In the 1970s, attracted by the family-friendly feel and proximity to nature, Dennis and Joan Ducklow decided to make Langley their home and the place where they’d raise their family.
Today, the community has seen extraordinary changes, but those features that first attracted the family remain at its heart, says Dennis, a retired teacher and school principal, and avid photographer.
“Even though the growth has been fast and furious there are still many quiet spaces, and many beautiful areas in Langley,” he says, reflecting on the power of every individual to create a community where people of all ages feel safe and cared for.
And as a monthly donor to Langley Memorial Hospital and volunteer with the LMH Foundation, he and his family honour the community where they’ve lived and worked for four decades, no matter how fast it grows and changes.
“I’m proud to see the accomplishments at the hospital, like the new ER wing, and the new MRI (suite). Langley really needs those things, and to contribute in a small way really makes me feel a part of the community.”
Rosemarie Reed is another monthly donor to Langley Memorial Hospital and a regular volunteer with the hospital auxiliary, committed to giving back to an organization that has given her so much.
Rosemarie first experienced the exceptional care provided at her local hospital in 2009, when her husband suffered from complications related to diabetes. His treatment brought him from Langley’s Emergency Department, to the ICU and eventually to rehab before his health deteriorated and he passed away later that year. His care at Langley’s hospital made a huge impression on Rosemarie.
“I was there every day. I got to see how hard the staff worked, and I witnessed how caring they were,” she reflects.
Four years later, Rosemarie again experienced the commitment and care of hospital staff when she experienced a cardiac arrest, and she continues to enjoy follow-up care from pulmonologist Dr. Rita Wittmann, who had also cared for her husband.
“The doctors and nursing staff are fabulous, and Dr. Wittmann was there for my husband, and myself. I feel like I’m very much in good hands…I’m looked after,” she says.
Monthly giving offers much more than a donation
Dennis, Rosemarie and other monthly donors to the Langley Memorial Hospital are committed to making a difference to an organization at the heart of their community.
For donors, monthly giving is an easy and convenient way to spread their donation over the entire year. For the hospital, that regular commitment helps ensure it has funding it can count on to provide for whatever is most urgently needed, now and without delay.
Even a gift of $15 a month can have a significant impact, allowing the Foundation to invest in better equipment and health care services – earlier diagnoses, better surgeries, shorter hospital stays and healthier long-term outcomes.
To start your monthly gifts, visit lmhfoundation.com/ways-to-give/monthly-giving/