroenterologist at Surrey Memorial Hospital who specializes in EUS. “We’ll be seeing more cancer patients and diagnosing various types, including esophageal, gastric and rectal cancers.”
The new EUS program, supported through Surrey Hospitals Foundation, also includes the establishment of an advanced gastroenterology fellowship, which helps train the next generation of specialists in the Fraser Health region.
Honouring a legacy of compassion and care
None of this would be possible without the generosity of Leonard and Joan Leece. Originally from England, the couple settled in Vancouver and later White Rock in the 1960s. Creative and hardworking, they quietly built a life of purpose and generosity, supporting many charitable causes over the years, including Surrey Hospitals Foundation, where they were loyal donors during their lifetime.
Grateful for the care they received at Surrey Memorial Hospital, they chose to leave a legacy gift in their estate to support the hospital’s future. Legacy gifts like the Leece’s are more than generous, they are visionary. These planned gifts empower hospitals to invest in life-saving medical technology, attract top health care talent, and provide the highest standard of care when it’s needed most.
Consider your legacy this Leave a Legacy Month
As we reflect during Leave a Legacy Month, consider how your own legacy could shape the future of health care in your community. One thoughtful decision today can change countless lives tomorrow.
- Explore legacy giving at: surreyhospitalsfoundation.com/legacy
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Surrey Memorial Hospital launches lifesaving program for early cancer detection
