Kamloops couple donates $100K to Kamloops patient care tower

High school sweethearts Ladonne and Steve Davidson celebrated their birthdays this year with a $100,000 donation to the Royal Inland Hospital Foundation.

Inspired by how often their family has needed the services of the Kamloops hospital, the couple decided to give the gift in honour of their birthdays, according to a foundation media release.

The foundation is raising money for the new patient care tower at the hospital, which is currently under construction. The Davidsons' donation will go towards a waiting room on the seventh floor.

“The waiting room is where family members bond, not only with each other, but also with other families who are going through the same thing," Ladonne said in the release. “I experienced first-hand how important the waiting room is when my mom was in hospital. I also, unfortunately, experienced the flip-side – how awful and lonely it is to be in hospital when family is not allowed visiting.”

Ladonne was admitted to hospital this past spring with pancreatitis and pneumonia.

Both the Davidsons' children Matthew and Brianna were born at RIH, as was their grandson Beckett. Matthew was in the intensive care unit when he suffered serious injuries following a snowboarding accident 13 years ago.

“We hope that the example of our gift will inspire others to give back,” Steve said in the release. “We really want the new addition to be a success for everyone – patients, staff, and visitors. As a close-knit family, our wish is to help other families who are supporting a loved-one in hospital.”

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