When Surrey Memorial Hospital’s donor-funded Cardiac Catheterization Labs opened last December, they brought life-saving cardiac care closer to home for thousands of people across the South Fraser region.
For Robert Milliken, that proximity changed his life.
What began as an unexpected pain in his chest while climbing stairs at a football stadium at a BC Lion’s game soon became impossible to ignore. Over the following weeks, simple activities became increasingly difficult until he knew something wasn’t right.
“I finally told myself, ‘Bob, get your butt to the emergency department,’” he recalls.
Robert went to Peace Arch Hospital, expecting a routine visit. Instead, tests revealed a serious cardiac concern that required immediate attention. Within days, he was transferred to Surrey Memorial Hospital for specialized care.
As one of the first patients treated in Surrey Memorial Hospital’s new Cardiac Catheterization Labs, Robert experienced firsthand how donor support is transforming cardiac care in the region.
Not long ago, patients requiring advanced cardiac procedures often had to travel outside the South Fraser region for treatment. Instead, Robert was able to receive the care he needed close to home, in Surrey.
“Everything I needed was right here in Surrey,” he says.
The cardiac team quickly identified the problem and treated it during the same procedure. What could have become a life-threatening emergency was addressed without the need to travel to another community for care.
“When your heart is failing, bridges, traffic can turn lost minutes into a catastrophe,” Robert says.
Following his procedure, Robert continued his recovery through a cardiac rehabilitation program, receiving ongoing support close to home.
Today, he remains grateful for the care he received from the specialized cardiac team at Surrey Memorial Hospital, and the community of donors that made this possible.
