Support Langley Memorial’s respiratory clinic
When breathing becomes more difficult, it changes everything in life.
In her work as a respirologist at Langley Memorial Hospital, Dr. Rita Wittmann specializes in diagnosing and treating conditions that affect the airway and lung system. Every day she sees patients who are trying to understand why walking up a single flight of stairs has become exhausting.
She hears the fear in the voice of a parent, who tells her their child can no longer keep up with their friends on the playground.
These are the challenges patients in Langley and their families face every day. But before they can be treated, respirologists need to understand what’s happening inside their lungs.
That’s where specialized lung function testing comes in. Using the hospital’s one and only plethysmography unit, or “body booth,” Langley’s respirologists can assess how well the lungs are working and how effectively oxygen moves into the bloodstream.
Right now, staff at Langley Memorial’s respiratory clinic are able to see between 25 and 35 patients each week. But far too many people in our community are waiting - up to two years - for this critical testing!
Two years is a long time to wait for answers. And for those who are suffering, waiting often comes with uncertainty, worry and even deterioration in health.
That’s why we’ve partnered with TB Vets Charitable Foundation to fundraise for a second body booth!
With an additional unit, our teams can diagnose patients sooner and begin treatment earlier, reducing the risk of long-term damage. Without it, wait times will continue to grow, and for many conditions, delays can mean permanent loss of function.
We have the team, expertise and space. What we don’t have is enough equipment to meet the need.
We need to raise $100,000 to make this possible. This summer, TB Vets will match every donation up to $50,000 to help twice as many patients get the care they need, sooner.