Local Paralympian curler, Ina Forrest, joins members of Vernon Jubilee Hospital's Women and Children’s Health Services to celebrate a donation to support babies born at VJH. (From right to left: Ina Forrest; Amy Novakowski, registered nurse; and Nichole Aichinger, WCHS manager in the nursery at VJH. (Photo credit: VJH Foundation)

By Pete McIntyre

Legacy fund

Curling legends celebrate donation to help babies born at VJH

Jan 11, 2024 | 6:00 AM

A donation in honour of a Canadian curling legend who died far too soon, will leave a legacy for newborns at Vernon Jubilee Hospital.

The VJH Foundation has received a $10,000 donation from the Sandra Schmirler Foundation to support babies born at the hospital.

The donation was given in honour of Sandra Schmirler, who was only 36 years old when she passed away from cancer in 2000.

Schmirler, who lived in Regina, was not only a three-time Canadian and world curling champion and Olympic gold medalist, but also a loving mother to two baby girls. Over the years, the Sandra Schmirler Foundation has created a legacy of purchasing life-saving equipment for neonatal intensive care units in hospitals across Canada.

Local Paralympian, and one of the world’s most decorated wheelchair curlers – Ina Forrest of Spallumcheen – was on hand to help celebrate the donation.

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The funds will be used to purchase a new bilirubin light to treat babies born with jaundice.

When a baby is born with severe jaundice, they require phototherapy treatment under bilirubin lights. Newborns being treated for jaundice typically stay in hospital for 1-3 days. For families’ eager to bond with their newborns, the stay at the hospital can be an especially stressful time. (VJH Foundation)

“We see as many as three newborns a week who require light therapy treatment before they can go home,” Nichole Aichinger, Manager, VJH Women and Children’s Health Services, said. “A new light system means we can replace some of our older equipment. The new units are compact and mobile, so they can be used anywhere. Babies can safely receive the blue light treatment in incubators, Panda Warmers and even their parent’s arms.”