Mention kidney stones and many people will cringe in discomfort, but Tri-City residents who experience this painful condition will soon benefit from a new piece of equipment to treat them.
The Eagle Ridge Hospital Foundation has purchased a new holmium laser for the hospital's operating rooms, thanks to a $56,000 donation from Bill Dick, owner of the Coquitlam-based Phoenix Truck & Crane.
"I enjoy knowing that I can make a difference for my community by actually purchasing a piece of equipment that will be used to help patients immediately," Dick said.
Dr. Brian Yang, a urologist at ERH, said the holmium laser will be used to treat patients with kidney stones and some urologic cancers.
"The pain of kidney stones can be debilitating and will affect one in 10 people in their lifetime," Yang said, adding the addition of the laser at ERH will mean local residents won't have to make a trip outside the community for treatment.
"Bill has been instrumental in the improvements at ERH, past and present, and we thank him for his very generous gift to our urology campaign," said Charlene Giovannetti-King, executive director of ERHF.
