Georgie Hari, President and CEO of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Foundation provided welcoming comments and announced that TBRHSC currently needs specialized neurosurgical equipment valued at over $700,000. When a gift is made to Operation Starlight, the Foundation will add a star with your name on it to the Holiday Tree. With each star that is added to our tree, the future will indeed be brighter for each and every one of us. She also announced that the Honourary Co-Chairs of Operation Starlight are Dr. Iftikharul Haq, our Neurosurgeon at the Centre and Barry Third, well-known local News Director.

Ron Saddington, President & CEO of TBRHSC stressed that as a regional facility, Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre supports the neurosurgical needs of patients from Thunder Bay and the region and is the only Neurosurgical Program east of Winnipeg and west of Sudbury. In addition, the Intensive Care Unit at TBRHSC, has 12 of its 22 beds available for neurosurgical patients. "Patient Care is our Focus at the Centre, we are grateful to the Foundation and the generosity of our community and region who support our endeavors in providing excellence in patient care services."

Dr. Haq provided a brief description of the three major pieces of equipment the Foundation is fundraising for as part of Operation Starlight. The Neuro Microscope is a vital tool that allows neurosurgeons access to areas of brain and spinal cord that have previously been considered technically impossible. The Cavitran Ultrasound Aspirator is an instrument used to remove tumours and unhealthy tissue from the brain and spinal cord. The Neuro Ultrasound is specifically designed for neurosurgery and provides a real time image of the brain and spinal cord. Overall, the new neurosurgical equipment means surgeons can treat patients quickly, right here in Northwestern Ontario, with greater precision and accuracy.

Barry Third explained that he did not hesitate when approached by the Foundation to come on board as Honourary Co-Chair. Having recently faced a personal health crisis that required Neurosurgical services at the Centre, he was able to personally attest to the importance of providing our healthcare professionals with the best possible tools to treat all of us in our community and region. Although the cost of this equipment is a lot of money, we must make it our priority to ensure this equipment is available to each and every one of us when needed.