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(Photo Credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)
Healthcare

Warming Rooms for mammogram patients opens at GPRH

Jul 17, 2024 | 12:35 PM

The Victoria’s Attic Support the Girls committee has officially opened their new Warming Rooms at Grande Prairie Regional Hospital.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held yesterday to unveil the two room that will serve as comforting spaces for women undergoing testing and treatment for breast cancer.

(Photo credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)

Designer and committee member Cathi Hobbins says they first began designing the rooms in 2017.

“At that time the hospital wasn’t finished yet, it was still under construction.”

“We came on a tour, found out where this room was going to be, and we decided to go to work to design this space for women who are here not having the best test. We wanted to create a space that was just a little more warm and welcoming for them when they’re going through not the best time.”

Hobbins says they wanted the women to feel as comfortable as possible over a very stressful situation.

(Photo credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)

“A little darker, moodier space,” she says.

“Just a space where they feel they can sit down, and they feel like they are getting a hug in that chair rather than a more clinical cold space. We started in 2018 with our first event: Victoria’s Attic’s Support the Girls Fashion Show, and we’ve been raising funds since then.”

Victoria’s Attic Owner Alison Gustafson says patients visiting the hospital will benefit not only from the rooms, but special robes donated by the committee.

(Photo credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)

“Last year we gave the robes to recovery rooms, and they go up to a 5x so they are a robe that covers their bodies, so that they can feel comfortable,” Gustafson says.

“Because one of the things is the robes never fit and they’re kind of embarrassing. So, we wanted women who are coming here to have something they feel comfortable in.”

Gustafson says the business and committee have been supporting women struggling with breast cancer and associated financial strain for several years now

Over $50,000 was raised to add the rooms to the hospital, and a commemorative plaque is in each room to thanks the donors for their contributions.

(Photo Credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)
(Photo Credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)
(Photo Credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)
(Photo Credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)
(Photo Credit: Nathaniel Leigh/ Everything GP Staff)